Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary; Final Regulations, 4856-4913 [2024-30576]

Download as PDF 4856 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 15 CFR Part 922 [Docket No. 240213–0047] RIN 0648–BL33 Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary; Final Regulations Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC). ACTION: Final rule; notification of availability of final management plan and Record of Decision. AGENCY: NOAA is designating Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary (sanctuary) to protect nationally significant biological, cultural, and historical resources and to manage this special place as part of the National Marine Sanctuary System. The sanctuary consists of an area of approximately 582,570 square statute miles (439,910 square nautical miles) of Pacific Ocean waters surrounding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and the submerged lands thereunder. NOAA is establishing the terms of designation for the sanctuary and the regulations to implement the national marine sanctuary designation. NOAA has also published a final environmental impact statement (final EIS) in coordination with the State of Hawai1i, final management plan, and Record of Decision. SUMMARY: Effective Date: Pursuant to section 304(b) of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA) (16 U.S.C. 1434(b)), the designation and regulations shall take effect and become final after the close of a review period of forty-five days of continuous session of Congress, beginning on the date on which this Federal rulemaking is published, which is January 16, 2025. During that review period, the Governor of the State of Hawai1i may certify to the Secretary of Commerce that the designation or any of its terms is unacceptable, in which case the designation or any unacceptable term shall not take effect in State waters of the sanctuary. The public can track days of Congressional session at the following website: https:// www.congress.gov/days-in-session. NOAA will publish an announcement of the effective date of the final regulations in the Federal Register. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 DATES: VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 Copies of the final environmental impact statement (EIS) and management plan described in this rule and the record of decision (ROD) are available at https:// sanctuaries.noaa.gov/ papahanaumokuakea/. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Roberts, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument Superintendent, at Eric.Roberts@noaa.gov or 808–294– 7470. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ADDRESSES: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE I. Introduction A. Background The NMSA (16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.) authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to designate and protect as national marine sanctuaries areas of the marine environment that are of special national significance due to their conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, scientific, cultural, archaeological, educational, or esthetic qualities. Dayto-day management of national marine sanctuaries has been delegated by the Secretary of Commerce to NOAA. The primary objective of the NMSA is to protect the resources of the National Marine Sanctuary System. NOAA is designating marine portions of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument as a national marine sanctuary to provide comprehensive and coordinated management of the marine areas of Papahānaumokuākea to protect nationally significant biological, cultural, and historical resources. The original Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (PMNM, 0–50 nm), and the Monument Expansion Area (MEA, 50–200 nm), (collectively ‘‘Monument’’), located around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, were established under the Antiquities Act of 1906 (54 U.S.C. 320301 et seq.) through, respectively, Presidential Proclamation 8031 of June 15, 2006; as amended by Presidential Proclamation 8112 of February 28, 2007; and Presidential Proclamation 9478 of August 26, 2016. The Monument is administered jointly by four co-trustees—the Department of Commerce (DOC), the Department of the Interior (DOI), the State of Hawai1i, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA). The 2000 Amendments to the NMSA authorized designation of a Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve (Reserve) to be managed by the Secretary of Commerce. In December 2000, President Clinton issued Executive Order 13178 that began the public process to establish the Reserve, and directed the Secretary of Commerce to initiate the process to designate the Reserve as a national PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 marine sanctuary. In January 2001, President Clinton issued Executive Order 13196 finalizing the establishment of the Reserve. In 2006, President Bush established PMNM through Proclamation 8031 to protect and preserve the marine area of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and certain lands as necessary for the care and management of the historic and scientific objects therein. The Federal land and interests in land reserved included approximately 139,793 square miles of emergent and submerged lands and waters of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. NOAA and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) promulgated implementing regulations at 50 CFR part 404 for PMNM. In 2016, President Obama established the MEA through Proclamation 9478, which included the waters and submerged lands seaward of the PMNM to the extent of the seaward limit of the United States Exclusive Economic Zone (U.S. EEZ) west of 163° West Longitude. The MEA includes an additional 442,781 square miles. Presidential Proclamation 9478 also directed the Secretary of Commerce to consider initiating the process to designate the MEA and PMNM seaward of the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge and Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Battle of Midway National Memorial as a national marine sanctuary to supplement and complement existing authorities. On December 27, 2020, the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, further directed NOAA to initiate the process to designate the Monument as a national marine sanctuary. The sanctuary consists of a total area of approximately 582,570 square miles (439,910 square nautical miles). The precise boundary coordinates are defined in Appendix A to the regulations at 15 CFR part 922, subpart W. The sanctuary boundary encompasses the submerged lands, seamounts, and Pacific Ocean waters from the shoreline seaward to approximately 200 nautical miles west of 163° West Longitude surrounding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, which consist of the islands, atolls, and emergent lands stretching from Nihoa in the southeast to Kure Atoll in the northwest. The adjoining marine waters east of 163° West Longitude surrounding Nihoa extend seaward from the shoreline to approximately 50 nautical miles. The sanctuary is a place of unique environmental resources that provide large-scale ecosystem services for both E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations the region and the world. The marine habitat includes several interconnected ecosystems, including coral islands surrounded by shallow reef, deeper reef habitat characterized by seamounts, banks, and shoals, mesophotic reefs with extensive algal beds, pelagic waters connected to the greater North Pacific Ocean, and deep-water habitats such as abyssal plains 5,000 meters below sea level. These ecosystems are connected as essential habitats for rare species such as the threatened green turtle and the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, as well as over 14 million seabirds that forage in the pelagic waters to nourish the chicks they are raising on the tiny islets. These waters are home to 20 cetacean species protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, with some listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The importance of these waters to the Hawaiian humpback whale is only recently becoming understood. At least a quarter of the nearly 7,000 known marine species found in the region are found nowhere else on Earth. The area of the sanctuary is also a sacred place to Native Hawaiians, who regard the islands and wildlife as kūpuna, or ancestors. The region holds deep cosmological and traditional significance for the people of Hawai1i and the Native Hawaiian culture. Papahānaumokuākea is as much a spiritual space as it is a physical geographical area, deeply rooted in Native Hawaiian creation and settlement stories. Since Native Hawaiian culture considers nature and culture to be one and the same, the protection of one of the last nearly pristine, natural, marine ecosystems in the archipelago is seen as being akin to preserving the living culture. The area of the sanctuary also includes the location of the Battle of Midway, a turning point in World War II for the allies in the Pacific Theater. Research indicates that there are 60–80 sunken military vessels and hundreds of sunken military aircraft on the seafloor. In addition to Navy steamers and aircraft, there are whaling ships, ancient Japanese sailing ships known as junks, motorized East Asian style fishing vessels known as Hawaiian fishing sampans, Pacific colliers, and other vessels from the 19th and 20th centuries. Of these, the locations of more than 30 vessel wreck sites have been confirmed by diving or bathymetric surveys, with only a handful of those identified by vessel name or otherwise evaluated. VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 B. Purpose and Need for Action The NMSA (16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.) authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to designate national marine sanctuaries to meet the purposes and policies of the NMSA, including: • to provide authority for comprehensive and coordinated conservation and management of these marine areas, and activities affecting them, in a manner which complements existing regulatory authorities; • to maintain the natural biological communities in the national marine sanctuaries, and to protect, and, where appropriate, restore and enhance natural habitats, populations, and ecological processes; • to enhance public awareness, understanding, appreciation, and wise and sustainable use of the marine environment, and the natural, historical, cultural, and archaeological resources of the National Marine Sanctuary System’’ (16 U.S.C. 1431(b)(4)); • ‘‘to support, promote, and coordinate scientific research on, and long-term monitoring of, the resources of these marine areas’’ (16 U.S.C. 1431(b)(5)); and • ‘‘to facilitate to the extent compatible with the primary objective of resource protection, all public and private uses of the resources of these marine areas not prohibited pursuant to other authorities’’ (16 U.S.C. 1431(b)(6)). NOAA is designating the marine areas of the Monument as a national marine sanctuary. The purpose of this action is to provide comprehensive and coordinated conservation and management of the marine areas of Papahānaumokuākea to protect nationally significant biological, cultural, and historical resources. Additionally, the purpose of the designation is to implement the provisions of Executive Order 13178, Presidential Proclamation 9478, and the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Accordingly, NOAA is designating this area as a national marine sanctuary to: • Develop objectives and actions that ensure lasting protection consistent with the existing Monument proclamations; • Safeguard natural and cultural values of the marine environment; • Apply additional regulatory and non-regulatory tools to augment and strengthen existing protections for Papahānaumokuākea ecosystems, wildlife, and cultural and maritime heritage resources; • Authorize NOAA to exercise enforcement authorities, including the PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 4857 assessment of civil penalties for violations of provisions of the NMSA and regulations and permits issued pursuant to the NMSA (16 U.S.C. 1437); • impose liability for destruction, loss of, or injury to sanctuary resources and provide natural resource damage assessment authorities for destruction, loss of, or injury to any sanctuary resource; and • require interagency consultation for any Federal agency action that is likely to destroy, cause the loss of, or injure any sanctuary resource. C. Designation Process 1. Notice of Intent To Designate a National Marine Sanctuary On November 19, 2021, NOAA initiated the process to designate marine portions of the Monument as a national marine sanctuary by publishing a Notice of Intent to Conduct Scoping and to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Designation of a National Marine Sanctuary within Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (86 FR 64904). The notice of intent stated that NOAA would prepare a draft EIS per the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the NMSA. The notice of intent also announced NOAA’s intent to fulfill its responsibilities under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA; 54 U.S.C. 300101 et seq.). The State of Hawai1i published its EIS preparation notice on December 8, 2021. Following publication of these notices, NOAA conducted four virtual public scoping meetings. During the 74-day public comment period from November 19, 2021 through January 31, 2022, 73 individuals and organizations provided written input. An estimated 165 people attended the four scoping meetings, with 9 people providing oral comments. The Summary of Scoping Input on the Notice of Intent and EIS Preparation Notice and State of Hawai1i Responses to Public Scoping Comments are included in the final EIS as Appendix F. 2. Public Comment on Draft Designation Materials On March 1, 2024, NOAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking and a notice of availability of the draft EIS (89 FR 15272) to release a proposed rule, draft EIS, and draft sanctuary management plan; and to request public comments on the proposed sanctuary designation documents. On March 8, 2024, the State of Hawai1i also informed the public about the availability of the draft EIS through an announcement in E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 4858 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations its bulletin, The Environmental Notice, per the Hawai1i Environmental Policy Act (HEPA), Hawai1i Revised Statutes (HRS) Chapter 343–3(c). The USFWS, the State of Hawai1i, and the Department of the Navy served as cooperating agencies in reviewing and assisting with the development of the draft EIS. The public comment period took place over the course of 68 days from March 1 to May 7, 2024. Public meetings were held to provide additional information and to receive public input in the form of oral and written comments. Comments were accepted in both English and 1ōlelo Hawai1i during 11 public meetings, held between April 6–18, 2024, including two virtual and nine in-person public meetings on O1ahu, Kaua1i, Hawai1i Island, Maui, and Moloka1i. Comments were also accepted through the Federal eRulemaking portal and by traditional mail through May 7, 2024, both in English and 1ōlelo Hawai1i. An estimated 237 people attended the 11 public meetings and 61 individuals provided oral comments. During the public comment period, 488 written comments and 13,385 form letters were received from individuals, organizations, and agencies. A total of 13,934 comments were received, with the overwhelming majority in support of sanctuary designation. Major themes of comments included sanctuary access, permitting, prohibitions, enforcement, Native Hawaiian indigenous rights and cultural integration, fishing, co-management, resource protection, education and outreach, partnerships, and community participation. After the public comment period closed, the comments were carefully reviewed and cataloged by substantive issues contained in the comments. In preparing the final EIS, final sanctuary management plan, and final rule, NOAA and the State of Hawai1i considered comments received on the draft designation documents, identified substantive comments, and provided responses to these comments. A summary of these comments and the corresponding responses from NOAA are provided in the final EIS Appendix K and in Section V of this rulemaking. In response to these substantive comments, NOAA clarified information and made changes to this final rule, the final EIS, and the final sanctuary management plan, as described further below. 3. Development of Terms of Designation and Regulations Section 304(a)(4) of the NMSA requires that the terms of designation include: (1) the geographic area that is VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 included within the sanctuary; (2) the characteristics of the area that give it conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, research, educational, or esthetic value; and (3) the types of activities that would be subject to regulation by the Secretary to protect these characteristics. Section 304(a)(4) of the NMSA also specifies that the terms of designation may be modified only by the same procedures by which the original designation was made. The purpose and need for the sanctuary provide the overarching basis for developing the regulations. The designation of the sanctuary will not replace the area’s current status as a marine national monument. Existing authorities, including management authorities of all Monument co-trustees, will remain in effect. Sanctuary designation will supplement the existing provisions for management of the Monument and protect resources in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. To develop these regulations, NOAA reviewed the following, which currently guide Monument management: • Executive Order 13178— Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve, December 4, 2000; • Presidential Proclamation 8031— Establishment of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument, June 15, 2006; • Presidential Proclamation 8112— Amending Proclamation 8031 of June 15, 2006 to Read ‘‘Establishment of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument,’’ February 29, 2007; • Regulations implementing Presidential Proclamations 8031 and 8112 at 50 CFR part 404; and • Presidential Proclamation 9478— Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument Expansion, August 26, 2016. These executive orders, presidential proclamations, and regulations served as benchmarks for drafting the rule for the sanctuary. Sanctuary designation will only add to, and will not diminish, Monument management measures and protections. NOAA has adopted the management measures from these benchmarks, and, in a few areas, added onto those measures to achieve consistency in regulation and management across the sanctuary. The final rule unifies management of the area by removing discrepancies and gaps in prohibitions, regulated activities, and permit criteria, providing clarity and comprehensive protection for the sanctuary. In developing this final rule and the sanctuary terms of designation, NOAA also considered: (1) information PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 received through public scoping and public review of the draft designation documents, cooperating agency review, and coordination with the Monument co-trustees through the seven-member Monument Management Board, which consists of NOAA ONMS, NOAA Fisheries, USFWS Ecological Services, USFWS Refuges, Hawai1i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Aquatic Resources, DLNRDivision of Forestry and Wildlife, and OHA; and (2) information from analysis of issues in the EIS, interagency coordination, and internal staff analysis and expertise. NOAA also consulted with the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council as required under the NMSA. Following publication of the proposed rule, in consideration of public comments and further review, NOAA made minor changes to the terms of designation and the regulations which are described in detail in Section III of this final rule. NOAA provides a detailed discussion of the final regulations in Section IV, subsection A through O, of this rule. The text of the final regulations is presented at the end of this rule. 4. Development of Final Management Plan A final sanctuary management plan has been prepared in accordance with NMSA section 304(a)(2)(C). Management plans are site-specific documents that ONMS uses to manage individual sanctuaries. The final sanctuary management plan: (1) articulates the sanctuary’s vision, mission, goals, and objectives; (2) describes the management activities and initiatives that NOAA will conduct; and (3) provides strategies and assessment measures to guide the sanctuary’s shortand mid-range management. In response to public comments, NOAA made minor changes to the final sanctuary management plan, which is included as Appendix A to the final EIS. 5. Final Environmental Impact Statement In accordance with NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the NMSA, and HEPA (HRS Chapter 343, HAR Chapter 11– 200.1), NOAA and the State of Hawai1i released a final EIS for the national marine sanctuary designation in advance of the publication of this final rule. NOAA is the lead Federal agency in the preparation of the final EIS. The USFWS, State of Hawai1i, the Department of the Navy, and OHA were cooperating agencies for the final EIS. The final EIS describes the purpose and need for the proposed action of E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations designating a national marine sanctuary, identifies a range of alternatives including the preferred alternative, provides an assessment of resources and uses in the area, and evaluates the potential environmental consequences of the designation including by comparing the beneficial and adverse impacts among alternatives. NOAA has provided a section in the final EIS (see Section 1.5) to outline the substantive changes made between the draft EIS and final EIS. The final EIS analyzes four alternatives; including a ‘‘no action’’ alternative, in which the area would not be designated as a national marine sanctuary; and three boundary alternatives: • Alternative 1 is coextensive with the marine portions of the Monument. The boundary includes the marine environment surrounding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands from the shoreline of the islands and atolls seaward to 200 nautical miles, including all State waters and waters of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve, Midway Atoll and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuges, the Battle of Midway National Memorial, and State of Hawai1i Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine Refuge. The area encompassed in Alternative 1 is approximately 582,570 square miles (439,910 square nautical miles). • Alternative 2 includes the marine environment from the shoreline of the islands and atolls seaward to 50 nautical miles. This alternative includes all State waters and waters of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve, Midway Atoll and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuges, the Battle of Midway National Memorial, and State of Hawai1i Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine Refuge. This alternative does not include the MEA. The area encompassed in Alternative 2 is approximately 139,782 square miles (105,552 square nautical miles). • Alternative 3 has the same boundaries as Alternative 1, but excludes waters within the Midway Atoll and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuges and the Battle of Midway National Memorial. These excluded waters include portions of the State of Hawai1i Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine Refuge and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve that overlap with national wildlife refuge waters. The area encompassed in Alternative 3 is approximately 581,263 square miles (438,923 square nautical miles). VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 5. Final Preferred Alternative In accordance with NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and based on public comments on the draft designation materials and further review, NOAA has maintained Alternative 1 as the agencypreferred alternative (preferred alternative) based on its comparative merits; this alternative serves as the foundation of this final rule (Section 3.4 of the final EIS presents a map and details of this alternative). NOAA selected its final preferred alternative after considering input from the Monument Management Board, the State of Hawai1i, cooperating agencies, other agencies consulted, and public comments provided on the draft designation documents. Through the analysis in the final EIS, NOAA has determined that the final preferred alternative would provide numerous beneficial impacts, including increased protection and conservation of resources, and improved coordination of conservation and management. NOAA has also considered the potential adverse impacts of the final preferred alternative and anticipates that there would be no significant adverse impacts to biological and physical resources, cultural and historic resources, or socioeconomic resources. NOAA’s identification of Alternative 1 as the final preferred alternative is based on the need for additional resource protection, scientific research, and public education in areas that would be excluded by selecting the boundaries of Alternatives 2 or 3. Alternative 1 includes the MEA, an area which would benefit from the establishment of a NOAA permitting process, and the promulgation of sanctuary regulations to protect resources. Alternative 1 also includes the waters of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, which are the areas of the sanctuary subject to the highest level of human activity. II. Terms of Designation for Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary Section 304(a)(4) of NMSA as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1434(a)(4), requires that the terms of designation be described at the time a new sanctuary is designated, including the geographic area to be included within the sanctuary, the characteristics of the area that give it conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, research, educational, or esthetic value, and the types of activities that will be subject to regulation to protect those characteristics. PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 4859 The following represents the terms of designation: Preamble Under the authority of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, as amended (the ‘‘Act’’ or ‘‘NMSA’’), 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq., approximately 582,570 square mi (439,910 square nmi) of the waters of the Pacific Ocean surrounding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are hereby designated as a national marine sanctuary for the purpose of providing long-term protection and management of the ecological, cultural, and historical resources and the conservation, recreational, scientific, educational, and esthetic qualities of the area. Article I: Effect of Designation The NMSA authorizes the issuance of such regulations as are necessary and reasonable to implement the designation, including managing and protecting the ecological, cultural, and historical resources and the conservation, recreational, scientific, educational, and esthetic qualities of Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary (the ‘‘sanctuary’’). Section 1 of Article IV of these terms of designation lists those activities that may be regulated on the effective date of designation, or at some later date, in order to protect sanctuary resources and qualities. Listing an activity does not necessarily mean that it will be regulated. However, if an activity is not listed it may not be regulated, except on an emergency basis, unless Section 1 of Article IV is amended by the same procedures by which the original sanctuary designation was made. Article II: Description of the Area The sanctuary encompasses the submerged lands, seamounts, and Pacific Ocean waters from the shoreline seaward to approximately 200 nautical miles west of 163° West Longitude surrounding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands which consist of the islands, atolls, and emergent lands stretching from Nihoa in the southeast to Hōlanikū (Kure Atoll) in the northwest. The marine waters east of 163° West Longitude surrounding Nihoa extend seaward from the shoreline to approximately 50 nautical miles. The total area of the sanctuary comprises approximately 582,570 square miles (439,910 square nautical miles). The precise boundary coordinates are defined in Appendix A to the regulations at 15 CFR part 922, subpart W. E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 4860 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Article III: Special Characteristics of the Area Papahānaumokuākea is a place of special national significance that provides large-scale ecosystem services for the region and the world. The marine habitat includes several interconnected ecosystems, including coral islands surrounded by shallow reef, deeper reef habitat characterized by seamounts, banks, and shoals scattered across the area of the sanctuary, mesophotic reefs with extensive algal beds, pelagic waters connected to the greater North Pacific Ocean, and deepwater habitats and abyssal plains 5,000 meters below sea level. These connected ecosystems provide essential habitats for rare species such as the threatened green sea turtle and the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, as well as habitat for more than 14 million seabirds that forage in the pelagic waters to nourish the chicks they are raising on the tiny islets. Papahānaumokuākea is home to 20 cetacean species, protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, with some listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. At least a quarter of the nearly 7,000 known marine species in the region are found nowhere else on Earth. The area of the sanctuary is also a place of historical and cultural significance. The area of the sanctuary includes the location of the Battle of Midway, a turning point in World War II for the allies in the Pacific Theater. Research indicates that 60–80 sunken military vessels and hundreds of sunken military aircraft are scattered across the seafloor. In addition to Navy steamers and aircraft, there are whaling ships, ancient Japanese sailing ships known as junks, motorized East Asian style fishing vessels known as Hawaiian fishing sampans, Pacific colliers, and other vessels from the 19th and 20th centuries. Papahānaumokuākea is also a sacred place to Native Hawaiians, who regard the islands and wildlife as kūpuna, or ancestors. The region holds deep cosmological and traditional significance to the people of Hawai1i and the Native Hawaiian culture, and contains a host of intact and significant archaeological sites found on the islands of Nihoa and Mokumanamana, both of which are on the National Register of Historic Places and Hawai1i Register of Historic Places. Papahānaumokuākea is as much a spiritual space as it is a physical geographical area, rooted deep in Native Hawaiian creation and settlement stories. VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 Article IV: Scope of Regulations Section 1. Activities Subject to Regulation The following activities are subject to regulation, including prohibition, as may be necessary to ensure the protection and effective management of the ecological, cultural, historical, conservation, recreational, scientific, educational, or esthetic resources or qualities of the area: 1. Access to the sanctuary; 2. Ship reporting, ship routeing, and other shipping activities; 3. Vessel monitoring; 4. Vessel discharge; 5. Exploring for, developing, or producing oil, gas, or minerals, or any energy development activities; 6. Using or attempting to use poisons, electrical charges, or explosives in the collection or harvest of a sanctuary resource; 7. Introducing or otherwise releasing an introduced species from within or into the sanctuary; 8. Deserting a vessel; 9. Commercial fishing; 10. Non-commercial fishing; 11. Possessing fishing gear; 12. Anchoring on or having a vessel anchored on any living or dead coral with an anchor, anchor chain, or anchor rope; 13. Drilling into, dredging, or otherwise altering the submerged lands; or constructing, placing, or abandoning any structure, material, or other matter on the submerged lands; 14. Removing, moving, taking, harvesting, possessing, injuring, disturbing, or damaging; or attempting to remove, move, take, harvest, possess, injure, disturb, or damage any living or nonliving sanctuary resource; 15. Attracting any living sanctuary resource; 16. Touching coral, living or dead; 17. Swimming, snorkeling, or closed or open circuit SCUBA diving; 18. Discharging or depositing any material or other matter, or discharging or depositing any material or other matter outside of the sanctuary that subsequently enters the sanctuary; 19. Anchoring a vessel; 20. Native Hawaiian practices; 21. Research and scientific exploration; 22. Scientific research and development by Federal agencies; 23. Activities that will further the educational value of the sanctuary or will assist in the conservation and management of the sanctuary; 24. Recreational activities; and 25. Interfering with, obstructing, delaying, or preventing an investigation, PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 search, seizure, or disposition of seized property in connection with enforcement of the NMSA or any regulation or permit issued under the NMSA. Listing an activity here means that the Secretary of Commerce can regulate the activity, after complying with all applicable laws, without going through the designation procedures required by paragraphs (a) and (b) of section 304 of the NMSA. No term of designation issued under the authority of the NMSA may take effect in Hawai1i state waters within the sanctuary if the Governor of Hawai1i certifies to the Secretary of Commerce that such term of designation is unacceptable within the review period specified in the NMSA. Section 2. Emergencies Where necessary to prevent or minimize the destruction of, loss of, or injury to a sanctuary resource or quality, or to minimize the imminent risk of such destruction, loss, or injury, any and all activities, including those not listed in Section 1, are subject to immediate temporary regulation, including prohibition. Article V: Alteration of This Designation The terms of designation, as defined under section 304(a)(4) of the NMSA, may be modified only by the same procedures by which the original designation is made, including public hearings, consultations with interested Federal, Tribal, State, regional, and local authorities and agencies, review by the appropriate Congressional committees, and approval by the Secretary of Commerce, or his or her designee. III. Changes from Proposed to Final Regulations Based on public comments received between March 1 and May 7, 2024, internal deliberations, consultations, engagement with cooperating agencies, and meetings with constituents, NOAA has made the following changes to the proposed rule and corresponding changes to the final EIS and sanctuary management plan. A. Definitions NOAA added the term ‘‘categories of hazardous cargoes’’ to 15 CFR 922.24, the site-specific definitions. ‘‘Categories of hazardous cargoes’’ is defined in PMNM regulations, 50 CFR 404.3, and is added to the final regulations for consistency with existing regulations for ship reporting. Defining ‘‘categories of hazardous cargoes’’ provides clarity to the public on what information must be reported when conducting passage without interruption to comply with the E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 ship reporting requirements, as specified in the sanctuary regulations at 15 CFR 922.243. NOAA has made a minor revision to the term ‘‘recreational activity,’’ by striking ‘‘within the Midway Atoll Special Management Area’’ from the definition, making it consistent with the definition provided in Presidential Proclamation 8031 establishing the Monument. B. Cooperative Management In response to public comments, NOAA has clarified how the sanctuary will be managed in partnership with other Federal and State agencies. In the proposed rule, NOAA proposed that the sanctuary would be co-managed with the State of Hawai1i. In the proposed regulations, NOAA identified the role that states may have in co-managing a sanctuary pursuant to the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, if all or part of the proposed sanctuary is within the territorial limits of any state. Recognition of the State of Hawai1i as a sanctuary co-manager was not meant to exclude the other Monument cotrustees, DOI and OHA. To the contrary, partnerships with other Federal and State agencies with overlapping jurisdiction are critical to the success of the National Marine Sanctuary System and the protection of marine areas of special national significance. In the final regulations, NOAA has renamed 15 CFR 922.242 ‘‘Cooperative Management’’ and added new text regarding how NOAA will manage the sanctuary in partnership with USFWS and OHA in addition to the State of Hawai1i. In doing so, NOAA reaffirms that the existing co-management structure of the Monument is critical to the success of the sanctuary. NOAA will work in cooperation with Monument cotrustees to update the Memorandum of Agreement for Promoting Coordinated Management of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument with the State of Hawai1i, DOI, and OHA that reflects the addition of the sanctuary, and specifically addresses how the addition of a sanctuary will supplement and complement, and not supplant, the existing Monument management framework. In the final regulations, NOAA recognizes USFWS’s management authority over Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge. NOAA also clarifies that nothing in the regulations or establishment of the national marine sanctuary shall diminish USFWS’s authority to administer Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge under VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, as amended, and other USFWS authorities. Where Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary overlays Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, NOAA will implement the NMSA to provide supplemental authority to protect resources. NOAA and USFWS are developing an agreement to provide details on the execution of sanctuary management where the national marine sanctuary overlaps with Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge. C. Access In the proposed regulations, NOAA stated that a vessel may pass without interruption through the sanctuary without requiring a permit as long as the vessel does not stop, anchor, or engage in any prohibited activities. In the final regulations, NOAA has made a minor revision to 15 CFR 922.243(a)(5)(b), removing the word ‘‘anchor’’ from this statement. The removal of ‘‘anchor’’ is a technical revision because anchoring a vessel is already listed as a prohibited or otherwise regulated activity. In 15 CFR 922.243(c)(7), NOAA has added clarification on the events that would trigger ‘‘further reports,’’ including ‘‘pollution incidents and goods lost overboard.’’ This addition will help address potential threats and impacts to sanctuary resources in a timely manner from vessels transiting within the reporting area. In the proposed regulations, NOAA stated that access is prohibited except under certain circumstances. NOAA has clarified that the prohibition on access does not restrict scientific exploration or research activities by or for the Secretary of Commerce or the Secretary of the Interior when the activity occurs within the Outer Sanctuary Zone, consistent with the exception provided in 15 CFR 922.244(f). Finally, in 15 CFR 922.243(c), NOAA has also made technical revisions, removing the list of vessels for which the ship reporting requirements do not apply. This information is redundant of the exceptions provided in 15 CFR 922.243(a)(1) through (a)(4). D. Prohibited or Otherwise Regulated Activities NOAA has added a prohibition on failing to comply with vessel monitoring systems requirements in violation of 15 CFR 922.246; and a prohibition on failing to comply with ship reporting requirements in violation of 15 CFR 922.243. NOAA made these technical revisions to clarify for the public the full PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 4861 scope of activities listed that are prohibited or otherwise regulated within the sanctuary. NOAA has also made technical revisions and clarifications to the prohibition on discharging or depositing any material or other matter into the sanctuary, or discharging or depositing any material or other matter outside of the sanctuary that subsequently enters the sanctuary and injures or has the potential to injure any resources of the sanctuary. Specifically, NOAA has clarified the list of exceptions to this prohibition for consistency with Presidential Proclamation 8031, the implementing regulations at 50 CFR part 404, and other applicable law such as the Clean Water Act. For example, consistent with existing law in the Monument, NOAA has clarified that this prohibition does not apply to fish, fish parts, or chumming materials (bait) used in or resulting from lawful fishing activities, provided that such discharge or deposit is during the conduct of lawful fishing activities within the Sanctuary. In addition, NOAA has clarified that the exceptions for ‘‘discharge incidental to vessel operations,’’ and the discharges within Special Preservation Areas or the Midway Atoll Special Management Area may only be conducted in accordance with other applicable law, such as the Clean Water Act and its implementing regulations. In the proposed rule, NOAA provided exceptions to vessel discharge when conducting passage without interruption under 15 CFR 922.243, but did not clarify that this exception also applies to the discharge prohibition under 15 CFR 922.244. NOAA has made these revisions in 15 CFR 922.244 to provide clarity to resource managers and the public, and consistency with existing Monument management. NOAA has made corresponding changes to the regulations at 15 CFR 922.243, removing the list of vessel discharge exceptions from this section. This revision is not substantive. E. Exemption for Non-Commercial Fishing In the proposed rule, NOAA proposed that eight prohibited or otherwise regulated activities in 15 CFR 922.244 would not apply to non-commercial fishing activities in the Outer Sanctuary Zone authorized by regulations promulgated pursuant to the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), provided that no sale of harvested fish occurs. In response to comments of concern for this exemption, NOAA has made changes to ensure that a non- E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 4862 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations commercial fishing permit authorized pursuant to the MSA is only exempt from a limited subset of prohibited or otherwise regulated activities in the Outer Sanctuary Zone, which may only be conducted as incidental to and necessary to conduct lawful noncommercial fishing activity. First, NOAA has removed the exemption for ‘‘touching coral, living or dead,’’ as this activity is not expected to occur as incidental to a lawful noncommercial fishing activity. Second, NOAA has removed the exemption for ‘‘discharging or depositing any material or other matter into the sanctuary, or discharging or depositing any material or other matter outside of the sanctuary that subsequently enters the sanctuary and injures or has the potential to injure any resources of the sanctuary, with exceptions.’’ NOAA has determined that non-commercial fishing activities authorized under the MSA do not require a broad exemption for discharge, and should be held to similar standards as other vessels. As described above, NOAA has also clarified the types of discharge that would not be regulated, including ‘‘fish, fish parts, or chumming materials (bait) used in or resulting from lawful fishing activity, provided that such discharge or deposit is during the conduct of lawful fishing activity within the Sanctuary.’’ This exception is consistent with Presidential Proclamation 8031, and the existing regulations for PMNM at 50 CFR 404.7. Third, NOAA has removed the exemption for anchoring a vessel. NOAA has concluded that this activity should not occur as incidental to a lawful non-commercial fishing activity in the Outer Sanctuary Zone. Anchoring a vessel in the Outer Sanctuary Zone would not be practical given the average ocean depths within this area of the sanctuary. NOAA has also clarified that this exemption from the sanctuary’s permitting requirements is only applicable provided that the fish harvested, either in whole or in part, are neither intended to enter commerce nor enter commerce through sale, barter, or trade, and that the resource is managed sustainably, consistent with Presidential Proclamation 9478. Moreover, consistent with the outcome of the NMSA Section 304(a)(5) process, for the exemption to apply, the fish harvested, either in whole or in part, are not intended to be sold and shall not be sold for any purposes, including, but not limited to, cost-recovery. Finally, NOAA has clarified that the activities under paragraph (a)(9) through (12), and (a)(14) may only be conducted as VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 incidental and necessary to conduct lawful non-commercial fishing activities. F. Permit Procedures and Criteria In the proposed regulations, NOAA proposed two new general permit categories specific to the sanctuary: (i) Native Hawaiian Practices; and (ii) Recreation. In the final regulations, NOAA maintains these two general permit categories in 15 CFR 922.30. For ease of reference, NOAA has moved the additional permit issuance criteria and requirements to the site-specific regulations for the proposed sanctuary at 15 CFR 922.245. This revision is not substantive. NOAA has also made a revision to the additional permit issuance criteria for Recreation permits. NOAA has amended the permitting criteria at 15 CFR 922.245 to clarify that a ‘‘recreational activity’’ may only be permitted within the Midway Atoll Special Management Area, consistent with existing regulations for the Monument. Finally, as described below, NOAA moved the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) requirements from 15 CFR 922.245 to a standalone section at 15 CFR 922.246. NOAA retained, with minor edits, the requirement to outfit a vessel with a NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) type-approved VMS unit, as a condition of a permit. This is consistent with the regulations implementing Presidential Proclamation 8031 at 50 CFR part 404, and specifically, the permitting findings that must be made under 50 CFR 404.11(d). G. Vessel Monitoring System In the proposed rule, NOAA proposed, as a part of the permit procedures and criteria under 15 CFR 922.245, that an owner or operator of a vessel that has been issued a sanctuary general permit or special use permit must ensure that such vessel has a NOAA OLE type-approved VMS on board when operating within the sanctuary. In the final regulations, NOAA has moved the VMS requirements to a standalone section at 15 CFR 922.246 for consistency with the regulations implementing Presidential Proclamation 8031 at 50 CFR part 404. NOAA also made non-substantive technical changes to the VMS requirements to more closely align with the Monument’s implementing regulations, specifically 50 CFR 404.5. H. Sunken Military Craft NOAA has added new text regarding the Sunken Military Craft Act acknowledging that sunken military craft in the sanctuary will continue to be PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 administered by the respective Secretary concerned pursuant to the Sunken Military Craft Act. NOAA will enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the appropriate agencies regarding collaboration on implementing the Sunken Military Craft Act. I. Emergency Regulations NOAA has added information to Section IV of this final rule describing emergency regulations. This is a technical clarification of a regulatory provision that applies to all national marine sanctuaries, pursuant to the National Marine Sanctuary Program Regulations at 15 CFR 922 subpart A— Regulations of General Applicability. Adding this to the final rule provides clarity to the public on a supplemental authority that is provided through sanctuary designation. J. Technical Edits In addition to the changes discussed above, NOAA has made technical edits throughout this final rule. Many of these technical edits are necessary to conform with revisions to 15 CFR part 922 that became effective on October 16, 2024. These technical edits are not substantive. NOAA has also made two minor changes to the terms of designation that were included in the proposed rule. First, NOAA has added more detail to one sentence describing the special characteristics of the area. Second, NOAA has added ‘‘ship reporting, ship routeing, and other shipping activities’’ to the list of activities subject to regulation in Article IV of the terms of designation to reflect the full scope of activities that may be regulated. In the draft terms of designation, NOAA only included ‘‘ship reporting.’’ IV. Summary of Final Regulations A. Adding New Subpart W NOAA is amending 15 CFR part 922 by adding a new subpart (subpart W) that contains site-specific regulations for the sanctuary. This subpart will include the boundary, contain definitions of common terms used in the new subpart, identify prohibited activities and exceptions, and establish procedures for permitting otherwise prohibited activities. The regulations will be applied in accordance with generally recognized principles of international law and in accordance with treaties, conventions, and other agreements to which the United States is a party, consistent with sections 305(a) and 307(k) of the NMSA and the NMSA’s Regulations of General Applicability at 15 CFR 922.1(b). No regulation shall E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations apply to or be enforced against a person who is not a citizen, national, or resident alien of the United States unless in accordance with generally recognized principles of international law, or applicable treaties, conventions, and other agreements. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 B. Sanctuary Boundary NOAA’s designation of Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary consists of the marine environment surrounding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands from the shoreline of the islands and atolls seaward to 200 nautical miles, including all waters of the Monument. NOAA estimates the area encompassed in the designation is approximately 582,570 square miles (439,910 square nautical miles). C. Definitions This rule incorporates and adopts common terms defined in the national regulations at 15 CFR 922.11. In addition, NOAA is including 20 sitespecific definitions. To the extent that a term appears at 15 CFR 922.11 and the definitions section of the final rule, the definition in the final rule would govern. • The definitions for ‘‘Bottomfish Species’’ and ‘‘Pelagic Species’’ are adopted from regulations for Fisheries in the Western Pacific, 50 CFR 665.201 and 50 CFR 665.800. • ‘‘Ecological integrity’’, ‘‘Midway Atoll Special Management Area’’, ‘‘Native Hawaiian practices’’, ‘‘Pono’’, ‘‘Recreational activity’’, ‘‘Special Preservation Area (SPA)’’, ‘‘Stowed and not available for immediate use’’, ‘‘Sustenance fishing’’, and ‘‘Vessel monitoring system or VMS’’, are adopted from Presidential Proclamation 8031. • ‘‘Commercial fishing’’ and ‘‘Noncommercial fishing’’ are adopted from the MSA and, in part, from regulations for Fisheries in the Western Pacific, 50 CFR 665.12. • ‘‘Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA)’’ is adopted from International Maritime Organization (IMO) Resolution A.982(24), December 1, 2005. • ‘‘Areas to be avoided (ATBA)’’, ‘‘Categories of hazardous cargoes’’ and ‘‘Office of Law Enforcement’’ are adopted from Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument regulations, 50 CFR 404.3. • ‘‘Outer Sanctuary Zone’’ refers to the area of the sanctuary that would extend from approximately 50 nautical miles from all the islands and emergent lands of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to the extent of the seaward limit of the United States Exclusive VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 Economic Zone west of 163° West Longitude. This area of the sanctuary would correspond with the area designated as a marine national monument by Presidential Proclamation 9478, referred to as the ‘‘Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument Expansion’’ or MEA. NOAA provides this definition to provide clarity to the public where there is a regulation that only applies to this area of the sanctuary, and not the entire sanctuary. Note that the MEA and the Outer Sanctuary Zone are coextensive. In this final rule, when describing the sanctuary regulations, the term ‘‘Outer Sanctuary Zone’’ is used, and when describing the directives of Presidential Proclamation 9478, the term ‘‘MEA’’ is used. • ‘‘Reporting Area’’ refers to the area of the sanctuary that extends outward ten nautical miles from the PSSA boundary, as designated by the IMO, and excludes the ATBAs that fall within the PSSA boundary. The reporting area is defined by the coordinates set forth in Appendix E to the final rule. NOAA defines the ‘‘reporting area’’ to clarify which areas of the sanctuary apply to ship reporting requirements. • ‘‘Scientific instrument’’ is a term used in Presidential Proclamation 9478, but the term was not defined. Specifically, Presidential Proclamation 9478 prohibits ‘‘drilling into, dredging, or otherwise altering the submerged lands, or constructing, placing, or abandoning any structure, material, or other matter on the submerged lands, except for scientific instruments’’. NOAA defines ‘‘scientific instrument’’ to clarify what activities may be conducted pursuant to a permit. NOAA defines ‘‘scientific instrument’’ to mean ‘‘a device, vehicle, or tool used for scientific purposes and is inclusive of structures, materials, or other matter incidental to proper use of such device, vehicle, or tool.’’ In defining ‘‘scientific instrument,’’ NOAA’s definition provides for the inclusion of ‘‘structures, materials, or other matter incidental to proper use of such device, vehicle, or tool’’ because, based on the type of activities previously permitted in the Monument, proper deployment and use of most scientific instruments requires more than the instrument itself. For example, there may be incidental ballast discharge associated with the use of a scientific instrument like a remotely operated vehicle, or ROV. A narrower definition of ‘‘scientific instrument’’ could unduly restrict NOAA’s ability to permit activities in the area of the sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA. NOAA believes a narrower definition would be inconsistent with the intent of PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 4863 Presidential Proclamation 9478, which states ‘‘Undisturbed seamount communities in the adjacent area are of significant scientific interest because they provide opportunities to examine the impacts of physical, biological, and geological processes on ecosystem diversity, including understanding the impacts of climate change on these deep-sea communities. These seamounts and ridges also provide the opportunity for identification and discovery of many species not yet known to humans, with possible implications for research, medicine, and other important uses. Recent scientific research, utilizing new technology, has shown that many species identified as objects in Proclamation 8031 inhabit previously unknown geographical ranges that span beyond the existing Monument, and in some cases the adjacent area also provides important foraging habitat for these species.’’ These statements clearly demonstrate the significant scientific value of the MEA and underscore the opportunities for research and discovery to occur in the sanctuary. D. Cooperative Management of the Sanctuary Pursuant to the NMSA, states may choose to have a role in co-managing a sanctuary if all or part of the sanctuary is within the territorial limits of any state. As the sanctuary includes state waters, NOAA will co-manage the sanctuary with the State of Hawai1i. NOAA establishes the framework for comanagement in section 922.242 of the final regulations NOAA and the State of Hawai1i may update existing agreements or develop additional agreements as necessary to provide details on the execution of sanctuary management, such as activities, programs, and permitting that can be updated to adapt to changing conditions or threats to the sanctuary resources. NOAA and the State of Hawai1i will manage the sanctuary in partnership with the USFWS and OHA consistent with the management of the Monument. The existing co-management structure of the Monument will be critical to the success of the sanctuary. NOAA will work in cooperation with the Monument co-trustees to update the Memorandum of Agreement for Promoting Coordinated Management of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument with the State of Hawai1i, DOI, and OHA that reflects the addition of the sanctuary, and specifically addresses how the addition of a sanctuary will supplement and complement, and not supplant, existing Monument management. This is E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 4864 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations consistent with the existing Memorandum of Agreement, which includes a provision that states that ‘‘in the event of the designation of the Monument or any portion of the Monument as a National Marine Sanctuary under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, nothing herein shall be construed as automatically terminating or otherwise amending this Agreement.’’ NOAA may enter into additional Memorandums of Agreement with the Monument co-trustees regarding this collaboration that may address, but not be limited to, sanctuary resource protection, educational programs, permitting, enforcement, research activities, development, and threats to resources. Any future proposed changes to sanctuary regulations or boundaries would be coordinated with the State and other Monument co-trustees and subject to public review as mandated by the NMSA and other Federal statutes. The Secretary of the Interior, through the USFWS, has sole responsibility for management of the areas of the Monument that overlay the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, the Battle of Midway National Memorial, and the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, and exercises that responsibility in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce. Nothing in these regulations or establishment of the national marine sanctuary shall diminish USFWS’s authority to administer Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge under the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act as amended, and other USFWS authorities. Where Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary overlays Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, NOAA will implement the NMSA to provide supplemental authority to protect resources. NOAA, in exercising its management authority under National Marine Sanctuaries Act Section 304(d), recognizes USFWS’ management authority over Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge under the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act. The Director of the USFWS has agreed that Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary will provide supplemental authorities where the sanctuary overlays the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge. NOAA and USFWS are developing an agreement to memorialize this decision, and to provide details on the execution VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 of sanctuary management where the national marine sanctuary overlaps with Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, consistent with the spirit of cooperative management of the area and recognizing USFWS has sole authority in Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act. Implementation of NOAA and USFWS authorities shall not enlarge or diminish the jurisdiction of the State of Hawai1i, including the State’s responsibilities and requirements to manage Kure Atoll Wildlife Sanctuary and the State of Hawai1i Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine Refuge. E. Access In PMNM, pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 8031, access is prohibited except under the following circumstances: (1) for emergency response and law enforcement purposes; (2) for activities and exercises of the Armed Forces; (3) for persons who have been issued Monument permits; and (4) for passage without interruption. For consistency, and to protect sanctuary resources, NOAA extends the access restrictions which apply to the area of the sanctuary that overlaps the PMNM to the area of the sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA as follows: Access to the sanctuary is prohibited and thus unlawful except under the following circumstances: (1) for emergency response actions, law enforcement activities, and activities and exercises of the Armed Forces; (2) pursuant to a sanctuary permit; (3) when conducting non-commercial fishing activities in the Outer Sanctuary Zone authorized under the MSA in accordance with 15 CFR 922.244 (d); (4) when conducting scientific exploration or research activities by or for the Secretary of Commerce or the Secretary of the Interior when the activity occurs within the Outer Sanctuary Zone); and (5) when passing through the sanctuary without interruption. A vessel may pass without interruption through the sanctuary without requiring a permit as long as the vessel does not stop or engage in prohibited activities within the sanctuary. A vessel passing through the sanctuary without interruption may be subject to the ship reporting system, as described below. The access restrictions will be applied in accordance with generally recognized principles of international law and in accordance with treaties, conventions, PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 and other agreements to which the United States is a party, consistent with sections 305(a) and 307(k) of the NMSA and the NMSA’s Regulations of General Applicability at 15 CFR 922.1(b). No regulation shall apply to or be enforced against a person who is not a citizen, national, or resident alien of the United States unless in accordance with generally recognized principles of international law, or applicable treaties, conventions, and other agreements. F. Ship Reporting The final rule includes regulations to implement the ship reporting system (CORAL SHIPREP) adopted by the IMO, which require entrance and exit notifications for vessels that pass without interruption through the sanctuary areas contained within a reporting area. Requiring vessels to notify NOAA immediately upon entering the reporting area will help make the vessel operators aware that they are traveling through a fragile area with potential navigational hazards, such as the extensive coral reefs found in many shallow areas of the sanctuary contained within the reporting area. The ship reporting requirements apply to vessels that pass through the sanctuary without interruption. Conversely, the ship reporting requirements do not apply to vessels covered by an exemption at 15 CFR 922.243(a)(1) through (a)(4), or to sovereign immune vessels, which are specifically exempted from the reporting requirement in the ship reporting system adopted by the IMO. Furthermore, the ship reporting requirements will be applied in accordance with generally recognized principles of international law and in accordance with treaties, conventions, and other agreements to which the United States is a party, consistent with sections 305(a) and 307(k) of the NMSA and the NMSA’s Regulations of General Applicability at 15 CFR 922.1(b). No regulation shall apply to or be enforced against a person who is not a citizen, national, or resident alien of the United States unless in accordance with generally recognized principles of international law, or applicable treaties, conventions, and other agreements. NOAA defines the reporting area as ‘‘the area of the sanctuary that extends outward ten nautical miles from the PSSA [Particularly Sensitive Sea Area] boundary, as designated by the IMO, and excludes the ATBAs [Areas to be avoided] that fall within the PSSA boundary.’’ The reporting area is further defined by the coordinates set forth in Appendix E to the final rule. Appendix E includes a coordinates table for the E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations ‘‘Reporting Area Outer Boundary,’’ which contains the reporting area’s boundary surrounding the PSSA. Appendix E also includes coordinate tables for the ‘‘Inner Reporting Area Boundary’’ for each of the four ATBAs that fall within the PSSA, but which are not part of the reporting area. The reporting area for the sanctuary will not include the four voluntary ATBAs adopted by the IMO that are also within the PSSA. An ATBA is an area within which either navigation is particularly hazardous or it is exceptionally important to avoid casualties. While ATBAs can be mandatory (i.e., vessels are required by applicable law to avoid and operate outside of the area) most are voluntary and vessels may travel through them. Because the four ATBAs in the PSSA are voluntary, as adopted by the IMO and implemented by these regulations, the ATBAs are outside of the reporting area. Nonetheless, by virtue of entering or exiting an ATBA, vessels would also be departing or entering the reporting area, and, therefore be subject to the reporting area’s requirements four times: (1) once when it enters the reporting area; (2) once when it leaves the reporting area to enter the ATBA; (3) once when it exits the ATBA and enters the reporting area on the other side of the ATBA; and (4) once when it again leaves the reporting area. The potential burden of reporting four times is justified by the navigational hazards that exist within the ATBAs. The reporting area also includes three large areas within the PSSA that are not within the ATBAs. These breaks between the four ATBAs allow for north-south passages through the sanctuary areas contained within the reporting area that can be utilized for navigation to avoid ATBAs. Vessels passing through the sanctuary in these areas would only send email notification twice: once upon entering the reporting area, and again upon leaving the reporting area. NOAA will implement CORAL SHIPREP’s requirements under the NMSA in keeping with the United States’ and IMO’s long-standing interest in providing additional protection to the natural, cultural, and historic resources in PMNM through ship reporting requirements. In June 2006, Presidential Proclamation 8031 directed the Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of Interior to require notification from any person passing through PMNM without interruption at least 72 hours, but no longer than 1 month, prior to the entry date, and within 12 hours of departure. Presidential Proclamation 8031 further indicated the specific types of VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 information that must be provided in the notification. These notification requirements were subsequently codified in 50 CFR 404.4. Presidential Proclamation 8031 also directed the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of Interior, to seek the cooperation of other governments and international organizations in furtherance of the purposes of the proclamation and consistent with applicable regional and multilateral arrangements for the protection and management of special marine areas. Following Executive Order 13178 and Presidential Proclamation 8031, in April 2007 the United States proposed to the IMO that PMNM be designated as a PSSA to protect the attributes of the fragile and integrated coral reef ecosystem from potential hazards associated with international shipping activities. The U.S. noted in its proposal that the proposed PSSA and its associated protective measures would result in a minimal burden to international shipping, would significantly further increase maritime safety, would protect of the fragile environment, would preserve cultural resources and areas of cultural importance significant to Native Hawaiians, and would facilitate responses to developing maritime emergencies. On April 3, 2008, the IMO designated the PMNM as a PSSA. As part of the PSSA designation process, the IMO adopted U.S. proposals for associated protective measures. These measures included expanding and consolidating the six existing recommendatory ATBAs in the PMNM into four larger areas and enlarging the class of vessels to which they apply. In addition, the IMO adopted a ship reporting system for vessels transiting the PMNM, which is mandatory for ships 300 gross tons or greater that are entering or departing a U.S. port or place and recommended for other ships. The system requires that ships notify the U.S. shore-based authority (i.e., the U.S. Coast Guard; NOAA will be receiving all messages associated with this program on behalf of the Coast Guard) at the time they begin transiting the reporting area and again when they exit. In December 2008, NOAA and the USFWS published final regulations to establish a ship reporting system for PMNM, which implemented measures adopted by the IMO requiring notification by ships passing through PMNM without interruption (73 FR 73592). These regulations modified the previous notification requirements at 50 CFR 404.4. PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 4865 NOAA will implement the ship reporting system as adopted by the IMO and establish the reporting area using the boundary coordinates in Appendix E to this final rule to provide additional protection to the natural, cultural, and historic resources in the sanctuary. Accordingly, NOAA’s regulations build upon the requirements outlined in Presidential Proclamation 8031, and reflect additions made through the IMO’s adoption of a ship reporting system and the implementation of that system in 50 CFR 404.4. NOAA provides minor language changes from the process adopted by IMO Resolution MEPC.171(57) and IMO Resolution MSC.279(85) to provide clarity to the public on which vessels are required to participate in ship reporting and the type of information that should be reported. G. Activities That Are Prohibited or Otherwise Regulated NOAA will supplement and complement existing management of this area through prohibited or otherwise regulated activities in section 922.244. Presidential Proclamations 8031, 8112, and 9478, and regulations implementing Presidential Proclamations 8031 and 8112 at 50 CFR part 404 provide the foundation for the prohibitions. However, minor changes are made to remove discrepancies and gaps in prohibitions and regulated activities between PMNM and the MEA in order to allow for consistency in management across the sanctuary. Within PMNM, the prohibitions in section 922.244 are already effectively in place under 50 CFR part 404, except for prohibitions 1 and 4 (detailed below). Minor changes are made to prohibitions 1 and 4 to remove discrepancies across the two zones (PMNM and MEA). Regulations implementing Presidential Proclamation 9478 have not been promulgated for the MEA. Many of the prohibitions adopted in the rule are identified in Presidential Proclamation 9478, which established the MEA. Any prohibitions for the area of the sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA that are not adopted directly from Presidential Proclamation 9478 are identified below. 1. Prohibition on Exploring for, Developing, or Producing Oil, Gas, or Minerals, or Any Energy Development Activities Consistent with the presidential proclamations establishing the Monument, NOAA prohibits exploring for, developing, or producing oil, gas, or minerals to protect sanctuary resources and create a seamless management area E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 4866 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations throughout the sanctuary. The addition of the prohibition on ‘‘any energy development activities’’ would be new for PMNM, and was added to further the underlying intent of the prohibition on oil, gas, and mineral development by accounting for technological advances in other forms of energy development. In addition to creating consistency across the two zones, this prohibition will help advance the sanctuary’s goals and objectives by protecting sensitive marine ecosystems such as fragile coral reefs and deep-sea corals, benthic habitat, and seamounts. Prohibiting oil, gas, and mineral development reduces the risk of offshore spills, such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, that could significantly harm sanctuary resources. Deep seabed mining, oil and gas drilling, and other energy development activities, such as renewable energy system installation, destroys fragile benthic habitat, releases sequestered carbon, and spreads sediment plumes that can suffocate both sensitive shallow and deep-sea coral reefs, which negatively impacts nursery and foraging habitat for fish, and reduces the ecosystem’s overall resilience. 2. Prohibition on Using or Attempting To Use Poisons, Electrical Charges, or Explosives in the Collection or Harvest of a Sanctuary Resource This prohibition is consistent with prohibitions identified in the presidential proclamations establishing the Monument. 3. Prohibition on Introducing or Otherwise Releasing an Introduced Species From Within or Into the Sanctuary This prohibition is consistent with prohibitions identified in the presidential proclamations establishing the Monument. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 4. Prohibition on Deserting a Vessel Deserting a vessel is currently a regulated activity (allowed only with a permit) in PMNM pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 8031. Deserting a vessel is a prohibited activity in the MEA pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 9478. Based on NOAA’s experience in managing national marine sanctuaries, NOAA does not see a need to permit this activity. Prohibiting this activity will create consistency in management across the sanctuary and help to prevent desertion of a vessel following a sinking, grounding, or other incident. Prevention is much less expensive than responding to a deserted vessel and can optimally prevent impacts and damage to VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 sanctuary resources as well as to private property. 5. Prohibition on Anchoring on or Having a Vessel Anchored on Any Living or Dead Coral With an Anchor, Anchor Chain, or Anchor Rope This prohibition is consistent with prohibitions identified in the presidential proclamations establishing the Monument. 6. Prohibition on Commercial Fishing or Possessing Commercial Fishing Gear Except When Stowed and Not Available for Immediate Use Presidential Proclamation 8031 provided that commercial fishing for bottomfish and pelagic fish in PMNM that was permitted by NOAA prior to June 16, 2006 was allowed to continue for 5 years from the date of the proclamation, until June 15, 2011. After that date, Presidential Proclamation 8031 prohibited commercial fishing for bottomfish and associated pelagic species in PMNM. Presidential Proclamation 9478 also prohibits commercial fishing, as well as possessing commercial fishing gear except when stowed and not available for immediate use during passage without interruption in the MEA. With these sanctuary regulations, NOAA provides a sanctuary-wide prohibition on commercial fishing or possessing commercial fishing gear except when stowed and not available for immediate use to be consistent with the presidential proclamations establishing the Monument. 7. Prohibition on Failing To Comply With Vessel Monitoring Systems Requirements in Violation of § 922.246 This prohibition is consistent with requirements identified in Presidential Proclamation 8031. The VMS requirement for permittees operating within the areas of the sanctuary that overlap with the MEA would be a new requirement. Further discussion of the VMS requirements is included within Section IV. L. of this final rule. 8. Prohibition on Failing To Comply With Ship Reporting Requirements in Violation of § 922.243 This prohibition is consistent with the requirements of the ship reporting system (CORAL SHIPREP), as adopted by the IMO and implemented in PMNM under 50 CFR 404.4. Further discussion of the ship reporting system requirements is included within Section IV.F of this final rule. PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 9. Prohibition on Non-Commercial Fishing or Possessing Non-Commercial Fishing Gear Except When Stowed and Not Available for Immediate Use The presidential proclamations establishing the Monument broadly restrict the harvest of fishery resources by prohibiting removing, moving, taking, harvesting, possessing, injuring, disturbing, or damaging any living or nonliving monument resource, as well as attempts to do the same, except as may be allowed with a permit. As noted above, Presidential Proclamations 8031 and 9478 further specify prohibitions on commercial fishing and the possession of commercial fishing gear. The presidential proclamations also identify certain types of non-commercial fishing that may be regulated (i.e., allowed pursuant to a permit or incidental to a permitted activity). Presidential Proclamation 8031, for example, authorizes sustenance fishing incidental to an activity permitted in PMNM. Presidential Proclamation 9478, for example, provides that non-commercial fishing is a regulated activity (i.e., allowed only with a permit) in the MEA. In the sanctuary, for consistency with the proclamations, NOAA will prohibit ‘‘non-commercial fishing’’ unless conducted pursuant to a sanctuary permit or, as discussed below, authorized under the MSA in the Outer Sanctuary Zone. The final rule adopts the definition of ‘‘non-commercial fishing’’ from the regulations for Fisheries in the Western Pacific, which is defined as ‘‘fishing that does not meet the definition of commercial fishing in the MSA, and includes, but is not limited to, sustenance, subsistence, traditional indigenous, and recreational fishing.’’ 50 CFR 665.12. The final rule also provides that ‘‘possessing non-commercial fishing gear except when stowed and not available for immediate use’’ is prohibited unless conducted pursuant to a sanctuary permit or, as discussed below, authorized under the MSA in the Outer Sanctuary Zone. Presidential Proclamation 8031 includes ‘‘possessing fishing gear,’’ as a regulated activity (allowed only with a permit) in PMNM. Presidential Proclamation 9478 prohibits possessing commercial fishing gear. The final rule creates continuity between the two areas, and aims to prevent non-commercial gear from being utilized in an unauthorized manner that could lead to injury to sanctuary resources. E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations 10. Prohibition on Drilling Into, Dredging, or Otherwise Altering the Submerged Lands; or Constructing, Placing, or Abandoning Any Structure, Material, or Other Matter on the Submerged Lands This activity is a regulated activity (i.e., allowed only with a permit) in PMNM under Presidential Proclamation 8031. In the MEA, Presidential Proclamation 9478 prohibits this type of activity, except when conducted for the use of scientific instruments, which is allowed only with a permit, subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretaries deem appropriate. In the sanctuary, these activities are prohibited unless conducted pursuant to a sanctuary permit. In the Outer Sanctuary Zone, such a permit may only be issued for scientific instruments. 11. Prohibition on Removing, Moving, Taking, Harvesting, Possessing, Injuring, Disturbing, or Damaging; or Attempting To Remove, Move, Take, Harvest, Possess, Injure, Disturb, or Damage Any Living or Nonliving Sanctuary Resource These activities are prohibited unless conducted pursuant to a sanctuary permit, consistent with the presidential proclamations establishing the Monument. 12. Prohibition on Attracting Any Living Sanctuary Resource This activity is prohibited unless conducted pursuant to a sanctuary permit. This prohibition is consistent with a regulated activity identified in Presidential Proclamation 8031 for PMNM. This prohibition is new in the area of sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA. Prohibiting this activity is intended to address the potential for harassment and disturbance from human interactions with living sanctuary resources. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 13. Prohibition on Touching Coral, Living or Dead This activity is prohibited unless conducted pursuant to a sanctuary permit. This prohibition is consistent with a regulated activity (i.e., allowed only with a permit) identified in Presidential Proclamation 8031 for PMNM. This prohibition would be new for the area of sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA. However, prohibition 10 (above) effectively includes this activity, as touching coral is considered a disturbance which may cause injury or damage. Therefore, regulating this activity in the Outer Sanctuary Zone is primarily a technical addition which provides clarity to the public and resource managers. VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 14. Prohibition on Swimming, Snorkeling, or Closed or Open Circuit SCUBA Diving These activities are prohibited unless conducted pursuant to a sanctuary permit. This prohibition is consistent with a regulated activity identified in Presidential Proclamation 8031 for any Special Preservation Area or the Midway Atoll Special Management Area. This prohibition would be new for areas of PMNM that fall outside of any Special Preservation Area or the Midway Atoll Special Management Area, and for the MEA. Expanding this regulated activity to the entire area of the proposed sanctuary allows NOAA to ensure that all in-water activities are done in compliance with the permit findings criteria and requirements, and are consistent with the care and management of sanctuary resources. 15. Prohibition on Discharging or Depositing Any Material or Other Matter Into the Sanctuary, or Discharging or Depositing Any Material or Other Matter Outside of the Sanctuary That Subsequently Enters the Sanctuary and Injures or Has the Potential To Injure Any Resources of the Sanctuary, With Exceptions These activities are prohibited unless conducted pursuant to a sanctuary permit. This prohibition is consistent with regulated activities identified in Presidential Proclamation 8031 for PMNM. The sanctuary regulations provide an exception to this activity, for ‘‘discharge incidental to vessel operations such as approved marine sanitation device effluent, cooling water, and engine exhaust’’. Within Special Preservation Areas or the Midway Atoll Special Management Area, discharge is limited to ‘‘vessel engine cooling water, weather deck runoff, and vessel engine exhaust’’. The exceptions to this otherwise regulated activity must be conducted in accordance with other Federal statutes and regulations, such as section 312 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, (FWPCA), 33 U.S.C. 1321 et seq. In addition, and consistent with exceptions identified in Presidential Proclamation 8031 for PMNM, the sanctuary regulations provide an exception for ‘‘fish, fish parts, or chumming materials (bait) used in or resulting from lawful fishing activity, provided that such discharge or deposit is during the conduct of lawful fishing activity within the sanctuary’’. While this prohibition is technically new for the area of the sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA, Presidential Proclamation 9478 effectively includes PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 4867 this activity. Regulating this activity for the Outer Sanctuary Zone provides clarity to the public and resource managers. Further, the prohibition on discharges within or into the sanctuary is provided in recognition that various substances can be discharged from vessels or from infrastructure or individuals along the shoreline that can harm sanctuary resources or qualities. Establishing a cohesive regulatory framework across the sanctuary would benefit sanctuary resources and sanctuary users. 16. Prohibition on Anchoring a Vessel This activity is prohibited unless conducted pursuant to a sanctuary permit. While this activity may be permitted via a sanctuary permit, anchoring on living or dead coral may never be permitted, as noted above under prohibition 5. NOAA is regulating anchoring a vessel for consistency with a regulated activity identified in Presidential Proclamation 8031 for PMNM and because there is the potential for sanctuary resources, other than corals, to be impacted by anchoring. This prohibition is new for the area of the sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA. NOAA is including this prohibition on anchoring a vessel throughout the sanctuary to provide clarity to the public, resource managers, and enforcement personnel that all users of the sanctuary are subject to the same prohibition on anchoring a vessel unless conducted pursuant to a sanctuary permit. H. Exemptions for Emergencies Consistent with existing management of this area, the prohibitions for the sanctuary would not apply to any activity necessary to respond to emergencies that threaten life, property, or the environment, or to activities necessary for law enforcement purposes. I. U.S. Armed Forces Exemption Consistent with existing management of this area, NOAA provides a broad exemption to allow activities and exercises of the U.S. Armed Forces, including those carried out by the U.S. Coast Guard. NOAA recognizes that this broad exemption is necessary to ensure military readiness for the Department of Defense to conduct existing training, operations, and military readiness activities in the area of the sanctuary. The United States military has been able to maintain readiness and conduct training and other operations in other national marine sanctuaries based on similar broad exemptions. All activities and exercises of the Armed Forces shall be carried out in a E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 4868 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations manner that avoids, to the extent practicable and consistent with operational requirements, adverse impacts on sanctuary resources and qualities. For any actions of the Armed Forces that are likely to destroy, cause the loss of, or injure sanctuary resources, the Armed Forces must comply with the Interagency Cooperation requirements outlined in section 304(d) of the NMSA, regardless of whether those actions are exempted from the sanctuary’s prohibitions. J. Exemption for Non-Commercial Fishing NOAA exempts non-commercial fishing authorized under the MSA in the Outer Sanctuary Zone from needing a sanctuary permit for certain regulated activities provided under paragraph (a)(9) through (12), and (a)(14) in the final rule, provided that certain requirements are satisfied. Those requirements are that the fish harvested, either in whole or in part: (1) are not intended to enter commerce and shall not enter commerce through sale, barter, or trade, and that the resource is managed sustainably; and (2) are not intended to be sold and shall not be sold for any purposes, including, but not limited to, cost-recovery. In addition, the exempted activities under paragraph (a)(9) through (12), and (a)(14) must only be conducted as incidental to and necessary to conduct lawful non-commercial fishing activity. NOAA will prepare a separate proposed rule under the MSA, which shall serve as the primary mechanism for authorizing non-commercial fishing activities in the Outer Sanctuary Zone. NOAA will periodically evaluate the effect of non-commercial fishing activities on sanctuary resources. Such evaluations would take into consideration the best scientific information available and evaluate whether additional actions are necessary for the proper care and management of sanctuary resources, including fishery resources, consistent with goals and objectives of the sanctuary. This exemption only applies to the Outer Sanctuary Zone. K. Sanctuary Permit Procedures and Criteria ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 1. Sanctuary General Permits NOAA provides the authority to issue sanctuary general permits to allow certain activities that would otherwise violate prohibitions in paragraphs (a)(9) through (15). The sanctuary permitting system was developed to allow for integration with the Monument permitting system, to ensure a VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 continued joint permitting system administered by Monument comanagers. NOAA may, in cooperation with the Monument co-trustees, modify the existing memorandum of agreement or develop a new memorandum of agreement to add further clarification on joint permitting. National marine sanctuary programwide regulations at 15 CFR 922.30 describe various purposes for which a sanctuary general permit can be issued. Three of these which would apply to this sanctuary are: • Research—activities that constitute scientific research or scientific monitoring of a national marine sanctuary resource or quality; • Education—activities that enhance public awareness, understanding, or appreciation of a national marine sanctuary or national marine sanctuary resource or quality; and • Management—activities that assist in managing a national marine sanctuary. NOAA adds two additional permit categories to 15 CFR 922.30 under which a sanctuary general permit could be issued in the sanctuary: • Native Hawaiian Practices— activities that allow for Native Hawaiian practices within the sanctuary; and • Recreation—recreational activities within the sanctuary, but limited to the Midway Atoll Special Management Area. The Native Hawaiian Practices general permit category is consistent with the types of activities permitted for the PMNM. Presidential Proclamation 9478 provided Native Hawaiian practices as a regulated activity. For consistency in management across the proposed sanctuary, and to protect sanctuary resources while facilitating responsible user access, NOAA would apply this general permit category across the sanctuary. The Recreation general permit category is consistent with the types of activities permitted for PMNM, specifically within the Midway Atoll Special Management Area. For consistency with existing Monument management, this general permit category would continue to be limited to recreational activities within the Midway Atoll Special Management Area. The general regulations in 15 CFR part 922, subpart D relating to the permit application process, review procedures, amendments, and other permitting stipulations would apply. These national permitting regulations include a list of factors NOAA considers in deciding whether or not to issue the permit, such as whether the activity PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 must be conducted within the sanctuary, and whether the activity will be compatible with the primary objective of protection of sanctuary resources and qualities. NOAA will be able to impose specific terms and conditions through a permit as appropriate. The general regulations’ permitting review criteria is largely consistent with the permitting findings established by Presidential Proclamation 8031 for PMNM, and implemented through 50 CFR 404.11. In addition to permit review procedures and evaluation criteria in 15 CFR 922.33, some additional permit review criteria apply in the sanctuary, including additional criteria specific to Native Hawaiian Practices permits and Recreation permits. NOAA is providing these additional permit criteria in 15 CFR 922.245 to be consistent with the permit criteria for PMNM. 2. Special Use Permits NOAA has the authority to issue special use permits (SUPs) in national marine sanctuaries, as established by section 310 of the NMSA (16 U.S.C. 1441) and by 15 CFR 922 subpart D. SUPs can be used to authorize specific activities in a sanctuary if such authorization is necessary to establish conditions of access to, and use of, any sanctuary resource or to promote public use and understanding of a sanctuary resource. Section 310 of the NMSA establishes four requirements for SUPs: (1) activities must be compatible with the purposes for which the sanctuary is designated and with protection of sanctuary resources; (2) SUPs shall not authorize the conduct of any activity for a period of more than five years unless otherwise renewed; (3) activities carried out under the SUP must be conducted in a manner that does not destroy, cause the loss of, or injure sanctuary resources; and (4) permittees are required to purchase and maintain comprehensive general liability insurance, or post an equivalent bond, against claims arising out of activities conducted under the SUP and to agree to hold the United States harmless against such claims. The NMSA authorizes NOAA to assess and collect fees for the conduct of any activity under a SUP, including costs incurred, or expected to be incurred, in issuing the permit and the fair market value use of sanctuary resources. Implementing regulations at 15 CFR 922.35 provide additional detail on assessment of fees for SUPs. Like with sanctuary general permits, NOAA can place conditions on SUPs specific to the activity being permitted. NOAA shall provide appropriate public notice before E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 identifying any category of activity subject to a special use permit. NOAA is not adding any new SUP category as part of this designation. In evaluating applications for special use permits, NOAA will consider all applicable permitting requirements, including permitting procedures and criteria under the Monument’s existing management framework. For example, certain activities may be subject to the requirements of special ocean use permits, as authorized by Presidential Proclamation 8031, and issued by Monument managers in the PMNM via 50 CFR 404.11. Special ocean use permit requirements were modeled after the NMSA’s authority for SUPs, but also include a few additional requirements. For example, one of the requirements for special use permits outside Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge is that the activity does not involve the use of a commercial passenger vessel. For special use permits in Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, an additional requirement is that the Director of the USFWS or their designee determines that the activity is compatible with the purposes for which the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge was designated. 3. Sustenance Fishing NOAA may authorize sustenance fishing outside of any Special Preservation Area as a term or condition of any sanctuary permit. Sustenance fishing in the Midway Atoll Special Management Area shall not be allowed unless the activity has been determined by the Director of the USFWS or their designee to be compatible with the purposes for which the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge was established. Sustenance fishing is fishing for bottomfish or pelagic species in which all catch is consumed within the sanctuary. Sustenance Fishing is allowed incidental to an activity permitted in the PMNM under Presidential Proclamation 8031, and in regulations at 50 CFR part 404. Sustenance fishing was not specifically identified in Presidential Proclamation 9478 governing the MEA, but is allowable, consistent with proper care and management of monument objects. For consistency in management and permitting, NOAA is allowing for this activity as a term or condition of a general permit or special use permit. L. Vessel Monitoring System To complement existing management and provide consistency across the entirety of the sanctuary, an owner or operator of a vessel that has been issued a general permit or special use permit VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 under 15 CFR part 922 subpart D must ensure that such vessel has a NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (OLE)— approved Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) on board when operating within the sanctuary. Presidential Proclamation 8031 requires an owner or operator of a vessel that has been issued a permit for accessing the PMNM to have an OLE— approved VMS on board. Such a requirement was not included in Presidential Proclamation 9478. For consistency in permitting, and for the reasons identified below, NOAA implements this requirement across the sanctuary. This requirement supports monitoring and surveillance, enforcement, and other incidental uses, consistent with the long-standing history of using vessel monitoring systems in the remote and vast area of the sanctuary, beginning with Executive Order 13178 in 2000. In directing the Secretary of Commerce to manage the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve, section 5(b) of Executive Order 13178, indicated that priority management issues and actions must include enforcement and surveillance, including the use of new technologies, as well as the use of vessel monitoring systems, if warranted. The 2005 Final Reserve Operations Plan included an Enforcement Action Plan with strategies to investigate innovative technology that would be effective for enforcement and surveillance activities within this large, remote area, as well as to implement VMS. In 2006, Presidential Proclamation 8031, as noted above, required an OLEapproved VMS on vessels with permits to access the PMNM. VMS is currently being used in the PMNM and is part of the Monument Management Plan’s Enforcement Action Plan. The Monument Management Plan highlights, as an example, that when the 85-foot longliner Swordman I, carrying more than 6,000 gallons of diesel fuel and hydraulic oil, ran aground at Pearl and Hermes Reef in 2000, vessel monitoring system technology allowed agents to track the disaster and quickly send out equipment for an extensive cleanup. Further, the Monument Management Plan recognizes that the Monument’s remote location presents unique surveillance and enforcement challenges, which a mandatory vessel monitoring system is critical to addressing. In designating a sanctuary in the remote and vast area of the Monument and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve, NOAA recognizes the need to overcome these PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 4869 natural barriers to surveillance and enforcement through the use of VMS. M. Scientific Exploration and Research by the Department of Commerce and the Department of the Interior Presidential Proclamation 9478, which designated the MEA, stipulates that the prohibitions required by the proclamation ‘‘shall not restrict scientific exploration or research activities by or for the Secretaries and nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to require a permit or other authorization from the other Secretary for their respective scientific activities.’’ Presidential Proclamation 9478 further highlights the significant scientific value of the MEA and underscores the opportunities for research and discovery to occur in that area, including understanding the impacts of climate change on deep-sea communities and identifying new species. NOAA exempts the Department of Commerce’s and Department of the Interior’s scientific exploration or research activities from the sanctuary’s prohibitions and permitting requirements within the Outer Sanctuary Zone to be consistent with Presidential Proclamation 9478. However, such activities must still comply with other Federal laws such as the NEPA, the Endangered Species Act, the National Marine Sanctuaries Act section 304(d), and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. N. Sunken Military Craft NOAA is also adding language regarding the Sunken Military Craft Act of 2004 (SMCA; Pub. L. 108–375, Title XIV, sections 1401 to 1408; 10 U.S.C. 113 note) that acknowledges that sunken military craft in the sanctuary will continue to be administered by the respective Secretary concerned pursuant to the SMCA. NOAA will enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the appropriate agencies regarding collaboration on implementing the SMCA. See section VI.H for more information. O. Emergency Regulations NOAA is not including any sanctuaryspecific regulation to allow for development of emergency regulations to address urgent threats to sanctuary resources. Rather, the emergency regulation provision included in the regulations of general applicability, which apply to all national marine sanctuaries (see 15 CFR 922.7), would also apply to Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary. Emergency regulations are used when there is an imminent risk to sanctuary resources and a temporary regulation or E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 4870 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations prohibition is necessary to prevent or minimize the destruction or loss of those resources, or otherwise minimize the imminent risk of such destruction, loss, or injury. P. Other Conforming Amendments The regulations related to National Marine Sanctuary Permitting, 15 CFR part 922, subpart D, are amended so that the regulations are accurate and up-todate. The modified sections to conform to adding a new sanctuary are as follows: • Section 922.30 National Marine Sanctuary general permits; • Section 922.33 Review procedures and evaluation; and • Section 922.37 Appeals of permitting decisions. Notably, NOAA amends 15 CFR 922.37 ‘‘Appeals of permitting decisions,’’ to reflect that the general appeals process for sanctuary permits will not apply to permit applications for the sanctuary. Consistent with the current interagency permitting system that has been in place for the Monument, there would be no appeals process for the sanctuary. Should a permit applicant want NOAA and the other agencies to reconsider a permitting decision, they would need to file a new permit application. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 V. Response to Comments All comments were considered by NOAA and the State and, where appropriate, modifications were made to the final EIS, sanctuary management plan, and sanctuary rule. NOAA and the State’s responses to comments address significant issues and concerns raised by members of the public, government agencies, stakeholder groups, non-profit organizations, and Kānaka 1Ōiwi community groups. For a full scope of all of the comments received on the draft designation documents, including the draft EIS and the draft management plan, and their responses, please review the final EIS Appendix K. This final rule includes NOAA’s responses to comments that address the significant issues raised in public comments within the scope of the proposed rule specifically, and offer additional information about why certain changes were made to the rule, the terms of designation, or the regulations. The final rule retains the numbering/naming of the comment from the final EIS Appendix K so readers can track the comments that have been included in this preamble and more efficiently find other related comments/responses in the Appendix K that have not been included in this preamble. As such, VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 cross-references have been retained here for completeness. 1. A–1 Comment: The majority of comments NOAA received supported the proposed sanctuary designation, including Alternative 1 (NOAA’s Preferred Alternative), and encouraged NOAA to proceed with the designation process. Commenters who support the designation cited reasons including: • Additional regulations, protections, enforcement, and programmatic and legal benefits for Papahānaumokuākea under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act; • Enhancing long-term protections for biological, cultural, and historical resources; • Comprehensive and coordinated management of the marine areas of Papahānaumokuākea; • Preserving Native Hawaiian culture, traditional practices, sacredness of waters, and connections to place for current and future generations; • Safeguarding marine biodiversity; coral reefs, pelagic, and deep-ocean ecosystems; and endemic, threatened, and endangered species; • Regulating, mitigating, or preventing threats such as invasive species, overfishing, illegal fishing, deep-sea mining, military activities, pollution, oil spills, marine debris, erosion, and climate change; • Additional sources of funding to support operations, research, emergency response, citizen science, education, and outreach; and • Opportunities for recreation and tourism; Response: NOAA agrees that these are some of the main benefits of designating the marine areas of the Monument as a national marine sanctuary. NOAA notes that many of these comments specifically indicate a preference for Alternative 1, and NOAA has considered this in carrying Alternative 1 forward in the final EIS as the Final Agency-Preferred Alternative. 2. A–2 Comment: A minority of commenters expressed opposition to sanctuary designation, citing concerns that designating a sanctuary: • Is an overreach by the Federal government; • Is an act of colonialism and/or infringes on the rights of Indigenous peoples; • Would come at a cost to Native Hawaiian, American Samoan, and/or Pacific Islander well-being, including loss of the ability to practice cultural traditions and connections to ocean resources; • Would limit access to the ocean and resources for food, livelihood, and cultural sustenance, and limit PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 Indigenous rights and their ability to freely fish in local waters; • Would decrease the amount of fishing waters across the Pacific; • Would lead to overfishing; • Adds unnecessary layers of bureaucracy, as the existing Monument management and protections are extensive and sufficient for the area, and that if new protections/management is needed, these should be enacted through the Monument; • Would relinquish the Monument title and co-management framework; • Would weaken current protections, and allow the Department of Commerce to violate protections, opening the doors to deep-sea mining and recreational tourism, and taking away human and financial resources needed to manage the area; and • Would be redundant of current management of the Monument, and therefore unnecessary. Some commenters also expressed that they felt current Monument management to be poor, or that current management capacity is lacking; and that a sanctuary would not improve this. Response: Through the public sanctuary designation process, and from public input received during scoping and the proposed designation stage, NOAA has determined that this action responds to the need to address threats to and discrepancies in management of nationally significant resources. NOAA has also determined that the current management regime will benefit from additional regulatory tools, as well as the first set of implementing regulations for the MEA. Chapter 2 of the final EIS and Section I.B of the final rule preamble describes the purpose and need for the sanctuary. NOAA respects the views of the commenters, including those who expressed concern that sanctuary designation is an overreach by the Federal government; is an act of colonialism; would impact the livelihood of Pacific Islanders and/or limit Indigenous rights. NOAA seeks to support the rights of Kānaka 1Ōiwi and Pacific Islanders, and to support biocultural conservation and restoration work by growing collective kuleana and affirming respect and reciprocity for the place and people. The sanctuary management plan (final EIS Appendix A) objectives include managing the area as a sacred site consistent with Kānaka 1Ōiwi traditional knowledge, management concepts, and principles articulated within Mai Ka Pō Mai. Kānaka 1Ōiwi culture is foundational in the co-management legacy of Papahānaumokuākea (see final EIS, sections 1.2.4 and 4.5.1), and the E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations designation aims to ensure ecological integrity and achieve strong, long-term protection and perpetuation of Northwestern Hawaiian Island ecosystems, Kānaka 1Ōiwi culture, and maritime heritage resources for current and future generations. Native Hawaiian access will continue under sanctuary designation. See also the responses to comments C.1, C.2, and E.7. Regarding commenters who expressed concerns with the impact of sanctuary designation on the existing Monument, existing regulations, and or existing management of the area, see also the responses to E.1 and E.2. Regarding commenters who expressed concerns with the impact of sanctuary designation on fishing, see also the comments D.1, D.3, and D.5. NOAA also recognizes that some comments raise concerns that are outside the scope of this designation, including the ongoing process to designate a proposed national marine sanctuary in the Pacific Remote Islands. The underlying concerns of these comments were still considered in the context of Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary. Detailed responses to specific points of concern and opposition are addressed in the subsequent responses. 3. B–1 Comment: Commenters expressed opposition to for-profit activities in the sanctuary. One commenter recommended that no human activity should be allowed in the sanctuary. Response: The sanctuary regulations were drafted to supplement and complement existing management of the area. The existing Monument management regime allows for some forprofit activities such as professional film-making, and activities such as wildlife management, research, and Native Hawaiian practices. All are subject to permitting requirements. Consistent with the existing management of the area, NOAA will allow for regulated access to the sanctuary for these types of activities. As in the Monument, in order to receive a permit for a regulated activity, a number of findings criteria need to be met, including that the proposed activity is conducted consistent with the primary objective of protection of sanctuary resources. 4. B–2 Comment: Commenters expressed concern regarding access to Papahānaumokuākea, noting that the area can currently only be experienced by a select group of scientists, Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners, and wealthy individuals. Response: The sanctuary regulations and permit categories were drafted to supplement and complement existing VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 management of the area. Consistent with the presidential proclamations designating the PMNM and MEA, and the Monument implementing regulations at 50 CFR part 404, NOAA will allow for regulated access. Anyone may apply for a permit to access the sanctuary. There are six categories of permitted activities: research, recreation, education, Native Hawaiian practices, conservation and management, and special use. In addition, a vessel may pass without interruption through the sanctuary without requiring a permit as long as the vessel does not stop or engage in prohibited activities within the sanctuary. Additionally, the sanctuary management plan describes strategies to engage and support diverse communities who care for Papahānaumokuākea, including Indigenous and underserved communities. NOAA recognizes the constraints imposed by the vastness and remote nature of the proposed sanctuary (nearly 300 miles at its closest point from the main Hawaiian Islands), and therefore strives to provide education and outreach that brings the place to the people. Through the Mokupāpapa Discovery Center and collaborations with other interpretive centers, organizations, business agencies, and others, NOAA has expanded a network serving both local, regional, and international audiences. 5. B–3 Comment: Commenters provided recommendations that permits be easy to acquire through a streamlined process to minimize barriers and reduce redundant reviews under various authorities and regulations. One commenter suggested that the process to acquire a sanctuary or Monument Native Hawaiian practices permit, specifically, should be prioritized and streamlined. Response: The Monument joint permitting process has been in place and permits have been issued by the cotrustees since 2007. The sanctuary includes a permitting system modeled after the existing Monument permitting system, and was developed to allow for integration with the Monument permitting system, to ensure continued joint permitting administered by Monument co-trustees. See final EIS Section 3.3.1 for an updated description of the permitting process. Through sanctuary designation, NOAA strives to conduct seamless, integrated management, such that sanctuary permits, including Native Hawaiian practices permits, will go through the same streamlined process as currently exists for the Monument. PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 4871 6. B–4 Comment: Commenters expressed concerns regarding activities that take place in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands under claims of innocent passage, and requested that all activities in the area of the proposed sanctuary comply with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which the U.S. recognizes as customary international law, and applicable international treaties. Response: In the preamble of the proposed rule, NOAA specified that the proposed access and ship reporting regulations would be applied in accordance with generally recognized principles of international law, in accordance with sections 305(a) and 307(k) of the NMSA and the NMSA Regulations of General Applicability at 15 CFR 922.1(b). That is, no regulation shall apply to or be enforced against a person who is not a citizen, national, or resident alien of the United States unless in accordance with generally recognized principles of international law. In accordance with 15 CFR 922.1(b), NOAA has long interpreted the text of NMSA Section 305(a) as encompassing international law, including customary international law. In the preamble of this final rule, NOAA has clarified its intention that all regulations will be applied in accordance with generally recognized principles of international law, as well as in accordance with treaties, conventions, and other agreements to which the United States is a party. 7. B–5 Comment: A commenter provided a recommendation that the IMO’s designation of the Monument as a PSSA apply to the MEA. The commenter also recommended that NOAA should determine, as part of the sanctuary designation process, if additional regulatory and management controls are necessary. Response: The IMO process for designating an area as a PSSA is outside the scope of this action. If the U.S. Government determines at a future time that designation of some or all of the Monument as a PSSA is warranted, the IMO process would remain available. Through sanctuary designation, NOAA will implement the ship reporting system (CORAL SHIPREP), which was adopted by the IMO as an associated protective measure to the designation of the Monument as a PSSA. The ship reporting system’s reporting area extends outward 10 nautical miles from the PSSA boundary, as designated by the IMO, and therefore includes some portions of the MEA waters. After thorough analysis, NOAA concluded that additional regulatory measures are not necessary at this time, beyond the E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 4872 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations sanctuary regulations for ship reporting, access, and prohibited or otherwise regulated activities. Section IV.F of this final rule preamble provides details of the ship reporting system. 8. B–6 Comment: Commenters expressed support for access for recreational activities, including snorkeling and scuba diving; and allowing opportunities for the public to interact with Papahānaumokuākea in a safe and responsible manner. Commenters stated that allowing access for recreational activities may lead to increased awareness and support for the National Marine Sanctuary System. Commenters also provided recommendations for regulating recreational activities. Other commenters expressed concern for the potential negative impacts to resources from allowing visitation, recreation, and tourism activities in the sanctuary, specifically Midway Atoll. A few commenters opposed recreational access to the sanctuary, noting that access should be limited to research and conservation activities and/or to the Midway Atoll Special Management Area. Response: For the sanctuary, consistent with existing regulations for PMNM, recreational activity will be defined as activities conducted for personal enjoyment that do not result in the extraction of sanctuary resources and that do not involve a fee-for-service transaction. This includes, but is not limited to, wildlife viewing, scuba diving, snorkeling, and boating. Recreation can provide significant educational opportunities, build constituencies, and provide assistance to natural resource managers. However, these activities can also lead to wildlife disturbance, habitat degradation, and pollution. It is a goal of the Monument to prevent, avoid, or minimize negative human impacts associated with recreation by allowing access only for those activities that do not threaten the natural character or biological integrity of the Monument or Native Hawaiian cultural, historic, or maritime heritage resources. Midway Atoll Special Management Area is the only area of the Monument where recreational activities are permitted. Thus, while the sanctuary will allow for recreational activities via a permit, permits will only be issued for the Midway Atoll Special Management Area within the sanctuary, in coordination with the Monument Management Board and consistent with permitting for the existing Monument. Consistent with permit criteria for recreational activities within the Monument, recreation permits will not VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 be issued for activities associated with any for-hire operation or for activities that involve extractive use. 9. B–7 Comment: Commenters expressed support for allowing a fee-forservice transaction for public visitation and recreational activities at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, and pointed out the existing authority of the USFWS to charge fees for public visitation. Commenters requested that the EIS recognize the authority of the USFWS to charge fees for services. Response: Consistent with existing permit criteria and regulations for recreational activities within the Monument, recreation permits will not be issued for activities associated with any for-hire operation, and recreational activities are defined as activities conducted for personal enjoyment that do not result in the extraction of sanctuary resources and that do not involve a fee-for-service transaction. However, NOAA acknowledges that the USFWS has the authority to charge fees for services including public visitation (50 CFR part 25 Subpart E; Refuge Rules and Policies). Sanctuary designation will not change this authority, and the USFWS will still be able to charge fees for services, including public visitation to Midway Atoll. See also the response to E.3. The EIS has been revised to acknowledge that the USFWS has the authority to charge fees for services including public visitation. See sections 3.2 and 4.6.2 of the final EIS. 10. B–8 Comment: Commenters requested that the USFWS consider a visitation program at Midway Atoll; and/or expressed support for recreation and visitation to Midway Atoll. Comments also requested that the final EIS describe the sanctuary permit process for public visitation and recreational activities at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. Response: A visitation program to Midway Atoll is outside the scope of this action. NOAA will share these comments with the USFWS, a cooperating agency for this action, who has operated a Visitor Services Program for Midway Atoll. The USFWS’ Midway Atoll Comprehensive Master Plan (2022) affirms the goals, objectives, and strategies of the previous 2008 Midway Atoll Visitor Services Plan, and USFWS’ intent to implement a Visitor Services Program. 11. B–9 Comment: A commenter suggested that standards for permitting should be strengthened significantly, prioritizing Native Hawaiian practices without opening the door to other types of activities. PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 Response: Consistent with the presidential proclamations designating PMNM and the MEA, and PMNM implementing regulations at 50 CFR part 404, NOAA will allow for regulated access to the sanctuary. The sanctuary regulations include a permitting system modeled after the existing Monument permitting system, which was developed to allow for integration with the Monument permitting system to ensure continued joint permitting administered by the Monument Management Board (MMB). The final rule adopts the same permit criteria as currently required for Monument permits, including the additional criteria for Native Hawaiian practices and recreation permits. For additional information regarding Native Hawaiian practices permitting, see the responses to B.14 and C.1. 12. B–10 Comment: Commenters recommended that NOAA hold mandatory public hearings for all permit applications, that there should be a permanent public record for all permits granted, and that there should be no multiple-year permits allowed. Response: The sanctuary regulations include a permitting system modeled after the existing Monument permitting system, and was developed to allow for integration with the Monument permitting system to ensure continued joint permitting administered by MMB. Therefore, NOAA intends to continue with the existing public notification process for the Monument, which does not include mandatory public hearings for all permit applicants. Instead, the existing permit system for the Monument includes a Permit Application Unified Public Notification Policy to engage and inform the public of activities proposed to occur within the Monument. Posting of a permit application does not equate to permit approval. After posting, each application is thoroughly reviewed by the MMB. Final permitted activities may differ from the proposed activities. Some of the public notification practices for the existing Monument include: • Within 10 calendar days of receipt of an application, a summary of an applicant’s proposed activities is posted for public viewing. • Within 40 calendar days of receipt of an application, a full permit application is posted for public viewing. • Permit applications that include proposed activities within the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands State Marine Refuge are also posted to the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) website for seven days prior to the scheduled BLNR meeting as part of the overall BLNR submittal process. The E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations BLNR hearings and review process are open to the public. All information provided in the application is reviewed by the Monument co-trustees to evaluate the potential benefits of the activity, determine whether the proposed methods will achieve the proposed results, evaluate any possible detrimental environmental impacts, and determine if issuance of a permit is appropriate. Factored in is a consideration of whether the timeframe of the proposed action is appropriate. Actions occurring within State waters are subject to a maximum permit duration of one year, while multi-year permits may only be issued outside of State waters. Therefore, consistent with existing management, multi-year permits may be granted in areas of the sanctuary that do not overlap with state waters. Additionally, permits granted are documented within an annual permitted activities report, published by the Monument. Reports for previous years may be viewed on the Permitted Activities Annual Reports website. 13. B–11 Comment: Commenters recommended that independent cumulative impact assessments be required for all permit applications. Response: Permit decisions are Federal actions which are subject to NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. In accordance with NEPA, NOAA considers possible cumulative environmental impacts when considering Federal actions, including a decision of whether to issue a permit. 14. B–12 Comment: Commenters expressed concern that a special use permit would introduce commercial activities. Response: In the Monument, some forms of commercial activity are currently permitted under special ocean use permits. The existing regulations at 50 CFR 404 for PMNM include permit criteria and regulations for special ocean use, which means an activity or use of the Monument that is engaged in to generate revenue or profits for one or more of the persons associated with the activity or use, and does not destroy, cause the loss of, or injure Monument resources. This includes ocean-based ecotourism and other activities such as educational and research activities that are engaged in to generate revenue, but does not include commercial fishing. Likewise, before issuing a SUP in the sanctuary, NOAA will also ensure, among other things, that the requested activity is compatible with the purposes for which the sanctuary is designated and with protection of sanctuary resources, and is conducted in a manner VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 that does not destroy, cause the loss of, or injure sanctuary resources (16 U.S.C. 1441(c)). NOAA can place conditions on SUPs specific to the activity being permitted. Individual permit applications that would require a SUP are also reviewed with respect to all other pertinent regulations and statutes, including NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and any required consultations, permits, or authorizations. Accordingly, there are sufficient safeguards in place for any activity proposed for a SUP in the sanctuary, whether of a commercial or non-commercial nature. In addition, NOAA is not proposing any new SUP categories as part of this designation. In order to do so, NOAA would be required to provide appropriate public notice before identifying a new category of activity subject to a SUP (16 U.S.C. 1441(b)). 15. B–13 Comment: Commenters asked why the sanctuary permit would not allow for appeals of permit decisions. Response: The permitting system for the sanctuary is modeled after the existing Monument permitting system. The permitting system would not supplant the joint permitting system for the Monument, and was developed to ensure a continued joint permitting system administered by the MMB. The existing permit system for the Monument does not include a process to appeal a permit decision. Instead, a permit applicant may seek reconsideration of a permitting decision by filing a new permit application that redresses the issue(s) in the initial application that caused the denial. To ensure consistency with the existing permit system for the Monument, the National Marine Sanctuary Program regulations at 15 CFR 922.37 for appeals of permitting decisions will not apply to Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary. This will ensure that permit decisions are not made solely by NOAA, but in consideration with the other Monument co-trustees. See the final EIS, Section 3.3.1 and Section IV.P of this final rule for discussion of appeals of permitting decisions. 16. B–14 Comment: A commenter stated that the proposed rule’s definition of ‘‘Native Hawaiian Practices’’ provides a solid foundation, but is concerned that ‘‘Native Hawaiian’’ is not defined. The commenter requested that the definition should narrowly reference indigenous practices and only those practices of the kānaka maoli, who lived and thrived in Hawai1i prior to European and American arrival. Response: NOAA will not define ‘‘Native Hawaiian’’ in the sanctuary PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 4873 regulations because the issuance of Native Hawaiian practices permit is based on evaluating the activity against the permit criteria. To be consistent with the types of activities permitted for the Monument, and allow for an integrated permit process, NOAA will issue Native Hawaiian practices permits based on the same permit review procedures and additional evaluation criteria as those used for the Monument: • The activity is non-commercial and will not involve the sale of any organism or material collected; • The purpose and intent of the activity is appropriate and deemed necessary by traditional standards in the Native Hawaiian culture (pono), and demonstrates an understanding of, and background in, the traditional practice and its associated values and protocols; • The activity benefits the resources of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and the Native Hawaiian community; • The activity supports or advances the perpetuation of traditional knowledge and ancestral connections of Native Hawaiians to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands; and • Any living sanctuary resource harvested under this permit will be consumed or utilized in the sanctuary. The permitting system for the sanctuary is modeled after the existing Monument permitting system. The permitting system will not supplant the joint permitting system for the Monument, and was developed to ensure a continued joint permitting system administered by the MMB. The existing permit system for the Monument does not define Native Hawaiian, and instead provides a specific set of findings criteria for a Native Hawaiian practice permit. The criteria for the Monument Native Hawaiian practice permit were developed following a workshop in 2004 facilitated by Kia1i Kai, a graduate program at the Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies at the University of Hawai1i at Mānoa, collecting input from Native Hawaiian cultural practitioners, fishermen, and others to create criteria for culturally-appropriate activities in Papahānaumokuākea. Presidential Proclamation 8031 subsequently applied these criteria in providing for additional findings for Native Hawaiian practice permits, as did the Monument’s implementing regulations at 50 CFR part 404. However, while Native Hawaiian is not defined in the regulations, the final EIS, recognizes a definition for the term Native Hawaiian per existing Federal law as important background information for the reader. See also the response to C.8. E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 4874 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations 17. B–15 Comment: Commenters requested that wind turbine activity, in addition to mining and exploratory activities related to energy development, be prohibited. Response: Consistent with the presidential proclamations establishing the Monument, NOAA will prohibit exploring for, developing, or producing oil, gas, or minerals to protect sanctuary resources. NOAA will also prohibit ‘‘any energy development activities’’ to further the underlying intent of the prohibition on oil, gas, and mineral development by accounting for technological advances in other forms of energy development. This includes, but is not limited to, wind turbines and exploratory mining activity. 18. B–16 Comment: Commenters requested that submarine activity be prohibited, with several comments specifically requesting prohibitions on military submarine use. Response: Access to the sanctuary, and therefore submarine use within the sanctuary, would be prohibited and thus unlawful except under the following circumstances: for emergency response actions, law enforcement activities, and activities and exercises of the Armed Forces; pursuant to a sanctuary permit; when conducting scientific exploration or research activities by or for the Secretary of Commerce and/or the Secretary of the Interior in the Outer Sanctuary Zone; and when passing through the sanctuary without interruption. Further, all regulations will be applied in accordance with generally recognized principles of international law, as well as in accordance with treaties, conventions, and other agreements to which the United States is a party. No regulation shall apply to or be enforced against a person who is not a citizen, national, or resident alien of the United States (including foreign flag vessels) unless in accordance with international law, or applicable treaties, conventions, and other agreements. The sanctuary regulations allow activities and exercises of the U.S. Armed Forces. This is consistent with the existing management of the Monument, as both Presidential Proclamation 8031 and Presidential Proclamation 9478 provided broad exemptions for activities of the U.S. Armed Forces. However, all activities and exercises of the Armed Forces must be carried out in a manner that avoids, to the extent practicable and consistent with operational requirements, adverse impacts on sanctuary resources and qualities. 19. B–17 Comment: Commenters expressed concern regarding the VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 potential spread of invasive species and diseases from vessel transit and biofouling, and requests that the prohibition on introducing invasive species apply to all vessels, including those passing without interruption. Response: The sanctuary regulations will prohibit introducing or otherwise releasing an introduced species from within or into the sanctuary. The sanctuary regulations would also prohibit discharging or depositing any material or other matter into the sanctuary. These prohibitions are consistent with prohibitions identified in the presidential proclamations establishing the Monument. These prohibitions would apply to all vessels, including those passing without interruption. A vessel may only pass without interruption through the sanctuary without requiring a permit, as long as the vessel does not stop or engage in prohibited activities within the sanctuary. 20. B–18 Comment: Commenters stated that the provisions of Presidential Proclamation 8031, 50 CFR 404, Executive Order 13178 for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve, and the State of Hawai‘i Northwestern Islands Marine Refuge should be applied to the sanctuary regulations for the Monument Expansion Area and the full sanctuary, and specifically the prohibitions regarding fishing. Commenters also stated that Presidential Proclamation 9478 is too weak and provides ‘‘loopholes.’’ Response: In drafting the sanctuary regulations, NOAA reviewed the executive orders, presidential proclamations, and regulations that currently guide Monument management. NOAA adopted the management measures from these benchmarks, and, in a few areas, added to those measures to allow for consistency in regulation and management across the sanctuary. The sanctuary regulations are largely consistent with Executive Order 13178, establishing the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve (Reserve). Where the sanctuary regulations do not align with Executive Order 13178, the regulations comply with other applicable law including Presidential Proclamations 8031 and 9478 establishing PMNM and MEA, respectively, which succeeded the 2000 executive order establishing the Reserve. For example, while Executive Order 13178 sets caps on commercial fishing, the sanctuary regulations prohibit commercial fishing across the sanctuary, consistent with the presidential proclamations. In addition, PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 the MEA’s location outside the reserve, and other applicable law for that area such as Presidential Proclamation 9478, account for differences in management, including for non-commercial fishing. NOAA also considered that while the Monument is managed as a unit, several State and Federal conservation areas exist within it, where specific authorities apply. For example, the State of Hawai1i has primary responsibility for managing the State waters of the Monument, including the State of Hawai1i Northwestern Islands Marine Refuge. These existing authorities will still remain in effect. The State of Hawai1i also served as a cooperating agency for the EIS, allowing consideration and input into the draft documents. Further, as the sanctuary overlaps with State waters, the State will co-manage the sanctuary with NOAA, and the governor of Hawai1i will also review NOAA’s designation documents before the sanctuary designation is final. 21. B–19 Comment: A commenter expressed support for the prohibition on altering the seabed by modification or placement of materials, except for scientific instruments, providing new protections for the limited and sensitive habitats of the Outer Sanctuary Zone. The commenter noted that access through permitting would allow managers to review methodologies and monitor permittees, and that while minimal user contact with the seafloor occurs or is anticipated in the Outer Sanctuary Zone, these resources are rare and extremely vulnerable to disturbance. Response: NOAA agrees. In the MEA, Presidential Proclamation 9478 prohibits this type of activity, except for when conducted for the use of scientific instruments, which is allowed only with a permit, subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretaries of Commerce and Interior deem appropriate. Therefore, in the sanctuary, these activities are prohibited unless conducted pursuant to a sanctuary permit, and in the Outer Sanctuary Zone, such a permit may only be issued for scientific instruments. 22. B–20 Comment: A commenter expressed concern for the prohibition on anchoring a vessel, noting that for safety reasons, there are some scenarios when a vessel should be able to anchor. Response: Anchoring a vessel is prohibited unless conducted pursuant to a sanctuary permit. While this activity may be permitted via a sanctuary permit, anchoring on living or dead coral may never be permitted. NOAA will regulate anchoring a vessel for consistency with a regulated activity E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations identified in Presidential Proclamation 8031 for PMNM and because there is the potential for sanctuary resources, other than corals, to be impacted by anchoring. This prohibition is new for the area of the sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA. NOAA recognizes that there may be scenarios where anchoring a vessel is necessary for safety. Consistent with existing management of this area, the prohibitions for the sanctuary, including the prohibitions on anchoring, will not apply to any activity necessary to respond to emergencies that threaten life, property, or the environment, or to activities necessary for law enforcement purposes. 23. B–21 Comment: Commenters expressed concerns regarding the sufficiency of enforcement in the sanctuary and the need for improved monitoring and enforcement to protect sanctuary resources. Some commenters specifically pointed out the need for increased monitoring of pollution to prevent entanglement of marine life. Suggestions and recommendations included improved or expanded monitoring and surveillance, use of technology to aid enforcement including Automatic Information Service and satellite monitoring, promulgation of strict regulations, dedicated funding, a risk assessment framework for vulnerable ecosystems, and increased collaboration with the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service and the State of Hawai1i for satellite management. Commenters also requested that enforcement be conducted by traditional vessels or new technologies to eliminate noise pollution that may impact marine life. Response: With sanctuary designation, the NMSA provides various regulatory tools and authorities for the protection of sanctuary resources. This includes the authority to conduct enforcement activities; assess civil penalties for violations of sanctuary regulations or permits; impose liability for destruction, loss of, or injury to sanctuary resources and provide natural resource damage assessment authorities for destruction, loss of, or injury to any sanctuary resource; and issue emergency response regulations. In addition, consistent with the existing management of the Monument, the sanctuary implements regulations requiring VMS units for an owner or operator of a vessel that has been issued a permit, as well as a ship reporting system for vessels that pass without interruption through the reporting areas. Both regulatory tools are intended to increase monitoring, in order to assist enforcement activities by the U.S. Coast VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 Guard and NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement and further the protection of sanctuary resources. Additionally, as described in the sanctuary management plan (final EIS, Appendix A), NOAA will continue to monitor ecosystems and seek out and develop new tools and technologies for resource protection and monitoring (Strategy 1.2, Strategy 2.2, Strategy 2.3); and to work with the existing interagency Law Enforcement Coordination Team to enhance communication and coordination among enforcement personnel in order to facilitate responses to incidents and uphold sanctuary regulations and policies (Strategy 1.9). NOAA will continue to actively work and advocate inside the ecosystem protection framework established for the Monument to minimize risks and damages to sanctuary resources. For example, ongoing research aims to identify derelict fishing gear and other marine debris through unique spectral signatures that can be visualized from space to record locations and provide that information back to partners for removal. This technology has the potential to greatly reduce the effort to locate these hazards so that they can be removed from the environment. Some broad risk assessment investigations have been conducted by the Monument co-trustees (e.g., the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument Climate Change Vulnerability Analysis (2014)), however, much more remains to be done. Challenges include the vast geographic extent of ecosystems and seasonal access limitations. Conducting such assessments will require substantial time, as well as the participation of all Monument co-trustee agencies. Regarding reducing noise pollution from vessels to minimize wildlife disturbances, uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) technology is constantly improving and NOAA is exploring ways to utilize sail drones and other vessel systems in order to maintain a physical presence in sanctuary waters without having to dedicate staffed assets. These uncrewed platforms can utilize satellites to transmit location, vessel identification, and photographic evidence back to law enforcement officials in order to expand the geographic capacity of their limited resources. 24. B–22 Comment: Commenters recommended harsh penalties for those who violate the regulations, including requests for permit violators to be banned from receiving future permits. Response: The NMSA authorizes NOAA to assess civil penalties for violations of provisions of the NMSA, PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 4875 including sanctuary regulations and permits. Each violation of the NMSA, any NMSA regulation, or any permit issued pursuant thereto, is subject to a civil penalty. Each day of a continuing violation constitutes a separate violation. The NMSA has a statutory maximum of $216,972 per violation, per the December 27, 2023 annual adjustment for inflation (see 88 Federal Register 89300). Additionally, the NMSA regulations provide a list of findings, in addition to site-specific permit review criteria, which must be made before issuing a permit, such as whether the activity will be compatible with the primary objective of protection of sanctuary resources and qualities. The NMSA regulations also provide for the denial of a permit application based on various determinations, including that the applicant has acted in violation of the terms and conditions of a permit in a sanctuary in which the proposed activity is to take place, or has acted in violation of any sanctuary regulation, or for other good cause. 25. C–1 Comment: Commenters expressed support for Native Hawaiian rights, including statements that access to the sanctuary should be allowed for Native Hawaiians to connect with ancestors and 1āina and to perpetuate cultural practices based on pilina (relationships), kuleana (responsibilities), and genealogical connections to Papahānaumokuākea. This includes voyaging, which is vital for health, well-being, and in keeping Hawaiian culture and language alive. Commenters also stated that the allowance of Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices should not be diminished or limited through sanctuary designation. Response: NOAA recognizes the importance of Native Hawaiians’ access to the sanctuary. Consistent with the presidential proclamations designating the Monument, NOAA will allow for regulated access to the sanctuary. Access will continue through a permit process. The sanctuary includes a permitting system modeled after the existing Monument permitting system, and was developed to allow for integration with the Monument permitting system, to ensure continued joint permitting administered by the MMB. The sanctuary has adopted the same permit criteria as currently required for the Monument, including for Native Hawaiian practices permits. See also the response to B.14. The criteria for the Monument Native Hawaiian practices permit were developed following a workshop in 2004 facilitated by Kia1i Kai, a graduate E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 4876 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations program at the Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies at the University of Hawai1i at Mānoa, collecting input from Kānaka 1Ōiwi cultural practitioners, fishermen, and others to create criteria for culturally-appropriate activities in Papahānaumokuākea. For more than 20 years, the Papahānaumokuākea Native Hawaiian Cultural Working Group (CWG) has provided guidance and advice. The CWG is a group of Kānaka 1Ōiwi kūpuna (elders), researchers, cultural practitioners, educators, and community members that have deep connections and historical ties to Papahānaumokuākea through a living pilina (relationship), bound by genealogy, cultural protocols, and values building contemporary multidisciplinary research and practice. Although the group is not a formalized advisory body, the CWG and many of its members have been involved for over two decades since the establishment of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve in 2000, and provide an important Kānaka 1Ōiwi perspective that continues to inform Monument management. Since 2007, there have been 34 Native Hawaiian practices permits issued to perpetuate cultural practices ranging from traditional voyaging navigator apprenticeship and training, Hawaiianled archaeological and cultural resource research, integrated cultural and scientific ecosystem monitoring, resource gathering including bird feathers/bones, and subsistence harvesting of fish, algae, and invertebrates. The growing number of Native Hawaiian permits submitted and issued provides significant support for and interest in conducting Hawaiian cultural practices, with at least eight ongoing cultural initiatives occurring on 27 separate expeditions. 26. C–7 Comment: A commenter expressed concern that the findings of the Cultural Impact Assessment E Hoi I Ke Au A Kanaloa were not integrated in the draft EIS and the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s (WPRFMC) draft fishing regulations. Response: Findings of the Cultural Impact Assessment E Hoi I Ke Au A Kanaloa relating to the sanctuary proposal were addressed in Section 2.3.2, and more extensively in Chapter 5, of the draft EIS. NOAA is preparing a separate proposed rule for regulations governing fishing in the MEA under the authority of the MSA. Therefore, development and analysis of noncommercial fishing regulations for the MEA is not part of this action and was not analyzed in the draft or final EIS. NOAA and the State encourage VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 commenters to participate in the future public review process for noncommercial fishing regulations in the MEA under the authority of the MSA, and any associated NEPA and/or other environmental compliance documentation. 27. C–8 Comment: A commenter expressed concern that ‘‘Native Hawaiian’’ is not defined. The commenter recommended the following language and definition be adopted and integrated into the final EIS: Native Hawaiian is defined as ‘‘any individual who is a descendant of the aboriginal people who, prior to 1778, occupied and exercised sovereignty in the area that now constitutes the State of Hawai1i.’’ The commenter also recommended the incorporation of other self-identification names, including but not limited to Kānaka Maoli, Kānaka 1Ōiwi, and indigenous peoples or indigenous Native Hawaiians. Response: In the final EIS, NOAA recognizes a definition for the term Native Hawaiian as it is commonly defined per existing Federal law as any individual who is a descendant of the aboriginal people who, prior to 1778, occupied and exercised sovereignty in the area that now constitutes the State of Hawai1i. See Section 1.2.4. Throughout the EIS, NOAA also uses Kānaka 1Ōiwi and/or Kānaka Maoli as terms that refer to Native Hawaiians. 28. D–1 Comment: Commenters expressed opposition to any new fishing closures, citing reasons that included: • Fishing becomes more difficult and expensive for fishermen, including the Hawai1i longline fishery. The small boat fishing industry will slowly go away; • No scientific evidence that large marine reserves provide conservation benefits to fish stocks; • Fishing areas should be managed under Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), and closures do not support MSA Standard 1: Conservation and management measures shall prevent overfishing while achieving, on a continuing basis, the optimum yield from each fishery for the United States fishing industry; • Fishing closures do not meet the administration’s mandate for equity and justice for underserved communities; • Fishing closures affect food security and well-being of Native Hawaiians; • Intergenerational transmission of fishing traditions will be impeded or lost; • Native Hawaiians should be able to fish for food; and • Sanctuaries and fishing should be able to coexist. PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 Response: NOAA is not establishing any new fishing closures through sanctuary designation. The sanctuary regulations regarding commercial and non-commercial fishing are consistent with the existing Monument and its management of the area. The presidential proclamations establishing the Monument broadly restrict the harvest of fishery resources by prohibiting removing, moving, taking, harvesting, possessing, injuring, disturbing, or damaging any living or nonliving Monument resource, as well as attempts to do the same, except as may be allowed with a permit. Presidential Proclamations 8031 and 9478 further specify prohibitions on commercial fishing and the possession of commercial fishing gear. The presidential proclamations also identify certain types of non-commercial fishing that may be regulated (i.e., allowed pursuant to a permit or incidental to a permitted activity). Presidential Proclamation 8031, for example, authorizes sustenance fishing incidental to an activity permitted in PMNM. Presidential Proclamation 9478, for example, provides that non-commercial fishing is a regulated activity (i.e., allowed only with a permit) in the MEA. In the sanctuary, the fishing regulations included in the final rule are consistent with Presidential Proclamation 9478 and the existing management of the area. This includes prohibiting commercial fishing and regulating non-commercial fishing pursuant to a sanctuary permit or authorized under the MSA in the Outer Sanctuary Zone. The final rule provides the first set of implementing regulation consistent with directives in Presidential Proclamation 9478, which has the force of law. 29. D–2 Comment: Commenters provided suggestions and recommendations that appropriately regulated and monitored commercial fishing, including longline fishing and trolling, should be allowed in the sanctuary, as well as the ‘‘small boat community.’’ One commenter stated that regulated traditional small boat fisheries should have a place. One commenter also inquired whether opportunities/mechanisms for future reevaluation and allowance of commercial fishing in the sanctuary exist. One commenter also stated that there should be fishing line limits to reduce overfishing. Response: In the sanctuary, fishing regulations are consistent with existing applicable law in the Monument. Existing applicable law in the area of the sanctuary prohibits commercial fishing. Presidential Proclamation 8031, E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations and its implementing regulations at 50 CFR part 404, prohibits commercial fishing for bottomfish and associated pelagic species in the Monument after June 15, 2011. Presidential Proclamation 9478 also prohibits commercial fishing in the MEA. Therefore, any consideration of regulations allowing commercial fishing in the sanctuary would not alter existing fishing prohibitions in the area. See the response to D.1 for more detail. 30. D–3 Comment: Commenters expressed opposition to allowing commercial fishing in Papahānaumokuākea. Response: For consistency with existing regulations and the presidential proclamations establishing the Monument, regulations include a sanctuary-wide prohibition on commercial fishing. See also the responses to D.1 and D.2. 31. D–4 Comment: Commenters requested increased support for monitoring and enforcing fishing prohibitions, and requesting that international fishing vessels be prohibited. Response: Existing applicable law in the area of the sanctuary prohibits commercial fishing. NOAA and the State agree that monitoring and enforcement of fishing prohibitions is critical to protecting sanctuary resources. NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement and the U.S. Coast Guard support enforcement efforts across the National Marine Sanctuary System. To assist in this coordinated effort for Monument enforcement, ONMS facilitates a Monument Law Enforcement Coordination Team which is composed of law enforcement representatives from NOAA, USFWS, U.S. Coast Guard, and Hawai1i Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement. This group meets regularly to coordinate joint enforcement efforts in the Monument. The designation of a national marine sanctuary provides the first set of implementing regulations for the directives in Presidential Proclamation 9478, including the prohibition on commercial fishing and regulation on non-commercial fishing. By establishing these new implementing regulations, NOAA will have new tools for enforcement, including the enforcement of fishing regulations. Sanctuary designation imparts a specific set of new benefits afforded by the NMSA, including the authorization to assess civil penalties for violations of the NMSA, including sanctuary regulations and permits. Additionally, foreign fishing has remained prohibited in U.S. waters VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 since the introduction of the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. This prohibition was enacted on February 28, 1977 and remains in effect today with limited exceptions related to international fishery agreements that predated the MSA. There are no such allowances for foreign fishing activities within the U.S. EEZ that surrounds Hawai1i. Regarding monitoring, see also the responses to B.21 and K.2. 32. D–5 Comment: Commenters expressed opposition to allowing noncommercial fishing and to the exemption (for non-commercial fishing in the MEA) in the proposed sanctuary rule, based upon biological, cultural, or co-management considerations. Out of concern for the proposed exemption of non-commercial fishing permits, one commenter suggested that noncommercial fishing permits should only be rarely granted, and carry strict catch limits. Response: The presidential proclamations that established the Monument (8031 and 9478) served as benchmarks for drafting regulations for the sanctuary. The presidential proclamations identify certain types of non-commercial fishing that may be regulated (i.e., allowed pursuant to a permit or incidental to a permitted activity). Presidential Proclamation 8031 authorizes sustenance fishing incidental to an activity permitted in PMNM. Presidential Proclamation 9478 provides that non-commercial fishing is a regulated activity (i.e., allowed only with a permit) in the MEA, provided that the fish harvested, either in whole or in part, cannot enter commerce through sale, barter, or trade, and that the resource is managed sustainably. In the sanctuary, for consistency with the proclamations, ‘‘non-commercial fishing’’ is prohibited unless conducted pursuant to a sanctuary permit or through an exemption for noncommercial fishing authorized under the MSA in the Outer Sanctuary Zone (the area that overlaps with the MEA). In response to comments of concern for this exemption, NOAA has made changes to the exemption for noncommercial fishing to ensure that a noncommercial fishing permit authorized under the MSA is only exempt from a limited subset of prohibited or otherwise regulated activities, and that these exempted activities are only conducted as incidental to and necessary to a lawful non-commercial fishing activity. NOAA has also clarified that this narrow exemption from the sanctuary’s permitting requirements is only applicable provided that the fish PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 4877 harvested, either in whole or in part, are neither intended to enter commerce nor enter commerce through sale, barter, or trade and that the resource is managed sustainably, consistent with Presidential Proclamation 9478. Moreover, for the exemption to apply, the fish harvested, either in whole or in part, must not be intended to be sold and shall not be sold for any purposes, including, but not limited to, cost-recovery. Corresponding changes have been made in the final EIS Section 3.3.1. NOAA is preparing a separate proposed rule for regulations governing fishing in the MEA under the authority of the MSA, and will invite the public to provide comments on the proposed non-commercial fishing regulations for the MEA. NOAA and the State encourage commenters to participate in the future public review process for non-commercial fishing regulations in the MEA under the authority of the MSA, including on the issuance of permits and catch limits, as those are outside the scope of this action. 33. D–6 Comment: Some commenters stated that fishing should not be restricted for Native Hawaiians and Indigenous populations and/or cultural practices. One commenter emphasized that it is culturally important to be able to bring fish home to share with family. Response: Consistent with the existing management of the Monument and the proclamations that established the Monument, NOAA would continue to allow for regulated access to the sanctuary. Kānaka 1Ōiwi and Indigenous communities may apply for a permit to fish within the sanctuary. For consistency with the proclamations that established the Monument, ‘‘noncommercial fishing’’ is prohibited in the Sanctuary unless conducted pursuant to a sanctuary permit or authorized under the MSA in the Outer Sanctuary Zone. See the response to D.5. In the Outer Sanctuary Zone, the sanctuary regulations will not restrict the sharing of fish from non-commercial fishing activities authorized under the MSA. 34. D–7 Comment: A commenter requested that sustenance fishing be the only form of fishing allowed in the proposed sanctuary; and that there be a requirement that fish caught be consumed within the sanctuary, and not taken outside of the sanctuary. Others requested that sustenance fishing be allowed conditionally. Suggested conditions include by location; by permit type, and by sustainability criteria: (1) the activity must be ‘‘pono;’’ (2) the activity must benefit the resources of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and the Native Hawaiian community; and (3) any resource E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 4878 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations harvested from the Monument must be consumed in the Monument. Finally, one commenter supported defining sustenance fishing as a Native Hawaiian practice. Response: Sustenance fishing is currently allowed incidental to an activity permitted in PMNM, pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 8031, and the implementing regulations at 50 CFR part 404. Sustenance fishing was not specifically identified in Presidential Proclamation 9478 governing the MEA, but is considered a form of noncommercial fishing which may be regulated. For consistency in management and permitting, NOAA will manage this activity as a term or condition of a general permit or special use permit for the sanctuary, outside of any special preservation area. NOAA’s sanctuary permit will follow the conditions of the existing Monument permitting system, including the considerations that sustenance fishing must be conducted only for the purpose of providing sustenance in support of activities otherwise allowed under an established permit and that the harvested resource must be consumed within the Monument. In the Outer Sanctuary Zone, other types of non-commercial fishing may be allowed, consistent with the proper care and management of sanctuary resources and monument objects. Sanctuary designation provides the first set of implementing regulations for many of the directives in Presidential Proclamation 9478, including the regulation of non-commercial fishing in the MEA. Presidential Proclamation 9478 stated that non-commercial fishing may be regulated ‘‘provided that the fish harvested, either in whole or in part, cannot enter commerce through sale, barter, or trade, and that the resource is managed sustainably.’’ Consistent with this proclamation, some forms of noncommercial fishing beyond sustenance fishing may be allowed in the MEA/ Outer Sanctuary Zone. NOAA is preparing a separate proposed rule for regulations governing fishing in the MEA under the authority of the MSA, and will invite the public to provide comments on the proposed non-commercial fishing regulations for the MEA. NOAA and the State encourage commenters to participate during that process. 35. D–8 Comment: Some commenters suggested that only subsistence fishing be allowed in the proposed sanctuary. Response: In State of Hawai1i waters, extending three miles seaward of any coastline (excluding Midway Atoll), Native Hawaiian subsistence fishing, as defined by the State of Hawai1i, may be VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 allowed. NOAA acknowledges that the Monument’s managing agencies define sustenance and/or subsistence fishing in different ways. Regardless, in PMNM, all fish caught shall be consumed within the Monument. Within the sanctuary, sustenance fishing would continue to be allowed (outside of the special preservation areas) to provide sustenance in support of activities otherwise allowed under an established permit. 36. D–9 Comment: Commenters asked why regulations have not been issued for the MEA to manage non-commercial fishing. Response: President Obama issued Presidential Proclamation 9478 on August 31, 2016, which established the MEA. On September 23, 2016, NOAA Fisheries requested that the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WPRFMC) develop recommendations to establish fishing regulations under the MSA, including the prohibition on commercial fishing and the regulation of non-commercial fishing within the MEA. However, no further action was taken by the WPRFMC in response to Presidential Proclamation 9478 at that time. NOAA cannot speculate as to why WPRFMC decided not to take action at that time. NOAA is preparing a separate proposed rule for regulations governing fishing in the MEA under the authority of the MSA to reflect the outcome of the WPRFMC recommendation and the NMSA Section 304(a)(5) process. Appendix C to the final EIS provides further details of this consultation process. 37. D–10 Comment: Commenters expressed concern regarding the exemption of non-commercial fishing in the MEA, and that the issuance of noncommercial fishing permits will open the door to other types of fishing in Papahānaumokuākea. Commenters also expressed concern that a sanctuary designation would remove existing protections that prohibit various forms of fishing. One commenter recommended removing the exemption of non-commercial fishing to allow for more dialogue with the Native Hawaiian community. Response: See the responses to D.5 and F.4. Sanctuary designation does not remove any existing protections that prohibit fishing. For consistency with the presidential proclamations establishing the Monument and the regulations at 50 CFR part 404, the sanctuary regulations will authorize limited forms of fishing. 38. D–11 Comment: Commenters expressed support for allowing recreational fishing, to sustain the PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 community and to allow for cultural and traditional practices. One commenter recommended that recreational fishing be monitored and regulated; that recreational fishers be required to attend courses to receive permits; and that NOAA and the State of Hawai1i update methods of data collection for recreational fishing. Another commenter suggested imposing fees for recreational fishing. Other commenters requested that NOAA implement measures to prevent recreational fishers from targeting ‘‘trophy’’ fish, and to limit fishing in general, to stem overfishing. Response: For consistency with the proclamations, ‘‘non-commercial fishing’’ is prohibited in the Sanctuary unless conducted pursuant to a sanctuary permit or, as discussed below, through an exemption for noncommercial fishing authorized under the MSA in the Outer Sanctuary Zone. The final rule adopts the definition of ‘‘non-commercial fishing’’ from the regulations for fisheries in the Western Pacific, which is defined as ‘‘fishing that does not meet the definition of commercial fishing in the Magnuson– Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and includes, but is not limited to, sustenance, subsistence, traditional indigenous, and recreational fishing’’ (50 CFR 665.12). NOAA will periodically evaluate the effect of noncommercial fishing activities on sanctuary resources. Such evaluations would take into consideration the best scientific information available and evaluate whether additional actions are necessary for the proper care and management of sanctuary resources, including fishery resources, consistent with goals and objectives of the sanctuary. Any requirements for non-commercial fishing permits authorized by NOAA Fisheries under the MSA are outside the scope of this action. NOAA is preparing a separate proposed rule for regulations governing fishing in the MEA under the authority of the MSA, and will invite the public to provide comments on the proposed non-commercial fishing regulations. NOAA and the State encourage commenters to provide input during the public review process for non-commercial fishing in the MEA. 39. D–12 Comment: A commenter expressed opposition to the issuance of permits for recreational fishing in the MEA. Response: Please see the response to D.11. As required by Section 304(a)(5) of the NMSA, NOAA consulted with the WPRFMC to recommend any draft fishing regulations it deemed necessary to implement the sanctuary designation. E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations The WPRFMC determined it was necessary to develop non-commercial fishing regulations, including for recreational fishing, for the area of the proposed sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA 40. D–13 Comment: Commenters expressed support for non-commercial fishing in the MEA proposed by WPRFMC, including allowing sale and/ or cost recovery. Response: In accordance with Section 304(a)(5) of the NMSA, NOAA provided the WPRFMC with the opportunity to recommend any draft fishing regulations it deemed necessary to implement the proposed sanctuary designation. NOAA accepted the majority of the WPRFMC’s recommendation, including those parts that were found to fulfill the purposes and policies of the NMSA and the goals and objectives of the proposed sanctuary designation. However, the WPRFMC’s recommendation providing Native Hawaiian subsistence practices fishing permit applicants the ability to request limited cost recovery by selling their catch failed to fulfill the purposes and policies of the NMSA and the goals and objectives of the proposed sanctuary designation (see NOAA Response Letter dated on May 31, 2023, in the final EIS Appendix C.1). NOAA is preparing a separate proposed rule under the MSA to reflect the outcome of the NMSA Section 304(a)(5) consultation process. Appendix C to the final EIS provides further details on this consultation process. 41. D–14 Comment: Commenters expressed opposition to the annual catch limits proposed by WPRFMC. Several comments expressed concern that it does not align with Native Hawaiian cultural or subsistence practices. One commenter suggested additional involvement from the Native Hawaiian community and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) on this matter. Response: Any requirements and conditions for non-commercial fishing permits authorized by the MSA are outside the scope of this action. NOAA is preparing a separate proposed rule for regulations governing fishing in the MEA under the authority of the MSA, and will invite the public to provide comments on the proposed noncommercial fishing regulations, including the catch limits. NOAA and the State encourage commenters to participate in the future public review process for non-commercial fishing in the MEA. 42. D–15 Comment: Commenters expressed opposition to any sale, barter, or trade and the cost recovery mechanism proposed by WPRFMC. Comments also expressed concern VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 regarding WPRFMC’s definition of ‘‘customary exchange’’ and that it does not align with Native Hawaiian cultural or subsistence practices. Response: NOAA agrees with some aspects of this comment. See the response to D.13 for information on NOAA’s consideration of the WPRFMC’s recommended fishing regulations, and the response to D.5 for details of the exemption for noncommercial fishing. NOAA has narrowed this exemption, making it only applicable provided that the fish harvested, either in whole or in part, are neither intended to enter commerce nor enter commerce through sale, barter, or trade and that the resource is managed sustainably, consistent with Presidential Proclamation 9478. Moreover, for the exemption to apply, the fish harvested, either in whole or in part, are not intended to be sold and shall not be sold for any purposes, including, but not limited to, cost-recovery. See the final EIS, Section 3.3.1. The WPRFMC’s final recommendation (April 23, 2023) did not include a definition of ‘‘customary exchange’’, and NOAA ONMS has not included a definition of customary exchange in the sanctuary regulations. 43. D–16 Comment: Commenters requested that NOAA reject the proposed non-commercial fishing regulations by NOAA Fisheries and WPRFMC. Response: NOAA accepted the majority of the WPRFMC’s recommendation as it was found to fulfill the purposes and policies of the NMSA and the goals and objectives of the proposed sanctuary designation. However, NOAA did reject a portion of the WPRFMC’s recommendation that would have allowed sale of catch under a Native Hawaiian subsistence fishing practices permit, as it was not found to fulfill the goals and objectives of the sanctuary designation. See the response to D.13, as well as Appendix C to the final EIS, for further details of this consultation process. 44. D–17 Comment: Commenters expressed concern for a portion of the WPRFMC’s recommendation on ‘‘research fishing,’’ and definition that would include ‘‘research fishing’’ as a form of non-commercial fishing. Response: NOAA is preparing a separate proposed rule for regulations governing fishing in the MEA under the authority of the MSA, based on the WPRFMC’s recommendations. NOAA and the State encourage commenters to provide additional input, including on research fishing, to the future public review process for non-commercial fishing regulations in the MEA. PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 4879 45. D–18 Comment: A commenter expressed concern that while resources in the Monument are a co-management trust responsibility, the proposed fishing regulations for the MEA have been developed without adequate inclusion of the perspectives of the Monument co-managers. Response: NMSA Section 304(a)(5) required NOAA to consult with the WPRFMC to recommend any draft fishing regulations it deemed necessary to implement the sanctuary designation. The State of Hawai1i maintains voting seats, and the USFWS maintains nonvoting seats on the WPRFMC. The WPRFMC determined it was necessary to develop non-commercial fishing regulations under the MSA, for the area of the proposed sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA. In accordance with the Section 304(a)(5) process, NOAA accepted those parts of the WPRFMC’s recommendation that fulfilled the purposes and policies of the NMSA and the goals and objectives of the proposed sanctuary designation, and rejected those parts that did not. Under the MSA’s rulemaking process, the WPRFMC will transmit its recommendation to NOAA Fisheries, who will then prepare a proposed rule for non-commercial fishing regulations in the MEA under the MSA. 46. D–19 Comment: Commenters expressed concern regarding the separation of the NOAA Fisheries fishing regulations from the sanctuary designation process, which lacks transparency and thorough analysis of potential impacts. Commenters also requested an additional EIS and a public review of the proposed fishing regulations for the MEA. Commenters expressed concern that the proposed fishing regulations were developed in an improper sequence and there was no timeline included. Commenters also stated that impacts of WPRFMC’s proposed non-commercial fishing regulations should have been analyzed within the draft EIS. Response: NOAA acknowledges the confusion regarding the timeline of proposed fishing regulations for the MEA. NOAA Fisheries is responsible for fisheries management under the MSA and is preparing a separate proposed rule for regulations governing fishing in the MEA under the authority of the MSA. NOAA Fisheries will analyze the environmental impacts of the noncommercial fishing regulations in the MEA under the authority of the MSA in a manner consistent with NEPA. NOAA has made revisions in sections 1.4 and 3.7.2 of the final EIS to clarify this. NOAA and the State encourage commenters to participate in the future E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 4880 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations public review process for noncommercial fishing regulations in the MEA under the authority of the MSA. 47. D–23 Comment: A commenter recommended that any activity relating to the extraction of fish be led by Native Hawaiians. Response: The permitting system and regulations for the sanctuary is modeled after the existing Monument regulations and permitting system. The permitting system would not supplant the joint permitting system for the Monument, and was developed to ensure a continued joint permitting system administered by the MMB. While the presidential proclamations establishing the Monument broadly restrict the harvest of fishery resources, and identify certain types of noncommercial fishing that may be regulated (i.e., allowed pursuant to a permit or incidental to a permitted activity), there are no restrictions as to who may apply for a permit. Sanctuary designation will not change this. 48. D–24 Comment: Commenters expressed opposition to allowing any form of fishing in the proposed sanctuary. Some associated comments stated opposition to the removal of any wildlife from the proposed sanctuary. Response: See the response to D.1. The presidential proclamations establishing the Monument broadly restrict the harvest of fishery resources and further specify prohibitions on commercial fishing and identify certain types of non-commercial fishing that may be regulated. In the sanctuary, regulations for fishing are consistent with the proclamations and existing management of the area. 49. D–25 Comment: A commenter requested that, in the event of a natural disaster occurring with severe impacts to the food supply of Hawai1i, the proposed sanctuary should allow for sustenance fishing and sharing of fish with community. Response: NOAA cannot speculate about how the NMSA and other authorities may or may not be used in the future scenario described by the commenter. However, in the Outer Sanctuary Zone (MEA), the sanctuary regulations will not restrict the sharing of fish from non-commercial fishing activities authorized under the MSA. 50. D–26 Comment: A commenter emphasized that new sanctuary regulations should be limited to those relating to the seafloor and islands within the MEA, as the MSA already provides for the management of fisheries in all U.S. waters. Response: NOAA may regulate fishing under the MSA and the NMSA. See also the response to D.9. While NOAA may VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 regulate fishing under NMSA, and regulates fishing in the sanctuary consistent with the existing management of the area, per section 304(a)(5) of the NMSA, NOAA also provided the WPRFMC with the opportunity to recommend any draft fishing regulations it deemed necessary to implement the proposed sanctuary designation. NOAA is preparing a separate proposed rule for regulations governing fishing in the MEA under the authority of the MSA to reflect the outcome of the NMSA section 304(a)(5) process. 51. D–27 Comment: A commenter expressed opposition to any prohibitions that may affect existing community-based subsistence fishery areas, and requested that NOAA incorporate language that explicitly includes community- and cultural-based subsistence-based fishing practices as part of protected Native Hawaiian customs and practices. Response: Community-based subsistence fishery areas are locally based, legally designated areas in the Main Hawaiian Islands where communities and the state government work together to protect and support traditional Hawaiian fishing practices. To date, there have been no communitybased subsistence fishery areas established within Papahānaumokuākea. Since these areas are typically initiated at the local level by communities seeking enhanced protection of their nearshore resources, the future establishment of a community-based subsistence fishery area within Papahānaumokuākea is unlikely. As such, a discussion of such areas is beyond the scope of this action. For a description of how culturallybased subsistence fishing practices are addressed within the sanctuary, please see the response to D.8. 52. E–1 Comment: Commenters asked how a proposed sanctuary would modify the existing co-management structure for the Monument. Commenters requested articulation of roles of OHA, USFWS, and the State of Hawai1i, specifically who has jurisdiction in which areas, as well as requested that the EIS provide a detailed governance framework and a dispute resolution process for the proposed sanctuary. Commenters also stated that the draft EIS and/or draft sanctuary management plan did not clearly articulate how the sanctuary would function in coordination with the existing Monument, nor articulate how the Monument co-trustee’s authorities could be used to supplement and complement NOAA authorities. One commenter suggested that NOAA PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 provide a graphic depicting the relationship of the proposed sanctuary with existing Monument management. Finally, some commenters questioned if there are deficiencies in the existing Monument management framework, while one commenter stated that the proposed sanctuary rule has led to confusion over the legitimacy of the Monument co-management framework. Response: The existing Monument is jointly administered by the four cotrustees (DOC, DOI, State of Hawai1i, and OHA) through the seven-member MMB. ONMS and NOAA Fisheries collaborate to fulfill DOC’s co-trustee responsibilities under the Monument, and ONMS serves on the seven-member MMB. A graphic of the existing management structure is described in the final EIS Section 3.2. Sanctuary designation will not change the existing management structure, and ONMS’ role within the management framework will remain, with the added authority provided by the NMSA. Additional information has been added to the sanctuary management plan in sections 1 (About This Document) and 2 (Cooperative and Coordinated Management) and Acknowledgements to clarify this. NOAA has also made revisions to the description of the No Action Alternative in Section 3.2 of the final EIS to better articulate the existing roles of each Monument co-trustee, including their jurisdiction and authorities that guide their role in managing the Monument. Existing authorities, including management authorities of all Monument co-trustees, will remain in effect under all action alternatives. As a result of the existing Monument management framework, of which ONMS is a critical part, the final rule and sanctuary management plan have been specifically designed to be consistent with the current management framework, and to allow for seamless operations between the Monument and sanctuary. The sanctuary will supplement and complement existing management of the Monument, and not replace or diminish the existing management of the Monument. In accordance with the NMSA, in designating a sanctuary, NOAA determines if existing authorities should be supplemented to ensure coordinated and comprehensive conservation and management of the area. NOAA has provided additional details clarifying consistency with the management framework in Section 3.3.1 of the final EIS. Specifically, NOAA will work in cooperation with the Monument co-trustees to update the existing MOA for the Monument with E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations the State of Hawai1i, DOI/USFWS, and OHA to reflect the addition of the sanctuary. Further, the existing Monument MOA includes a provision that states that ‘‘in the event of the designation of the Monument or any portion of the Monument as a National Marine Sanctuary under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, nothing herein shall be construed as automatically terminating or otherwise amending this Agreement.’’ 53. E–2 Comment: Commenters expressed concerns regarding the exclusion of some of the Monument cotrustee agencies from co-management of the sanctuary. Commenters requested that NOAA co-manage the sanctuary with all of the Monument co-trustees (DOI, OHA, and the State of Hawai1i), and that NOAA should receive approval from and/or collaborate with the other co-trustees regarding decision making for the sanctuary. Commenters also requested that a MOA be developed to articulate the governance framework for the sanctuary, and any co-management agreement. Response: NOAA has clarified in the final rule and the final EIS (see final EIS Section 3.3.1, final rule Section IV.D, and sanctuary management plan Section 2) how the sanctuary will be managed in partnership with USFWS and OHA. In the proposed rule, NOAA proposed that the sanctuary would be co-managed with the State of Hawai‘i. Recognition of the State of Hawai‘i as a co-manager was not meant to exclude the other Monument co-trustees, USFWS and OHA. To the contrary, partnerships with other Federal and State agencies with overlapping jurisdiction are critical to the success of the National Marine Sanctuary System. In the proposed regulations, NOAA was trying to explain the role that states may have in co-managing a sanctuary under the NMSA if all or part of the proposed sanctuary is within the territorial limits of any state. In the final regulations and management plan, NOAA has added new text regarding how NOAA will manage the sanctuary in partnership with the other Monument co-trustees, DOI/USFWS and OHA, as the existing co-management structure of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is critical to the success of the sanctuary. NOAA intends to, in cooperation with the Monument co-trustees, update the existing MOA for the Monument between the State of Hawai1i, DOI/ USFWS, and OHA to reflect the addition of the sanctuary. NOAA is developing an MOU with the USFWS to provide details on using supplemental authority under the NMSA to protect VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 resources where the sanctuary overlaps with national wildlife refuges. Finally, the sanctuary management plan was developed in consultation with the State, USFWS, and OHA to explicitly ensure concurrence of plans between the sanctuary and the Monument. Additional language has been added to the sanctuary management plan (Appendix A) to better reflect the goal of cooperative management with the Monument co-trustees. 54. E–3 Comment: Commenters requested that the final EIS should include a clear description of the permitting system for the proposed sanctuary and how it would relate to the existing Monument permitting system, including how sanctuary permits would be reviewed, approved, and conditioned. Commenters expressed that NOAA should not have sole authority over permitting for activities in the area of the sanctuary and Monument; that only one permitting system should apply to the area; that permits should be approved by all Monument co-trustees; and that the Monument permit process should be amended to include sanctuary permitting. One commenter expressed concern regarding the proposed special use permit, which allows for fee collection for permit processing. The commenter questioned how this would work alongside the Monument permit process, and asked if NOAA would keep fees internally, or divide fees received equitably amongst Monument comanagers. Response: The Monument’s joint permitting system has been in place and permits have been issued by the cotrustees since 2007. The unified Monument permitting process includes a unified Monument permit application, instructions, and template (see final EIS Section 3.2). All permitted activities in PMNM are authorized under the issuance of a single Monument permit signed by the USFWS, NOAA, and the State of Hawai1i, in cooperation with OHA. The sanctuary permitting system would complement the existing Monument permitting system, and was developed to allow for integration with the Monument permitting system, to ensure continued joint permitting administered by the MMB, which includes ONMS. The sanctuary permitting system would not supplant the joint permitting system for PMNM. The sanctuary permit categories were designed to provide the same management function and permittee interface as the current Monument permit categories. The sanctuary adopts the same permit criteria as currently required for Monument permits, PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 4881 including the additional criteria for Native Hawaiian practices and recreation permits. To provide more clarity, NOAA has updated its description of the sanctuary permitting process in the final EIS, Section 3.3.1. Prior to sanctuary designation, regulations to issue permits in the MEA had not been established and activities in the MEA have been approved via a Letter of Authorization signed by USFWS. The co-trustees agreed to implement this USFWS process as an interim measure. Sanctuary designation provides the first set of implementing regulations consistent with directives in Presidential Proclamation 9478, including regulations for permitting, in addition to governing the sanctuary. Regarding special use permits, NOAA intends for any issuance of special use permits to be done so in coordination with the existing permit process. NOAA points out that while the Monument is jointly administered, some areas are also guided by other specific authorities. For example, USFWS has the authority to charge fees for services including public visitation (50 CFR part 25 Subpart E) in areas of the Monument that also fall within a national wildlife refuge. NOAA’s authority to collect fees for special use permits provides Monument managers with a larger area, beyond the national wildlife refuges, for which permit fees may be collected for specific activities. In accordance with the NMSA, NOAA may recover administrative costs for staff time to review and take action on the permit, and for a fair market value for use of the sanctuary. While this authority may be used, the collection of fees is not required. Further, NOAA is not proposing any new category of activity subject to a special use permit as part of this designation, and due to the existing regulations for the Monument and the sanctuary, the issuance of special use permits is expected to be limited. 55. E–4 Comment: Commenters expressed concern regarding the proposed process for permitting noncommercial fishing in the MEA. Commenters specifically stated that any fishing permits should also require a consistency review by the Monument co-managers. Some commenters suggested that non-commercial fishing in the MEA should be part of a single permitting process for the sanctuary and/or Monument, and not done through a separate process, noting that any permits that authorize resource extraction should be reviewed by the MMB. Response: NOAA’s ONMS will not issue non-commercial fishing permits as part of the sanctuary regulations, but E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 4882 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations will allow sustenance fishing as a term or condition of a permit, consistent with existing management of the Monument. In response to a recommendation for fishing regulations in the MEA by the WPRFMC, NOAA Fisheries is preparing a separate proposed rule for regulations governing fishing in the MEA under the authority of the MSA, will complete the environmental compliance requirements, and will accept public comment on the proposal. NOAA and the State of Hawai1i encourage the commenter to review and participate in the future public review process for the proposed rule and any associated NEPA and/or other environmental compliance documentation for non-commercial fishing regulations in the MEA. 56. E–5 Comment: Commenters expressed concern regarding potential conflicts between the proposed sanctuary permitting process and permitting authorized by the USFWS for the Midway Atoll and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuges. One commenter stated that the USFWS has an existing process to review and issue permits to regulate use of the national wildlife refuges for research, education, management, and recreation. A commenter suggested the development of a MOU among USFWS, NOAA, and the State of Hawai1i to clarify the permit process, which should include provisions for dispute resolution and for emergency situations when actions are necessary to protect human health and safety on Midway Atoll. Commenters also expressed concern regarding the permitting of activities in the MEA, including questioning why NOAA does not recognize DOI’s authority to issue permits in the MEA, and requested that any new permitting in the MEA should be done following agreement with the MMB. Finally, one commenter questioned if the USFWS would need to acquire permits from NOAA for management activities in the national wildlife refuge waters. Response: NOAA has added additional clarification in the final rule and the final EIS (see Section 3.3.1 and Section IV.D in the preamble of the final rule) regarding how the sanctuary will be managed in partnership with other agencies. In addition to co-management with the State, NOAA will manage the sanctuary in partnership with the USFWS and OHA consistent with the management of the Monument. NOAA will work in cooperation with Monument co-trustees to update the memorandum of agreement for the Monument with the State of Hawai‘i, DOI/USFWS, and OHA that reflects the addition of the sanctuary, and specifically addresses how the addition VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 of a sanctuary will supplement and complement, and not supplant, the existing Monument management framework. NOAA and USFWS are developing an agreement to provide details on the execution of sanctuary management where the national marine sanctuary overlaps with Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, and will consider if provisions are needed for dispute resolution and for emergency situations when actions are necessary to protect human health and safety on Midway Atoll. Management of the MEA is governed by Presidential Proclamation 9478. Prior to sanctuary designation, regulations to issue permits in the MEA had not yet been established and activities in the MEA have been approved via a Letter of Authorization signed by USFWS. The co-trustees agreed to implement this USFWS process as an interim measure. Sanctuary designation provides the first set of implementing regulations, including regulations for permitting, in the MEA. 57. E–6 Comment: Commenters requested that NOAA co-manage the sanctuary specifically with the USFWS, and/or that NOAA consult with USFWS for decision making and environmental analysis in the proposed sanctuary. Some commenters also requested that NOAA recognize the authority of the USFWS, that NOAA not supersede the authority of the USFWS, and that NOAA acknowledge that the USFWS has sole authority for certain decisions in the national wildlife refuges. Some commenters expressed concern that the proposed sanctuary would give NOAA and the State of Hawai1i precedence over USFWS management of refuge waters. One commenter recommended that a MOA be developed and signed by the Secretaries of Interior and Commerce, and that a 3rd party neutral facilitator be selected to oversee implementation of the MOA. The commenter specified that the MOA should be reviewed and updated, as needed, every five years. Response: NOAA will manage the sanctuary in partnership with the USFWS. Nothing in the establishment of the national marine sanctuary will diminish USFWS’s authority to administer Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge under the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act. Where Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary overlays Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, NOAA will implement the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to provide PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 supplemental authority to protect resources. In other sanctuary sites, when there is jurisdictional overlap between NOAA and USFWS, the agencies have worked to implement their respective authorities in a manner that complements, but does not diminish or interfere with, existing authorities and strengthens existing protections and management. NOAA and USFWS are developing an agreement to provide details on the execution of sanctuary management where the national marine sanctuary overlaps with Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Any agreement developed between NOAA and the USFWS will be updated as needed, as determined by the agencies. 58. E–7 Comment: Commenters requested that NOAA co-manage the sanctuary specifically with OHA. Commenters emphasized that excluding OHA would be akin to suppressing Native Hawaiian voices and/or usurping the sovereignty of OHA. Commenters requested that NOAA consider temporarily halting sanctuary designation until Federal law allows for explicit co-management structures that include native governing bodies as equal decision-makers, and requested that NOAA work with OHA and the Native Hawaiian community to achieve the ability for Indigenous governing bodies to be eligible to be named as comanagers for marine sanctuaries under the NMSA. One commenter also pointed out that for National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, the American Samoa Department of Commerce has been designated as a co-manager to assist NOAA with the administration of the sanctuary, and therefore, OHA should be able to serve as a co-manager of the proposed sanctuary. Response: NOAA will manage the sanctuary in partnership with the OHA, consistent with the management of the Monument. The existing comanagement structure of the Monument and cooperation with OHA is critical to the success of the sanctuary. NOAA will work in cooperation with Monument cotrustee to update the Memorandum of Agreement for Promoting Coordinated Management of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument with the State of Hawai1i, DOI/USFWS, and OHA that reflects the addition of the sanctuary, and specifically addresses how the addition of a sanctuary will supplement and complement, and not supplant, the existing Monument management framework. Under Monument management, OHA has primary responsibility for representing the interests of the Kānaka 1Ōiwi E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations community in the perpetuation of Hawaiian cultural resources and practices. Sanctuary designation will not change this, and NOAA intends to consult with OHA on all matters related to the perpetuation of Hawaiian cultural resources and practices. Pursuant to the NMSA, a ‘‘state’’ as defined under the act, may have a role in co-managing a sanctuary if all or part of the proposed sanctuary is within the territorial limits of any state. For this reason, NOAA will co-manage the sanctuary with the State of Hawai1i. In addition, pursuant to the NMSA, the ‘‘state’’ means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and any other commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States. As the NMSA also defines ‘‘state’’ to include American Samoa, they may be a co-manager of National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, and the American Samoa Department of Commerce acts as the lead territorial agency. 59. E–8 Comment: Commenters requested that NOAA co-manage the sanctuary with Native Hawaiians, noting that it is critical for Native Hawaiians to be present, participatory, and empowered in all decision-making aspects regarding Papahānaumokuākea. Commenters requested that Native Hawaiians should direct and oversee plans for the sanctuary, and that NOAA should defer to opinions of Native Hawaiian groups and agencies. Some commenters suggested that management with Native Hawaiians go beyond comanagement with OHA. Response: See the response to E.7, regarding how NOAA will manage the sanctuary in partnership with OHA, but NOAA also agrees that there are opportunities for co-stewardship with the Kānaka 1Ōiwi community beyond OHA. NOAA agrees that it is important to have Kānaka 1Ōiwi expertise in management, including in leadership roles and that growing long-lasting partnerships with existing Kānaka 1Ōiwi community partners is integral to management of the sanctuary (see the responses to C.2 and K.1). NOAA has a responsibility to, and takes opportunities to work through equitable partnerships with all Indigenous Peoples. The Imila-alpa Commitments demonstrate ONMS’ dedication to strengthening partnerships with Indigenous governments, organizations, and communities and ensuring that ONMS’ intentions align with its actions. The commitments also state that ONMS will work to VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 implement White House and NOAA guidance on integrating Indigenous knowledge into processes and approaches. 60. E–9 Comment: Commenters suggested or requested that the Native Hawaiian CWG be granted authority in reviewing and approving permits to access Papahānaumokuākea and/or be granted authority to vet the permit applications. Some commenters suggested that the Native Hawaiian Cultural Working Group should be included as a fifth co-trustee of the Monument. Response: For more than 20 years, the CWG, which advises OHA as a cotrustee of the Monument, has provided guidance and an important Native Hawaiian perspective to inform Monument management. The CWG is a group of Kānaka 1Ōiwi kūpuna (elders), researchers, cultural practitioners, educators, and community members that have deep connections and historical ties to Papahānaumokuākea through a living pilina (relationship) bound by genealogy, cultural protocols, and values building contemporary multi-disciplinary research and practice. The CWG and many of its members have been involved since ONMS created the CWG following the establishment of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve in 2000. The CWG has a permit subcommittee that reviews Monument permits and provides input to OHA, a Monument co-trustee who also sits on the Monument permit working group. The sanctuary permitting system will complement the existing Monument permitting system, and was developed to allow for integration with the Monument permitting system, to ensure continued joint permitting administered by the MMB. Therefore, NOAA intends for the CWG to continue to provide advice and guidance on permitting for Papahānaumokuākea. Consideration of the CWG as a cotrustee of the Monument is outside the scope of the action to designate a national marine sanctuary, because a sanctuary designation would not alter the underlying Monument management structure. 61. E–10 Comment: Commenters expressed concerns regarding NOAA being the primary manager of the proposed sanctuary, and questioned what role the State of Hawai1i had in developing the proposed sanctuary. One commenter requested that there be a checks and balance system with the State of Hawai1i and Native Hawaiian groups when reviewing the objectives, actions, regulations, exceptions, permits, and penalties. PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 4883 Response: The NMSA provides authority for NOAA, among other things, to designate a sanctuary and promulgate regulations implementing the designation. Pursuant to the NMSA, states may choose to have a role in comanaging a sanctuary if all or part of the proposed sanctuary is within the territorial limits of any state. As the sanctuary includes state waters, NOAA will co-manage the sanctuary with the State of Hawai1i. NOAA establishes the framework for co-management in Section 922.242 of the final rule and may update existing agreements or develop additional agreements with the State of Hawai1i to clarify the terms of co-management. Any future proposed changes to sanctuary regulations or boundaries would be coordinated with the State and subject to public review as mandated by the NMSA and other Federal statutes. The State of Hawai1i also supports the sanctuary proposal. While NOAA was the lead Federal agency in the preparation of the EIS, the State of Hawai1i served as a cooperating agency and co-developed the draft EIS and final EIS, which was also developed in accordance with the Hawai1i Environmental Policy Act (HEPA, Chapter 343 HRS, HAR Chapter 11– 200.1). The State of Hawai1i also codeveloped the sanctuary management plan. 62. F–1 Comment: Some commenters opposed the exemption for ‘‘scientific exploration or research activities by or for the Secretary of Commerce or the Secretary of the Interior when the activity occurs in the Outer Sanctuary Zone.’’ Commenters stated that the exemption may provide a loophole to permit large-scale take/extraction of resources. Commenters felt that the Department of Commerce and the Department of the Interior should still be required to obtain sanctuary permits. Response: Presidential Proclamation 9478, which designated the MEA, specifically states that the prohibitions ‘‘shall not restrict scientific exploration or research activities by or for the Secretaries and nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to require a permit or other authorization from the other Secretary for their respective scientific activities.’’ Presidential Proclamation 9478 further highlights the significant scientific value of the MEA and underscores the opportunities for research and discovery to occur in that area, including understanding the impacts of climate change on deep-sea communities and identifying new species. NOAA is exempting scientific exploration or research activities from the sanctuary’s E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 4884 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations prohibitions and permitting requirements for both the Department of Commerce and the Department of Interior within the Outer Sanctuary Zone, to be consistent with Presidential Proclamation 9478. However, such activities must still comply with other Federal environmental laws such as the NEPA, the Endangered Species Act, the NMSA section 304(d), and the Marine Mammal Protection Act 63. F–2 Comment: Commenters requested that Hawaiian-focused research conducted by Hawaiians be prioritized by providing an exemption for these activities. Response: The sanctuary permitting system and the exemptions were modeled after the existing Monument permitting system. The sanctuary permitting system would not supplant the existing permitting system for the Monument and was developed to ensure a continued joint permitting system administered by the MMB. Therefore, rather than introducing a new exemption, NOAA and the State will work to prioritize Hawaiian-focused research through other practices, as described in the draft sanctuary management plan (final EIS Appendix A), including: • supporting and facilitating Kānaka 1Ōiwi (Native Hawaiian) access and research (Strategy 2.6); • weaving together multiple knowledge systems, values, practices, and methods, in science and research (Strategy 2.7); and • supporting research initiatives that focus on next-generation capacity building for leadership succession of Kānaka 1Ōiwi (Native Hawaiian) and Pacific Islanders who are severely underrepresented in STEM and ocean sciences (Strategy 2.8). 64. F–3 Comment: Some commenters opposed the exemption for the activities and exercises of the U.S. Armed Forces, noting specific concern for military sonar activity. Response: The sanctuary regulations and both Presidential Proclamations 8031 and 9478 include a broad exemption to allow activities and exercises of the U.S. Armed Forces, including those carried out by the U.S. Coast Guard. The sanctuary regulations specify that all activities and exercises of the Armed Forces shall be carried out in a manner that avoids, to the extent practicable and consistent with operational requirements, adverse impacts on sanctuary resources and qualities. For any Federal agency actions, including actions of the Armed Forces that are likely to destroy, cause the loss of, or injure sanctuary resources, the Armed Forces must VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 comply with the consultation requirements outlined in Section 304(d) of the NMSA, regardless of whether those actions are exempted from the sanctuary’s regulations. 65. F–4 Comment: Commenters expressed opposition to the exemption for non-commercial fishing activities authorized under the MSA. Commenters stated that non-commercial fishing permit holders should not have exemptions to conduct the otherwise prohibited and regulated activities of the sanctuary and that any noncommercial fishing activities should still require a separate sanctuary permit. One commenter stated that ONMS should promulgate regulations under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act as a backstop and not rely solely on the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act application. Commenters stated that the exemption for non-commercial fishing is counter to Mai Ka Pō Mai. Commenters also requested that NOAA gather more input from the Native Hawaiian community, including the OHA and the Native Hawaiian Cultural Working Group on this topic. Response: As required by Section 304(a)(5) of the NMSA, NOAA provided the WPRFMC with the opportunity to recommend any draft fishing regulations it deemed necessary to implement the proposed sanctuary designation. NOAA participated in six public meetings hosted by the WPRFMC on November 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th, and 10th of 2022, which were focused on the development of fishing regulations for the area of the proposed sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA. In December 2022, the WPRFMC provided a recommendation for non-commercial fishing regulations for the area of the proposed sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA. NOAA accepted the majority of the WPRFMC’s recommendations, as they were found to fulfill the purposes and policies of the NMSA and the goals and objectives of the proposed sanctuary designation. However, the WPRFMC’s recommendation to provide Native Hawaiian subsistence practices fishing permit applicants the ability to request limited cost recovery by selling their catch in the permit application process through a statement of need for cost recovery along with expected costs, failed to fulfill the purposes and policies of the NMSA and the goals and objectives of the proposed sanctuary designation. Additionally, NOAA found that the allowance of ‘‘sale’’ under a Native Hawaiian subsistence practices fishing permit is inconsistent with the State’s constitutional protection of PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 Native Hawaiian traditional and customary rights. Accordingly, the sanctuary regulations proposed that prohibitions in paragraphs (a)(7) through (14) in Section 922.244 would not apply to non-commercial fishing activities in the Outer Sanctuary Zone authorized under the MSA, provided that no sale of harvested fish occurs. In response to comments of concern for this exemption, NOAA has made changes to ensure that a non-commercial fishing permit authorized under the MSA is only exempt from a limited subset of prohibited or otherwise regulated activities that may only be conducted as incidental to and necessary to a lawful non-commercial fishing activity. NOAA has also clarified that this narrow exemption from the sanctuary’s permitting requirements is only applicable provided that the fish harvested, either in whole or in part, are neither intended to enter commerce nor enter commerce through sale, barter, or trade and that the resource is managed sustainably, consistent with Presidential Proclamation 9478. Moreover, consistent with the outcome of the NMSA Section 304(a)(5) process, for the exemption to apply, the fish harvested, either in whole or in part, are not intended to be sold and shall not be sold for any purposes, including, but not limited to, cost-recovery. See the final EIS, Section 3.3.1. NOAA is preparing a separate proposed rule for regulations governing fishing in the MEA under the authority of the MSA, and will accept public comment on the proposal. NOAA and the State of Hawai1i encourage the commenter to participate in the future public review process for the proposed rule and any associated NEPA and/or other environmental compliance documentation for non-commercial fishing regulations in the MEA. Until a public process is conducted, and a final rule is issued for fishing regulations under the authority of the MSA, noncommercial fishing permits will not be issued for the MEA/Outer Sanctuary Zone. Consistent with existing Monument management, the sanctuary may authorize sustenance fishing outside of any special preservation area as a term or condition of any sanctuary permit. 66. F–5 Comment: Commenters requested a prohibition on mining, and/ or stating opposition to mining activities, or any exemption allowing them. Response: Consistent with the presidential proclamations establishing the Monument, NOAA will prohibit exploring for, developing, or producing E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations oil, gas, or minerals to protect sanctuary resources. NOAA will also prohibit ‘‘any energy development activities’’ to further the underlying intent of the prohibition on oil, gas, and mineral development by accounting for technological advances in other forms of energy development. Likewise, NOAA is not providing an exemption for mining activities. 67. F–6 Comment: A commenter stated that scientific or management activities undertaken by the USFWS within the Monument are not subject to any additional sanctuary requirements or authorization from NOAA. Response: Nothing in the establishment of the national marine sanctuary will diminish USFWS’s authority to administer Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge under the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act. Where Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary overlays Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, NOAA will implement the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to provide supplemental authority to protect resources. In other sanctuary sites when there is jurisdictional overlap between NOAA and USFWS, the agencies have worked to implement their respective authorities in a manner that complements, but does not diminish or interfere with, existing authorities and would strengthen existing protections and management. NOAA and USFWS are developing an agreement to provide details on the execution of sanctuary management where the national marine sanctuary overlaps with Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge. The sanctuary permitting system was modeled after the existing Monument permitting system to ensure a single joint permitting system continues to be administered by the MMB. In addition, this final rule does not include authorization authority for the sanctuary. Consistent with Presidential Proclamation 9478, the sanctuary regulations exempt both the DOC/ NOAA and the DOI/USFWS from the prohibitions, including the need to obtain a permit or authorization from the Secretary of Commerce in order to conduct scientific exploration or research activities in the MEA. NOAA has clarified the proposed framework for management and permitting in partnership with USFWS and the other Monument managers in the final EIS, Section 3.3.1. 68. G–1 Comment: Some commenters requested an extension of the public VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 comment period and/or additional virtual public meetings. Some commenters expressed concern that there was not adequate public education, engagement, and notification for the public comment period and meetings; that the methods for comment were not accessible for all and/or not an adequate way to gauge support or opposition; and that all communities, specifically the fishing community, were not properly engaged in the comment period. One commenter expressed concern that the public meetings did not allow for agency responses or answers to oral testimony and requested that the NOAA website provide responses to frequently asked questions from the public meetings. Response: NOAA followed the designation processes and procedures as required pursuant to the NMSA and NEPA, both of which require broad public participation, as well as the Administrative Procedure Act’s notice requirements. The public comment period took place over the course of 68 days from March 1 to May 7, 2024. NOAA accepted public comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal and by traditional mail. NOAA also encouraged public comments in both English and 1Ōlelo Hawai1i (Hawaiian language). NOAA and the State held 11 public comment meetings (nine inperson and two virtual). Additionally, prior to the public comment meetings, the State of Hawai1i Division of Aquatic Resources held a virtual public informational meeting to engage the public. NOAA and the State of Hawai1i provided question and answer sessions at the in-person public meetings, prior to and following the formal oral comment portion of the meeting. NOAA also posted sanctuary designation process information and FAQs on the ONMS website in response to questions received during public meetings. NOAA believes that it has fairly engaged with and considered input from local communities, Kānaka 1Ōiwi, government, and other stakeholders through extensive consultations, meetings, and discussions about sanctuary designation, and that draft designation documents and process steps have complied with applicable laws and policies, including the NMSA, NEPA, Administrative Procedure Act, and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. For more details regarding the public engagement process, see the final EIS, sections 1.3.1 and 1.3.2. NOAA also specifically engaged with the fishing community and consulted with the WPRFMC as required by PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 4885 Section 304(a)(5) of the NMSA. Through this consultation, NOAA provided the WPRFMC with the opportunity to recommend any draft fishing regulations it deemed necessary to implement the proposed sanctuary designation. NOAA and the State of Hawai1i also participated in six public meetings hosted by the WPRFMC on November 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th, and 10th of 2022, which were focused on the development of fishing regulations for the area of the proposed sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA. 69. H–2 Comment: A commenter recommended that, in describing the purposes and policies of the NMSA, and specifically, 16 U.S.C 1431 (b)(4), NOAA should define ‘‘sustainable use’’ as ‘‘to provide enhanced protections for pristine marine waters,’’ and prohibit use of the waters or marine ecosystems. Response: The NMSA authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to designate national marine sanctuaries that meet the purposes and policies of the NMSA, including 16 U.S.C. 1431(b)(4), which focuses, in part, on the sustainable use of the marine environment. The sanctuary regulations build upon the existing protections for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, which provide for both restricted access to the area and responsible use subject to strict permitting terms and conditions. Given this management model, NOAA does not see a need for the sanctuary regulations to define ‘‘sustainable use’’ at this time. 70. I–1 Comment: Some commenters recommended that NOAA select Alternative 3, a boundary which excludes the waters of Midway Atoll and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuges. Commenters provided several reasons for supporting Alternative 3, including that the USFWS should have sole jurisdiction to manage the national wildlife refuges; that a sanctuary that overlaps with the national wildlife refuges would be inconsistent with presidential proclamations that created the Monument; that a sanctuary that overlaps with the national wildlife refuges would not comply with the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act; and that a sanctuary that overlaps with the national wildlife refuges may negatively impact the USFWS management of the national wildlife refuges. Response: NOAA identified Alternative 1 (which would include the waters of Midway Atoll and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuges in the proposed sanctuary) as the AgencyPreferred Alternative based on its comparative merits. Nothing in the establishment of the national marine E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 4886 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations sanctuary will diminish USFWS’s authority to administer Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge under the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act. Where Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary overlays Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, NOAA will implement the NMSA to provide supplemental authority to protect resources. NOAA and USFWS are developing an agreement to provide details on the execution of sanctuary management where the national marine sanctuary overlaps with Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge. In addition, the existing Monument is already jointly administered through a seven-member Monument Management Board, which includes NOAA’s ONMS. ONMS and the USFWS have been cooperatively managing the area of the proposed sanctuary for nearly 20 years. As a result of the existing Monument management framework, of which ONMS is a critical part, this sanctuary rule has been specifically designed not to create any regulatory inconsistencies, and to ensure consistent management between the Monument, the national wildlife refuges, and the sanctuary. Further, both NOAA and the State disagree that the designation is inconsistent with the directives that established the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve and the Monument. In part, the purpose of the designation is to specifically implement the provisions of Executive Order 13178, Presidential Proclamation 9478, and the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, that directed NOAA to consider initiating the sanctuary designation process. 71. I–2 Comment: Commenters expressed opposition to any sanctuary that would include additional portions of Middle Bank, beyond the areas that are included in the Monument. Response: NOAA considered designating a sanctuary that expanded beyond the southeastern portion of the Monument boundary to include Middle Bank. However, NOAA eliminated this alternative from detailed study, as described in the draft and final EIS, Section 3.7. 72. I–3 Comment: Commenters requested that NOAA consider including most or all of Middle Bank in the proposed sanctuary boundary, because of the scientific, ecological, and commercial benefits of the area. Commenters also requested that NOAA VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 consider expanding the boundary to include more area. Response: NOAA identified Alternative 1 (which is coextensive with marine portions of the Monument) as the Agency-Preferred Alternative based on its comparative merits, and therefore does not include all of Middle Bank or any additional areas that are not part of the Monument. This is consistent with the defined purpose and need and with the provisions of Executive Order 13178, Presidential Proclamation 8031, Presidential Proclamation 9478, and the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Although NOAA considered sanctuary boundary alternatives that included Middle Bank, NOAA concluded that aligning the boundary of the sanctuary with that of the Monument best fulfills the purposes and policies of the NMSA. In addition, the NMSA directs NOAA that it may designate any discrete area of the marine environment as a national marine sanctuary and promulgate regulations implementing the designation if it is determined that the area is of a size and nature that will permit comprehensive and coordinated conservation and management. NOAA concluded that any boundary alternative that expands beyond the existing boundaries of PMNM and the MEA would not be practicable in light of the need for comprehensive and coordinated management in a manner which complements the existing Monument management framework. NOAA has added these clarifications to the draft and final EIS, Section 3.7.1. 73. I–4 Comment: Commenters recommended Alternative 2, a boundary which excludes the MEA, as the preferred alternative. Some commenters expressed support for this alternative, emphasizing that excluding the MEA may allow for more fishing, including commercial fishing, in that area. Response: NOAA identified Alternative 1 as the Agency-Preferred Alternative, which includes the MEA, based on its comparative merits. This final rule implements and is consistent with directives in Presidential Proclamation 9478, which has the force of law. Presidential Proclamation 9478, which designated the MEA, prohibits commercial fishing and provides that non-commercial fishing may be a regulated activity (i.e., allowed only with a permit). Selection of Alternative 2 would not alter the directives provided in Presidential Proclamation 9478, including the prohibition on commercial fishing in the MEA. PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 74. I–5 Comment: A commenter requested the inclusion of a legal definition of shoreline delineation in relation to iron seawall ruins and rubble at Tern Island, and questioned if the seawall and debris would be included in the sanctuary boundary. Response: The shoreline in the State of Hawai1i as defined by the Hawai1i Department of Land and Natural Resources is ‘‘the upper reaches of the wash of the waves, other than storm or seismic waves, at high tide during the season of the year in which the highest wash of the waves occur, usually evidenced by the edge of vegetation growth, or the upper limit of debris left by the wash of the waves’’ (HAR § 13– 222). The Coastal Lands Program of the Hawai1i Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands maintains the State of Hawaii Shoreline Certification Program (see Shoreline Certification Rules in HAR § 13–222). It is this program that would determine where the shoreline is delineated in the location of the iron seawall on Tern Island when necessary. Therefore, under the current definitions, any debris or rubble or portion of the Tern Island iron seawall that occurs seaward of this shoreline as defined by the State of Hawai1i will be within the sanctuary, and that which occurs upland of the shoreline will be outside the sanctuary. 75. I–6 Comment: A commenter requested that the shoreward boundary be extended to the mean high tide. Response: NOAA considered an alternative that designated the mean high tide line as the shoreward boundary, but eliminated this alternative from detailed study (see Section 3.7.1 of the EIS). NOAA typically uses the shoreline as legally defined by the State within which the national marine sanctuary occurs, because the shoreline delineates the boundary between public and private land. The shoreline in the State of Hawai1i as defined by the Hawai1i Department of Land and Natural Resources is ‘‘the upper reaches of the wash of the waves, other than storm or seismic waves, at high tide during the season of the year in which the highest wash of the waves occur, usually evidenced by the edge of vegetation growth, or the upper limit of debris left by the wash of the waves’’ (HAR § 13– 222). NOAA strives to designate a sanctuary which supplements and complements existing authorities, and this designation adheres to both the State’s definition as well as the current landward boundary designation of the Monument. E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations 76. J–12 Comment: Commenters expressed concerns regarding the lack of analysis and description on NOAA’s ability to issue ‘‘emergency regulations’’ to prevent or minimize the loss or injury to a sanctuary resource. The commenter stated that the regulations issued jointly by NOAA and USFWS in 2006 for the original Monument contain an exemption from prohibitions for emergency actions, and that Presidential Proclamation 9478 specifically exempts from prohibitions activities ‘‘necessary to respond to emergencies threatening life, property, or the environment, or to activities necessary for law enforcement purposes.’’ The commenters questioned why sanctuary authority to issue sanctuary regulations is necessary given existing provisions and regulations for the Monument. Response: NOAA acknowledges that the existing management of the area includes exemptions for any activity necessary to respond to emergencies that threaten life, property, or the environment, or to activities necessary for law enforcement purposes. These exemptions are also included in the sanctuary regulations. However, NOAA’s references to ‘‘emergency regulations’’ throughout the EIS are not referring to this exemption, but to NOAA’s authority pursuant to 15 CFR 922.7, which states that ‘‘where necessary to prevent or minimize the destruction of, loss of, or injury to a Sanctuary resource or quality, or minimize the imminent risk of such destruction, loss, or injury, any and all such activities are subject to immediate temporary regulation, including prohibition.’’ This authority may be useful in implementing immediate temporary regulations to protect resources following incidents of resource damages, such as vessel groundings or disease. NOAA has added information regarding emergency regulations in the final rule, Section IV.O. 77. K–6 Comment: Commenters suggested that scientific research should not be conducted in a way that would harm resources. Commenters also expressed concerns about the use of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and other scientific instruments on the seafloor. Response: The sanctuary includes a permitting system modeled after the existing Monument permitting system, such that there are sufficient safeguards in place that apply to the permit review process for all activities, including for scientific research and ROVs. The sanctuary has adopted the same permit criteria as currently required for Monument permits, including that the VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 proposed activity will be conducted in a manner compatible with resource protection. In addition, conditions can be placed on the permit specific to the activity being permitted and permit applications would be reviewed with respect to all other pertinent regulations and statutes, including NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., and any required consultations, permits, or authorizations. 78. K–8 Comment: A commenter suggested that NOAA leave Battle of Midway vessels and aircraft undisturbed to be respectful of the war and preserve the materials for future archaeological purposes. Response: NOAA’s management principles emphasize an in-situ management approach for the long-term protection of site information and integrity, as well as other preservation methods and activities outlined in the ONMS policy guidance document Monitoring and Management of Tangible Maritime Heritage Resources. The Sunken Military Craft Act of 2004 preserves and protects all sunken military craft that are owned by the U.S. government, as well as foreign sunken military craft that lie within U.S. waters, from unauthorized disturbances. 79. K–10: Commenters expressed concerns regarding the impacts of sonar activity and underwater detonations to marine mammals, fish, sea turtles, and sea invertebrates. Commenters specifically expressed concern with impacts from sonar activity and testing by the military. One commenter recommended mid-frequency active sonar as an alternative technology. Response: Consistent with the presidential proclamations establishing the Monument, NOAA will prohibit ‘‘using or attempting to use poisons, electrical charges, or explosives in the collection or harvest of a sanctuary resource.’’ NOAA will also prohibit, unless conducted pursuant to a permit ‘‘removing, moving, taking, harvesting, possessing, injuring, disturbing, or damaging; or attempting to remove, move, take, harvest, possess, injure, disturb, or damage any living or nonliving sanctuary resource.’’ The use of sonar by U.S. Armed Forces is a lawful Armed Forces activity and the use has been analyzed by the U.S Navy within prior environmental planning documents (HSTT, 2018) and is subject to other applicable laws, permits, and authorizations, including the MMPA. NOAA provides a broad exemption to allow activities and exercises of the U.S. Armed Forces, including those carried out by the U.S. Coast Guard, to be consistent with existing management of this area, as provided for the Monument PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 4887 by Presidential Proclamations 8031 and 9478. However, all activities and exercises of the Armed Forces shall be carried out in a manner that avoids, to the extent practicable and consistent with operational requirements, adverse impacts on sanctuary resources and qualities. See also the F.3 response. 80. K–11 Comment: A commenter recommended protections for koholā (humpback whale) that are similar to the protections included in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, including vessel rules, restrictions on sonar, and maintaining a minimum distance away from koholā. Response: NOAA will prohibit several activities in the sanctuary that are responsive to this comment, consistent with the presidential proclamations establishing the Monument. The prohibitions most relevant for the protection of humpback whales include prohibitions on ‘‘removing, moving, taking, harvesting, possessing, injuring, disturbing, or damaging; or attempting to remove, move, take, harvest, possess, injure, disturb, or damage any living or nonliving sanctuary resource’’ and ‘‘attracting any living sanctuary resource.’’ The use of sonar by the U.S. Armed Forces is a lawful activity of the Armed Forces, but is subject to other applicable laws, permits, and authorizations, including the MMPA. 81. K–12 Comment: A commenter requested that the Outer Sanctuary Zone be named ‘‘pu1uhonua,’’ which means a place of safety and refuge. Another commenter asked if there would be a process for naming this area of the sanctuary. Response: NOAA will give further consideration to this and would like to ensure an inclusive process that allows for additional input and discussion from all stakeholders and Monument cotrustees regarding a name for the Outer Sanctuary Zone. The proposed name and the process of naming this Outer Sanctuary Zone will be discussed within the Papahānaumokuākea Native Hawaiian CWG, facilitated by OHA. 82. L–5 Comment: A commenter requested that the rule language be revised to allow for an ongoing process for updating the sanctuary regulations. Specifically, the commenter suggested replacing the words ‘‘as may be necessary,’’ in the Terms of Designation, Activities Subject to Regulation section, with ‘‘on an ongoing basis.’’ Response: The terms of designation, as defined under section 304(a)(4) of the NMSA, may be modified only by the same procedures by which the original designation is made, including public hearings, consultations with interested E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 4888 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations Federal, Tribal, State, regional, and local authorities and agencies, review by the appropriate Congressional committees, and approval by the Secretary of Commerce, or his or her designee. Any future proposed changes to sanctuary regulations or boundaries would be subject to public review as mandated by the NMSA and other Federal statutes. 83. L–6 Comment: A commenter provided questions and suggestions regarding perceived data anomalies in the boundary description, including: • ‘‘The proposed SMA and SPA boundaries do not coincide with the boundaries as described in Presidential Proclamation 8031 nor do they coincide with the proclamation’s SMA and certain SPA boundaries as charted on ENCs that are larger scale than Band 2 (General Navigational Purpose). It appears that the coordinates of the proposed boundaries may have been derived from the SMA and SPA boundaries of the national monument as depicted on the Band 2 ENCs. • Appendix A to Subpart W, Points 610–662—Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary Boundary: Points 610 through 662 form the easternmost extent of the proposed sanctuary boundary. However, these points are coincident with a portion of the Inner Reporting Area Boundary Around Nihoa ATBA. Should Points 610 through 662 be coincident with the Reporting Area Outer Boundary instead of the Inner Reporting Area Boundary? • Pages 15302–15303, Appendix D to Subpart W—Unnamed, unnumbered table: ONMS did not designate a table number and name for the first set of coordinates that encompasses Kure Atoll. • Pages 15306–15307, Appendix E to Subpart W, Table 1—Ship Reporting Area (Reporting Area Outer Boundary): According to FR page 15278, Column 1: ‘‘NOAA proposes to establish this reporting area, which would be defined as ‘‘the area of the proposed sanctuary that extends outward ten nautical miles from the PSSA [Particularly Sensitive Sea Area] boundary, as designated by the IMO. . .’’ The coordinates for the Reporting Area Outer Boundary of Appendix E/Table 1 do not completely coincide with a 10–NM buffer (geodesic) from the PSSA boundary per the International Maritime Organization (IMO). I recommend a re-evaluation of the boundary points for the Reporting Area Outer Boundary.’’ Response: The boundary discrepancies in the special management area and special preservation areas have been corrected and the updated coordinate tables, appended to this final rule, will VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 correspond to the coordinates as described in Presidential Proclamation 8031. Regarding the outer boundary of the Reporting Area, NOAA will define the Reporting Area as was defined by IMO Resolution MSC.171(57) and the subsequent amendment IMO Resolution MSC.279(85) adopted in December 2008. This boundary has been corrected and is now described citing the geographic coordinates of the outer boundary of the ‘‘CORALSHIPREP’’ reporting area of IMO Resolution MSC.279(85). Regarding the missing designation of a table number and name for the first set of coordinates that encompass the Kure Atoll Special Preservation Area, after investigating the issue, NOAA determined that the table did in fact have a name and number as referenced at the web address and therefore no corrective action was necessary. Regarding the portion of the proposed sanctuary boundary identified as being coincident with the Inner Ship Reporting Area Boundary around the Nihoa Area to be Avoided, NOAA determined that this portion of the boundary was the same as that used for both the original and expanded marine national monument, and intends that it will also be used for this portion of the national marine sanctuary boundary. Therefore, no edits were necessary. VI. Classification A. National Marine Sanctuaries Act NOAA consulted with the WPRFMC as required by section 304(a)(5) of the NMSA. Through this consultation, NOAA provided the WPRFMC with the opportunity to recommend any draft fishing regulations it deemed necessary to implement the proposed sanctuary designation. NOAA initiated the consultation on November 19, 2021. On March 22, 2022, the WPRFMC agreed to develop draft fishing regulations for the proposed sanctuary. NOAA participated in six public meetings hosted by the WPRFMC on November 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th, and 10th of 2022, which were focused on the development of fishing regulations for the area of the proposed sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA. At its 193rd meeting in December of 2022, the WPRFMC provided a final recommendation. NOAA found that the final recommendation, in part, did not fulfill the purposes and policies of the NMSA and the goals and objectives of the proposed designation. The WPRFMC amended their recommendation during their 194th meeting in March of 2023, and submitted a revised final PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 recommendation to NOAA on April 14, 2023. In May of 2023, NOAA accepted the majority of the WPRFMC’s recommendation as it fulfilled the purposes and policies of the NMSA and the goals and objectives of the proposed sanctuary designation. However, the WPRFMC’s recommendation for the disposition of Native Hawaiian Subsistence Practices Fishing catch, which would provide permit applicants the ability to request limited costrecovery by selling their catch, was rejected by NOAA in a decision letter dated May 31, 2023. As NOAA explained in the letter, any recommendation for the allowance of ‘‘sale’’ is inconsistent with the goals and objectives of the proposed sanctuary designation. To reflect the outcome of the NMSA 304(a)(5) process, NOAA has prepared this final rule under the NMSA, and is preparing a separate proposed rule for regulations governing fishing in the MEA under the authority of the MSA. Pursuant to section 304(a)(1)(C) of the NMSA, the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Governor of Hawai1i will have the opportunity to review this final action. B. National Environmental Policy Act As described in Section I above, NOAA and the State of Hawai1i prepared a final EIS to evaluate the impacts of designating a national marine sanctuary, which considered four alternatives for the designation of a national marine sanctuary in marine portions of the Monument. Copies of the final EIS, final management plan, and Record of Decision are available at the website listed in the ADDRESSES section of this final rule. C. Executive Orders 12866: Regulatory Impact, 13563 Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review, and 14094: Modernizing Regulatory Review The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has determined this final rule to be significant under Executive Order 12866, ‘‘Regulatory Planning and Review,’’ 58 FR 190 (Oct 4, 1993), as supplemented by Executive Order 14094, ‘‘Modernizing Regulatory Review,’’ 88 FR 21879 (April 6, 2023). NOAA prepared an analysis of the potential costs and benefits associated with this action, which is available at https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/ papahanaumokuakea/. The final rule is largely consistent with the existing management E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 framework for the Monument. Because the site-specific regulations finalized under the NMSA have been crafted to ensure consistency with Presidential Proclamations 8031, 8112, and 9478, the overall management framework for the area will largely remain unchanged. The designation would clarify aspects of existing Monument management and add to that management framework in ways that would have a limited effect on the public given that access to and activity within the Monument is already highly regulated and requires a permit in most instances. In most cases, permit applicants would be subject to substantially similar findings criteria and permitting requirements as currently required within the Monument. Further, the area of the sanctuary is extremely remote, nearly 300 miles at its closest point from the main Hawaiian Islands, and very few entities operate there. Limited activities are expected to continue. Therefore, the quantifiable benefits and costs associated with the site-specific regulations are limited. The primary benefits of sanctuary designation are provided by the supplemental authorities provided through the NMSA and National Marine Sanctuary Program regulations. D. Executive Order 13132: Federalism Assessment NOAA has concluded that this regulatory action does not have federalism implications sufficient to warrant preparation of a federalism assessment under Executive Order 13132 because NOAA supplements and complements State and local laws under the NMSA rather than supersedes or conflicts with them. This final rule will not have substantial direct effects on State or local governments. NOAA has coordinated closely with State partners throughout the development of this final rule and, where applicable and practicable, the final rule aligns with existing State regulations. In addition, the State of Hawai1i served as a cooperating agency and co-developed the draft EIS and final EIS, which was also developed in accordance with the Hawai1i Environmental Policy Act (HEPA, Chapter 343 HRS, HAR Chapter 11–200.1). The State of Hawai1i also codeveloped the sanctuary management plan. NOAA has aimed for consistent regulations throughout sanctuary waters including those within State and Federal jurisdiction. E. Regulatory Flexibility Act The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA; 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) requires Federal agencies to prepare an analysis of a VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 rule’s impact on small entities whenever the agency is required to publish a rulemaking, unless the agency certifies, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 605, that the action will not have significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The RFA requires agencies to consider, but not necessarily minimize, the effects of rules on small entities. The goal of the RFA is to inform the agency and public of expected economic effects of the rule and to ensure the agency considers alternatives that minimize the expected economic effects on small entities while meeting applicable goals and objectives. Pursuant to section 605(b) of the RFA, the Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration that the proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The purpose, context, and statutory basis for this action is described above and not repeated here. The rationale for that certification was set forth in the preamble of the proposed rule (89 FR 15272, March 1, 2024), and NOAA’s analysis stands. This final rule is not expected to place a substantial number of small entities at a significant competitive disadvantage to large entities, and would not significantly reduce profits for a substantial number of small entities operating in the area of the sanctuary, as the overall management framework for the area will largely remain unchanged. The final rule would be largely consistent with the existing management framework for the Monument, which was established by Presidential Proclamation 8031 and 8112 (PMNM, 0–50 nm), and by Presidential Proclamation 9478 (MEA, 50–200 nm). The existing management framework established by these Presidential Proclamations has the force of law, and includes a permitting system, under which all entities are subject to the same reporting requirements. Further, very few entities operate in the area of the sanctuary, as the area of the sanctuary is extremely remote, nearly 300 miles at its closest point from the main Hawaiian Islands. The number of permits issued for the Monument annually ranged from 9 to 21 between 2018 and 2022. Through this final rule, permit applicants, including applicants for activities in the area of the sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA, would be subject to substantially similar findings criteria and permitting requirements as currently required for PMNM. Based on the NOAA Monument manager’s site knowledge and experience, the final PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 4889 rule is not expected to result in an increase in the number of permit requests, as the majority of users operate in the area of the sanctuary that overlaps with PMNM, and do not solely operate in the area of the sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA. Therefore, these additional permitting requirements will not significantly reduce profits for a substantial number of small entities because most entities are already subject to such requirements. NOAA does not charge a fee for review and issuance of general permits, and there are minimal, indirect costs associated with the time for an individual to complete a permit application and respond to any followup questions from NOAA. While NOAA may assess fees for the conduct of any activity authorized under a special use permit, fees are not required and decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. No unique professional skills are necessary to meet these reporting requirements. Although NOAA has made minor technical changes and clarifications to the regulations from the proposed rule to the final rule, none of the changes alter the initial determination that this rule will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. NOAA also did not receive any comments relevant to the analysis or conclusions of this determination. Therefore, the determination that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities remains unchanged. As a result, a final regulatory flexibility analysis was not required and none was prepared. F. Paperwork Reduction Act Notwithstanding any other provisions of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control number. NOAA plans to use an existing collection, Papahânaumokuâkea Marine National Monument Permit Applications and Reports for Permits, currently approved under OMB Control Number 0648–0548 in association with this final rule. This information collection is currently used to determine whether to approve or deny a permit application for the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Information collected includes such items as the professional qualifications and financial ability of the applicant (as related to the requested E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 4890 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations activity); the duration of the activity and its effects; the appropriateness of the methods and procedures proposed by the applicant for the conduct of the activity; and the extent to which the conduct of the activity may diminish or enhance the qualities for which the Monument was designated. Some of the information collected may also be used to inform management actions or decision making after a final decision has been made. Additional information regarding this collection of information—including all background materials—can be found at https:// www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain by using the search function to enter either the title of the collection or the OMB Control Number. NOAA believes designating a national marine sanctuary in the marine portions of the Monument will not result in a significant change to the burden, reporting, recordkeeping, and other compliance requirements as discussed in the preamble of the rule. To the extent compliance with this final rule would impose a burden on persons, including small businesses, NOAA believes this burden will be minimal. NOAA did not receive any comments in response to this determination at the proposed rule stage. Following sanctuary designation, NOAA may elect to re-visit the current collection to determine if additional changes are needed. Should NOAA, in consultation with the Department of Interior, the State of Hawaii, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, believe additional changes are needed to better facilitate implementation of sanctuary permitting and reporting, NOAA will publish a 60 day notice announcing potential revisions for public comment before submitting materials to OMB. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 G. National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA, 54 U.S.C. 306108) requires Federal agencies to take into account the effects of their undertakings on historic properties and afford the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) the opportunity to comment with regard to the undertaking. ‘‘Historic property’’ means any prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places maintained by the Secretary of the Interior. This term includes artifacts, records, and material remains that are related to and located within such properties, including properties of traditional religious and cultural importance to an Indigenous nation or Tribe or Native VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 Hawaiian organization (see 36 CFR 800.16(l)). The regulations implementing section 106 of the NHPA (36 CFR part 800) establish a process requiring Federal agencies to: (1) determine whether the undertaking is a type of activity that could affect historic properties; (2) identify historic properties in the area of potential effects; (3) assess potential adverse effects; and (4) resolve adverse effects. The regulations require that Federal agencies consult with States, Tribes, and other interested parties when making their effect determinations. NOAA has determined that the designation of a national marine sanctuary and related rulemaking for sanctuary-specific regulations meet the definition of an undertaking as defined at § 800.16(y). In fulfilling its responsibilities under section 106 of the NHPA, NOAA initiated consultation with the Hawai1i State Historic Preservation Division through the Hawai1i Cultural Resource Information System on November 21, 2021. NOAA also invited the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) to participate on November 21, 2021. NOAA further initiated an effort to identify consulting parties to participate in the Section 106 process through distribution of over 500 letters to individuals, organizations, and families. This included outreach to families with lineal and cultural connections to Papahānaumokuākea, cultural practitioners, Native Hawaiian Organizations, the fishing community (including subsistence, recreational, and commercial fishers), maritime heritage organizations, government agencies, and others. These letters solicited input regarding the identification of, and potential effects on, historic properties from the proposed sanctuary designation for the purpose of obtaining input for the Section 106 review and to additionally determine their interest in participating as a consulting party. Through this process NOAA identified 31 consulting parties. NOAA subsequently hosted ten Section 106 consultation meetings with the consulting parties. Through these consultation meetings, NOAA further sought to invite consulting party and public input regarding the identification of, and potential effects on, historic properties from the proposed sanctuary designation. Subsequently, pursuant to 36 CFR 800.4(d)(1) NOAA issued a Finding of No Historic Properties Affected for this undertaking (see final EIS Appendix C). The consulting parties have been notified of the finding and the finding was provided to the Hawai1i PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 State Historic Preservation Division for concurrence. As the draft EIS was a joint FederalState action, the State also prepared a Cultural Impact Assessment and Legal Analysis pursuant to the Hawai1i Environmental Policy Act, Hawai1i Revised Statutes (HRS) section 343, the corresponding Hawai1i Administrative Rules (HAR) section 11–200.1, and the Environmental Council’s 1997 Guidelines for Assessing Cultural Impacts. Pursuant to HRS § 6E–8 and HAR § 13–275–3, the Hawai1i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) submitted a written request to the State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) for an agency determination letter. On June 7, 2024, SHPD concurred with DLNR’s determination of no historic properties affected. The concurrence letter from the State Historic Preservation Division is available at https:// sanctuaries.noaa.gov/ papahanaumokuakea/. H. Sunken Military Craft Act The Sunken Military Craft Act of 2004 (SMCA; Pub. L. 108–375, Title XIV, sections 1401 to 1408; 10 U.S.C. 113 note) preserves and protects from unauthorized disturbance all sunken military craft that are owned by the United States government, as well as foreign sunken military craft that lie within United States waters, as defined in the SMCA. Thousands of U.S. sunken military craft lie in waters around the world, many accessible to looters, treasure hunters, and others who may cause damage to them. These craft, and their associated contents, represent a collection of non-renewable and significant historical resources that often serve as war graves, carry unexploded ordnance, and contain oil and other hazardous materials. By protecting sunken military craft, the SMCA helps reduce the potential for irreversible harm to these nationally important historical and cultural resources. Sunken military craft are administered by the respective Secretary concerned pursuant to the SMCA. The Secretary concerned is solely responsible for authorizing disturbance of sunken military craft under the SMCA, specifically for archaeological, historical, or educational purposes, and will consult with NOAA when considering permitting such activities. The Secretary concerned is also responsible for determinations of sunken military craft status and ownership, publicly disclosing the location of sunken military craft, and for determining eligibility and nominating E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations sunken military craft as historic properties to the National Register of Historic Places. Any agreements with foreign sovereigns regarding sunken military craft in U.S. waters are negotiated by the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of the Navy, according to authorities vested in each by the SMCA. The Secretary concerned, or his or her designee, and NOAA will ensure coordination and foster collaboration on any research, monitoring, and educational activities pertaining to sunken military craft located within the sanctuary system. The 1942 Battle of Midway occurred both at Midway Atoll as well as some 100–150 nautical miles north of the atoll in the northwestern portion of Papahānaumokuākea. Aircraft carriers from the historic conflict have been located in the deep ocean, and multiple aircraft and sunken military vessels have been surveyed within the Midway Atoll Special Management Area. Hundreds of aircraft and several other aircraft carriers and destroyers from the battle remain to be discovered in Papahānaumokuākea. strengthen engagement with communities and mobilize Federal agencies to confront existing and legacy barriers and injustices; promote the latest science, data, and research, including on cumulative impacts; increase accountability and transparency in Federal environmental justice policy; and honor and build on the foundation of ongoing environmental justice work. The designation of national marine sanctuaries by NOAA helps to ensure the enhancement of environmental quality for all populations in the United States. The sanctuary designation would not result in disproportionate negative impacts on any communities with environmental justice concerns. In addition, many of the potential impacts from designating the sanctuary would result in long-term or permanent beneficial impacts by protecting resources, which may have a positive impact on communities by providing employment and educational opportunities, and potentially result in improved ecosystem services. K. Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) Section 307 of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA; 16 U.S.C. 1456) requires Federal agencies to consult with a State’s coastal program on potential Federal agency activities that affect any land or water use or natural resource of the coastal zone. Because the sanctuary lies partially within State waters, NOAA submitted its Federal consistency determination to the Hawai1i Coastal Zone Management Program of the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development. NOAA’s analysis found the proposed action would be undertaken in a manner consistent to the maximum extent practicable with the enforceable policies of the Hawai1i Coastal Zone Management Program. NOAA’s Federal consistency determination, and the State of Hawai‘i May 17, 2024 concurrence letter, are included in the final EIS Appendix C1. Administrative practice and procedure; Coastal zone; Cultural resources; Environmental; Protection; Fishing; Historic preservation; Marine protected areas; Marine resources; Natural resources; National marine sanctuaries; Penalties; Recreation and recreation areas; Reporting and recordkeeping requirements; Shipwrecks; Wildlife. L. Executive Order 12898 and 14096: Environmental Justice Executive Order 12898 and Executive Order 14096 direct Federal agencies to identify and address disproportionately high and adverse effects of their actions on human health and the environment of communities with environmental justice concerns. Additionally, Federal agencies are directed to better protect overburdened communities from pollution and environmental harms; VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 List of Subjects in 15 CFR Part 922 Nicole R. LeBoeuf, Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. For the reasons set forth above, NOAA amends part 922, title 15 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows: PART 922—NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY PROGRAM REGULATIONS 1. The authority citation for part 922 continues to read as follows: ■ Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq. 2. Amend § 922.30 by: a. Removing the word ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph (b)(6); ■ b. Removing the period at the end of paragraph (b)(7) and adding ‘‘;’’ in its place; and ■ c. Adding paragraphs (b)(8) and (9). The additions read as follows: ■ ■ § 922.30 National Marine Sanctuary general permits * PO 00000 * * Frm 00037 * Fmt 4701 * Sfmt 4700 4891 (b) * * * (8) Native Hawaiian Practices— activities that allow for Native Hawaiian practices within Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary; and (9) Recreation—recreational activities within Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary limited to the Midway Atoll Special Management Area. ■ 3. Amend § 922.33 by: ■ a. Removing the word ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph (a)(8); ■ b Removing the period at the end of paragraph (a)(9) and adding ‘‘; and’’ in its place; and ■ c. Adding paragraph (a)(10). The addition read as follows: § 922.33 Review procedures and evaluation. (a) * * * (10) For Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary, there is no practicable alternative to conducting the activity within the sanctuary and the activity can be conducted with adequate safeguards for the resources and ecological integrity of the sanctuary. Further, for Native Hawaiian Practices and Recreation permits in Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary, the activity meets the additional site-specific permit review criteria identified in § 922.245. * * * * * ■ 4. Amend 922.37 by adding paragraph (g). § 922.37 Appeals of permitting decisions. * * * * * (g) Paragraphs (a) through (f) of this section do not apply to Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary. * * * * * ■ 5. Add subpart W to read as follows: Subpart W—Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary Sec. 922.240 Boundary. 922.241 Definitions. 922.242 Cooperative management. 922.243 Access. 922.244 Prohibited or otherwise regulated activities. 922.245 Permit procedures and criteria. 922.246 Vessel monitoring system. 922.247 Sunken military craft. Appendix A to Subpart W of Part 922— Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary Boundary Description and Coordinates Appendix B to Subpart W of Part 922— Coordinates for the Outer Sanctuary Zone Appendix C to Subpart W of Part 922— Coordinates for the Midway Atoll Special Management Area E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 4892 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations Appendix D to Subpart W of Part 922— Coordinates for the Special Preservation Areas (SPAs) Appendix E to Subpart W of Part 922— Coordinates for the Ship Reporting Area Appendix F to Subpart W of Part 922—IMO Standard Reporting Format and Data Syntax for Ship Reporting System § 922.240 Boundary. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary consists of an area of approximately 582,570 square miles (439,910 square nautical miles) of Pacific Ocean waters surrounding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and the submerged lands thereunder. The precise boundary coordinates are listed in Appendix A to this subpart. The outer seaward sanctuary boundary begins approximately 200 nautical miles SW of Kure Atoll at Point 1 and continues from this point roughly north to each successive point in numerical order to Point 232 which is approximately 204 nautical miles north of Kure Atoll. From Point 232 the sanctuary boundary continues roughly ESE to each successive point in numerical order to Point 609 which is approximately 200 nautical miles NE of Necker Island. From Point 609 the sanctuary boundary continues south to Point 610 which is approximately 90 nautical miles ENE of Necker Island. From Point 610 the sanctuary boundary continues roughly east and then SE and south to Point 635 which is approximately 50 nautical miles east of Nihoa. From Point 635 the sanctuary boundary continues roughly south and then SW and west to each successive point in numerical order to Point 662 which is approximately 71 nautical miles SW of Nihoa. From Point 662 the sanctuary boundary continues south to Point 663 which is approximately 236 nautical miles SSW of Nihoa. From Point 663 the sanctuary boundary continues roughly NW to each successive point in numerical order to Point 703 which is approximately 200 nautical miles SSE of Necker Island. From Point 703 the boundary continues roughly NW to each successive point in numerical order to Point 1128 where it ends approximately 200 nautical miles SW of Kure Atoll. The inner landward boundary of the sanctuary follows the shoreline as defined by the State of Hawai1i (HAR § 13–222). § 922.241 Definitions. In addition to those definitions found at § 922.11, the following definitions apply to this subpart. To the extent that a term appears in § 922.11 and this section, the definition in this section governs. VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 Areas to be avoided (ATBA) means the four areas, as adopted by the International Maritime Organization, that should be avoided by vessels that are conducting passage without interruption through the sanctuary. The precise boundary coordinates for the ATBAs are listed in Appendix E to this subpart. Bottomfish species means all species of bottomfish as defined at 50 CFR 665.201. Categories of hazardous cargoes means goods classified in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code; substances classified in chapter 17 of the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code) and chapter 19 of the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code); oils as defined in MARPOL Annex I; noxious liquid substances as defined in MARPOL Annex II; harmful substances as defined in MARPOL Annex III; and radioactive materials specified in the International Code for the Safe Carriage of Packaged Irradiated Nuclear Fuel, Plutonium and High-Level Radioactive Waste on Board Ships (INF Code). Commercial fishing means, as defined in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, fishing in which the fish harvested, either in whole or in part, are intended to enter commerce or enter commerce through sale, barter, or trade. Ecological integrity means a condition determined to be characteristic of an ecosystem that has the ability to maintain the function, structure, and abundance of natural biological communities, including rates of change in response to natural environmental variation. Midway Atoll Special Management Area means the area of the sanctuary surrounding Midway Atoll out to a distance of 12 nautical miles. The coordinates are listed in Appendix C to this subpart. Native Hawaiian practices means cultural activities conducted for the purposes of perpetuating traditional knowledge, caring for and protecting the environment and strengthening cultural and spiritual connections to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands that have demonstrable benefits to the Native Hawaiian community. This may include, but is not limited to, the noncommercial use of sanctuary resources for direct personal consumption while in the sanctuary. Non-commercial fishing means fishing that does not meet the definition PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 of commercial fishing in the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and includes, but is not limited to, sustenance, subsistence, traditional indigenous, and recreational fishing. Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) means NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Law Enforcement. Outer Sanctuary Zone means the waters and submerged lands extending from approximately 50 nautical miles from all islands and emergent lands of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to the extent of the seaward limit of the United States Exclusive Economic Zone (U.S. EEZ) west of 163° West Longitude. The precise boundary coordinates for the Outer Sanctuary Zone are listed in Appendix B to this subpart. Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) means an area that needs special protection through action by the International Maritime Organization because of its significance for recognized ecological, socio-economic, or scientific attributes where such attributes may be vulnerable to damage by international shipping activities. Pelagic species means Western Pacific Pelagic Management Unit Species as defined at 50 CFR 665.800. Pono means appropriate, correct, and deemed necessary by traditional standards in Hawaiian culture. Recreational activity means an activity conducted for personal enjoyment that does not result in the extraction of sanctuary resources and that does not involve a fee-for-service transaction. This includes, but is not limited to, wildlife viewing, SCUBA diving, snorkeling, and boating. Reporting area means the area of the sanctuary that extends outward ten nautical miles from the Particularly Sensitive Sea Area boundary, as designated by the International Maritime Organization, and excludes the Areas to be Avoided that fall within the Particularly Sensitive Sea Area boundary. The precise boundary coordinates for the reporting area are listed in Appendix E to this subpart. Scientific instrument means a device, vehicle, or tool used for scientific purposes and is inclusive of structures, materials, or other matter incidental to proper use of such device, vehicle, or tool. Special Preservation Area (SPA) means discrete, biologically important areas of the sanctuary within which uses are subject to certain conditions, restrictions, and prohibitions, including but not limited to access restrictions. The coordinates are listed in Appendix D to this subpart. E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations Stowed and not available for immediate use means not readily accessible for immediate use, e.g., by being securely covered and lashed to a deck or bulkhead, tied down, unbaited, unloaded, or partially disassembled (e.g., spear shafts being kept separate from spearguns). Sustenance fishing means fishing for bottomfish or pelagic species in which all catch is consumed within the sanctuary, and that is incidental to an activity permitted under this part. Vessel monitoring system (VMS) means a mobile transceiver unit as described in § 922.246 and approved by NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement for use on vessels permitted to access the sanctuary, as required by this part. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 § 922.242 Cooperative management. (a) NOAA has primary responsibility for the management of the sanctuary pursuant to the National Marine Sanctuaries Act. As the sanctuary includes State waters, NOAA will comanage Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary with the State of Hawai1i. (b) NOAA will also manage the sanctuary in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. (c) Nothing in these regulations or establishment of the national marine sanctuary shall diminish U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s authority to administer Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge under the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, as amended, and other U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service authorities. Where Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary overlays Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, NOAA will implement the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to provide supplemental authority to protect resources. (d) NOAA, in exercising its management authority under National Marine Sanctuaries Act Section 304(d), recognizes U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s management authority over Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge under the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, as amended. § 922.243 Access. (a) Access to the Sanctuary is prohibited and thus unlawful except: (1) When conducting emergency response actions, law enforcement activities, and activities and exercises of VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 the Armed Forces in accordance with § 922.244(b) and (c); (2) Pursuant to a permit issued under § 922.245; (3) When conducting non-commercial fishing activities in the Outer Sanctuary Zone authorized under the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act in accordance with § 922.244 (d); (4) When conducting scientific exploration or research activities by or for the Secretary of Commerce or the Secretary of the Interior in the Outer Sanctuary Zone in accordance with § 922.244 (f). (5) When conducting passage without interruption in accordance with paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of this section. (b) A vessel may pass without interruption through the sanctuary without requiring a permit as long as the vessel does not stop or engage in the prohibited activities listed in § 922.244 within the sanctuary. (c) For areas of the sanctuary that are contained within the reporting area surrounding the Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) designated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a ship reporting system (CORAL SHIPREP) specified below shall be in effect. The coordinates for the Reporting Area are listed in Appendix E to this subpart. (1) The following vessels, except vessels entitled to sovereign immunity under international law, passing through the reporting area of the sanctuary without interruption, must participate in the ship reporting system as specified in paragraphs (c)(2) through (6) of this section: (i) Vessels of the United States of any size; (ii) All other ships 300 gross tonnage or greater that are entering or departing a United States port or place; and (iii) All other ships of any size entering or departing a United States port or place and experiencing an emergency while transiting through the reporting area. (2) All vessels passing through the reporting area of the sanctuary without interruption other than those described in paragraph (c)(1) of this section are encouraged to participate in the ship reporting system set forth in paragraphs (c)(2) through (6) of this section. (3) Immediately upon entering the reporting area, vessels described in paragraph (c)(1) of this section must provide the following information by email sent to nwhi.notifications@ noaa.gov in the IMO standard reporting format and data syntax shown in Appendix F to this subpart: PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 4893 (i) Vessel name, call sign or ship station identity, flag, and IMO identification number if applicable, and either Federal documentation or State registration number if applicable; (ii) Date, time (UTC) and month of entry; (iii) Position; (iv) True course; (v) Speed in knots and tenths; (vi) Destination and estimated time of arrival; (vii) Intended route through the reporting area; (viii) Vessel draft (in meters); (ix) Categories of hazardous cargoes on board; (x) Any vessel defects or deficiencies that restrict maneuverability or impair normal navigation; (xi) Any pollution incident or goods lost overboard within the PSSA, the reporting area, or the U.S. EEZ; (xii) Contact information for the vessel’s agent or owner; (xiii) Vessel size (length overall, gross tonnage) and type; and (xiv) Total number of persons on board. (4) Immediately upon leaving the reporting area, vessels described in paragraph (c)(1) of this section must provide the following information by email sent to nwhi.notifications@ noaa.gov in the IMO standard reporting format and data syntax shown in Appendix F to this subpart: (i) Vessel name, call sign or ship station identity, flag, and IMO identification number if applicable, and either Federal documentation or State registration number if applicable; (ii) Date, time (UTC), and month of exit; (iii) Position; and (iv) Any pollution incident or goods lost overboard within the PSSA, the reporting area, or the U.S. EEZ. (5) For vessels that are not equipped with on-board email capability, advanced notice of entrance (as outlined in paragraph (c)(3) of this section) shall be provided at least 72 hours, but not more than one month, prior to entering the reporting area. Notification of departure (as outlined in paragraph (c)(4) of this section) must be provided within 12 hours of leaving the reporting area. Notification under this paragraph may be made by email, telephone, or fax, by contacting: (i) Email: nwhi.notifications@ noaa.gov; (ii) Telephone: 1–808–395–6944 or 1– 866–478–6944; or (iii) Fax: 1–808–455–3093. (6) Further reports shall be made by the vessels described in paragraph (c)(1) of this section, and are encouraged for E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 4894 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations the vessels described in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, whenever there is a change in navigation status or circumstances, particularly in relation to the intended route, defects or deficiencies, pollution incidents, or goods lost overboard. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 § 922.244 Prohibited or otherwise regulated activities. (a) The following activities are prohibited and thus are unlawful for any person to conduct or to cause to be conducted within the sanctuary, except as specified in paragraphs (b) through (f) of this section: (1) Exploring for, developing, or producing oil, gas, or minerals, or any energy development activities; (2) Using or attempting to use poisons, electrical charges, or explosives in the collection or harvest of a sanctuary resource; (3) Introducing or otherwise releasing an introduced species from within or into the sanctuary; (4) Deserting a vessel; (5) Anchoring on or having a vessel anchored on any living or dead coral with an anchor, anchor chain, or anchor rope; (6) Commercial fishing, or possessing commercial fishing gear except when stowed and not available for immediate use; (7) Failing to comply with the vessel monitoring system requirements in violation of § 922.246. (8) Failing to comply with ship reporting requirements in violation of § 922.243. (9) Non-commercial fishing, or possessing non-commercial fishing gear except when stowed and not available for immediate use; (10) Drilling into, dredging, or otherwise altering the submerged lands; or constructing, placing, or abandoning any structure, material, or other matter on the submerged lands; (11) Removing, moving, taking, harvesting, possessing, injuring, disturbing, or damaging; or attempting to remove, move, take, harvest, possess, injure, disturb, or damage any living or nonliving sanctuary resource; (12) Attracting any living sanctuary resource; (13) Touching coral, living or dead; (14) Swimming, snorkeling, or closed or open circuit SCUBA diving; (15) Discharging or depositing any material or other matter into the sanctuary, or discharging or depositing any material or other matter outside of the sanctuary that subsequently enters the sanctuary and injures or has the potential to injure any resources of the sanctuary, except for: VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 (i) Fish, fish parts, or chumming materials (bait) used in or resulting from lawful fishing activity, provided that such discharge or deposit is during the conduct of lawful fishing activity within the sanctuary; (ii) Discharge incidental to vessel operations such as approved marine sanitation device effluent, cooling water, and engine exhaust, consistent with Federal statute or regulation; and (iii) Within Special Preservation Areas or the Midway Atoll Special Management Area, discharging or depositing material or other matter is limited to vessel engine cooling water, weather deck runoff, and vessel engine exhaust, consistent with Federal statute or regulation. (16) Anchoring a vessel. (b) The prohibitions in paragraph (a) of this section do not apply to activities necessary to respond to emergencies threatening life, property, or the environment, or to activities necessary for law enforcement purposes. (c) The prohibitions in paragraph (a) of this section do not apply to activities and exercises of the U.S. Armed Forces (including those carried out by the U.S. Coast Guard). This includes the U.S. Armed Forces’ response to emergencies posing an unacceptable threat to human health or safety or to the marine environment and admitting of no other feasible solution. All activities and exercises of the U.S. Armed Forces shall be carried out in a manner that avoids, to the extent practicable and consistent with operational requirements, adverse impacts on sanctuary resources and qualities. These regulations shall not limit or otherwise affect the U.S. Armed Forces discretion to use, maintain, improve, manage, or control any property under their administrative control or otherwise limit the availability of such property for military mission purposes, including, but not limited to, defensive areas and airspace reservations. (d) The prohibitions in paragraph (a)(9) through (12), and (a)(14) of this section do not apply to non-commercial fishing activities in the Outer Sanctuary Zone authorized under the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act provided that: (1) Fish harvested, either in whole or in part, are not intended to enter commerce and shall not enter commerce through sale, barter, or trade, and that the resource is managed sustainably; (2) Fish harvested, either in whole or in part, are not intended to be sold and shall not be sold for any purposes, including, but not limited to, costrecovery; and PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 (3) The activities under paragraph (a)(9) through (12), and (a)(14) are only conducted as incidental to and necessary to conduct lawful noncommercial fishing activity. (e) The prohibitions in paragraphs (a)(9) through (16) of this section, do not apply to any activity conducted under and in accordance with the scope, purpose, terms, and conditions of a sanctuary general permit, or special use permit issued pursuant to subpart D of this part. In no event, may the Director issue a National Marine Sanctuary general permit or special use permit authorizing or otherwise approving activities listed in paragraph (a)(10) of this section for anything other than scientific instruments, when the activity occurs within the Outer Sanctuary Zone. (f) The prohibitions in paragraph (a) of this section shall not restrict scientific exploration or research activities by or for the Secretary of Commerce or the Secretary of the Interior when the activity occurs within the Outer Sanctuary Zone. § 922.245 Permit procedures and criteria. (a) A person may conduct an activity otherwise prohibited by § 922.244(a)(9) through (16), if such activity is specifically allowed by and conducted in accordance with the scope, purpose, terms and conditions of a permit issued under this section and subpart D of this part, and any additional permit issuance criteria and requirements in paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section. (1) Native Hawaiian Practices (i) The activity is non-commercial and will not involve the sale of any organism or material collected; (ii) The purpose and intent of this activity is appropriate and deemed necessary by traditional standards in the Native Hawaiian culture (pono), and demonstrates an understanding of, and background in, the traditional practice, and its associated values and protocols; (iii) The activity benefits the resources of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and the Native Hawaiian community; (iv) The activity supports or advances the perpetuation of traditional knowledge and ancestral connections of Native Hawaiians to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands; and (v) Any living sanctuary resource harvested from the sanctuary will be consumed or utilized in the sanctuary. (2) Recreation permits (i) The activity is limited to the Midway Atoll Special Management Area. (ii) The activity is for the purpose of recreational activities as defined in § 922.241; E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations (iii) The activity is not associated with any for-hire operation; (iv) The activity does not involve any extractive use; and (b) Applications for permits should be addressed to the NOAA Inouye Regional Center, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries; ATT: Permit Coordinator, Papahānaumokuākea, 1845 Wasp Blvd., Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818. (c) The Secretary of Commerce may authorize sustenance fishing outside of any Special Preservation Area as a term or condition of any general permit or special use permit issued under this section and subpart D of this part. Sustenance fishing in the Midway Atoll Special Management Area shall not be allowed unless the activity has been determined by the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or their designee to be compatible with the purposes for which the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge was established. Sustenance fishing must be conducted in a manner compatible with this part, including considering the extent to which the conduct of the activity may diminish Sanctuary resources, qualities, and ecological integrity, as well as any indirect, secondary, or cumulative effects of the activity and the duration of such effects. The Secretary of Commerce may develop procedures for systematic reporting of sustenance fishing. (d) In addition to other applicable permit issuance criteria and requirements, a permit may not be issued under this section unless the applicant’s vessel has been outfitted with a VMS unit approved by OLE and the applicant complies with the requirements of § 922.246. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 § 922.246 Requirements for a vessel monitoring system. (a) Requirement for use. An owner or operator of a vessel that has been issued a general permit or special use permit under § 922.245 and subpart D of this part must ensure that such vessel is operating a NOAA OLE type-approved VMS on board when operating within the sanctuary. An operating VMS includes an operating mobile transmitting unit on the vessel and a functioning communication link between the unit and OLE as provided by an OLE-approved communication service provider. As a condition of authorized access to the sanctuary, a vessel owner or operator subject to the requirements for a VMS in this section must allow OLE, the U.S. Coast Guard, and their authorized officers and designees access to the vessel’s position data obtained from the VMS. NOAA may have access to, and use of, VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 collected data for scientific, statistical, and management purposes, and to monitor implementation of this subpart. (b) Installing and activating the VMS. (1) OLE has approval authority over the type of VMS used and the installation and operation of the VMS unit. (2) The owner or operator of a vessel must coordinate with OLE to install and activate an approved VMS prior to operating within the sanctuary. For the purposes of this section, the following contact information applies: (i) OLE. Address: 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818; telephone: 808–725–6100; facsimile: 808–725–6199; email: pidvms@ noaa.gov; business hours: Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Hawaii Standard Time. (ii) VMS Helpdesk. Telephone: 888– 219–9228; email: ole.helpdesk@ noaa.gov; business hours: Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., Eastern Time. (c) Interruption of operation of the VMS. When a vessel’s VMS is not operating properly within the sanctuary, the owner or operator must immediately contact OLE, and follow instructions from that office. If notified by OLE that a vessel’s VMS is not operating properly, the owner and operator must follow instructions from that office. In either event, such instructions may include, but are not limited to, manually communicating a vessel’s location as directed by OLE; or exiting the sanctuary until the VMS is operable. (d) Activities Regarding VMS For Vessels Operating in the Sanctuary. The following activities regarding vessel monitoring systems are prohibited and thus unlawful for any person to conduct or cause to be conducted: (1) Operating any vessel within the sanctuary without an OLE typeapproved VMS; (2) Failing to install, activate, repair, or replace a VMS prior to entering the sanctuary; (3) Failing to operate and maintain a VMS on board the vessel; (4) Tampering with, damaging, destroying, altering, or in any way distorting, rendering useless, inoperative, ineffective, or inaccurate the VMS, or VMS signal, or attempting any of the same; (5) Failing to contact OLE or follow OLE instructions when automatic position reporting has been interrupted; (6) Registering a VMS to more than one vessel permitted to operate within the sanctuary at the same time; (7) Connecting or leaving connected additional equipment to a VMS unit without the prior approval of OLE; and PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 4895 (8) Making a false statement, oral or written, to an authorized officer regarding the installation, use, operation, or maintenance of a VMS unit-or communication service provider. § 922.247 Sunken military craft. Sunken military craft are administered by the respective Secretary concerned pursuant to the Sunken Military Craft Act (Pub. L. 108–375, Title XIV, sections 1401 to 1408; 10 U.S.C. 113 note). The Director will enter into a Memorandum of Agreement regarding collaboration with other Federal agencies charged with implementing the Sunken Military Craft Act that may address aspects of managing and protecting sunken military craft. The Director will request approval from the Secretary concerned for any terms and conditions of ONMS permits that may involve sunken military craft. Appendix A to Subpart W of Part 922— Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary Boundary Description and Coordinates [Coordinates listed in this appendix are unprojected (Geographic) and based on the North American Datum of 1983] Point No. 1 .................... 2 .................... 3 .................... 4 .................... 5 .................... 6 .................... 7 .................... 8 .................... 9 .................... 10 .................. 11 .................. 12 .................. 13 .................. 14 .................. 15 .................. 16 .................. 17 .................. 18 .................. 19 .................. 20 .................. 21 .................. 22 .................. 23 .................. 24 .................. 25 .................. 26 .................. 27 .................. 28 .................. 29 .................. 30 .................. 31 .................. 32 .................. 33 .................. 34 .................. 35 .................. 36 .................. 37 .................. 38 .................. E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 Longitude 180.00000 179.99985 179.96681 179.93392 179.90119 179.86863 179.83622 179.78793 179.75595 179.72415 179.69252 179.66108 179.62981 179.59874 179.56786 179.53716 179.50667 179.47637 179.44627 179.41638 179.38670 179.35722 179.32796 179.28448 179.25576 179.22255 179.18175 179.15383 179.12613 179.09868 179.07146 179.03108 179.00447 178.97810 178.93902 178.91329 178.88781 178.86259 Latitude 25.38976 25.38982 25.40451 25.41950 25.43478 25.45034 25.46619 25.49050 25.50707 25.52391 25.54104 25.55844 25.57612 25.59408 25.61231 25.63081 25.64959 25.66863 25.68794 25.70751 25.72735 25.74745 25.76781 25.79883 25.81983 25.84463 25.87583 25.89770 25.91982 25.94218 25.96479 25.99915 26.02235 26.04578 26.08137 26.10537 26.12961 26.15407 4896 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Point No. 39 .................. 40 .................. 41 .................. 42 .................. 43 .................. 44 .................. 45 .................. 46 .................. 47 .................. 48 .................. 49 .................. 50 .................. 51 .................. 52 .................. 53 .................. 54 .................. 55 .................. 56 .................. 57 .................. 58 .................. 59 .................. 60 .................. 61 .................. 62 .................. 63 .................. 64 .................. 65 .................. 66 .................. 67 .................. 68 .................. 69 .................. 70 .................. 71 .................. 72 .................. 73 .................. 74 .................. 75 .................. 76 .................. 77 .................. 78 .................. 79 .................. 80 .................. 81 .................. 82 .................. 83 .................. 84 .................. 85 .................. 86 .................. 87 .................. 88 .................. 89 .................. 90 .................. 91 .................. 92 .................. 93 .................. 94 .................. 95 .................. 96 .................. 97 .................. 98 .................. 99 .................. 100 ................ 101 ................ 102 ................ 103 ................ 104 ................ 105 ................ 106 ................ 107 ................ 108 ................ 109 ................ 110 ................ 111 ................ 112 ................ VerDate Sep<11>2014 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations Longitude 178.82525 178.80068 178.77639 178.75236 178.71683 178.69349 178.65901 178.63637 178.61378 178.59171 178.56993 178.54844 178.52725 178.49601 178.46544 178.44544 178.41601 178.39677 178.37784 178.35922 178.34092 178.30653 178.28885 178.26294 178.24606 178.22951 178.21329 178.19632 178.17402 178.15895 178.14422 178.12274 178.10884 178.08864 178.06920 178.05667 178.03853 178.02687 178.01003 177.99924 177.98881 177.97873 177.96901 177.95509 177.94198 177.93368 177.92568 177.91811 177.90744 177.90079 177.89149 177.88574 177.88037 177.87300 177.86647 177.86258 177.85744 177.85447 177.85073 177.84871 177.84706 177.84529 177.84436 177.84422 177.84445 177.84551 177.84670 177.84844 177.85148 177.85399 177.85761 177.86197 177.86786 177.87226 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Latitude 26.19117 26.21618 26.24141 26.26685 26.30540 26.33136 26.37068 26.39715 26.42409 26.45096 26.47801 26.50526 26.53270 26.57420 26.61611 26.64427 26.68685 26.71544 26.74421 26.77314 26.80223 26.85803 26.88744 26.93185 26.96164 26.99158 27.02166 27.05394 27.09774 27.12831 27.15901 27.20529 27.23631 27.28305 27.33006 27.36154 27.40896 27.44071 27.48851 27.52051 27.55259 27.58477 27.61703 27.66559 27.71432 27.74690 27.77984 27.81256 27.86176 27.89464 27.94406 27.97707 28.01014 28.05982 28.10959 28.14281 28.19271 28.22601 28.27600 28.30936 28.34273 28.39281 28.44291 28.47631 28.50971 28.55981 28.59348 28.63098 28.68101 28.71434 28.75561 28.79830 28.84813 28.88131 Jkt 265001 Point No. 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 PO 00000 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ Frm 00042 Longitude 177.87543 177.87967 177.88514 177.89133 177.90063 177.90735 177.91806 177.92567 177.93780 177.94636 177.95989 177.96959 177.97946 177.98970 178.00575 178.01692 178.03438 178.04647 178.06531 178.08497 178.09853 178.11268 178.13426 178.15665 178.17203 178.19577 178.21216 178.22879 178.25439 178.27525 178.29311 178.31861 178.34009 178.35931 178.38857 178.41018 178.43934 178.47063 178.49239 178.51400 178.54703 178.57973 178.60482 178.62805 178.65341 178.68811 178.71589 178.75298 178.77809 178.80351 178.84220 178.88157 178.90818 178.94864 178.97598 179.00360 179.04556 179.07393 179.11693 179.14594 179.18995 179.21963 179.26463 179.29516 179.34112 179.38763 179.41894 179.45050 179.49827 179.54657 179.57905 179.61792 179.65085 179.70065 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 Latitude 28.90360 28.93173 28.96554 29.00123 29.05066 29.08379 29.13300 29.16572 29.21468 29.24722 29.29590 29.32896 29.36122 29.39340 29.44148 29.47341 29.52113 29.55280 29.60012 29.64717 29.67840 29.71000 29.75642 29.80255 29.83313 29.87875 29.90921 29.93930 29.98416 30.01949 30.04905 30.09001 30.12350 30.15271 30.19588 30.22681 30.26737 30.30946 30.33792 30.36556 30.40666 30.44608 30.47552 30.50216 30.53061 30.56854 30.59815 30.63662 30.66199 30.68713 30.72443 30.76121 30.78543 30.82133 30.84496 30.86835 30.90297 30.92578 30.95947 30.98161 31.01433 31.03582 31.06757 31.08855 31.11928 31.14941 31.16915 31.18861 31.21728 31.24532 31.26365 31.28512 31.30287 31.32895 Point No. 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 Longitude 179.73411 179.77707 179.81095 179.86214 179.89652 179.94844 179.98329 ¥180.00000 ¥179.96410 ¥179.92880 ¥179.89333 ¥179.83980 ¥179.78591 ¥179.74978 ¥179.71350 ¥179.65880 ¥179.62215 ¥179.56692 ¥179.51138 ¥179.47371 ¥179.41770 ¥179.38021 ¥179.33210 ¥179.28243 ¥179.23675 ¥179.19878 ¥179.16071 ¥179.10344 ¥179.06516 ¥179.00758 ¥178.94983 ¥178.90738 ¥178.86874 ¥178.82975 ¥178.79099 ¥178.75218 ¥178.71332 ¥178.67441 ¥178.63547 ¥178.59650 ¥178.55749 ¥178.51846 ¥178.47941 ¥178.43412 ¥178.39504 ¥178.35596 ¥178.32396 ¥178.28487 ¥178.24553 ¥178.20645 ¥178.16738 ¥178.12834 ¥178.08931 ¥178.05031 ¥178.01134 ¥177.97241 ¥177.93351 ¥177.89466 ¥177.85585 ¥177.81646 ¥177.77776 ¥177.73912 ¥177.70055 ¥177.66205 ¥177.62362 ¥177.58526 ¥177.54140 ¥177.50321 ¥177.46512 ¥177.42712 ¥177.38921 ¥177.35141 ¥177.31372 ¥177.27613 Latitude 31.34598 31.36728 31.38371 31.40779 31.42346 31.44640 31.46131 31.46823 31.48309 31.49722 31.51105 31.53119 31.55062 31.56318 31.57542 31.59317 31.60460 31.62114 31.63695 31.64721 31.66179 31.67109 31.68252 31.69383 31.70369 31.71149 31.71896 31.72953 31.73615 31.74546 31.75399 31.75980 31.76473 31.76934 31.77358 31.77748 31.78104 31.78425 31.78712 31.78964 31.79182 31.79366 31.79515 31.79649 31.79729 31.79775 31.79786 31.79769 31.79717 31.79631 31.79510 31.79354 31.79165 31.78940 31.78682 31.78389 31.78061 31.77699 31.77303 31.76865 31.76401 31.75902 31.75369 31.74802 31.74202 31.73567 31.72800 31.72097 31.71361 31.70592 31.69789 31.68952 31.68082 31.67179 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Point No. 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ VerDate Sep<11>2014 Longitude ¥177.23866 ¥177.20131 ¥177.16094 ¥177.12384 ¥177.08687 ¥177.04995 ¥176.99406 ¥176.95227 ¥176.91352 ¥176.87481 ¥176.83616 ¥176.79756 ¥176.73979 ¥176.70136 ¥176.66300 ¥176.60561 ¥176.56718 ¥176.52911 ¥176.49114 ¥176.45325 ¥176.41282 ¥176.37095 ¥176.33338 ¥176.29414 ¥176.23818 ¥176.20102 ¥176.14552 ¥176.10869 ¥176.07199 ¥176.03543 ¥175.99902 ¥175.94468 ¥175.90865 ¥175.87278 ¥175.83644 ¥175.80089 ¥175.76551 ¥175.72777 ¥175.67361 ¥175.62462 ¥175.58577 ¥175.56300 ¥175.50480 ¥175.44667 ¥175.38862 ¥175.33066 ¥175.27281 ¥175.21509 ¥175.15433 ¥175.10019 ¥175.05021 ¥174.99307 ¥174.93613 ¥174.87938 ¥174.82112 ¥174.78357 ¥174.74612 ¥174.69017 ¥174.65301 ¥174.61598 ¥174.57907 ¥174.54229 ¥174.48737 ¥174.43277 ¥174.39656 ¥174.36049 ¥174.32457 ¥174.28881 ¥174.25322 ¥174.21779 ¥174.16782 ¥174.12317 ¥174.08834 ¥174.03646 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Latitude 31.66242 31.65273 31.64185 31.63149 31.62082 31.60978 31.60543 31.60174 31.59795 31.59382 31.58934 31.58453 31.57666 31.57100 31.56499 31.55534 31.54844 31.54125 31.53372 31.52586 31.51708 31.50759 31.49873 31.48910 31.47469 31.46467 31.44902 31.43818 31.42701 31.41553 31.40371 31.38539 31.37278 31.35985 31.34637 31.33281 31.31893 31.30370 31.30264 31.30118 31.29962 31.29856 31.29533 31.29132 31.28654 31.28099 31.27467 31.26757 31.25928 31.25117 31.24316 31.23327 31.22261 31.21120 31.19865 31.19012 31.18126 31.16735 31.15766 31.14764 31.13730 31.12663 31.11001 31.09266 31.08069 31.06840 31.05579 31.04287 31.02962 31.01607 30.99630 30.97807 30.96342 30.94087 Jkt 265001 Point No. 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 PO 00000 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ Frm 00043 Longitude ¥174.00210 ¥173.95092 ¥173.91394 ¥173.88027 ¥173.83015 ¥173.79699 ¥173.74828 ¥173.71286 ¥173.67333 ¥173.63202 ¥173.60020 ¥173.56860 ¥173.52165 ¥173.49065 ¥173.45306 ¥173.40817 ¥173.37804 ¥173.34479 ¥173.30046 ¥173.25673 ¥173.22791 ¥173.19936 ¥173.15960 ¥173.12000 ¥173.09242 ¥173.06512 ¥173.02470 ¥172.98494 ¥172.95880 ¥172.93295 ¥172.89474 ¥172.85721 ¥172.83096 ¥172.79458 ¥172.77072 ¥172.74717 ¥172.71244 ¥172.67843 ¥172.65616 ¥172.62336 ¥172.60190 ¥172.57892 ¥172.55812 ¥172.52756 ¥172.50760 ¥172.48798 ¥172.46870 ¥172.44976 ¥172.42200 ¥172.40392 ¥172.37746 ¥172.35178 ¥172.33510 ¥172.31074 ¥172.29495 ¥172.27193 ¥172.25703 ¥172.23535 ¥172.22135 ¥172.20103 ¥172.18794 ¥172.18269 ¥172.14425 ¥172.10644 ¥172.06858 ¥172.01172 ¥171.95480 ¥171.91682 ¥171.87882 ¥171.82179 ¥171.78376 ¥171.73360 ¥171.67655 ¥171.63852 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 Latitude 30.92545 30.90176 30.88410 30.86763 30.84236 30.82515 30.79912 30.77965 30.75735 30.73339 30.71444 30.69522 30.66586 30.64594 30.62120 30.59091 30.57004 30.54651 30.51431 30.48153 30.45935 30.43692 30.40490 30.37227 30.34897 30.32542 30.28965 30.25335 30.22886 30.20413 30.16662 30.12860 30.10131 30.06247 30.03631 30.00995 29.97001 29.92961 29.90243 29.86129 29.83362 29.80334 29.77530 29.73290 29.70441 29.67574 29.64690 29.61789 29.57406 29.54464 29.50021 29.45544 29.42540 29.38007 29.34967 29.30382 29.27308 29.22673 29.19567 29.14885 29.11749 29.10461 29.10857 29.11211 29.11531 29.11947 29.12286 29.12469 29.12618 29.12776 29.12839 29.12869 29.12830 29.12761 Point No. 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 Longitude ¥171.60049 ¥171.54349 ¥171.50552 ¥171.45928 ¥171.42136 ¥171.38347 ¥171.32671 ¥171.28892 ¥171.25118 ¥171.21350 ¥171.17551 ¥171.13794 ¥171.10043 ¥171.04430 ¥171.00697 ¥170.96972 ¥170.93255 ¥170.89547 ¥170.85848 ¥170.82159 ¥170.78479 ¥170.74809 ¥170.69325 ¥170.65683 ¥170.60242 ¥170.56630 ¥170.53030 ¥170.49444 ¥170.44089 ¥170.40537 ¥170.36999 ¥170.33476 ¥170.29968 ¥170.24735 ¥170.21266 ¥170.16441 ¥170.11868 ¥170.06241 ¥170.00627 ¥169.95029 ¥169.89448 ¥169.85736 ¥169.80186 ¥169.74655 ¥169.69147 ¥169.63661 ¥169.60017 ¥169.54573 ¥169.49155 ¥169.45559 ¥169.40188 ¥169.34847 ¥169.29538 ¥169.24262 ¥169.19019 ¥169.13811 ¥169.08640 ¥169.03506 ¥169.00106 ¥168.95037 ¥168.90010 ¥168.85025 ¥168.81726 ¥168.76813 ¥168.71946 ¥168.67125 ¥168.62352 ¥168.58344 ¥168.53902 ¥168.48296 ¥168.42677 ¥168.37049 ¥168.33291 ¥168.27648 4897 Latitude 29.12658 29.12439 29.12249 29.11977 29.11719 29.11427 29.10925 29.10547 29.10135 29.09689 29.09204 29.08690 29.08142 29.07256 29.06623 29.05956 29.05256 29.04522 29.03755 29.02954 29.02120 29.01253 28.99890 28.98940 28.97453 28.96421 28.95356 28.94259 28.92552 28.91374 28.90164 28.88922 28.87648 28.85678 28.84325 28.82380 28.81843 28.81110 28.80301 28.79415 28.78454 28.77770 28.76683 28.75519 28.74281 28.72968 28.72051 28.70614 28.69103 28.68055 28.66422 28.64716 28.62937 28.61087 28.59165 28.57172 28.55108 28.52974 28.51513 28.49263 28.46945 28.44559 28.42931 28.40432 28.37867 28.35237 28.32541 28.30203 28.30813 28.31510 28.32131 28.32675 28.32995 28.33411 4898 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Point No. 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ VerDate Sep<11>2014 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations Longitude ¥168.21998 ¥168.16342 ¥168.10683 ¥168.05021 ¥168.00043 ¥167.94380 ¥167.88718 ¥167.83059 ¥167.77404 ¥167.73621 ¥167.67976 ¥167.62339 ¥167.56712 ¥167.51095 ¥167.45490 ¥167.39898 ¥167.34321 ¥167.30612 ¥167.25063 ¥167.21374 ¥167.15856 ¥167.10359 ¥167.04884 ¥166.99432 ¥166.94004 ¥166.88603 ¥166.85017 ¥166.81444 ¥166.79269 ¥166.76001 ¥166.72461 ¥166.68934 ¥166.65422 ¥166.61924 ¥166.58441 ¥166.54974 ¥166.51522 ¥166.48086 ¥166.42964 ¥166.39570 ¥166.36193 ¥166.31162 ¥166.27830 ¥166.24517 ¥166.21223 ¥166.17948 ¥166.14693 ¥166.11458 ¥166.06622 ¥166.03438 ¥166.00275 ¥165.97134 ¥165.94014 ¥165.90917 ¥165.87842 ¥165.83251 ¥165.80234 ¥165.77240 ¥165.74243 ¥165.71297 ¥165.68375 ¥165.65478 ¥165.62607 ¥165.59760 ¥165.56939 ¥165.54144 ¥165.50001 ¥165.47272 ¥165.44570 ¥165.41895 ¥165.39248 ¥165.36628 ¥165.34036 ¥165.30201 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Latitude 28.33750 28.34011 28.34195 28.34302 28.34332 28.34293 28.34177 28.33983 28.33713 28.33488 28.33089 28.32613 28.32059 28.31429 28.30722 28.29939 28.29079 28.28464 28.27477 28.26778 28.25665 28.24478 28.23215 28.21878 28.20466 28.18981 28.17950 28.16886 28.16220 28.15196 28.14051 28.12874 28.11665 28.10424 28.09152 28.07847 28.06511 28.05144 28.03034 28.01589 28.00113 27.97842 27.96290 27.94707 27.93095 27.91452 27.89780 27.88078 27.85459 27.83684 27.81881 27.80048 27.78187 27.76298 27.74381 27.71439 27.69452 27.67438 27.65378 27.63310 27.61215 27.59094 27.56946 27.54773 27.52573 27.50348 27.46963 27.44675 27.42363 27.40026 27.37664 27.35279 27.32870 27.29213 Jkt 265001 Point No. 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 565 566 567 568 569 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580 581 582 583 584 585 586 587 588 589 590 591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 599 600 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 617 618 619 620 621 622 623 624 625 626 627 628 629 630 PO 00000 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ Frm 00044 Longitude ¥165.27680 ¥165.25188 ¥165.21504 ¥165.19085 ¥165.16695 ¥165.14335 ¥165.12006 ¥165.09707 ¥165.07732 ¥165.03132 ¥164.99614 ¥164.96109 ¥164.90877 ¥164.85677 ¥164.82201 ¥164.70700 ¥164.68299 ¥164.64572 ¥164.58983 ¥164.55259 ¥164.51536 ¥164.45955 ¥164.40380 ¥164.34813 ¥164.29254 ¥164.25554 ¥164.21858 ¥164.16325 ¥164.10804 ¥164.05299 ¥164.01637 ¥163.97983 ¥163.92516 ¥163.87068 ¥163.81641 ¥163.78034 ¥163.74438 ¥163.69063 ¥163.63712 ¥163.58387 ¥163.54853 ¥163.51331 ¥163.46071 ¥163.40842 ¥163.35645 ¥163.30480 ¥163.27056 ¥163.21948 ¥163.16876 ¥163.13516 ¥163.08506 ¥163.03536 ¥163.00000 ¥163.00000 ¥161.74242 ¥161.68679 ¥161.63210 ¥161.57857 ¥161.52642 ¥161.47586 ¥161.42708 ¥161.38029 ¥161.33566 ¥161.29337 ¥161.25360 ¥161.21650 ¥161.18221 ¥161.15087 ¥161.12260 ¥161.09751 ¥161.07569 ¥161.05724 ¥161.04221 ¥161.03067 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 Latitude 27.26746 27.24256 27.20478 27.17932 27.15365 27.12775 27.10164 27.07533 27.05226 27.03829 27.02718 27.01574 26.99799 26.97951 26.96670 26.92271 26.92268 26.92233 26.92117 26.91997 26.91843 26.91547 26.91174 26.90724 26.90197 26.89803 26.89375 26.88669 26.87887 26.87029 26.86414 26.85766 26.84731 26.83620 26.82434 26.81602 26.80737 26.79377 26.77943 26.76435 26.75389 26.74310 26.72632 26.70881 26.69058 26.67164 26.65861 26.63848 26.61765 26.60337 26.58138 26.55870 26.54202 24.11409 23.88042 23.86839 23.85316 23.83478 23.81332 23.78888 23.76155 23.73144 23.69868 23.66338 23.62570 23.58578 23.54379 23.49989 23.45425 23.40707 23.35851 23.30879 23.25809 23.20662 Point No. 631 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 640 641 642 643 644 645 646 647 648 649 650 651 652 653 654 655 656 657 658 659 660 661 662 663 664 665 666 667 668 669 670 671 672 673 674 675 676 677 678 679 680 681 682 683 684 685 686 687 688 689 690 691 692 693 694 695 696 697 698 699 700 701 702 703 704 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 Longitude ¥161.02266 ¥161.01820 ¥161.01730 ¥161.01998 ¥161.02620 ¥161.03595 ¥161.04919 ¥161.06584 ¥161.08586 ¥161.10915 ¥161.13562 ¥161.16516 ¥161.19766 ¥161.23298 ¥161.27099 ¥161.31153 ¥161.35444 ¥161.39956 ¥161.44671 ¥161.49571 ¥161.54635 ¥161.59846 ¥161.65181 ¥161.70621 ¥161.76145 ¥161.81730 ¥161.87356 ¥161.93000 ¥161.98641 ¥162.04257 ¥162.09826 ¥163.00000 ¥163.00000 ¥163.02954 ¥163.05474 ¥163.07971 ¥163.10443 ¥163.12891 ¥163.15314 ¥163.18902 ¥163.21262 ¥163.23597 ¥163.25906 ¥163.28189 ¥163.31564 ¥163.33781 ¥163.35971 ¥163.38134 ¥163.41328 ¥163.43423 ¥163.45490 ¥163.47678 ¥163.49689 ¥163.51671 ¥163.54591 ¥163.56501 ¥163.58383 ¥163.60235 ¥163.62957 ¥163.64735 ¥163.66483 ¥163.68201 ¥163.69888 ¥163.71545 ¥163.73841 ¥163.75664 ¥163.78708 ¥163.81734 ¥163.84743 ¥163.87734 ¥163.90706 ¥163.93659 ¥163.95588 ¥163.98535 Latitude 23.15458 23.10217 23.04961 22.99711 22.94485 22.89307 22.84195 22.79170 22.74252 22.69460 22.64812 22.60327 22.56023 22.51916 22.48022 22.44356 22.40934 22.37767 22.34869 22.32250 22.29922 22.27892 22.26168 22.24758 22.23667 22.22899 22.22458 22.22343 22.22557 22.23099 22.23966 22.40727 19.23458 19.26137 19.28472 19.30831 19.33213 19.35619 19.38047 19.41731 19.44214 19.46720 19.49248 19.51796 19.55659 19.58261 19.60883 19.63525 19.67526 19.70218 19.72929 19.75859 19.78608 19.81376 19.85562 19.88376 19.91207 19.94056 19.98361 20.01252 20.04159 20.07083 20.10022 20.12977 20.17192 20.18197 20.19906 20.21644 20.23409 20.25202 20.27022 20.28870 20.30099 20.29532 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Point No. 705 706 707 708 709 710 711 712 713 714 715 716 717 718 719 720 721 722 723 724 725 726 727 728 729 730 731 732 733 734 735 736 737 738 739 740 741 742 743 744 745 746 747 748 749 750 751 752 753 754 755 756 757 758 759 760 761 762 763 764 765 766 767 768 769 770 771 772 773 774 775 776 777 778 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ VerDate Sep<11>2014 Longitude ¥164.02014 ¥164.07244 ¥164.12487 ¥164.17742 ¥164.23008 ¥164.28284 ¥164.33569 ¥164.38861 ¥164.44159 ¥164.49463 ¥164.54771 ¥164.58106 ¥164.60571 ¥164.65884 ¥164.71217 ¥164.74760 ¥164.78302 ¥164.83614 ¥164.88922 ¥164.92459 ¥164.97761 ¥165.01292 ¥165.04914 ¥165.10201 ¥165.13720 ¥165.18992 ¥165.24253 ¥165.27754 ¥165.31250 ¥165.36483 ¥165.41702 ¥165.45173 ¥165.50401 ¥165.54798 ¥165.60124 ¥165.65391 ¥165.70669 ¥165.75955 ¥165.81249 ¥165.86549 ¥165.91855 ¥165.97164 ¥166.02477 ¥166.07792 ¥166.13108 ¥166.18423 ¥166.23737 ¥166.29049 ¥166.34357 ¥166.36478 ¥166.39682 ¥166.43214 ¥166.48507 ¥166.52032 ¥166.57311 ¥166.61798 ¥166.65308 ¥166.70563 ¥166.74060 ¥166.77552 ¥166.82777 ¥166.87988 ¥166.91453 ¥166.94911 ¥166.99267 ¥167.02709 ¥167.07857 ¥167.11278 ¥167.14689 ¥167.19433 ¥167.22830 ¥167.26218 ¥167.29596 ¥167.32963 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Latitude 20.28893 20.27996 20.27171 20.26419 20.25739 20.25133 20.24599 20.24139 20.23752 20.23438 20.23197 20.23084 20.23016 20.22922 20.22902 20.22929 20.22990 20.23141 20.23366 20.23557 20.23904 20.24176 20.24489 20.25007 20.25393 20.26033 20.26745 20.27261 20.27808 20.28690 20.29644 20.30321 20.31402 20.32372 20.31609 20.30930 20.30323 20.29790 20.29329 20.28942 20.28628 20.28388 20.28221 20.28127 20.28107 20.28161 20.28287 20.28488 20.28762 20.28892 20.29110 20.29382 20.29852 20.30205 20.30796 20.31350 20.31816 20.32577 20.33125 20.33705 20.34635 20.35637 20.36345 20.37085 20.38061 20.38865 20.40130 20.41012 20.41926 20.43226 20.44187 20.45180 20.46203 20.47258 Jkt 265001 Point No. 779 780 781 782 783 784 785 786 787 788 789 790 791 792 793 794 795 796 797 798 799 800 801 802 803 804 805 806 807 808 809 810 811 812 813 814 815 816 817 818 819 820 821 822 823 824 825 826 827 828 829 830 831 832 833 834 835 836 837 838 839 840 841 842 843 844 845 846 847 848 849 850 851 852 PO 00000 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ Frm 00045 Longitude ¥167.36319 ¥167.39664 ¥167.44659 ¥167.47975 ¥167.51278 ¥167.54695 ¥167.57973 ¥167.61238 ¥167.64489 ¥167.67726 ¥167.70949 ¥167.74158 ¥167.77351 ¥167.80530 ¥167.83694 ¥167.86841 ¥167.91533 ¥167.94640 ¥167.97731 ¥168.00804 ¥168.03861 ¥168.08412 ¥168.11424 ¥168.14417 ¥168.17392 ¥168.20348 ¥168.24746 ¥168.27653 ¥168.31977 ¥168.36255 ¥168.40487 ¥168.43282 ¥168.47433 ¥168.50174 ¥168.54244 ¥168.58263 ¥168.62230 ¥168.66145 ¥168.68726 ¥168.71283 ¥168.75073 ¥168.77569 ¥168.81266 ¥168.83700 ¥168.87302 ¥168.90847 ¥168.93178 ¥168.96624 ¥168.99177 ¥169.02276 ¥169.04473 ¥169.07716 ¥169.09844 ¥169.12982 ¥169.15039 ¥169.18071 ¥169.20232 ¥169.21703 ¥169.23883 ¥169.27247 ¥169.32272 ¥169.37269 ¥169.42237 ¥169.47175 ¥169.52083 ¥169.56958 ¥169.61800 ¥169.66608 ¥169.71382 ¥169.76119 ¥169.80819 ¥169.85481 ¥169.90103 ¥169.94686 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 Latitude 20.48344 20.49460 20.51193 20.52386 20.53610 20.54912 20.56197 20.57511 20.58856 20.60230 20.61635 20.63068 20.64532 20.66024 20.67546 20.69097 20.71478 20.73101 20.74752 20.76432 20.78140 20.80755 20.82533 20.84338 20.86172 20.88032 20.90873 20.92801 20.95743 20.98744 21.01804 21.03877 21.07033 21.09169 21.12420 21.15727 21.19089 21.22506 21.24813 21.27145 21.30685 21.33074 21.36701 21.39147 21.42858 21.46618 21.49152 21.52992 21.55913 21.59546 21.62184 21.66178 21.68866 21.72934 21.75669 21.79808 21.82840 21.84743 21.85466 21.86611 21.88387 21.90231 21.92143 21.94123 21.96170 21.98284 22.00464 22.02710 22.05022 22.07399 22.09840 22.12345 22.14914 22.17546 Point No. 853 854 855 856 857 858 859 860 861 862 863 864 865 866 867 868 869 870 871 872 873 874 875 876 877 878 879 880 881 882 883 884 885 886 887 888 889 890 891 892 893 894 895 896 897 898 899 900 901 902 903 904 905 906 907 908 909 910 911 912 913 914 915 916 917 918 919 920 921 922 923 924 925 926 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 Longitude ¥169.97718 ¥170.00653 ¥170.05123 ¥170.08671 ¥170.12225 ¥170.15783 ¥170.19345 ¥170.22911 ¥170.28268 ¥170.31843 ¥170.35421 ¥170.39001 ¥170.42584 ¥170.46169 ¥170.51548 ¥170.55136 ¥170.58725 ¥170.62314 ¥170.65929 ¥170.69518 ¥170.73106 ¥170.76693 ¥170.80279 ¥170.83863 ¥170.89236 ¥170.92815 ¥170.96391 ¥170.99964 ¥171.03533 ¥171.07099 ¥171.12440 ¥171.15995 ¥171.19545 ¥171.23089 ¥171.28396 ¥171.33689 ¥171.38967 ¥171.42477 ¥171.47727 ¥171.52961 ¥171.58175 ¥171.63370 ¥171.68543 ¥171.73694 ¥171.78823 ¥171.83927 ¥171.89005 ¥171.94057 ¥171.99082 ¥172.03998 ¥172.09233 ¥172.12811 ¥172.18170 ¥172.21738 ¥172.25302 ¥172.28861 ¥172.32414 ¥172.37735 ¥172.41274 ¥172.46572 ¥172.50095 ¥172.55367 ¥172.58872 ¥172.64114 ¥172.67599 ¥172.71075 ¥172.76272 ¥172.79725 ¥172.83168 ¥172.86601 ¥172.90023 ¥172.95136 ¥172.98531 ¥173.03602 4899 Latitude 22.19335 22.21103 22.20415 22.19907 22.19430 22.18987 22.18575 22.18196 22.17688 22.17390 22.17125 22.16891 22.16691 22.16523 22.16332 22.16245 22.16191 22.16170 22.16181 22.16224 22.16301 22.16410 22.16551 22.16725 22.17047 22.17302 22.17590 22.17910 22.18262 22.18647 22.19286 22.19751 22.20249 22.20780 22.21635 22.22563 22.23563 22.24269 22.25389 22.26579 22.27841 22.29174 22.30577 22.32050 22.33594 22.35207 22.36889 22.38641 22.40461 22.42318 22.42751 22.43088 22.43653 22.44070 22.44519 22.45001 22.45515 22.46346 22.46941 22.47892 22.48566 22.49638 22.50392 22.51582 22.52415 22.53279 22.54635 22.55578 22.56552 22.57558 22.58594 22.60207 22.61320 22.63048 4900 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Point No. 927 ................ 928 ................ 929 ................ 930 ................ 931 ................ 932 ................ 933 ................ 934 ................ 935 ................ 936 ................ 937 ................ 938 ................ 939 ................ 940 ................ 941 ................ 942 ................ 943 ................ 944 ................ 945 ................ 946 ................ 947 ................ 948 ................ 949 ................ 950 ................ 951 ................ 952 ................ 953 ................ 954 ................ 955 ................ 956 ................ 957 ................ 958 ................ 959 ................ 960 ................ 961 ................ 962 ................ 963 ................ 964 ................ 965 ................ 966 ................ 967 ................ 968 ................ 969 ................ 970 ................ 971 ................ 972 ................ 973 ................ 974 ................ 975 ................ 976 ................ 977 ................ 978 ................ 979 ................ 980 ................ 981 ................ 982 ................ 983 ................ 984 ................ 985 ................ 986 ................ 987 ................ 988 ................ 989 ................ 990 ................ 991 ................ 992 ................ 993 ................ 994 ................ 995 ................ 996 ................ 997 ................ 998 ................ 999 ................ 1000 .............. VerDate Sep<11>2014 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations Longitude ¥173.08645 ¥173.11992 ¥173.15325 ¥173.18646 ¥173.23601 ¥173.26888 ¥173.30160 ¥173.34556 ¥173.37723 ¥173.41276 ¥173.44836 ¥173.48400 ¥173.51970 ¥173.55544 ¥173.59122 ¥173.62704 ¥173.66290 ¥173.69879 ¥173.73471 ¥173.77065 ¥173.80661 ¥173.84260 ¥173.87860 ¥173.91461 ¥173.95063 ¥173.98666 ¥174.02268 ¥174.05871 ¥174.09473 ¥174.13075 ¥174.16675 ¥174.20274 ¥174.23871 ¥174.27466 ¥174.31059 ¥174.34649 ¥174.38235 ¥174.41819 ¥174.45398 ¥174.48974 ¥174.52545 ¥174.56111 ¥174.59672 ¥174.63227 ¥174.66777 ¥174.70321 ¥174.73859 ¥174.77389 ¥174.82672 ¥174.86184 ¥174.89689 ¥174.93185 ¥174.96673 ¥175.00151 ¥175.03621 ¥175.07081 ¥175.10531 ¥175.13972 ¥175.17401 ¥175.20820 ¥175.24228 ¥175.27624 ¥175.31009 ¥175.34381 ¥175.37741 ¥175.41089 ¥175.44423 ¥175.47744 ¥175.51051 ¥175.54345 ¥175.57624 ¥175.60888 ¥175.64138 ¥175.67372 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Latitude 22.64845 22.66081 22.67347 22.68643 22.70643 22.72014 22.73415 22.75354 22.74830 22.74274 22.73750 22.73258 22.72798 22.72371 22.71976 22.71613 22.71283 22.70985 22.70720 22.70487 22.70286 22.70118 22.69983 22.69880 22.69810 22.69772 22.69767 22.69794 22.69854 22.69947 22.70072 22.70229 22.70419 22.70642 22.70897 22.71185 22.71504 22.71857 22.72242 22.72659 22.73108 22.73589 22.74103 22.74649 22.75227 22.75837 22.76479 22.77153 22.78224 22.78978 22.79763 22.80580 22.81429 22.82309 22.83220 22.84163 22.85136 22.86141 22.87177 22.88244 22.89342 22.90471 22.91630 22.92820 22.94040 22.95290 22.96571 22.97882 22.99222 23.00593 23.01993 23.03422 23.04881 23.06370 Jkt 265001 Point No. 1001 1002 1003 1004 1005 1006 1007 1008 1009 1010 1011 1012 1013 1014 1015 1016 1017 1018 1019 1020 1021 1022 1023 1024 1025 1026 1027 1028 1029 1030 1031 1032 1033 1034 1035 1036 1037 1038 1039 1040 1041 1042 1043 1044 1045 1046 1047 1048 1049 1050 1051 1052 1053 1054 1055 1056 1057 1058 1059 1060 1061 1062 1063 1064 1065 1066 1067 1068 1069 1070 1071 1072 1073 1074 PO 00000 .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. Frm 00046 Longitude ¥175.70591 ¥175.73795 ¥175.76982 ¥175.81731 ¥175.84877 ¥175.88005 ¥175.91116 ¥175.94209 ¥175.98815 ¥176.01862 ¥176.04891 ¥176.09398 ¥176.12379 ¥176.15339 ¥176.18280 ¥176.21200 ¥176.25542 ¥176.28410 ¥176.31256 ¥176.35486 ¥176.38278 ¥176.41048 ¥176.43795 ¥176.46520 ¥176.50563 ¥176.53229 ¥176.55872 ¥176.59790 ¥176.62372 ¥176.66199 ¥176.68719 ¥176.71213 ¥176.73682 ¥176.76125 ¥176.78542 ¥176.80933 ¥176.83297 ¥176.85635 ¥176.87945 ¥176.90229 ¥176.93602 ¥176.96913 ¥176.99085 ¥177.01229 ¥177.03344 ¥177.06462 ¥177.08505 ¥177.10518 ¥177.12502 ¥177.14456 ¥177.17331 ¥177.19210 ¥177.21058 ¥177.22875 ¥177.25544 ¥177.27284 ¥177.28992 ¥177.30670 ¥177.32315 ¥177.33929 ¥177.36249 ¥177.38606 ¥177.41985 ¥177.45352 ¥177.48704 ¥177.53706 ¥177.57023 ¥177.60325 ¥177.63612 ¥177.66883 ¥177.71760 ¥177.74992 ¥177.78207 ¥177.81404 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 Latitude 23.07887 23.09434 23.11009 23.13426 23.15073 23.16748 23.18451 23.20183 23.22832 23.24633 23.26461 23.29254 23.31150 23.33073 23.35022 23.36998 23.40011 23.42052 23.44119 23.47268 23.49399 23.51554 23.53735 23.55940 23.59294 23.61560 23.63850 23.67330 23.69679 23.73246 23.75653 23.78082 23.80534 23.83007 23.85503 23.88021 23.90559 23.93119 23.95700 23.98302 24.02243 24.06229 24.08911 24.11613 24.14334 24.18450 24.21218 24.24004 24.26808 24.29630 24.33895 24.36760 24.39642 24.42540 24.46918 24.49856 24.52810 24.55779 24.58763 24.61762 24.66210 24.67081 24.68359 24.69667 24.71005 24.73067 24.74479 24.75920 24.77391 24.78890 24.81194 24.82767 24.84367 24.85997 Point No. 1075 1076 1077 1078 1079 1080 1081 1082 1083 1084 1085 1086 1087 1088 1089 1090 1091 1092 1093 1094 1095 1096 1097 1098 1099 1100 1101 1102 1103 1104 1105 1106 1107 1108 1109 1110 1111 1112 1113 1114 1115 1116 1117 1118 1119 1120 1121 1122 1123 1124 1125 1126 1127 1128 .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. Longitude ¥177.83690 ¥177.88667 ¥177.94111 ¥177.97195 ¥177.99642 ¥178.05062 ¥178.10469 ¥178.14066 ¥178.16577 ¥178.21953 ¥178.27313 ¥178.32655 ¥178.37978 ¥178.43281 ¥178.48563 ¥178.53822 ¥178.59058 ¥178.61445 ¥178.64360 ¥178.67821 ¥178.70077 ¥178.72148 ¥178.75794 ¥178.81257 ¥178.86732 ¥178.90360 ¥178.93984 ¥178.98140 ¥179.01755 ¥179.07166 ¥179.10765 ¥179.14357 ¥179.19731 ¥179.25088 ¥179.28649 ¥179.32201 ¥179.35744 ¥179.38198 ¥179.43515 ¥179.47030 ¥179.50534 ¥179.55771 ¥179.60982 ¥179.66167 ¥179.69609 ¥179.73039 ¥179.76456 ¥179.79860 ¥179.83251 ¥179.86628 ¥179.89991 ¥179.93340 ¥179.96674 ¥180.00000 Latitude 24.87185 24.87745 24.88429 24.88850 24.89200 24.90028 24.90929 24.91569 24.92034 24.93078 24.94194 24.95380 24.96637 24.97965 24.99363 25.00832 25.02370 25.03096 25.04005 25.05115 25.05859 25.06052 25.06420 25.07031 25.07718 25.08214 25.08742 25.09383 25.09959 25.10883 25.11539 25.12227 25.13318 25.14480 25.15295 25.16141 25.17018 25.17642 25.19048 25.20018 25.21020 25.22581 25.24211 25.25910 25.27081 25.28283 25.29514 25.30776 25.32068 25.33389 25.34741 25.36122 25.37533 25.38976 Appendix B to Subpart W of Part 922— Coordinates for the Outer Sanctuary Zone [Coordinates listed in this appendix are unprojected (Geographic) and based on the North American Datum of 1983] The boundaries for the areas listed in this appendix, unless otherwise described in this rule, begin at Point 1 as indicated in the particular area’s coordinate table and continue to each successive point in numerical order until ending at the last point in the table. Point No. 1 .................... 2 .................... E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 Longitude 180.00000 179.99985 Latitude 25.38976 25.38982 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Point No. 3 .................... 4 .................... 5 .................... 6 .................... 7 .................... 8 .................... 9 .................... 10 .................. 11 .................. 12 .................. 13 .................. 14 .................. 15 .................. 16 .................. 17 .................. 18 .................. 19 .................. 20 .................. 21 .................. 22 .................. 23 .................. 24 .................. 25 .................. 26 .................. 27 .................. 28 .................. 29 .................. 30 .................. 31 .................. 32 .................. 33 .................. 34 .................. 35 .................. 36 .................. 37 .................. 38 .................. 39 .................. 40 .................. 41 .................. 42 .................. 43 .................. 44 .................. 45 .................. 46 .................. 47 .................. 48 .................. 49 .................. 50 .................. 51 .................. 52 .................. 53 .................. 54 .................. 55 .................. 56 .................. 57 .................. 58 .................. 59 .................. 60 .................. 61 .................. 62 .................. 63 .................. 64 .................. 65 .................. 66 .................. 67 .................. 68 .................. 69 .................. 70 .................. 71 .................. 72 .................. 73 .................. 74 .................. 75 .................. 76 .................. VerDate Sep<11>2014 Longitude 179.96681 179.93392 179.90119 179.86863 179.83622 179.78793 179.75595 179.72415 179.69252 179.66108 179.62981 179.59874 179.56786 179.53716 179.50667 179.47637 179.44627 179.41638 179.38670 179.35722 179.32796 179.28448 179.25576 179.22255 179.18175 179.15383 179.12613 179.09868 179.07146 179.03108 179.00447 178.97810 178.93902 178.91329 178.88781 178.86259 178.82525 178.80068 178.77639 178.75236 178.71684 178.69349 178.65901 178.63637 178.61378 178.59171 178.56993 178.54844 178.52724 178.49600 178.46544 178.44544 178.41601 178.39677 178.37784 178.35922 178.34092 178.30653 178.28885 178.26293 178.24606 178.22951 178.21329 178.19632 178.17402 178.15895 178.14422 178.12274 178.10884 178.08864 178.06920 178.05667 178.03853 178.02687 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Latitude 25.40451 25.41950 25.43477 25.45034 25.46619 25.49050 25.50707 25.52391 25.54104 25.55844 25.57612 25.59408 25.61231 25.63081 25.64959 25.66863 25.68794 25.70751 25.72735 25.74745 25.76781 25.79883 25.81983 25.84463 25.87583 25.89770 25.91982 25.94218 25.96479 25.99915 26.02235 26.04578 26.08137 26.10537 26.12961 26.15407 26.19117 26.21618 26.24141 26.26685 26.30540 26.33136 26.37068 26.39715 26.42409 26.45096 26.47801 26.50526 26.53270 26.57420 26.61611 26.64427 26.68685 26.71544 26.74421 26.77314 26.80223 26.85803 26.88744 26.93184 26.96164 26.99158 27.02166 27.05394 27.09775 27.12831 27.15901 27.20530 27.23631 27.28305 27.33006 27.36154 27.40896 27.44071 Jkt 265001 Point No. 77 .................. 78 .................. 79 .................. 80 .................. 81 .................. 82 .................. 83 .................. 84 .................. 85 .................. 86 .................. 87 .................. 88 .................. 89 .................. 90 .................. 91 .................. 92 .................. 93 .................. 94 .................. 95 .................. 96 .................. 97 .................. 98 .................. 99 .................. 100 ................ 101 ................ 102 ................ 103 ................ 104 ................ 105 ................ 106 ................ 107 ................ 108 ................ 109 ................ 110 ................ 111 ................ 112 ................ 113 ................ 114 ................ 115 ................ 116 ................ 117 ................ 118 ................ 119 ................ 120 ................ 121 ................ 122 ................ 123 ................ 124 ................ 125 ................ 126 ................ 127 ................ 128 ................ 129 ................ 130 ................ 131 ................ 132 ................ 133 ................ 134 ................ 135 ................ 136 ................ 137 ................ 138 ................ 139 ................ 140 ................ 141 ................ 142 ................ 143 ................ 144 ................ 145 ................ 146 ................ 147 ................ 148 ................ 149 ................ 150 ................ PO 00000 Frm 00047 Longitude 178.01003 177.99924 177.98881 177.97873 177.96901 177.95509 177.94198 177.93368 177.92568 177.91811 177.90744 177.90079 177.89149 177.88574 177.88037 177.87300 177.86647 177.86258 177.85744 177.85448 177.85073 177.84871 177.84706 177.84529 177.84437 177.84422 177.84445 177.84551 177.84670 177.84844 177.85148 177.85399 177.85761 177.86197 177.86786 177.87226 177.87543 177.87967 177.88514 177.89133 177.90063 177.90735 177.91806 177.92568 177.93780 177.94636 177.95989 177.96959 177.97946 177.98970 178.00575 178.01692 178.03438 178.04647 178.06531 178.08497 178.09853 178.11268 178.13426 178.15665 178.17203 178.19577 178.21216 178.22879 178.25439 178.27525 178.29311 178.31861 178.34009 178.35931 178.38857 178.41018 178.43934 178.47063 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 Latitude 27.48851 27.52051 27.55259 27.58477 27.61703 27.66559 27.71432 27.74690 27.77984 27.81256 27.86176 27.89464 27.94406 27.97707 28.01014 28.05982 28.10958 28.14281 28.19271 28.22601 28.27601 28.30936 28.34273 28.39281 28.44291 28.47631 28.50971 28.55981 28.59348 28.63098 28.68101 28.71434 28.75561 28.79830 28.84813 28.88131 28.90359 28.93174 28.96554 29.00123 29.05066 29.08379 29.13300 29.16572 29.21468 29.24723 29.29590 29.32896 29.36123 29.39340 29.44148 29.47341 29.52113 29.55280 29.60012 29.64717 29.67840 29.71000 29.75642 29.80255 29.83313 29.87875 29.90921 29.93930 29.98416 30.01949 30.04905 30.09002 30.12350 30.15271 30.19588 30.22681 30.26737 30.30946 Point No. 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 Longitude 178.49239 178.51400 178.54703 178.57973 178.60482 178.62805 178.65341 178.68811 178.71589 178.75298 178.77809 178.80351 178.84220 178.88157 178.90818 178.94864 178.97598 179.00360 179.04556 179.07393 179.11693 179.14594 179.18995 179.21963 179.26462 179.29516 179.34112 179.38763 179.41894 179.45050 179.49827 179.54657 179.57905 179.61792 179.65085 179.70065 179.73411 179.77707 179.81095 179.86214 179.89652 179.94844 179.98329 ¥180.00000 ¥179.96410 ¥179.92880 ¥179.89333 ¥179.83980 ¥179.78591 ¥179.74978 ¥179.71350 ¥179.65880 ¥179.62215 ¥179.56691 ¥179.51138 ¥179.47371 ¥179.41770 ¥179.38021 ¥179.33210 ¥179.28243 ¥179.23675 ¥179.19878 ¥179.16071 ¥179.10344 ¥179.06516 ¥179.00758 ¥178.94983 ¥178.90738 ¥178.86874 ¥178.82975 ¥178.79099 ¥178.75218 ¥178.71331 ¥178.67441 4901 Latitude 30.33792 30.36556 30.40666 30.44608 30.47552 30.50217 30.53062 30.56854 30.59815 30.63662 30.66199 30.68714 30.72443 30.76121 30.78543 30.82133 30.84496 30.86835 30.90298 30.92578 30.95947 30.98161 31.01433 31.03582 31.06757 31.08855 31.11929 31.14941 31.16915 31.18861 31.21728 31.24532 31.26365 31.28512 31.30287 31.32895 31.34597 31.36728 31.38371 31.40779 31.42346 31.44640 31.46131 31.46823 31.48309 31.49723 31.51105 31.53119 31.55062 31.56318 31.57542 31.59317 31.60460 31.62114 31.63695 31.64721 31.66178 31.67109 31.68252 31.69383 31.70369 31.71149 31.71896 31.72953 31.73615 31.74546 31.75399 31.75980 31.76473 31.76934 31.77358 31.77748 31.78104 31.78425 4902 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Point No. 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ VerDate Sep<11>2014 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations Longitude ¥178.63547 ¥178.59650 ¥178.55749 ¥178.51846 ¥178.47941 ¥178.43412 ¥178.39504 ¥178.35596 ¥178.32396 ¥178.28487 ¥178.24552 ¥178.20645 ¥178.16738 ¥178.12834 ¥178.08931 ¥178.05031 ¥178.01134 ¥177.97241 ¥177.93351 ¥177.89466 ¥177.85585 ¥177.81646 ¥177.77776 ¥177.73912 ¥177.70055 ¥177.66205 ¥177.62362 ¥177.58526 ¥177.54140 ¥177.50321 ¥177.46512 ¥177.42712 ¥177.38921 ¥177.35141 ¥177.31372 ¥177.27613 ¥177.23866 ¥177.20131 ¥177.16094 ¥177.12384 ¥177.08687 ¥177.04995 ¥176.99406 ¥176.95227 ¥176.91351 ¥176.87481 ¥176.83616 ¥176.79756 ¥176.73979 ¥176.70136 ¥176.66300 ¥176.60561 ¥176.56718 ¥176.52911 ¥176.49114 ¥176.45325 ¥176.41282 ¥176.37095 ¥176.33338 ¥176.29414 ¥176.23818 ¥176.20102 ¥176.14552 ¥176.10869 ¥176.07199 ¥176.03543 ¥175.99902 ¥175.94468 ¥175.90865 ¥175.87278 ¥175.83644 ¥175.80089 ¥175.76551 ¥175.72777 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Latitude 31.78712 31.78964 31.79182 31.79366 31.79515 31.79649 31.79729 31.79775 31.79786 31.79769 31.79717 31.79631 31.79510 31.79355 31.79165 31.78940 31.78682 31.78389 31.78061 31.77699 31.77303 31.76865 31.76401 31.75902 31.75369 31.74802 31.74202 31.73567 31.72800 31.72097 31.71361 31.70592 31.69788 31.68952 31.68082 31.67179 31.66242 31.65273 31.64185 31.63150 31.62082 31.60978 31.60543 31.60174 31.59795 31.59382 31.58934 31.58453 31.57666 31.57100 31.56499 31.55534 31.54844 31.54125 31.53372 31.52586 31.51708 31.50759 31.49873 31.48910 31.47469 31.46467 31.44902 31.43818 31.42701 31.41553 31.40371 31.38539 31.37278 31.35985 31.34637 31.33281 31.31893 31.30370 Jkt 265001 Point No. 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 PO 00000 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ Frm 00048 Longitude ¥175.67361 ¥175.62462 ¥175.58577 ¥175.56300 ¥175.50480 ¥175.44667 ¥175.38861 ¥175.33066 ¥175.27281 ¥175.21509 ¥175.15434 ¥175.10019 ¥175.05021 ¥174.99307 ¥174.93613 ¥174.87938 ¥174.82112 ¥174.78357 ¥174.74613 ¥174.69017 ¥174.65301 ¥174.61598 ¥174.57907 ¥174.54229 ¥174.48737 ¥174.43277 ¥174.39656 ¥174.36049 ¥174.32457 ¥174.28881 ¥174.25322 ¥174.21779 ¥174.16782 ¥174.12317 ¥174.08835 ¥174.03646 ¥174.00210 ¥173.95092 ¥173.91394 ¥173.88027 ¥173.83014 ¥173.79699 ¥173.74828 ¥173.71286 ¥173.67333 ¥173.63202 ¥173.60020 ¥173.56860 ¥173.52165 ¥173.49065 ¥173.45306 ¥173.40817 ¥173.37804 ¥173.34479 ¥173.30046 ¥173.25673 ¥173.22791 ¥173.19936 ¥173.15960 ¥173.12000 ¥173.09241 ¥173.06512 ¥173.02470 ¥172.98494 ¥172.95880 ¥172.93295 ¥172.89474 ¥172.85721 ¥172.83096 ¥172.79458 ¥172.77072 ¥172.74717 ¥172.71244 ¥172.67843 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 Latitude 31.30264 31.30118 31.29962 31.29856 31.29533 31.29132 31.28654 31.28099 31.27467 31.26757 31.25928 31.25117 31.24316 31.23327 31.22261 31.21120 31.19865 31.19012 31.18126 31.16735 31.15766 31.14765 31.13730 31.12663 31.11001 31.09266 31.08069 31.06840 31.05579 31.04287 31.02962 31.01607 30.99630 30.97807 30.96342 30.94087 30.92545 30.90176 30.88410 30.86763 30.84236 30.82515 30.79912 30.77965 30.75735 30.73338 30.71444 30.69522 30.66586 30.64594 30.62120 30.59091 30.57004 30.54651 30.51431 30.48153 30.45935 30.43692 30.40490 30.37227 30.34897 30.32542 30.28965 30.25335 30.22886 30.20413 30.16662 30.12860 30.10131 30.06247 30.03631 30.00995 29.97001 29.92961 Point No. 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 Longitude ¥172.65616 ¥172.62336 ¥172.60190 ¥172.57892 ¥172.55812 ¥172.52756 ¥172.50760 ¥172.48798 ¥172.46870 ¥172.44976 ¥172.42200 ¥172.40392 ¥172.37746 ¥172.35178 ¥172.33510 ¥172.31074 ¥172.29495 ¥172.27193 ¥172.25702 ¥172.23535 ¥172.22135 ¥172.20103 ¥172.18794 ¥172.18269 ¥172.14425 ¥172.10644 ¥172.06858 ¥172.01172 ¥171.95480 ¥171.91682 ¥171.87882 ¥171.82179 ¥171.78376 ¥171.73360 ¥171.67655 ¥171.63852 ¥171.60049 ¥171.54349 ¥171.50552 ¥171.45928 ¥171.42136 ¥171.38347 ¥171.32671 ¥171.28892 ¥171.25118 ¥171.21350 ¥171.17551 ¥171.13794 ¥171.10043 ¥171.04430 ¥171.00697 ¥170.96972 ¥170.93255 ¥170.89547 ¥170.85848 ¥170.82159 ¥170.78479 ¥170.74809 ¥170.69325 ¥170.65683 ¥170.60242 ¥170.56630 ¥170.53030 ¥170.49444 ¥170.44089 ¥170.40537 ¥170.36999 ¥170.33476 ¥170.29968 ¥170.24735 ¥170.21266 ¥170.16441 ¥170.11868 ¥170.06241 Latitude 29.90243 29.86129 29.83362 29.80334 29.77530 29.73290 29.70441 29.67574 29.64690 29.61789 29.57406 29.54464 29.50021 29.45544 29.42540 29.38007 29.34967 29.30382 29.27308 29.22673 29.19567 29.14885 29.11749 29.10461 29.10857 29.11211 29.11531 29.11948 29.12286 29.12469 29.12618 29.12776 29.12839 29.12869 29.12830 29.12761 29.12658 29.12439 29.12250 29.11977 29.11719 29.11427 29.10925 29.10547 29.10135 29.09689 29.09204 29.08690 29.08142 29.07256 29.06623 29.05956 29.05256 29.04522 29.03755 29.02954 29.02120 29.01253 28.99890 28.98940 28.97453 28.96421 28.95356 28.94259 28.92552 28.91374 28.90164 28.88922 28.87648 28.85678 28.84325 28.82380 28.81843 28.81110 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Point No. 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ VerDate Sep<11>2014 Longitude ¥170.00627 ¥169.95029 ¥169.89448 ¥169.85736 ¥169.80186 ¥169.74655 ¥169.69147 ¥169.63661 ¥169.60017 ¥169.54573 ¥169.49155 ¥169.45559 ¥169.40188 ¥169.34847 ¥169.29538 ¥169.24262 ¥169.19019 ¥169.13811 ¥169.08640 ¥169.03506 ¥169.00106 ¥168.95037 ¥168.90010 ¥168.85025 ¥168.81726 ¥168.76813 ¥168.71946 ¥168.67125 ¥168.62352 ¥168.58344 ¥168.53902 ¥168.48296 ¥168.42677 ¥168.37049 ¥168.33291 ¥168.27648 ¥168.21998 ¥168.16342 ¥168.10683 ¥168.05021 ¥168.00043 ¥167.94380 ¥167.88718 ¥167.83059 ¥167.77404 ¥167.73621 ¥167.67976 ¥167.62339 ¥167.56712 ¥167.51095 ¥167.45490 ¥167.39898 ¥167.34321 ¥167.30612 ¥167.25063 ¥167.21374 ¥167.15856 ¥167.10359 ¥167.04883 ¥166.99432 ¥166.94004 ¥166.88603 ¥166.85017 ¥166.81444 ¥166.79269 ¥166.76001 ¥166.72461 ¥166.68934 ¥166.65422 ¥166.61924 ¥166.58441 ¥166.54974 ¥166.51522 ¥166.48086 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Latitude 28.80301 28.79415 28.78454 28.77770 28.76683 28.75519 28.74281 28.72968 28.72051 28.70614 28.69103 28.68055 28.66422 28.64716 28.62937 28.61087 28.59165 28.57172 28.55108 28.52974 28.51513 28.49264 28.46945 28.44559 28.42931 28.40432 28.37867 28.35237 28.32541 28.30203 28.30813 28.31510 28.32131 28.32675 28.32995 28.33411 28.33750 28.34011 28.34195 28.34302 28.34332 28.34293 28.34177 28.33984 28.33713 28.33489 28.33089 28.32613 28.32059 28.31429 28.30722 28.29939 28.29079 28.28464 28.27477 28.26778 28.25665 28.24478 28.23215 28.21878 28.20466 28.18981 28.17950 28.16886 28.16221 28.15196 28.14051 28.12874 28.11665 28.10424 28.09152 28.07847 28.06511 28.05144 Jkt 265001 Point No. 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 565 566 567 568 569 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580 581 582 583 584 585 586 587 588 589 590 591 592 593 594 PO 00000 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ Frm 00049 Longitude ¥166.42964 ¥166.39570 ¥166.36193 ¥166.31162 ¥166.27830 ¥166.24517 ¥166.21223 ¥166.17948 ¥166.14693 ¥166.11458 ¥166.06622 ¥166.03438 ¥166.00275 ¥165.97134 ¥165.94014 ¥165.90917 ¥165.87842 ¥165.83251 ¥165.80234 ¥165.77240 ¥165.74242 ¥165.71296 ¥165.68375 ¥165.65478 ¥165.62607 ¥165.59760 ¥165.56939 ¥165.54144 ¥165.50001 ¥165.47272 ¥165.44570 ¥165.41895 ¥165.39248 ¥165.36628 ¥165.34036 ¥165.30201 ¥165.27680 ¥165.25188 ¥165.21504 ¥165.19085 ¥165.16695 ¥165.14335 ¥165.12006 ¥165.09707 ¥165.07732 ¥165.03132 ¥164.99614 ¥164.96109 ¥164.90877 ¥164.85677 ¥164.82201 ¥164.70700 ¥164.68299 ¥164.64572 ¥164.58983 ¥164.55259 ¥164.51536 ¥164.45955 ¥164.40380 ¥164.34813 ¥164.29254 ¥164.25554 ¥164.21858 ¥164.16325 ¥164.10804 ¥164.05299 ¥164.01637 ¥163.97983 ¥163.92516 ¥163.87068 ¥163.81641 ¥163.78034 ¥163.74438 ¥163.69063 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 Latitude 28.03034 28.01589 28.00113 27.97842 27.96290 27.94707 27.93095 27.91452 27.89780 27.88078 27.85459 27.83684 27.81881 27.80048 27.78187 27.76298 27.74381 27.71439 27.69452 27.67438 27.65378 27.63310 27.61215 27.59094 27.56946 27.54773 27.52573 27.50348 27.46963 27.44675 27.42363 27.40026 27.37664 27.35279 27.32870 27.29213 27.26746 27.24255 27.20478 27.17932 27.15365 27.12775 27.10165 27.07533 27.05226 27.03829 27.02718 27.01574 26.99799 26.97951 26.96670 26.92271 26.92268 26.92233 26.92118 26.91997 26.91843 26.91547 26.91174 26.90724 26.90197 26.89803 26.89375 26.88669 26.87887 26.87029 26.86414 26.85766 26.84731 26.83620 26.82434 26.81602 26.80737 26.79377 Point No. 595 596 597 598 599 600 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 617 618 619 620 621 622 623 624 625 626 627 628 629 630 631 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 640 641 642 643 644 645 646 647 648 649 650 651 652 653 654 655 656 657 658 659 660 661 662 663 664 665 666 667 668 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 Longitude ¥163.63712 ¥163.58387 ¥163.54853 ¥163.51331 ¥163.46071 ¥163.40842 ¥163.35645 ¥163.30480 ¥163.27056 ¥163.21948 ¥163.16876 ¥163.13516 ¥163.08506 ¥163.03536 ¥163.00000 ¥163.00000 ¥164.53740 ¥165.58333 ¥166.05600 ¥166.75000 ¥167.32998 ¥167.44143 ¥167.61200 ¥167.80596 ¥167.96475 ¥170.38404 ¥171.41934 ¥171.45849 ¥171.51400 ¥171.56405 ¥171.62846 ¥173.51320 ¥175.00000 ¥175.17766 ¥175.32900 ¥175.57260 ¥175.59127 ¥177.12157 ¥177.20130 ¥178.14636 ¥178.20545 ¥178.26503 ¥178.32487 ¥178.38473 ¥178.44436 ¥178.50352 ¥178.56197 ¥178.61949 ¥178.67583 ¥178.73077 ¥178.78409 ¥178.83557 ¥178.88501 ¥178.93222 ¥178.97700 ¥179.01917 ¥179.05858 ¥179.09506 ¥179.12848 ¥179.15870 ¥179.18560 ¥179.20909 ¥179.22907 ¥179.24548 ¥179.25824 ¥179.26732 ¥179.27269 ¥179.27400 ¥179.27432 ¥179.27400 ¥179.27222 ¥179.26640 ¥179.25689 ¥179.24374 4903 Latitude 26.77943 26.76435 26.75389 26.74311 26.72632 26.70881 26.69058 26.67164 26.65861 26.63848 26.61765 26.60338 26.58138 26.55870 26.54202 24.11409 24.39976 24.59413 24.68197 25.17393 25.58506 25.66407 25.78498 25.81664 25.84257 26.23759 26.55588 26.56791 26.58498 26.59157 26.60005 26.84822 28.26784 28.43748 28.58198 28.64457 28.64937 29.04257 29.05797 29.24060 29.24908 29.25427 29.25614 29.25468 29.24991 29.24183 29.23049 29.21593 29.19820 29.17738 29.15356 29.12682 29.09728 29.06506 29.03028 28.99308 28.95361 28.91204 28.86852 28.82324 28.77636 28.72809 28.67861 28.62811 28.57681 28.52490 28.47258 28.43037 28.42008 28.41208 28.36758 28.31530 28.26345 28.21223 4904 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Point No. 669 670 671 672 673 674 675 676 677 678 679 680 681 682 683 684 685 686 687 688 689 690 691 692 693 694 695 696 697 698 699 700 701 702 703 704 705 706 707 708 709 710 711 712 713 714 715 716 717 718 719 720 721 722 723 724 725 726 727 728 729 730 731 732 733 734 735 736 737 738 739 740 741 742 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ VerDate Sep<11>2014 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations Longitude ¥179.22699 ¥179.20673 ¥179.18302 ¥179.15598 ¥179.12572 ¥179.09234 ¥179.05599 ¥179.01681 ¥178.97496 ¥178.93061 ¥178.88391 ¥178.83507 ¥178.78427 ¥178.73170 ¥178.67758 ¥178.62211 ¥178.56551 ¥178.49843 ¥177.55523 ¥176.49794 ¥175.00000 ¥174.41400 ¥171.83651 ¥170.86958 ¥170.83964 ¥170.79300 ¥170.73999 ¥168.38105 ¥168.38083 ¥168.38072 ¥166.79085 ¥166.75000 ¥166.60000 ¥166.38872 ¥166.32723 ¥165.58333 ¥164.86038 ¥163.00000 ¥163.00000 ¥163.02954 ¥163.05474 ¥163.07970 ¥163.10443 ¥163.12891 ¥163.15314 ¥163.18902 ¥163.21262 ¥163.23597 ¥163.25906 ¥163.28189 ¥163.31564 ¥163.33781 ¥163.35971 ¥163.38134 ¥163.41328 ¥163.43423 ¥163.45489 ¥163.47678 ¥163.49689 ¥163.51671 ¥163.54591 ¥163.56501 ¥163.58383 ¥163.60235 ¥163.62957 ¥163.64735 ¥163.66483 ¥163.68201 ¥163.69888 ¥163.71545 ¥163.73841 ¥163.75664 ¥163.78708 ¥163.81734 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Latitude 28.16184 28.11247 28.06433 28.01760 27.97246 27.92909 27.88765 27.84832 27.81123 27.77654 27.74438 27.71488 27.68814 27.66428 27.64338 27.62552 27.61078 27.59784 27.41586 27.24611 25.83069 25.27697 24.93729 24.62936 24.61983 24.60497 24.59633 24.21167 24.21163 24.21155 23.09144 23.06265 22.95697 22.93221 22.92501 22.83782 22.75309 22.40727 19.23458 19.26137 19.28472 19.30831 19.33213 19.35619 19.38047 19.41731 19.44214 19.46720 19.49247 19.51796 19.55659 19.58261 19.60883 19.63525 19.67526 19.70218 19.72929 19.75859 19.78608 19.81376 19.85563 19.88376 19.91207 19.94056 19.98361 20.01252 20.04159 20.07082 20.10022 20.12977 20.17193 20.18197 20.19906 20.21644 Jkt 265001 Point No. 743 744 745 746 747 748 749 750 751 752 753 754 755 756 757 758 759 760 761 762 763 764 765 766 767 768 769 770 771 772 773 774 775 776 777 778 779 780 781 782 783 784 785 786 787 788 789 790 791 792 793 794 795 796 797 798 799 800 801 802 803 804 805 806 807 808 809 810 811 812 813 814 815 816 PO 00000 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ Frm 00050 Longitude ¥163.84743 ¥163.87734 ¥163.90706 ¥163.93659 ¥163.95588 ¥163.98535 ¥164.02014 ¥164.07244 ¥164.12487 ¥164.17742 ¥164.23008 ¥164.28284 ¥164.33569 ¥164.38861 ¥164.44159 ¥164.49463 ¥164.54771 ¥164.58106 ¥164.60571 ¥164.65884 ¥164.71217 ¥164.74760 ¥164.78302 ¥164.83614 ¥164.88922 ¥164.92459 ¥164.97761 ¥165.01292 ¥165.04914 ¥165.10200 ¥165.13720 ¥165.18992 ¥165.24253 ¥165.27754 ¥165.31250 ¥165.36483 ¥165.41702 ¥165.45173 ¥165.50401 ¥165.54798 ¥165.60124 ¥165.65391 ¥165.70669 ¥165.75955 ¥165.81249 ¥165.86549 ¥165.91855 ¥165.97164 ¥166.02477 ¥166.07792 ¥166.13108 ¥166.18423 ¥166.23737 ¥166.29049 ¥166.34357 ¥166.36478 ¥166.39682 ¥166.43214 ¥166.48507 ¥166.52032 ¥166.57311 ¥166.61798 ¥166.65308 ¥166.70563 ¥166.74060 ¥166.77552 ¥166.82777 ¥166.87988 ¥166.91453 ¥166.94911 ¥166.99267 ¥167.02709 ¥167.07857 ¥167.11278 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 Latitude 20.23409 20.25202 20.27023 20.28870 20.30099 20.29532 20.28893 20.27996 20.27171 20.26419 20.25739 20.25133 20.24599 20.24139 20.23752 20.23438 20.23197 20.23084 20.23016 20.22922 20.22902 20.22930 20.22990 20.23141 20.23366 20.23557 20.23904 20.24176 20.24489 20.25007 20.25393 20.26033 20.26745 20.27261 20.27808 20.28690 20.29644 20.30321 20.31402 20.32372 20.31609 20.30930 20.30323 20.29790 20.29329 20.28942 20.28628 20.28388 20.28221 20.28127 20.28107 20.28160 20.28288 20.28488 20.28762 20.28892 20.29110 20.29382 20.29852 20.30205 20.30796 20.31350 20.31816 20.32577 20.33125 20.33705 20.34635 20.35637 20.36345 20.37085 20.38061 20.38865 20.40130 20.41012 Point No. 817 818 819 820 821 822 823 824 825 826 827 828 829 830 831 832 833 834 835 836 837 838 839 840 841 842 843 844 845 846 847 848 849 850 851 852 853 854 855 856 857 858 859 860 861 862 863 864 865 866 867 868 869 870 871 872 873 874 875 876 877 878 879 880 881 882 883 884 885 886 887 888 889 890 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 Longitude ¥167.14689 ¥167.19433 ¥167.22831 ¥167.26218 ¥167.29596 ¥167.32963 ¥167.36319 ¥167.39664 ¥167.44659 ¥167.47975 ¥167.51278 ¥167.54695 ¥167.57973 ¥167.61238 ¥167.64489 ¥167.67726 ¥167.70949 ¥167.74158 ¥167.77351 ¥167.80530 ¥167.83694 ¥167.86841 ¥167.91533 ¥167.94640 ¥167.97731 ¥168.00804 ¥168.03861 ¥168.08412 ¥168.11424 ¥168.14417 ¥168.17392 ¥168.20348 ¥168.24746 ¥168.27653 ¥168.31977 ¥168.36255 ¥168.40487 ¥168.43282 ¥168.47433 ¥168.50174 ¥168.54244 ¥168.58263 ¥168.62230 ¥168.66145 ¥168.68726 ¥168.71283 ¥168.75073 ¥168.77569 ¥168.81266 ¥168.83700 ¥168.87302 ¥168.90847 ¥168.93178 ¥168.96624 ¥168.99177 ¥169.02276 ¥169.04473 ¥169.07716 ¥169.09844 ¥169.12982 ¥169.15039 ¥169.18071 ¥169.20233 ¥169.21703 ¥169.23883 ¥169.27247 ¥169.32272 ¥169.37269 ¥169.42237 ¥169.47175 ¥169.52083 ¥169.56958 ¥169.61800 ¥169.66609 Latitude 20.41926 20.43226 20.44187 20.45180 20.46203 20.47258 20.48344 20.49460 20.51193 20.52386 20.53610 20.54913 20.56197 20.57511 20.58856 20.60230 20.61634 20.63068 20.64532 20.66024 20.67546 20.69097 20.71478 20.73101 20.74752 20.76432 20.78140 20.80755 20.82533 20.84338 20.86172 20.88032 20.90873 20.92801 20.95743 20.98744 21.01804 21.03877 21.07033 21.09169 21.12420 21.15727 21.19089 21.22506 21.24813 21.27145 21.30685 21.33075 21.36701 21.39147 21.42858 21.46618 21.49152 21.52992 21.55913 21.59546 21.62184 21.66178 21.68866 21.72934 21.75669 21.79808 21.82840 21.84743 21.85466 21.86611 21.88387 21.90231 21.92143 21.94122 21.96170 21.98284 22.00464 22.02710 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Point No. 891 892 893 894 895 896 897 898 899 900 901 902 903 904 905 906 907 908 909 910 911 912 913 914 915 916 917 918 919 920 921 922 923 924 925 926 927 928 929 930 931 932 933 934 935 936 937 938 939 940 941 942 943 944 945 946 947 948 949 950 951 952 953 954 955 956 957 958 959 960 961 962 963 964 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ VerDate Sep<11>2014 Longitude ¥169.71382 ¥169.76119 ¥169.80819 ¥169.85481 ¥169.90103 ¥169.94686 ¥169.97718 ¥170.00653 ¥170.05123 ¥170.08671 ¥170.12224 ¥170.15783 ¥170.19345 ¥170.22911 ¥170.28268 ¥170.31843 ¥170.35421 ¥170.39002 ¥170.42584 ¥170.46169 ¥170.51549 ¥170.55136 ¥170.58725 ¥170.62314 ¥170.65929 ¥170.69518 ¥170.73106 ¥170.76693 ¥170.80279 ¥170.83863 ¥170.89236 ¥170.92815 ¥170.96391 ¥170.99964 ¥171.03533 ¥171.07099 ¥171.12440 ¥171.15995 ¥171.19545 ¥171.23089 ¥171.28396 ¥171.33689 ¥171.38967 ¥171.42477 ¥171.47727 ¥171.52961 ¥171.58175 ¥171.63369 ¥171.68543 ¥171.73694 ¥171.78823 ¥171.83927 ¥171.89005 ¥171.94057 ¥171.99082 ¥172.03998 ¥172.09233 ¥172.12811 ¥172.18170 ¥172.21738 ¥172.25302 ¥172.28861 ¥172.32414 ¥172.37735 ¥172.41274 ¥172.46572 ¥172.50095 ¥172.55366 ¥172.58872 ¥172.64114 ¥172.67599 ¥172.71075 ¥172.76272 ¥172.79725 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Latitude 22.05022 22.07399 22.09840 22.12345 22.14914 22.17546 22.19335 22.21103 22.20415 22.19907 22.19431 22.18987 22.18575 22.18196 22.17688 22.17390 22.17125 22.16891 22.16691 22.16523 22.16332 22.16245 22.16191 22.16170 22.16181 22.16224 22.16301 22.16410 22.16551 22.16725 22.17047 22.17302 22.17590 22.17910 22.18263 22.18648 22.19286 22.19751 22.20249 22.20780 22.21635 22.22563 22.23563 22.24269 22.25389 22.26579 22.27841 22.29174 22.30577 22.32050 22.33594 22.35207 22.36889 22.38641 22.40461 22.42318 22.42751 22.43088 22.43653 22.44070 22.44519 22.45001 22.45515 22.46346 22.46941 22.47892 22.48567 22.49638 22.50392 22.51582 22.52415 22.53279 22.54635 22.55578 Jkt 265001 Point No. 965 ................ 966 ................ 967 ................ 968 ................ 969 ................ 970 ................ 971 ................ 972 ................ 973 ................ 974 ................ 975 ................ 976 ................ 977 ................ 978 ................ 979 ................ 980 ................ 981 ................ 982 ................ 983 ................ 984 ................ 985 ................ 986 ................ 987 ................ 988 ................ 989 ................ 990 ................ 991 ................ 992 ................ 993 ................ 994 ................ 995 ................ 996 ................ 997 ................ 998 ................ 999 ................ 1000 .............. 1001 .............. 1002 .............. 1003 .............. 1004 .............. 1005 .............. 1006 .............. 1007 .............. 1008 .............. 1009 .............. 1010 .............. 1011 .............. 1012 .............. 1013 .............. 1014 .............. 1015 .............. 1016 .............. 1017 .............. 1018 .............. 1019 .............. 1020 .............. 1021 .............. 1022 .............. 1023 .............. 1024 .............. 1025 .............. 1026 .............. 1027 .............. 1028 .............. 1029 .............. 1030 .............. 1031 .............. 1032 .............. 1033 .............. 1034 .............. 1035 .............. 1036 .............. 1037 .............. 1038 .............. PO 00000 Frm 00051 Longitude ¥172.83168 ¥172.86601 ¥172.90023 ¥172.95136 ¥172.98531 ¥173.03602 ¥173.08645 ¥173.11992 ¥173.15325 ¥173.18646 ¥173.23601 ¥173.26888 ¥173.30160 ¥173.34556 ¥173.37723 ¥173.41277 ¥173.44836 ¥173.48400 ¥173.51970 ¥173.55544 ¥173.59122 ¥173.62704 ¥173.66290 ¥173.69879 ¥173.73470 ¥173.77065 ¥173.80661 ¥173.84260 ¥173.87860 ¥173.91461 ¥173.95063 ¥173.98666 ¥174.02268 ¥174.05871 ¥174.09473 ¥174.13075 ¥174.16675 ¥174.20274 ¥174.23871 ¥174.27466 ¥174.31059 ¥174.34649 ¥174.38235 ¥174.41819 ¥174.45398 ¥174.48974 ¥174.52545 ¥174.56111 ¥174.59672 ¥174.63227 ¥174.66777 ¥174.70321 ¥174.73859 ¥174.77389 ¥174.82672 ¥174.86184 ¥174.89689 ¥174.93185 ¥174.96673 ¥175.00151 ¥175.03621 ¥175.07081 ¥175.10531 ¥175.13972 ¥175.17401 ¥175.20820 ¥175.24228 ¥175.27624 ¥175.31009 ¥175.34381 ¥175.37741 ¥175.41089 ¥175.44423 ¥175.47744 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 Latitude 22.56552 22.57558 22.58594 22.60207 22.61320 22.63048 22.64845 22.66081 22.67347 22.68643 22.70643 22.72014 22.73415 22.75354 22.74830 22.74274 22.73750 22.73258 22.72798 22.72371 22.71976 22.71613 22.71283 22.70985 22.70720 22.70487 22.70286 22.70118 22.69983 22.69880 22.69810 22.69772 22.69767 22.69794 22.69854 22.69947 22.70072 22.70229 22.70419 22.70642 22.70897 22.71185 22.71505 22.71857 22.72242 22.72659 22.73108 22.73589 22.74103 22.74649 22.75227 22.75837 22.76479 22.77154 22.78224 22.78978 22.79763 22.80580 22.81429 22.82308 22.83220 22.84163 22.85136 22.86141 22.87178 22.88244 22.89342 22.90471 22.91630 22.92820 22.94040 22.95290 22.96571 22.97882 Point No. 1039 1040 1041 1042 1043 1044 1045 1046 1047 1048 1049 1050 1051 1052 1053 1054 1055 1056 1057 1058 1059 1060 1061 1062 1063 1064 1065 1066 1067 1068 1069 1070 1071 1072 1073 1074 1075 1076 1077 1078 1079 1080 1081 1082 1083 1084 1085 1086 1087 1088 1089 1090 1091 1092 1093 1094 1095 1096 1097 1098 1099 1100 1101 1102 1103 1104 1105 1106 1107 1108 1109 1110 1111 1112 E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. 16JAR2 Longitude ¥175.51051 ¥175.54345 ¥175.57624 ¥175.60888 ¥175.64138 ¥175.67372 ¥175.70591 ¥175.73795 ¥175.76982 ¥175.81731 ¥175.84877 ¥175.88005 ¥175.91116 ¥175.94209 ¥175.98815 ¥176.01862 ¥176.04891 ¥176.09398 ¥176.12379 ¥176.15339 ¥176.18280 ¥176.21200 ¥176.25542 ¥176.28410 ¥176.31256 ¥176.35486 ¥176.38278 ¥176.41048 ¥176.43795 ¥176.46520 ¥176.50563 ¥176.53229 ¥176.55872 ¥176.59790 ¥176.62372 ¥176.66199 ¥176.68719 ¥176.71213 ¥176.73682 ¥176.76125 ¥176.78542 ¥176.80933 ¥176.83297 ¥176.85635 ¥176.87945 ¥176.90229 ¥176.93602 ¥176.96913 ¥176.99085 ¥177.01229 ¥177.03344 ¥177.06462 ¥177.08505 ¥177.10518 ¥177.12502 ¥177.14456 ¥177.17331 ¥177.19209 ¥177.21058 ¥177.22875 ¥177.25544 ¥177.27284 ¥177.28992 ¥177.30670 ¥177.32315 ¥177.33929 ¥177.36249 ¥177.38606 ¥177.41985 ¥177.45352 ¥177.48704 ¥177.53706 ¥177.57023 ¥177.60325 4905 Latitude 22.99222 23.00593 23.01993 23.03422 23.04881 23.06370 23.07887 23.09434 23.11009 23.13426 23.15073 23.16748 23.18451 23.20183 23.22832 23.24633 23.26461 23.29254 23.31150 23.33073 23.35022 23.36998 23.40011 23.42053 23.44120 23.47268 23.49399 23.51554 23.53735 23.55940 23.59294 23.61560 23.63850 23.67330 23.69679 23.73246 23.75653 23.78082 23.80534 23.83007 23.85503 23.88021 23.90559 23.93119 23.95700 23.98302 24.02243 24.06229 24.08911 24.11613 24.14334 24.18451 24.21218 24.24004 24.26808 24.29630 24.33895 24.36760 24.39642 24.42540 24.46918 24.49856 24.52810 24.55779 24.58763 24.61762 24.66210 24.67081 24.68359 24.69667 24.71005 24.73067 24.74479 24.75920 4906 Point No. 1113 1114 1115 1116 1117 1118 1119 1120 1121 1122 1123 1124 1125 1126 1127 1128 1129 1130 1131 1132 1133 1134 1135 1136 1137 1138 1139 1140 1141 1142 1143 1144 1145 1146 1147 1148 1149 1150 1151 1152 1153 1154 1155 1156 1157 1158 1159 1160 1161 1162 1163 1164 1165 1166 1167 1168 1169 1170 1171 1172 .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. .............. Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations Longitude ¥177.63612 ¥177.66883 ¥177.71760 ¥177.74992 ¥177.78206 ¥177.81404 ¥177.83690 ¥177.88667 ¥177.94111 ¥177.97195 ¥177.99642 ¥178.05062 ¥178.10469 ¥178.14066 ¥178.16577 ¥178.21953 ¥178.27313 ¥178.32655 ¥178.37978 ¥178.43281 ¥178.48563 ¥178.53822 ¥178.59058 ¥178.61445 ¥178.64360 ¥178.67821 ¥178.70077 ¥178.72148 ¥178.75794 ¥178.81257 ¥178.86732 ¥178.90360 ¥178.93984 ¥178.98140 ¥179.01755 ¥179.07166 ¥179.10765 ¥179.14357 ¥179.19731 ¥179.25088 ¥179.28649 ¥179.32201 ¥179.35744 ¥179.38198 ¥179.43516 ¥179.47030 ¥179.50534 ¥179.55770 ¥179.60982 ¥179.66168 ¥179.69610 ¥179.73039 ¥179.76456 ¥179.79860 ¥179.83251 ¥179.86628 ¥179.89991 ¥179.93340 ¥179.96674 ¥180.00000 24.77391 24.78891 24.81195 24.82767 24.84367 24.85996 24.87185 24.87745 24.88429 24.88850 24.89200 24.90028 24.90929 24.91569 24.92034 24.93078 24.94194 24.95380 24.96637 24.97965 24.99363 25.00832 25.02370 25.03096 25.04005 25.05115 25.05859 25.06052 25.06420 25.07031 25.07718 25.08214 25.08742 25.09382 25.09959 25.10883 25.11539 25.12227 25.13318 25.14480 25.15295 25.16140 25.17018 25.17642 25.19048 25.20018 25.21020 25.22581 25.24211 25.25911 25.27081 25.28283 25.29514 25.30776 25.32068 25.33389 25.34741 25.36122 25.37533 25.38976 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Appendix C to Subpart W of Part 922— Coordinates for the Midway Atoll Special Management Area [Coordinates listed in this appendix are unprojected (Geographic) and based on the North American Datum of 1983] The boundaries for the areas listed in this appendix, unless otherwise described in this rule, begin at Point 1 as indicated in the particular area’s coordinate table and continue to each successive point in numerical order until ending at the last point in the table. VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Point No. Latitude Jkt 265001 1 .................... 2 .................... 3 .................... 4 .................... 5 .................... 6 .................... 7 .................... 8 .................... 9 .................... 10 .................. 11 .................. 12 .................. 13 .................. 14 .................. 15 .................. 16 .................. 17 .................. 18 .................. 19 .................. 20 .................. 21 .................. 22 .................. 23 .................. 24 .................. 25 .................. 26 .................. 27 .................. 28 .................. 29 .................. 30 .................. 31 .................. 32 .................. 33 .................. 34 .................. 35 .................. 36 .................. 37 .................. 38 .................. 39 .................. 40 .................. Longitude ¥177.31267 ¥177.36342 ¥177.41762 ¥177.47082 ¥177.51875 ¥177.55393 ¥177.59424 ¥177.62036 ¥177.64395 ¥177.65507 ¥177.65600 ¥177.65028 ¥177.65187 ¥177.63704 ¥177.62519 ¥177.60768 ¥177.59529 ¥177.56544 ¥177.52661 ¥177.49013 ¥177.44568 ¥177.42409 ¥177.37872 ¥177.32412 ¥177.26570 ¥177.21865 ¥177.17255 ¥177.13782 ¥177.11574 ¥177.08945 ¥177.08725 ¥177.08489 ¥177.09363 ¥177.10914 ¥177.12481 ¥177.15060 ¥177.18677 ¥177.22207 ¥177.26492 ¥177.31267 27.99792 27.99124 27.99216 27.99962 28.01516 28.03661 28.06817 28.10572 28.14862 28.20134 28.21430 28.23674 28.25877 28.29735 28.31624 28.33804 28.36997 28.40418 28.43628 28.46044 28.47591 28.48231 28.48480 28.48128 28.46492 28.44274 28.41268 28.37680 28.33244 28.26879 28.21427 28.17927 28.15669 28.12595 28.09780 28.06781 28.03986 28.02105 28.00572 27.99792 Appendix D to Subpart W of Part 922— Coordinates for the Special Preservation Areas (SPAs) [Coordinates listed in this appendix are unprojected (Geographic) and based on the North American Datum of 1983] The boundaries for the areas listed in this appendix, unless otherwise described in this rule, begin at Point 1 as indicated in the particular area’s coordinate table and continue to each successive point in numerical order until ending at the last point in the table. TABLE 1—COORDINATES FOR HŌLANIKŪ (KURE ATOLL) SPA Point No. 1 .................... 2 .................... 3 .................... 4 .................... 5 .................... 6 .................... 7 .................... 8 .................... 9 .................... 10 .................. 11 .................. 12 .................. PO 00000 Frm 00052 Longitude ¥178.42982 ¥178.43641 ¥178.44628 ¥178.44829 ¥178.44120 ¥178.43083 ¥178.41324 ¥178.40698 ¥178.39886 ¥178.38081 ¥178.35703 ¥178.33482 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 TABLE 1—COORDINATES FOR HŌLANIKŪ (KURE ATOLL) SPA— Continued Latitude Latitude 28.39284 28.39991 28.41516 28.43220 28.45537 28.47814 28.49646 28.50082 28.50648 28.51486 28.51998 28.52195 Point No. 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. Longitude ¥178.33480 ¥178.33096 ¥178.32267 ¥178.30753 ¥178.29651 ¥178.28574 ¥178.28205 ¥178.28203 ¥178.27634 ¥178.26090 ¥178.25026 ¥178.24590 ¥178.23869 ¥178.23126 ¥178.23242 ¥178.23826 ¥178.24572 ¥178.24663 ¥178.24665 ¥178.23880 ¥178.22857 ¥178.21418 ¥178.21125 ¥178.21580 ¥178.22682 ¥178.23360 ¥178.26169 ¥178.26256 ¥178.26685 ¥178.26983 ¥178.28608 ¥178.31541 ¥178.36386 ¥178.38109 ¥178.40622 ¥178.42837 ¥178.43274 ¥178.42982 Latitude 28.52195 28.52588 28.52960 28.54606 28.54402 28.52279 28.50290 28.50289 28.49938 28.48707 28.47569 28.47103 28.45022 28.41686 28.39706 28.37827 28.36305 28.36228 28.36227 28.35166 28.34386 28.34135 28.32830 28.32098 28.31875 28.32678 28.33216 28.34256 28.34603 28.34386 28.33631 28.33530 28.34022 28.34407 28.32394 28.32125 28.36763 28.39284 TABLE 2—COORDINATES FOR MANAWAI (PEARL AND HERMES ATOLL) SPA Point No. 1 .................... 2 .................... 3 .................... 4 .................... 5 .................... 6 .................... 7 .................... 8 .................... 9 .................... 10 .................. 11 .................. 12 .................. 13 .................. 14 .................. 15 .................. 16 .................. 17 .................. 18 .................. 19 .................. 20 .................. 21 .................. 22 .................. 23 .................. E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 Longitude ¥176.03652 ¥176.04088 ¥176.04088 ¥176.04830 ¥176.06549 ¥176.03704 ¥176.03441 ¥176.03489 ¥176.02724 ¥176.01285 ¥175.98350 ¥175.98347 ¥175.97662 ¥175.96741 ¥175.95689 ¥175.94636 ¥175.93781 ¥175.92692 ¥175.90613 ¥175.88894 ¥175.87548 ¥175.86046 ¥175.83952 Latitude 27.75775 27.76832 27.76832 27.77010 27.78232 27.84094 27.85558 27.87411 27.89274 27.89991 27.91077 27.91080 27.91971 27.92798 27.93510 27.93942 27.94332 27.95035 27.96355 27.97471 27.98165 27.98780 27.99711 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 4907 TABLE 2—COORDINATES FOR MANAWAI (PEARL AND HERMES ATOLL) SPA—Continued TABLE 2—COORDINATES FOR MANAWAI (PEARL AND HERMES ATOLL) SPA—Continued TABLE 5—COORDINATES FOR KAMOKUOKAMOHOALI1I (MARO REEF) SPA Point No. Point No. Point No. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. VerDate Sep<11>2014 Longitude ¥175.82333 ¥175.81383 ¥175.80379 ¥175.79318 ¥175.78174 ¥175.77016 ¥175.76421 ¥175.76418 ¥175.76189 ¥175.73451 ¥175.71502 ¥175.70865 ¥175.70863 ¥175.69833 ¥175.69171 ¥175.68857 ¥175.68160 ¥175.67658 ¥175.67240 ¥175.66795 ¥175.66433 ¥175.66239 ¥175.66156 ¥175.66186 ¥175.66410 ¥175.66915 ¥175.67268 ¥175.67530 ¥175.67894 ¥175.68258 ¥175.68899 ¥175.69097 ¥175.69321 ¥175.69331 ¥175.69713 ¥175.70412 ¥175.70943 ¥175.71351 ¥175.71352 ¥175.71049 ¥175.71993 ¥175.72502 ¥175.72955 ¥175.73541 ¥175.74364 ¥175.75468 ¥175.76640 ¥175.77924 ¥175.79543 ¥175.81639 ¥175.82556 ¥175.83310 ¥175.83756 ¥175.84175 ¥175.84594 ¥175.85277 ¥175.86185 ¥175.87480 ¥175.89491 ¥175.91378 ¥175.92997 ¥175.94532 ¥175.95649 ¥175.96681 ¥175.97685 ¥175.98968 ¥176.00334 ¥176.01701 ¥176.02593 ¥176.02997 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Latitude 28.00466 28.00844 28.01098 28.01152 28.01106 28.01031 28.00935 28.00935 28.01111 28.02165 28.00762 27.98973 27.98971 27.98219 27.97663 27.97399 27.96778 27.96256 27.95558 27.94587 27.93515 27.92393 27.91419 27.89972 27.88349 27.86916 27.85916 27.84825 27.83626 27.82801 27.81801 27.81125 27.80550 27.80524 27.79526 27.78375 27.77649 27.77101 27.77099 27.76347 27.75551 27.75516 27.74921 27.74444 27.73989 27.73513 27.73259 27.73129 27.73023 27.73105 27.73236 27.73358 27.73456 27.73504 27.73228 27.72748 27.72274 27.71713 27.70934 27.70257 27.69926 27.69745 27.69766 27.69937 27.70332 27.71026 27.72044 27.73237 27.74182 27.74680 Jkt 265001 94 .................. 95 .................. Longitude ¥176.03178 ¥176.03652 Latitude 27.74903 27.75775 TABLE 3—COORDINATES FOR KAPOU (LISIANSKI ISLAND) SPA Point No. 1 .................... 2 .................... 3 .................... 4 .................... 5 .................... 6 .................... 7 .................... 8 .................... 9 .................... 10 .................. 11 .................. 12 .................. 13 .................. 14 .................. 15 .................. 16 .................. 17 .................. 18 .................. 19 .................. 20 .................. 21 .................. 22 .................. 23 .................. 24 .................. Longitude ¥173.79069 ¥173.79506 ¥173.79506 ¥173.85089 ¥173.89161 ¥173.94399 ¥174.10879 ¥174.12000 ¥174.14257 ¥174.15729 ¥174.15482 ¥174.13333 ¥174.08554 ¥174.05059 ¥173.98290 ¥173.93333 ¥173.89656 ¥173.86186 ¥173.82229 ¥173.79999 ¥173.76666 ¥173.75210 ¥173.75283 ¥173.79069 Latitude 25.94039 25.91077 25.91077 25.87148 25.87949 25.87998 25.96371 25.97958 26.00021 26.04055 26.12273 26.17497 26.21215 26.21724 26.21243 26.18331 26.14220 26.11938 26.08560 26.04164 26.00831 25.98825 25.97102 25.94039 TABLE 4—COORDINATES FOR KAMOLE (LAYSAN ISLAND) SPA Point No. 1 .................... 2 .................... 3 .................... 4 .................... 5 .................... 6 .................... 7 .................... 8 .................... 9 .................... 10 .................. 11 .................. 12 .................. 13 .................. 14 .................. 15 .................. 16 .................. 17 .................. 18 .................. 19 .................. 20 .................. 21 .................. 22 .................. 23 .................. PO 00000 Frm 00053 Longitude ¥171.65000 ¥171.66667 ¥171.70000 ¥171.70833 ¥171.73333 ¥171.75000 ¥171.78333 ¥171.81667 ¥171.85000 ¥171.86667 ¥171.87500 ¥171.85000 ¥171.83333 ¥171.80000 ¥171.76667 ¥171.67500 ¥171.62500 ¥171.60000 ¥171.59167 ¥171.60000 ¥171.61667 ¥171.63333 ¥171.65000 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 Latitude 25.71667 25.70000 25.69167 25.70000 25.70000 25.69167 25.69167 25.70833 25.75833 25.79167 25.83333 25.86667 25.88333 25.90000 25.90000 25.88333 25.86667 25.83333 25.79167 25.76667 25.74167 25.72500 25.71667 1 .................... 2 .................... 3 .................... 4 .................... 5 .................... 6 .................... 7 .................... 8 .................... 9 .................... 10 .................. 11 .................. 12 .................. 13 .................. 14 .................. 15 .................. 16 .................. 17 .................. 18 .................. 19 .................. 20 .................. 21 .................. 22 .................. Longitude ¥170.51714 ¥170.40880 ¥170.35047 ¥170.40880 ¥170.42547 ¥170.54214 ¥170.59214 ¥170.65047 ¥170.76714 ¥170.80047 ¥170.80880 ¥170.86714 ¥170.89214 ¥170.90047 ¥170.90047 ¥170.87547 ¥170.80881 ¥170.77547 ¥170.70880 ¥170.68381 ¥170.57547 ¥170.51714 Latitude 25.56669 25.46669 25.37502 25.25835 25.25002 25.25835 25.28335 25.30002 25.31669 25.33335 25.35835 25.39169 25.45002 25.52502 25.55002 25.58335 25.62502 25.63335 25.63335 25.61669 25.59169 25.56669 TABLE 6—COORDINATES FOR 1ŌNŪNUI AND 1ŌNUIKI (GARDNER PINNACLES) SPA Point No. 1 .................... 2 .................... 3 .................... 4 .................... 5 .................... 6 .................... 7 .................... 8 .................... 9 .................... 10 .................. 11 .................. 12 .................. 13 .................. 14 .................. 15 .................. 16 .................. 17 .................. 18 .................. 19 .................. 20 .................. 21 .................. 22 .................. 23 .................. 24 .................. 25 .................. 26 .................. 27 .................. 28 .................. 29 .................. 30 .................. 31 .................. 32 .................. 33 .................. 34 .................. 35 .................. 36 .................. E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 Longitude ¥167.93207 ¥167.92506 ¥167.94165 ¥167.94166 ¥167.92273 ¥167.90123 ¥167.89166 ¥167.89766 ¥167.87266 ¥167.87360 ¥167.86659 ¥167.87500 ¥167.89063 ¥167.90184 ¥167.95440 ¥167.98968 ¥168.00369 ¥168.01666 ¥168.05000 ¥168.08333 ¥168.12500 ¥168.13333 ¥168.15000 ¥168.15000 ¥168.22500 ¥168.26666 ¥168.27799 ¥168.26794 ¥168.25089 ¥168.22575 ¥168.19632 ¥168.14166 ¥168.08636 ¥168.04128 ¥167.98333 ¥167.93207 Latitude 25.06955 25.04175 25.01326 24.94164 24.90603 24.88174 24.84997 24.74763 24.62908 24.59072 24.56315 24.49164 24.44829 24.42844 24.41115 24.41979 24.43801 24.50831 24.57498 24.59164 24.69997 24.77497 24.81664 24.88331 24.94997 25.00831 25.06540 25.09301 25.10375 25.16587 25.18175 25.19164 25.19273 25.17404 25.12498 25.06955 4908 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations TABLE 7—COORDINATES FOR LALO (FRENCH FRIGATE SHOALS) SPA Point No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... .................... Longitude ¥165.58333 ¥165.58333 ¥166.75000 ¥166.92817 ¥166.92756 ¥166.92417 ¥166.75227 ¥166.75000 ¥165.58333 Latitude 23.99997 23.49997 23.66664 23.68779 23.74082 24.03651 24.03400 24.16664 23.99997 TABLE 8—COORDINATES FOR MOKUMANAMANA (NECKER) SPA ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Point No. 1 .................... 2 .................... 3 .................... 4 .................... 5 .................... 6 .................... 7 .................... 8 .................... 9 .................... 10 .................. 11 .................. 12 .................. 13 .................. 14 .................. 15 .................. 16 .................. 17 .................. 18 .................. 19 .................. 20 .................. 21 .................. 22 .................. 23 .................. 24 .................. 25 .................. 26 .................. 27 .................. 28 .................. 29 .................. 30 .................. 31 .................. 32 .................. 33 .................. 34 .................. 35 .................. 36 .................. 37 .................. 38 .................. 39 .................. 40 .................. 41 .................. 42 .................. 43 .................. 44 .................. 45 .................. 46 .................. 47 .................. 48 .................. 49 .................. 50 .................. 51 .................. 52 .................. 53 .................. 54 .................. 55 .................. VerDate Sep<11>2014 Longitude ¥164.55178 ¥164.53515 ¥164.53018 ¥164.52734 ¥164.50977 ¥164.45148 ¥164.44165 ¥164.39327 ¥164.36812 ¥164.32711 ¥164.30462 ¥164.28233 ¥164.27062 ¥164.25021 ¥164.25676 ¥164.26716 ¥164.27585 ¥164.29815 ¥164.33671 ¥164.36910 ¥164.39560 ¥164.45702 ¥164.47063 ¥164.48333 ¥164.52500 ¥164.59613 ¥164.63036 ¥164.64112 ¥164.63917 ¥164.62971 ¥164.61895 ¥164.62156 ¥164.60917 ¥164.58863 ¥164.57950 ¥164.60558 ¥164.60917 ¥164.62260 ¥164.65117 ¥164.69597 ¥164.73352 ¥164.76980 ¥164.78209 ¥164.79929 ¥164.81081 ¥164.83255 ¥164.84703 ¥164.83436 ¥164.81981 ¥164.80110 ¥164.76840 ¥164.73854 ¥164.68789 ¥164.62458 ¥164.57582 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 TABLE 8—COORDINATES FOR MOKUMANAMANA (NECKER) SPA— Continued Latitude 23.64216 23.61324 23.58826 23.55099 23.52283 23.49085 23.48045 23.46288 23.46322 23.44904 23.43128 23.39686 23.35708 23.30870 23.28970 23.27912 23.25682 23.23537 23.23253 23.23801 23.25619 23.26300 23.27037 23.29164 23.30831 23.30887 23.29942 23.30040 23.31377 23.32387 23.32681 23.34246 23.35387 23.40643 23.44490 23.45599 23.46675 23.47995 23.49002 23.49691 23.49654 23.48444 23.50277 23.50920 23.52337 23.53736 23.56743 23.60088 23.61619 23.62243 23.62148 23.63112 23.65058 23.66325 23.65644 Jkt 265001 Point No. 56 .................. Longitude ¥164.55178 Latitude 23.64216 TABLE 9—COORDINATES FOR NIHOA ISLAND SPA Point No. 1 .................... 2 .................... 3 .................... 4 .................... 5 .................... 6 .................... 7 .................... 8 .................... 9 .................... 10 .................. 11 .................. 12 .................. 13 .................. 14 .................. 15 .................. 16 .................. 17 .................. 18 .................. 19 .................. 20 .................. 21 .................. 22 .................. 23 .................. 24 .................. 25 .................. 26 .................. 27 .................. 28 .................. 29 .................. 30 .................. 31 .................. 32 .................. 33 .................. 34 .................. 35 .................. 36 .................. 37 .................. 38 .................. 39 .................. 40 .................. 41 .................. 42 .................. 43 .................. 44 .................. 45 .................. 46 .................. 47 .................. 48 .................. 49 .................. 50 .................. 51 .................. 52 .................. 53 .................. 54 .................. 55 .................. 56 .................. 57 .................. 58 .................. 59 .................. 60 .................. 61 .................. PO 00000 Frm 00054 Longitude ¥161.97131 ¥161.97057 ¥161.96981 ¥161.96904 ¥161.96825 ¥161.96745 ¥161.96663 ¥161.96580 ¥161.96495 ¥161.96409 ¥161.96322 ¥161.96234 ¥161.96144 ¥161.96053 ¥161.95961 ¥161.95867 ¥161.95773 ¥161.95677 ¥161.95580 ¥161.95482 ¥161.95383 ¥161.95283 ¥161.95182 ¥161.95080 ¥161.94977 ¥161.94874 ¥161.94769 ¥161.94664 ¥161.94557 ¥161.94450 ¥161.94342 ¥161.94234 ¥161.94125 ¥161.94015 ¥161.93905 ¥161.93794 ¥161.93682 ¥161.93570 ¥161.93458 ¥161.93345 ¥161.93232 ¥161.93118 ¥161.93004 ¥161.92890 ¥161.92775 ¥161.92661 ¥161.92546 ¥161.92431 ¥161.92315 ¥161.92200 ¥161.92085 ¥161.91969 ¥161.91854 ¥161.91739 ¥161.91624 ¥161.91509 ¥161.91394 ¥161.91279 ¥161.91164 ¥161.91050 ¥161.90936 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 Latitude 23.09961 23.10037 23.10112 23.10185 23.10258 23.10329 23.10399 23.10468 23.10535 23.10602 23.10667 23.10731 23.10793 23.10854 23.10914 23.10972 23.11029 23.11085 23.11139 23.11191 23.11242 23.11292 23.11340 23.11387 23.11432 23.11475 23.11517 23.11558 23.11597 23.11634 23.11670 23.11704 23.11736 23.11767 23.11796 23.11824 23.11850 23.11874 23.11897 23.11917 23.11937 23.11954 23.11970 23.11984 23.11996 23.12007 23.12016 23.12023 23.12029 23.12032 23.12035 23.12035 23.12034 23.12030 23.12026 23.12019 23.12011 23.12001 23.11989 23.11976 23.11961 TABLE 9—COORDINATES FOR NIHOA ISLAND SPA—Continued Point No. 62 .................. 63 .................. 64 .................. 65 .................. 66 .................. 67 .................. 68 .................. 69 .................. 70 .................. 71 .................. 72 .................. 73 .................. 74 .................. 75 .................. 76 .................. 77 .................. 78 .................. 79 .................. 80 .................. 81 .................. 82 .................. 83 .................. 84 .................. 85 .................. 86 .................. 87 .................. 88 .................. 89 .................. 90 .................. 91 .................. 92 .................. 93 .................. 94 .................. 95 .................. 96 .................. 97 .................. 98 .................. 99 .................. 100 ................ 101 ................ 102 ................ 103 ................ 104 ................ 105 ................ 106 ................ 107 ................ 108 ................ 109 ................ 110 ................ 111 ................ 112 ................ 113 ................ 114 ................ 115 ................ 116 ................ 117 ................ 118 ................ 119 ................ 120 ................ 121 ................ 122 ................ 123 ................ 124 ................ 125 ................ 126 ................ 127 ................ 128 ................ 129 ................ 130 ................ 131 ................ 132 ................ E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 Longitude ¥161.90823 ¥161.90709 ¥161.90597 ¥161.90484 ¥161.90372 ¥161.90261 ¥161.90150 ¥161.90040 ¥161.89930 ¥161.89821 ¥161.89713 ¥161.89605 ¥161.89520 ¥161.89498 ¥161.89401 ¥161.89392 ¥161.89287 ¥161.89182 ¥161.89079 ¥161.88976 ¥161.88874 ¥161.88774 ¥161.88674 ¥161.88575 ¥161.88477 ¥161.88381 ¥161.88285 ¥161.88191 ¥161.88097 ¥161.88005 ¥161.87915 ¥161.87825 ¥161.87737 ¥161.87650 ¥161.87564 ¥161.87480 ¥161.87397 ¥161.87316 ¥161.87236 ¥161.87157 ¥161.87080 ¥161.87004 ¥161.86930 ¥161.86858 ¥161.86787 ¥161.86750 ¥161.86718 ¥161.86650 ¥161.86584 ¥161.86520 ¥161.86457 ¥161.86396 ¥161.86337 ¥161.86279 ¥161.86224 ¥161.86170 ¥161.86117 ¥161.86067 ¥161.86018 ¥161.85972 ¥161.85927 ¥161.85884 ¥161.85842 ¥161.85803 ¥161.85766 ¥161.85730 ¥161.85697 ¥161.85665 ¥161.85635 ¥161.85608 ¥161.85582 Latitude 23.11944 23.11925 23.11905 23.11883 23.11860 23.11835 23.11808 23.11779 23.11749 23.11717 23.11684 23.11649 23.11619 23.11612 23.11577 23.11574 23.11534 23.11493 23.11450 23.11405 23.11359 23.11311 23.11262 23.11212 23.11160 23.11107 23.11052 23.10995 23.10938 23.10878 23.10818 23.10756 23.10693 23.10628 23.10563 23.10495 23.10427 23.10358 23.10287 23.10215 23.10142 23.10067 23.09992 23.09916 23.09838 23.09796 23.09759 23.09679 23.09599 23.09517 23.09435 23.09351 23.09267 23.09181 23.09095 23.09008 23.08920 23.08832 23.08742 23.08653 23.08562 23.08470 23.08378 23.08286 23.08193 23.08099 23.08004 23.07910 23.07814 23.07719 23.07622 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations TABLE 9—COORDINATES FOR NIHOA ISLAND SPA—Continued ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Point No. 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ VerDate Sep<11>2014 Longitude ¥161.85558 ¥161.85536 ¥161.85516 ¥161.85499 ¥161.85483 ¥161.85469 ¥161.85457 ¥161.85447 ¥161.85439 ¥161.85433 ¥161.85429 ¥161.85428 ¥161.85428 ¥161.85430 ¥161.85434 ¥161.85440 ¥161.85449 ¥161.85459 ¥161.85471 ¥161.85485 ¥161.85502 ¥161.85520 ¥161.85540 ¥161.85562 ¥161.85586 ¥161.85612 ¥161.85641 ¥161.85671 ¥161.85703 ¥161.85736 ¥161.85772 ¥161.85810 ¥161.85850 ¥161.85891 ¥161.85935 ¥161.85980 ¥161.86027 ¥161.86076 ¥161.86126 ¥161.86179 ¥161.86233 ¥161.86289 ¥161.86347 ¥161.86407 ¥161.86468 ¥161.86531 ¥161.86596 ¥161.86662 ¥161.86730 ¥161.86800 ¥161.86871 ¥161.86943 ¥161.87018 ¥161.87094 ¥161.87171 ¥161.87250 ¥161.87330 ¥161.87412 ¥161.87495 ¥161.87579 ¥161.87665 ¥161.87752 ¥161.87841 ¥161.87931 ¥161.88022 ¥161.88114 ¥161.88207 ¥161.88302 ¥161.88398 ¥161.88494 ¥161.88592 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 TABLE 9—COORDINATES FOR NIHOA ISLAND SPA—Continued Latitude 23.07526 23.07429 23.07332 23.07235 23.07137 23.07039 23.06941 23.06843 23.06744 23.06645 23.06547 23.06448 23.06349 23.06251 23.06152 23.06053 23.05955 23.05857 23.05758 23.05660 23.05563 23.05465 23.05367 23.05271 23.05174 23.05078 23.04982 23.04887 23.04791 23.04697 23.04603 23.04510 23.04417 23.04324 23.04233 23.04142 23.04051 23.03962 23.03873 23.03785 23.03698 23.03611 23.03525 23.03440 23.03357 23.03274 23.03191 23.03110 23.03031 23.02951 23.02873 23.02796 23.02720 23.02646 23.02572 23.02500 23.02428 23.02358 23.02290 23.02222 23.02156 23.02091 23.02027 23.01965 23.01903 23.01844 23.01786 23.01729 23.01673 23.01619 23.01567 Jkt 265001 Point No. 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 PO 00000 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ Frm 00055 Longitude ¥161.88691 ¥161.88791 ¥161.88892 ¥161.88994 ¥161.89097 ¥161.89201 ¥161.89306 ¥161.89411 ¥161.89517 ¥161.89624 ¥161.89732 ¥161.89841 ¥161.89950 ¥161.90059 ¥161.90170 ¥161.90281 ¥161.90392 ¥161.90504 ¥161.90617 ¥161.90730 ¥161.90843 ¥161.90875 ¥161.90956 ¥161.91070 ¥161.91185 ¥161.91299 ¥161.91366 ¥161.91414 ¥161.91529 ¥161.91644 ¥161.91759 ¥161.91874 ¥161.91990 ¥161.92105 ¥161.92221 ¥161.92336 ¥161.92336 ¥161.92451 ¥161.92566 ¥161.92681 ¥161.92796 ¥161.92910 ¥161.93024 ¥161.93138 ¥161.93252 ¥161.93365 ¥161.93478 ¥161.93590 ¥161.93702 ¥161.93814 ¥161.93924 ¥161.94035 ¥161.94144 ¥161.94253 ¥161.94362 ¥161.94469 ¥161.94576 ¥161.94682 ¥161.94788 ¥161.94892 ¥161.94996 ¥161.95098 ¥161.95200 ¥161.95301 ¥161.95401 ¥161.95500 ¥161.95597 ¥161.95694 ¥161.95790 ¥161.95884 ¥161.95977 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 Latitude 23.01515 23.01466 23.01417 23.01371 23.01326 23.01282 23.01240 23.01200 23.01161 23.01123 23.01088 23.01054 23.01021 23.00990 23.00961 23.00934 23.00908 23.00884 23.00861 23.00840 23.00821 23.00816 23.00803 23.00788 23.00774 23.00761 23.00755 23.00751 23.00742 23.00734 23.00729 23.00725 23.00723 23.00723 23.00724 23.00727 23.00727 23.00732 23.00738 23.00747 23.00757 23.00768 23.00782 23.00797 23.00814 23.00832 23.00852 23.00874 23.00898 23.00923 23.00950 23.00978 23.01008 23.01040 23.01074 23.01109 23.01146 23.01184 23.01224 23.01265 23.01308 23.01352 23.01399 23.01446 23.01495 23.01546 23.01598 23.01651 23.01706 23.01762 23.01820 4909 TABLE 9—COORDINATES FOR NIHOA ISLAND SPA—Continued Point No. 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 Longitude ¥161.96069 ¥161.96160 ¥161.96172 ¥161.96189 ¥161.96250 ¥161.96338 ¥161.96425 ¥161.96510 ¥161.96595 ¥161.96677 ¥161.96759 ¥161.96839 ¥161.96917 ¥161.96995 ¥161.97070 ¥161.97144 ¥161.97217 ¥161.97287 ¥161.97357 ¥161.97424 ¥161.97490 ¥161.97555 ¥161.97617 ¥161.97678 ¥161.97738 ¥161.97795 ¥161.97851 ¥161.97905 ¥161.97957 ¥161.98008 ¥161.98056 ¥161.98103 ¥161.98148 ¥161.98191 ¥161.98232 ¥161.98271 ¥161.98309 ¥161.98344 ¥161.98378 ¥161.98409 ¥161.98439 ¥161.98467 ¥161.98493 ¥161.98516 ¥161.98538 ¥161.98558 ¥161.98576 ¥161.98592 ¥161.98606 ¥161.98618 ¥161.98628 ¥161.98635 ¥161.98641 ¥161.98645 ¥161.98647 ¥161.98647 ¥161.98645 ¥161.98640 ¥161.98634 ¥161.98626 ¥161.98616 ¥161.98603 ¥161.98589 ¥161.98573 ¥161.98555 ¥161.98535 ¥161.98512 ¥161.98488 ¥161.98462 ¥161.98434 ¥161.98404 Latitude 23.01879 23.01940 23.01948 23.01960 23.02001 23.02065 23.02129 23.02195 23.02262 23.02330 23.02400 23.02471 23.02543 23.02616 23.02690 23.02765 23.02842 23.02920 23.02998 23.03078 23.03159 23.03240 23.03323 23.03406 23.03491 23.03576 23.03662 23.03749 23.03837 23.03926 23.04015 23.04105 23.04196 23.04287 23.04379 23.04472 23.04565 23.04659 23.04753 23.04848 23.04943 23.05039 23.05135 23.05232 23.05329 23.05426 23.05523 23.05621 23.05719 23.05817 23.05915 23.06013 23.06112 23.06211 23.06309 23.06408 23.06507 23.06606 23.06704 23.06803 23.06901 23.06999 23.07097 23.07195 23.07293 23.07390 23.07487 23.07583 23.07680 23.07776 23.07871 4910 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations TABLE 9—COORDINATES FOR NIHOA ISLAND SPA—Continued Point No. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ ................ Longitude ¥161.98372 ¥161.98338 ¥161.98302 ¥161.98265 ¥161.98225 ¥161.98183 ¥161.98140 ¥161.98095 ¥161.98048 ¥161.97999 ¥161.97948 ¥161.97896 ¥161.97841 ¥161.97785 ¥161.97727 ¥161.97668 ¥161.97606 ¥161.97543 ¥161.97479 ¥161.97413 ¥161.97345 ¥161.97275 ¥161.97204 ¥161.97131 Latitude 23.07966 23.08061 23.08155 23.08248 23.08341 23.08433 23.08525 23.08616 23.08706 23.08796 23.08885 23.08973 23.09060 23.09147 23.09232 23.09317 23.09401 23.09484 23.09566 23.09647 23.09727 23.09806 23.09884 23.09961 Then a rhumb line to (14) 24° 26′.59 N, 170° 50′.37 W; Then a rhumb line to (15) 24° 46′.49 N, 171° 52′.87 W; Then a rhumb line to (16) 25° 07′.23 N, 174° 30′.23 W; Then a rhumb line to (17) 27° 05′.50 N, 176° 35′.40 W; Then a rhumb line to (18) 27° 15′.11 N, 177° 35′.26 W; Then a rhumb line to (19) 27° 26′.10 N, 178° 32′.23 W; Then an arc with a 60.17 nm radius centered at (20) 28° 25′.23 N, 178° 19′.51 W; Then to point (1) 29° 24′.21 N, 178° 06′.45 W. The boundaries for the Inner Reporting Areas listed in this appendix, unless otherwise described in this rule, begin at Point 1 as indicated in the particular area’s coordinate table and continue to each successive point in numerical order until ending at the last point in the table. TABLE 1—COORDINATES OF THE INNER REPORTING AREA BOUNDARY AROUND HŌLANIKŪ (KURE ATOLL), KUAIHELANI (MIDWAY ATOLL), MANAWAI (PEARL AND HERMES ATOLL) AREA TO BE AVOIDED (ATBA) Appendix E to Subpart W of Part 922— Coordinates for the Ship Reporting Area Point No. [Coordinates listed in this appendix are unprojected (Geographic) and based on the North American Datum of 1983] The Reporting Area Outer Boundary is defined by the following geographic coordinates and description as outlined in IMO Resolution MSC.279(85) Appendix 1— Outer Boundary adopted on 1 December 2008 that superseded and amended IMO Resolution MEPC.171(57) adopted on 4 April 2008. The outer boundary of the CORALSHIPREP reporting area consists of lines connecting the following geographical positions: Starting at (1) 29° 24′.21 N, 178° 06′.45 W; A rhumb line to (2) 29° 12′.16 N, 177° 04′.25 W; Then a rhumb line to (3) 28° 43′.78 N, 175° 13′.76 W; Then a rhumb line to (4) 27° 00′.28 N, 173° 25′.37 W; Then a rhumb line to (5) 26° 44′.85 N, 171° 28′.22 W; Then a rhumb line to (6) 26° 23′.95 N, 170° 20′.25 W; Then a rhumb line to (7) 25° 56′.49 N, 167° 32′.03 W; Then a rhumb line to (8) 24° 50′.23 N, 165° 58′.56 W; Then a rhumb line to (9) 24° 02′.61 N, 161° 42′.30 W; Then an arc with a 60.25 nm radius centered at (21) 23° 03′.61 N, 161° 55′.22 W; To a point (10) 22° 04′.59 N, 162° 08′.14 W; Then a rhumb line to (11) 22° 35′.32 N, 164° 53′.46 W; Then a rhumb line to (12) 22° 47′.86 N, 166° 40′.44 W; Then a rhumb line to (13) 24° 03′.30 N, 168° 27′.53 W; 1 .................... 2 .................... 3 .................... 4 .................... 5 .................... 6 .................... 7 .................... 8 .................... 9 .................... 10 .................. 11 .................. 12 .................. 13 .................. 14 .................. 15 .................. 16 .................. 17 .................. 18 .................. 19 .................. 20 .................. 21 .................. 22 .................. 23 .................. 24 .................. 25 .................. 26 .................. 27 .................. 28 .................. 29 .................. 30 .................. 31 .................. 32 .................. 33 .................. 34 .................. 35 .................. 36 .................. 37 .................. 38 .................. 39 .................. 40 .................. 41 .................. VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 PO 00000 Frm 00056 Longitude ¥175.78700 ¥175.87900 ¥175.96933 ¥176.05883 ¥176.14683 ¥176.23183 ¥176.31317 ¥176.39000 ¥176.46233 ¥176.47833 ¥176.49783 ¥177.55517 ¥178.49833 ¥178.56550 ¥178.62200 ¥178.67750 ¥178.73167 ¥178.78417 ¥178.83500 ¥178.88383 ¥178.93050 ¥178.97483 ¥179.01667 ¥179.05650 ¥179.09350 ¥179.12683 ¥179.15783 ¥179.18500 ¥179.20883 ¥179.22917 ¥179.24583 ¥179.25900 ¥179.26850 ¥179.27417 ¥179.27600 ¥179.27617 ¥179.27600 ¥179.27400 ¥179.26833 ¥179.25900 ¥179.24583 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 Latitude 27.01217 27.01133 27.01817 27.03317 27.05567 27.08533 27.12283 27.16633 27.21700 27.22950 27.24600 27.41583 27.59783 27.61067 27.62550 27.64333 27.66417 27.68800 27.71483 27.74433 27.77650 27.81117 27.84817 27.88700 27.92817 27.97150 28.01683 28.06350 28.11183 28.16117 28.21167 28.26300 28.31517 28.36733 28.41200 28.42000 28.43017 28.47250 28.52483 28.57683 28.62817 TABLE 1—COORDINATES OF THE INNER REPORTING AREA BOUNDARY AROUND HŌLANIKŪ (KURE ATOLL), (MIDWAY ATOLL), KUAIHELANI MANAWAI (PEARL AND HERMES ATOLL) AREA TO BE AVOIDED (ATBA)—Continued Point No. 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 Longitude ¥179.22900 ¥179.20900 ¥179.18550 ¥179.15867 ¥179.12833 ¥179.09500 ¥179.05850 ¥179.01917 ¥178.97700 ¥178.93217 ¥178.88500 ¥178.83550 ¥178.78400 ¥178.73067 ¥178.67567 ¥178.61933 ¥178.56183 ¥178.50350 ¥178.44433 ¥178.38467 ¥178.32483 ¥178.26500 ¥178.20533 ¥178.14633 ¥177.20117 ¥177.12150 ¥175.59117 ¥175.57250 ¥175.32900 ¥175.17750 ¥175.14917 ¥175.15067 ¥175.08183 ¥175.03200 ¥174.98883 ¥174.95383 ¥174.92800 ¥174.91033 ¥174.90083 ¥174.90083 ¥174.91033 ¥174.92850 ¥174.95533 ¥174.99050 ¥175.03383 ¥175.08450 ¥175.14317 ¥175.20783 ¥175.27783 ¥175.35417 ¥175.43483 ¥175.51917 ¥175.60667 ¥175.69633 ¥175.78700 Latitude 28.67850 28.72800 28.77633 28.82317 28.86850 28.91200 28.95350 28.99300 29.03017 29.06500 29.09717 29.12667 29.15350 29.17733 29.19817 29.21583 29.23033 29.24167 29.24983 29.25467 29.25600 29.25417 29.24900 29.24050 29.05783 29.04250 28.64933 28.64450 28.58183 28.43733 28.41017 28.40883 28.33483 28.26750 28.19633 28.12150 28.04383 27.96400 27.88350 27.80200 27.72133 27.64133 27.56350 27.48833 27.41667 27.34883 27.28633 27.22883 27.17650 27.13133 27.09283 27.06100 27.03700 27.02150 27.01217 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations TABLE 2—COORDINATES FOR THE INNER REPORTING AREA BOUNDARY AROUND ‘ÕNŨNUI AND ‘ÕNUIKI PINNACLES), LALO (GARDNER (FRENCH FRIGATE SHOALS), MOKUMANAMANA (NECKER) ATBA ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 Point No. 1 .................... 2 .................... 3 .................... 4 .................... 5 .................... 6 .................... 7 .................... 8 .................... 9 .................... 10 .................. 11 .................. 12 .................. 13 .................. 14 .................. 15 .................. 16 .................. 17 .................. 18 .................. 19 .................. 20 .................. 21 .................. 22 .................. 23 .................. 24 .................. 25 .................. 26 .................. 27 .................. 28 .................. 29 .................. 30 .................. 31 .................. 32 .................. 33 .................. 34 .................. 35 .................. 36 .................. 37 .................. 38 .................. 39 .................. 40 .................. 41 .................. 42 .................. 43 .................. 44 .................. 45 .................. 46 .................. 47 .................. 48 .................. 49 .................. 50 .................. 51 .................. 52 .................. 53 .................. 54 .................. 55 .................. 56 .................. 57 .................. 58 .................. 59 .................. 60 .................. 61 .................. 62 .................. 63 .................. 64 .................. 65 .................. 66 .................. VerDate Sep<11>2014 Longitude ¥168.00150 ¥167.87767 ¥167.87750 ¥167.80583 ¥167.61200 ¥167.44133 ¥167.32983 ¥166.75000 ¥166.05600 ¥165.58317 ¥164.51867 ¥164.51900 ¥164.49567 ¥164.40867 ¥164.32317 ¥164.24267 ¥164.16617 ¥164.09483 ¥164.03000 ¥163.97050 ¥163.92033 ¥163.87650 ¥163.84267 ¥163.81633 ¥163.79983 ¥163.79267 ¥163.79333 ¥163.80467 ¥163.82500 ¥163.85233 ¥163.89117 ¥163.93583 ¥163.98967 ¥164.05017 ¥164.11833 ¥164.19150 ¥164.26967 ¥164.35267 ¥164.43800 ¥164.52667 ¥164.61717 ¥164.70850 ¥164.79983 ¥164.82533 ¥164.85800 ¥164.85883 ¥165.58317 ¥166.32717 ¥166.38867 ¥166.60000 ¥166.75000 ¥166.79083 ¥168.38100 ¥168.37967 ¥168.45467 ¥168.52767 ¥168.59917 ¥168.66567 ¥168.72583 ¥168.77717 ¥168.82150 ¥168.85767 ¥168.88533 ¥168.90467 ¥168.91367 ¥168.91583 20:07 Jan 15, 2025 Latitude 25.83633 25.82733 25.82833 25.81650 25.78483 25.66400 25.58500 25.17383 24.68183 24.59400 24.39633 24.39317 24.38850 24.36417 24.33500 24.29583 24.24983 24.19767 24.13833 24.07467 24.00450 23.93083 23.85283 23.77217 23.68950 23.60567 23.52117 23.43783 23.35567 23.27550 23.19933 23.12567 23.05767 22.99417 22.93783 22.88700 22.84333 22.80800 22.77883 22.75817 22.74717 22.74417 22.74867 22.75183 22.75650 22.75283 22.83767 22.92500 22.93217 22.95683 23.06250 23.09133 24.21167 24.21467 24.26750 24.31917 24.37117 24.42850 24.49183 24.56117 24.63433 24.71133 24.79083 24.87233 24.95533 25.03867 Jkt 265001 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 TABLE 2—COORDINATES FOR THE INNER REPORTING AREA BOUNDARY AROUND ‘ÕNŨNUI AND ‘ÕNUIKI PINNACLES), LALO (GARDNER (FRENCH FRIGATE SHOALS), MOKUMANAMANA (NECKER) ATBA— Continued TABLE 3—COORDINATES FOR INNER REPORTING AREA BOUNDARY AROUND THE KAPOU (LISIANSKI ISLAND), KAMOLE (LAYSAN ISLAND), KAMOKUOKAMOHOALI‘I (MARO REEF), RAITA BANK ATBA—Continued Point No. Point No. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. Longitude ¥168.90717 ¥168.88867 ¥168.86267 ¥168.82667 ¥168.78217 ¥168.73100 ¥168.67367 ¥168.60867 ¥168.53733 ¥168.46133 ¥168.38033 ¥168.29600 ¥168.20783 ¥168.11817 ¥168.02700 ¥168.00150 Latitude 25.12167 25.20317 25.28317 25.35950 25.43233 25.50150 25.56483 25.62283 25.67483 25.72067 25.75950 25.79050 25.81317 25.82867 25.83517 25.83633 TABLE 3—COORDINATES FOR INNER REPORTING AREA BOUNDARY AROUND THE KAPOU (LISIANSKI ISLAND), KAMOLE (LAYSAN ISLAND), KAMOKUOKAMOHOALI‘I (MARO REEF), RAITA BANK ATBA Point No. 1 .................... 2 .................... 3 .................... 4 .................... 5 .................... 6 .................... 7 .................... 8 .................... 9 .................... 10 .................. 11 .................. 12 .................. 13 .................. 14 .................. 15 .................. 16 .................. 17 .................. 18 .................. 19 .................. 20 .................. 21 .................. 22 .................. 23 .................. 24 .................. 25 .................. 26 .................. 27 .................. 28 .................. 29 .................. 30 .................. 31 .................. 32 .................. 33 .................. 34 .................. 35 .................. 36 .................. 37 .................. PO 00000 4911 Frm 00057 Longitude ¥173.56150 ¥173.51450 ¥173.51317 ¥171.62833 ¥171.56400 ¥171.51400 ¥171.45833 ¥171.41933 ¥170.38400 ¥169.81600 ¥169.81717 ¥169.76383 ¥169.67617 ¥169.59400 ¥169.51517 ¥169.44083 ¥169.37233 ¥169.31000 ¥169.25317 ¥169.20567 ¥169.16550 ¥169.13467 ¥169.11267 ¥169.09883 ¥169.09400 ¥169.09883 ¥169.11100 ¥169.13367 ¥169.16600 ¥169.20583 ¥169.25233 ¥169.30800 ¥169.37033 ¥169.43850 ¥169.51300 ¥169.59400 ¥169.67767 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 Latitude 26.85217 26.84583 26.84817 26.60000 26.59150 26.58500 26.56783 26.55583 26.23767 26.14483 26.13933 26.12700 26.10050 26.06617 26.02517 25.97750 25.92200 25.86117 25.79633 25.72567 25.65083 25.57283 25.49233 25.41017 25.32717 25.24417 25.16150 25.08083 25.00283 24.92767 24.85583 24.78950 24.72817 24.67233 24.62367 24.58333 24.55033 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. Longitude ¥169.76467 ¥169.85133 ¥169.94217 ¥170.03017 ¥170.07617 ¥170.73983 ¥170.79300 ¥170.83950 ¥170.86950 ¥171.83650 ¥174.41400 ¥174.64083 ¥174.70050 ¥174.75333 ¥174.79733 ¥174.83417 ¥174.86283 ¥174.88183 ¥174.89117 ¥174.89350 ¥174.88450 ¥174.86800 ¥174.84283 ¥174.80733 ¥174.76567 ¥174.71600 ¥174.65817 ¥174.59383 ¥174.52383 ¥174.44783 ¥174.36817 ¥174.28383 ¥174.19650 ¥174.10717 ¥174.01633 ¥173.92467 ¥173.83367 ¥173.74300 ¥173.65233 ¥173.56150 Latitude 24.52233 24.50517 24.49467 24.49267 24.49350 24.59617 24.60483 24.61967 24.62933 24.93717 25.27683 25.49267 25.55467 25.62217 25.69467 25.77050 25.84883 25.93000 26.01183 26.09450 26.17650 26.25767 26.33667 26.41250 26.48583 26.55433 26.61850 26.67667 26.72917 26.77483 26.81500 26.84650 26.87000 26.88683 26.89567 26.89567 26.88817 26.87600 26.86417 26.85217 TABLE 4—COORDINATES FOR THE INNER REPORTING AREA BOUNDARY AROUND NIHOA ATBA Point No. 1 .................... 2 .................... 3 .................... 4 .................... 5 .................... 6 .................... 7 .................... 8 .................... 9 .................... 10 .................. 11 .................. 12 .................. 13 .................. 14 .................. 15 .................. 16 .................. E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 Longitude ¥161.78483 ¥161.74450 ¥161.74233 ¥161.68667 ¥161.63200 ¥161.57850 ¥161.52633 ¥161.47583 ¥161.42700 ¥161.38017 ¥161.33550 ¥161.29333 ¥161.25350 ¥161.21650 ¥161.18217 ¥161.15083 Latitude 23.88033 23.87317 23.88033 23.86833 23.85300 23.83467 23.81317 23.78883 23.76150 23.73133 23.69867 23.66333 23.62567 23.58567 23.54367 23.49983 4912 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations TABLE 4—COORDINATES FOR THE INNER REPORTING AREA BOUNDARY AROUND NIHOA ATBA—Continued TABLE 4—COORDINATES FOR THE INNER REPORTING AREA BOUNDARY AROUND NIHOA ATBA—Continued TABLE 4—COORDINATES FOR THE INNER REPORTING AREA BOUNDARY AROUND NIHOA ATBA—Continued Point No. Point No. Point No. Longitude .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. Latitude ¥161.12250 ¥161.09750 ¥161.07567 ¥161.05717 ¥161.04217 ¥161.03067 ¥161.02250 ¥161.01817 ¥161.01717 ¥161.01983 ¥161.02617 ¥161.03583 ¥161.04917 ¥161.06583 ¥161.08583 ¥161.10900 ¥161.13550 ¥161.16500 ¥161.19750 ¥161.23283 ¥161.27083 ¥161.31150 ¥161.35433 ¥161.39950 ¥161.44667 23.45417 23.40700 23.35850 23.30867 23.25800 23.20650 23.15450 23.10217 23.04950 22.99700 22.94483 22.89300 22.84183 22.79167 22.74250 22.69450 22.64800 22.60317 22.56017 22.51900 22.48017 22.44350 22.40933 22.37767 22.34867 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. Longitude ¥161.49567 ¥161.54633 ¥161.59833 ¥161.65167 ¥161.70617 ¥161.76133 ¥161.81717 ¥161.87350 ¥161.93000 ¥161.98633 ¥162.04250 ¥162.09083 ¥162.09817 ¥162.11467 ¥162.20300 ¥162.28850 ¥162.37000 ¥162.44733 ¥162.51917 ¥162.58483 ¥162.64350 ¥162.69533 ¥162.73900 ¥162.77450 ¥162.80083 Latitude 22.32250 22.29917 22.27883 22.26167 22.24750 22.23667 22.22883 22.22450 22.22333 22.22550 22.23083 22.23850 22.23950 22.24317 22.26450 22.29500 22.33283 22.37883 22.43133 22.49017 22.55467 22.62450 22.69883 22.77717 22.85800 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. .................. Longitude ¥162.81817 ¥162.82633 ¥162.82483 ¥162.81483 ¥162.79500 ¥162.76633 ¥162.72917 ¥162.68350 ¥162.63050 ¥162.56967 ¥162.50300 ¥162.42983 ¥162.35183 ¥162.26933 ¥162.18317 ¥162.09383 ¥162.00417 ¥161.91250 ¥161.82133 ¥161.78483 Latitude 22.94100 23.02500 23.10967 23.19350 23.27617 23.35600 23.43367 23.50667 23.57517 23.63767 23.69483 23.74533 23.78933 23.82583 23.85400 23.87400 23.88567 23.88933 23.88483 23.88033 Appendix F to Subpart W of Part 922— IMO Standard Reporting Format and Data Syntax for Ship Reporting System Function Information required Example field text System identifier CORAL SHIPREP // CORAL SHIPREP // A Ship .......................................... B Date, time (UTC), and month of entry. C Position ..................................... E F I True course .............................. Speed in knots and tenths ....... Destination and estimated time of arrival. Intended route through the reporting area. Vessel name/call sign/flag/IMO number/Federal documentation or State registration number if applicable //. A 6-digit group giving day of month (first two digits), hours and minutes (last four digits) in coordinated universal time, suffixed by the letter Z (indicating time in UTC), and three letters indicating month //. A 4-digit group giving latitude in degrees and minutes, suffixed with the letter N (indicating north), followed by a single /, and a five-digit group giving longitude in degrees and minutes, suffixed with the letter W (indicating west) // [Report in the World Geodetic System 1984 Datum (WGS–84)]. 3-digit number indicating true course // ...................................... 3-digit group indicating knots decimal tenths // .......................... Name of port city/country/estimated arrival date and time group expressed as in (B) //. Route information should be reported as a direct rhumbline (RL) course through the reporting area and intended speed (expressed as in E and F) or a series of waypoints (WP). Each waypoint entry should be reported as latitude and longitude, expressed as in (C), and intended speed be- tween waypoints (as in F) // (Note: As many ‘‘L’’ lines as needed may be used to describe the vessel’s intended route.). Maximum present static draft reported in meters decimal centimeters //. Classification Code (e.g., IMDG, IBC, IGC, INF) / and all corresponding Categories of Hazardous Cargoes (delimited by commas) // Note: If necessary, use a separate ‘‘P’’ line for each type of Classification Code. Brief details of defects, damage, deficiencies or limitations that restrict maneuverability or impair normal navigation // (If none, enter the number zero.). Description of pollution incident or goods lost overboard within the Monument, the Reporting Area, or the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone// (If none, enter the number zero.). Name/address/and phone number of ship’s agent or owner // .. Telegraphy ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 L O Vessel draft in meters .............. P Categories of Hazardous Cargoes *. Q Defects or deficiencies ** ......... R Pollution incident or goods lost overboard **. T Contact information of ship’s agent or owner. VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:48 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2 A/OCEAN VOYAGER/C5FU8/ BAHAMAS/IMO 9359165/. B/271107Z DEC//. C/2728N/17356W//. E/180//. F/20.5//. I/SEATTLE/USA/311230Z DEC//. L/RL/215/20.5// -ORL/WP/2734N/17352W/20.5// L/WP/2641N/17413W/20.5// L/WP/2605N/17530W/20.5//. O/11.50//. P/IMDG/1.4G,2.1,2.2,2.3, 3,4.1,6.1,8,9//. Q/Include details as required//. R/0//. T/JOHN DOE/GENERIC SHIPPING COMPANY INC, 6101 ACME ROAD, ROOM 123, CITY, STATE, COUNTRY 12345/123–123–1234//. Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / Rules and Regulations 4913 Function Information required Example field text System identifier CORAL SHIPREP // CORAL SHIPREP // U Ship size (length overall and gross tonnage) and type. W Persons .................................... Length overall reported in meters decimal centimeters/number of gross tons/type of ship (e.g., bulk carrier, chemical tanker, oil tanker, gas tanker, container, general cargo, fishing vessel, research, passenger, OBO, RORO) //. Total number of persons on board // .......................................... Telegraphy U/294.14/54592/CONTAINER SHIP//. W/15//. Table Notes: * Categories of hazardous cargoes means goods classified in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code; substances classified in chapter 17 of the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code) and chapter 19 of the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code); oils as defined in MARPOL Annex I; noxious liquid substances as defined in MARPOL Annex II; harmful substances as defined in MARPOL Annex III; and radioactive materials specified in the Code for the Safe Carriage of the Irradiated Nuclear Fuel, Plutonium and High-Level Radioactive Wastes in Flasks on Board Ships (INF Code). ** In accordance with the provisions of the MARPOL Convention, ships must report information relating to defects, damage, deficiencies or other limitations as well as, if necessary, information relating to pollution incidents or loss of cargo. Safety related reports must be provided to CORAL SHIPREP without delay should a ship suffer damage, failure or breakdown affecting the safety of the ship (Item Q), or if a ship makes a marked deviation from a route, course or speed previously advised (Item L). Pollution or cargo lost overboard must be reported without delay (Item R). [FR Doc. 2024–30576 Filed 1–15–25; 8:45 am] ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with RULES2 BILLING CODE 3510–NK–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:48 Jan 15, 2025 Jkt 265001 PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\16JAR2.SGM 16JAR2

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 10 (Thursday, January 16, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4856-4913]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30576]



[[Page 4855]]

Vol. 90

Thursday,

No. 10

January 16, 2025

Part II





Department of Commerce





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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration





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15 CFR Part 922





Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea National Marine Sanctuary; Final 
Regulations; Final Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 90 , No. 10 / Thursday, January 16, 2025 / 
Rules and Regulations

[[Page 4856]]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

15 CFR Part 922

[Docket No. 240213-0047]
RIN 0648-BL33


Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea National Marine Sanctuary; Final 
Regulations

AGENCY: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean 
Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Final rule; notification of availability of final management 
plan and Record of Decision.

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SUMMARY: NOAA is designating Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea National 
Marine Sanctuary (sanctuary) to protect nationally significant 
biological, cultural, and historical resources and to manage this 
special place as part of the National Marine Sanctuary System. The 
sanctuary consists of an area of approximately 582,570 square statute 
miles (439,910 square nautical miles) of Pacific Ocean waters 
surrounding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and the submerged lands 
thereunder. NOAA is establishing the terms of designation for the 
sanctuary and the regulations to implement the national marine 
sanctuary designation. NOAA has also published a final environmental 
impact statement (final EIS) in coordination with the State of 
Hawai[revaps]i, final management plan, and Record of Decision.

DATES: Effective Date: Pursuant to section 304(b) of the National 
Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA) (16 U.S.C. 1434(b)), the designation and 
regulations shall take effect and become final after the close of a 
review period of forty-five days of continuous session of Congress, 
beginning on the date on which this Federal rulemaking is published, 
which is January 16, 2025. During that review period, the Governor of 
the State of Hawai[revaps]i may certify to the Secretary of Commerce 
that the designation or any of its terms is unacceptable, in which case 
the designation or any unacceptable term shall not take effect in State 
waters of the sanctuary. The public can track days of Congressional 
session at the following website: https://www.congress.gov/days-in-session. NOAA will publish an announcement of the effective date of the 
final regulations in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the final environmental impact statement (EIS) and 
management plan described in this rule and the record of decision (ROD) 
are available at https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/papahanaumokuakea/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Roberts, 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea Marine National Monument Superintendent, 
at [email protected] or 808-294-7470.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Introduction

A. Background

    The NMSA (16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.) authorizes the Secretary of 
Commerce to designate and protect as national marine sanctuaries areas 
of the marine environment that are of special national significance due 
to their conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, 
scientific, cultural, archaeological, educational, or esthetic 
qualities. Day-to-day management of national marine sanctuaries has 
been delegated by the Secretary of Commerce to NOAA. The primary 
objective of the NMSA is to protect the resources of the National 
Marine Sanctuary System. NOAA is designating marine portions of the 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea Marine National Monument as a national 
marine sanctuary to provide comprehensive and coordinated management of 
the marine areas of Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea to protect nationally 
significant biological, cultural, and historical resources. The 
original Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea Marine National Monument (PMNM, 
0-50 nm), and the Monument Expansion Area (MEA, 50-200 nm), 
(collectively ``Monument''), located around the Northwestern Hawaiian 
Islands, were established under the Antiquities Act of 1906 (54 U.S.C. 
320301 et seq.) through, respectively, Presidential Proclamation 8031 
of June 15, 2006; as amended by Presidential Proclamation 8112 of 
February 28, 2007; and Presidential Proclamation 9478 of August 26, 
2016. The Monument is administered jointly by four co-trustees--the 
Department of Commerce (DOC), the Department of the Interior (DOI), the 
State of Hawai[revaps]i, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA).
    The 2000 Amendments to the NMSA authorized designation of a 
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve (Reserve) to 
be managed by the Secretary of Commerce. In December 2000, President 
Clinton issued Executive Order 13178 that began the public process to 
establish the Reserve, and directed the Secretary of Commerce to 
initiate the process to designate the Reserve as a national marine 
sanctuary. In January 2001, President Clinton issued Executive Order 
13196 finalizing the establishment of the Reserve.
    In 2006, President Bush established PMNM through Proclamation 8031 
to protect and preserve the marine area of the Northwestern Hawaiian 
Islands and certain lands as necessary for the care and management of 
the historic and scientific objects therein. The Federal land and 
interests in land reserved included approximately 139,793 square miles 
of emergent and submerged lands and waters of the Northwestern Hawaiian 
Islands. NOAA and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) 
promulgated implementing regulations at 50 CFR part 404 for PMNM.
    In 2016, President Obama established the MEA through Proclamation 
9478, which included the waters and submerged lands seaward of the PMNM 
to the extent of the seaward limit of the United States Exclusive 
Economic Zone (U.S. EEZ) west of 163[deg] West Longitude. The MEA 
includes an additional 442,781 square miles. Presidential Proclamation 
9478 also directed the Secretary of Commerce to consider initiating the 
process to designate the MEA and PMNM seaward of the Hawaiian Islands 
National Wildlife Refuge and Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and 
Battle of Midway National Memorial as a national marine sanctuary to 
supplement and complement existing authorities. On December 27, 2020, 
the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2021, further directed NOAA to initiate the process 
to designate the Monument as a national marine sanctuary.
    The sanctuary consists of a total area of approximately 582,570 
square miles (439,910 square nautical miles). The precise boundary 
coordinates are defined in Appendix A to the regulations at 15 CFR part 
922, subpart W. The sanctuary boundary encompasses the submerged lands, 
seamounts, and Pacific Ocean waters from the shoreline seaward to 
approximately 200 nautical miles west of 163[deg] West Longitude 
surrounding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, which consist of the 
islands, atolls, and emergent lands stretching from Nihoa in the 
southeast to Kure Atoll in the northwest. The adjoining marine waters 
east of 163[deg] West Longitude surrounding Nihoa extend seaward from 
the shoreline to approximately 50 nautical miles.
    The sanctuary is a place of unique environmental resources that 
provide large-scale ecosystem services for both

[[Page 4857]]

the region and the world. The marine habitat includes several 
interconnected ecosystems, including coral islands surrounded by 
shallow reef, deeper reef habitat characterized by seamounts, banks, 
and shoals, mesophotic reefs with extensive algal beds, pelagic waters 
connected to the greater North Pacific Ocean, and deep-water habitats 
such as abyssal plains 5,000 meters below sea level. These ecosystems 
are connected as essential habitats for rare species such as the 
threatened green turtle and the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, as well 
as over 14 million seabirds that forage in the pelagic waters to 
nourish the chicks they are raising on the tiny islets. These waters 
are home to 20 cetacean species protected by the Marine Mammal 
Protection Act, with some listed as endangered under the Endangered 
Species Act. The importance of these waters to the Hawaiian humpback 
whale is only recently becoming understood. At least a quarter of the 
nearly 7,000 known marine species found in the region are found nowhere 
else on Earth.
    The area of the sanctuary is also a sacred place to Native 
Hawaiians, who regard the islands and wildlife as k[umacr]puna, or 
ancestors. The region holds deep cosmological and traditional 
significance for the people of Hawai[revaps]i and the Native Hawaiian 
culture. Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea is as much a spiritual space as 
it is a physical geographical area, deeply rooted in Native Hawaiian 
creation and settlement stories. Since Native Hawaiian culture 
considers nature and culture to be one and the same, the protection of 
one of the last nearly pristine, natural, marine ecosystems in the 
archipelago is seen as being akin to preserving the living culture.
    The area of the sanctuary also includes the location of the Battle 
of Midway, a turning point in World War II for the allies in the 
Pacific Theater. Research indicates that there are 60-80 sunken 
military vessels and hundreds of sunken military aircraft on the 
seafloor. In addition to Navy steamers and aircraft, there are whaling 
ships, ancient Japanese sailing ships known as junks, motorized East 
Asian style fishing vessels known as Hawaiian fishing sampans, Pacific 
colliers, and other vessels from the 19th and 20th centuries. Of these, 
the locations of more than 30 vessel wreck sites have been confirmed by 
diving or bathymetric surveys, with only a handful of those identified 
by vessel name or otherwise evaluated.

B. Purpose and Need for Action

    The NMSA (16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.) authorizes the Secretary of 
Commerce to designate national marine sanctuaries to meet the purposes 
and policies of the NMSA, including:
     to provide authority for comprehensive and coordinated 
conservation and management of these marine areas, and activities 
affecting them, in a manner which complements existing regulatory 
authorities;
     to maintain the natural biological communities in the 
national marine sanctuaries, and to protect, and, where appropriate, 
restore and enhance natural habitats, populations, and ecological 
processes;
     to enhance public awareness, understanding, appreciation, 
and wise and sustainable use of the marine environment, and the 
natural, historical, cultural, and archaeological resources of the 
National Marine Sanctuary System'' (16 U.S.C. 1431(b)(4));
     ``to support, promote, and coordinate scientific research 
on, and long-term monitoring of, the resources of these marine areas'' 
(16 U.S.C. 1431(b)(5)); and
     ``to facilitate to the extent compatible with the primary 
objective of resource protection, all public and private uses of the 
resources of these marine areas not prohibited pursuant to other 
authorities'' (16 U.S.C. 1431(b)(6)).
    NOAA is designating the marine areas of the Monument as a national 
marine sanctuary. The purpose of this action is to provide 
comprehensive and coordinated conservation and management of the marine 
areas of Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea to protect nationally 
significant biological, cultural, and historical resources. 
Additionally, the purpose of the designation is to implement the 
provisions of Executive Order 13178, Presidential Proclamation 9478, 
and the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2021.
    Accordingly, NOAA is designating this area as a national marine 
sanctuary to:
     Develop objectives and actions that ensure lasting 
protection consistent with the existing Monument proclamations;
     Safeguard natural and cultural values of the marine 
environment;
     Apply additional regulatory and non-regulatory tools to 
augment and strengthen existing protections for 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea ecosystems, wildlife, and cultural and 
maritime heritage resources;
     Authorize NOAA to exercise enforcement authorities, 
including the assessment of civil penalties for violations of 
provisions of the NMSA and regulations and permits issued pursuant to 
the NMSA (16 U.S.C. 1437);
     impose liability for destruction, loss of, or injury to 
sanctuary resources and provide natural resource damage assessment 
authorities for destruction, loss of, or injury to any sanctuary 
resource; and
     require interagency consultation for any Federal agency 
action that is likely to destroy, cause the loss of, or injure any 
sanctuary resource.

C. Designation Process

1. Notice of Intent To Designate a National Marine Sanctuary
    On November 19, 2021, NOAA initiated the process to designate 
marine portions of the Monument as a national marine sanctuary by 
publishing a Notice of Intent to Conduct Scoping and to Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Designation of a 
National Marine Sanctuary within Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea Marine 
National Monument (86 FR 64904). The notice of intent stated that NOAA 
would prepare a draft EIS per the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the NMSA. 
The notice of intent also announced NOAA's intent to fulfill its 
responsibilities under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA; 54 
U.S.C. 300101 et seq.). The State of Hawai[revaps]i published its EIS 
preparation notice on December 8, 2021. Following publication of these 
notices, NOAA conducted four virtual public scoping meetings. During 
the 74-day public comment period from November 19, 2021 through January 
31, 2022, 73 individuals and organizations provided written input. An 
estimated 165 people attended the four scoping meetings, with 9 people 
providing oral comments. The Summary of Scoping Input on the Notice of 
Intent and EIS Preparation Notice and State of Hawai[revaps]i Responses 
to Public Scoping Comments are included in the final EIS as Appendix F.
2. Public Comment on Draft Designation Materials
    On March 1, 2024, NOAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking 
and a notice of availability of the draft EIS (89 FR 15272) to release 
a proposed rule, draft EIS, and draft sanctuary management plan; and to 
request public comments on the proposed sanctuary designation 
documents. On March 8, 2024, the State of Hawai[revaps]i also informed 
the public about the availability of the draft EIS through an 
announcement in

[[Page 4858]]

its bulletin, The Environmental Notice, per the Hawai[revaps]i 
Environmental Policy Act (HEPA), Hawai[revaps]i Revised Statutes (HRS) 
Chapter 343-3(c). The USFWS, the State of Hawai[revaps]i, and the 
Department of the Navy served as cooperating agencies in reviewing and 
assisting with the development of the draft EIS.
    The public comment period took place over the course of 68 days 
from March 1 to May 7, 2024. Public meetings were held to provide 
additional information and to receive public input in the form of oral 
and written comments. Comments were accepted in both English and 
[revaps][omacr]lelo Hawai[revaps]i during 11 public meetings, held 
between April 6-18, 2024, including two virtual and nine in-person 
public meetings on O[revaps]ahu, Kaua[revaps]i, Hawai[revaps]i Island, 
Maui, and Moloka[revaps]i. Comments were also accepted through the 
Federal eRulemaking portal and by traditional mail through May 7, 2024, 
both in English and [revaps][omacr]lelo Hawai[revaps]i. An estimated 
237 people attended the 11 public meetings and 61 individuals provided 
oral comments. During the public comment period, 488 written comments 
and 13,385 form letters were received from individuals, organizations, 
and agencies. A total of 13,934 comments were received, with the 
overwhelming majority in support of sanctuary designation.
    Major themes of comments included sanctuary access, permitting, 
prohibitions, enforcement, Native Hawaiian indigenous rights and 
cultural integration, fishing, co-management, resource protection, 
education and outreach, partnerships, and community participation. 
After the public comment period closed, the comments were carefully 
reviewed and cataloged by substantive issues contained in the comments. 
In preparing the final EIS, final sanctuary management plan, and final 
rule, NOAA and the State of Hawai[revaps]i considered comments received 
on the draft designation documents, identified substantive comments, 
and provided responses to these comments. A summary of these comments 
and the corresponding responses from NOAA are provided in the final EIS 
Appendix K and in Section V of this rulemaking. In response to these 
substantive comments, NOAA clarified information and made changes to 
this final rule, the final EIS, and the final sanctuary management 
plan, as described further below.
3. Development of Terms of Designation and Regulations
    Section 304(a)(4) of the NMSA requires that the terms of 
designation include: (1) the geographic area that is included within 
the sanctuary; (2) the characteristics of the area that give it 
conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, research, 
educational, or esthetic value; and (3) the types of activities that 
would be subject to regulation by the Secretary to protect these 
characteristics. Section 304(a)(4) of the NMSA also specifies that the 
terms of designation may be modified only by the same procedures by 
which the original designation was made.
    The purpose and need for the sanctuary provide the overarching 
basis for developing the regulations. The designation of the sanctuary 
will not replace the area's current status as a marine national 
monument. Existing authorities, including management authorities of all 
Monument co-trustees, will remain in effect. Sanctuary designation will 
supplement the existing provisions for management of the Monument and 
protect resources in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. To develop 
these regulations, NOAA reviewed the following, which currently guide 
Monument management:
     Executive Order 13178--Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral 
Reef Ecosystem Reserve, December 4, 2000;
     Presidential Proclamation 8031--Establishment of the 
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument, June 15, 2006;
     Presidential Proclamation 8112--Amending Proclamation 8031 
of June 15, 2006 to Read ``Establishment of the 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea Marine National Monument,'' February 29, 
2007;
     Regulations implementing Presidential Proclamations 8031 
and 8112 at 50 CFR part 404; and
     Presidential Proclamation 9478--
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea Marine National Monument Expansion, 
August 26, 2016.

These executive orders, presidential proclamations, and regulations 
served as benchmarks for drafting the rule for the sanctuary. Sanctuary 
designation will only add to, and will not diminish, Monument 
management measures and protections. NOAA has adopted the management 
measures from these benchmarks, and, in a few areas, added onto those 
measures to achieve consistency in regulation and management across the 
sanctuary. The final rule unifies management of the area by removing 
discrepancies and gaps in prohibitions, regulated activities, and 
permit criteria, providing clarity and comprehensive protection for the 
sanctuary.
    In developing this final rule and the sanctuary terms of 
designation, NOAA also considered: (1) information received through 
public scoping and public review of the draft designation documents, 
cooperating agency review, and coordination with the Monument co-
trustees through the seven-member Monument Management Board, which 
consists of NOAA ONMS, NOAA Fisheries, USFWS Ecological Services, USFWS 
Refuges, Hawai[revaps]i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) 
Division of Aquatic Resources, DLNR-Division of Forestry and Wildlife, 
and OHA; and (2) information from analysis of issues in the EIS, 
interagency coordination, and internal staff analysis and expertise. 
NOAA also consulted with the Western Pacific Regional Fishery 
Management Council as required under the NMSA.
    Following publication of the proposed rule, in consideration of 
public comments and further review, NOAA made minor changes to the 
terms of designation and the regulations which are described in detail 
in Section III of this final rule. NOAA provides a detailed discussion 
of the final regulations in Section IV, subsection A through O, of this 
rule. The text of the final regulations is presented at the end of this 
rule.
4. Development of Final Management Plan
    A final sanctuary management plan has been prepared in accordance 
with NMSA section 304(a)(2)(C). Management plans are site-specific 
documents that ONMS uses to manage individual sanctuaries. The final 
sanctuary management plan: (1) articulates the sanctuary's vision, 
mission, goals, and objectives; (2) describes the management activities 
and initiatives that NOAA will conduct; and (3) provides strategies and 
assessment measures to guide the sanctuary's short- and mid-range 
management. In response to public comments, NOAA made minor changes to 
the final sanctuary management plan, which is included as Appendix A to 
the final EIS.
5. Final Environmental Impact Statement
    In accordance with NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the NMSA, and 
HEPA (HRS Chapter 343, HAR Chapter 11-200.1), NOAA and the State of 
Hawai[revaps]i released a final EIS for the national marine sanctuary 
designation in advance of the publication of this final rule. NOAA is 
the lead Federal agency in the preparation of the final EIS. The USFWS, 
State of Hawai[revaps]i, the Department of the Navy, and OHA were 
cooperating agencies for the final EIS. The final EIS describes the 
purpose and need for the proposed action of

[[Page 4859]]

designating a national marine sanctuary, identifies a range of 
alternatives including the preferred alternative, provides an 
assessment of resources and uses in the area, and evaluates the 
potential environmental consequences of the designation including by 
comparing the beneficial and adverse impacts among alternatives. NOAA 
has provided a section in the final EIS (see Section 1.5) to outline 
the substantive changes made between the draft EIS and final EIS.
    The final EIS analyzes four alternatives; including a ``no action'' 
alternative, in which the area would not be designated as a national 
marine sanctuary; and three boundary alternatives:
     Alternative 1 is coextensive with the marine portions of 
the Monument. The boundary includes the marine environment surrounding 
the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands from the shoreline of the islands and 
atolls seaward to 200 nautical miles, including all State waters and 
waters of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem 
Reserve, Midway Atoll and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuges, 
the Battle of Midway National Memorial, and State of Hawai[revaps]i 
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine Refuge. The area encompassed in 
Alternative 1 is approximately 582,570 square miles (439,910 square 
nautical miles).
     Alternative 2 includes the marine environment from the 
shoreline of the islands and atolls seaward to 50 nautical miles. This 
alternative includes all State waters and waters of the Northwestern 
Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve, Midway Atoll and 
Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuges, the Battle of Midway 
National Memorial, and State of Hawai[revaps]i Northwestern Hawaiian 
Islands Marine Refuge. This alternative does not include the MEA. The 
area encompassed in Alternative 2 is approximately 139,782 square miles 
(105,552 square nautical miles).
     Alternative 3 has the same boundaries as Alternative 1, 
but excludes waters within the Midway Atoll and Hawaiian Islands 
National Wildlife Refuges and the Battle of Midway National Memorial. 
These excluded waters include portions of the State of Hawai[revaps]i 
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine Refuge and the Northwestern 
Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve that overlap with 
national wildlife refuge waters. The area encompassed in Alternative 3 
is approximately 581,263 square miles (438,923 square nautical miles).
5. Final Preferred Alternative
    In accordance with NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and based on 
public comments on the draft designation materials and further review, 
NOAA has maintained Alternative 1 as the agency-preferred alternative 
(preferred alternative) based on its comparative merits; this 
alternative serves as the foundation of this final rule (Section 3.4 of 
the final EIS presents a map and details of this alternative). NOAA 
selected its final preferred alternative after considering input from 
the Monument Management Board, the State of Hawai[revaps]i, cooperating 
agencies, other agencies consulted, and public comments provided on the 
draft designation documents. Through the analysis in the final EIS, 
NOAA has determined that the final preferred alternative would provide 
numerous beneficial impacts, including increased protection and 
conservation of resources, and improved coordination of conservation 
and management. NOAA has also considered the potential adverse impacts 
of the final preferred alternative and anticipates that there would be 
no significant adverse impacts to biological and physical resources, 
cultural and historic resources, or socioeconomic resources.
    NOAA's identification of Alternative 1 as the final preferred 
alternative is based on the need for additional resource protection, 
scientific research, and public education in areas that would be 
excluded by selecting the boundaries of Alternatives 2 or 3. 
Alternative 1 includes the MEA, an area which would benefit from the 
establishment of a NOAA permitting process, and the promulgation of 
sanctuary regulations to protect resources. Alternative 1 also includes 
the waters of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian 
Islands National Wildlife Refuge, which are the areas of the sanctuary 
subject to the highest level of human activity.

II. Terms of Designation for Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea National 
Marine Sanctuary

    Section 304(a)(4) of NMSA as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1434(a)(4), 
requires that the terms of designation be described at the time a new 
sanctuary is designated, including the geographic area to be included 
within the sanctuary, the characteristics of the area that give it 
conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, research, 
educational, or esthetic value, and the types of activities that will 
be subject to regulation to protect those characteristics.
    The following represents the terms of designation:

Preamble

    Under the authority of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, as 
amended (the ``Act'' or ``NMSA''), 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq., 
approximately 582,570 square mi (439,910 square nmi) of the waters of 
the Pacific Ocean surrounding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are 
hereby designated as a national marine sanctuary for the purpose of 
providing long-term protection and management of the ecological, 
cultural, and historical resources and the conservation, recreational, 
scientific, educational, and esthetic qualities of the area.

Article I: Effect of Designation

    The NMSA authorizes the issuance of such regulations as are 
necessary and reasonable to implement the designation, including 
managing and protecting the ecological, cultural, and historical 
resources and the conservation, recreational, scientific, educational, 
and esthetic qualities of Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea National Marine 
Sanctuary (the ``sanctuary''). Section 1 of Article IV of these terms 
of designation lists those activities that may be regulated on the 
effective date of designation, or at some later date, in order to 
protect sanctuary resources and qualities. Listing an activity does not 
necessarily mean that it will be regulated. However, if an activity is 
not listed it may not be regulated, except on an emergency basis, 
unless Section 1 of Article IV is amended by the same procedures by 
which the original sanctuary designation was made.

Article II: Description of the Area

    The sanctuary encompasses the submerged lands, seamounts, and 
Pacific Ocean waters from the shoreline seaward to approximately 200 
nautical miles west of 163[deg] West Longitude surrounding the 
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands which consist of the islands, atolls, and 
emergent lands stretching from Nihoa in the southeast to 
H[omacr]lanik[umacr] (Kure Atoll) in the northwest. The marine waters 
east of 163[deg] West Longitude surrounding Nihoa extend seaward from 
the shoreline to approximately 50 nautical miles. The total area of the 
sanctuary comprises approximately 582,570 square miles (439,910 square 
nautical miles). The precise boundary coordinates are defined in 
Appendix A to the regulations at 15 CFR part 922, subpart W.

[[Page 4860]]

Article III: Special Characteristics of the Area

    Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea is a place of special national 
significance that provides large-scale ecosystem services for the 
region and the world. The marine habitat includes several 
interconnected ecosystems, including coral islands surrounded by 
shallow reef, deeper reef habitat characterized by seamounts, banks, 
and shoals scattered across the area of the sanctuary, mesophotic reefs 
with extensive algal beds, pelagic waters connected to the greater 
North Pacific Ocean, and deep-water habitats and abyssal plains 5,000 
meters below sea level. These connected ecosystems provide essential 
habitats for rare species such as the threatened green sea turtle and 
the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, as well as habitat for more than 14 
million seabirds that forage in the pelagic waters to nourish the 
chicks they are raising on the tiny islets. 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea is home to 20 cetacean species, protected 
by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, with some listed as endangered 
under the Endangered Species Act. At least a quarter of the nearly 
7,000 known marine species in the region are found nowhere else on 
Earth.
    The area of the sanctuary is also a place of historical and 
cultural significance. The area of the sanctuary includes the location 
of the Battle of Midway, a turning point in World War II for the allies 
in the Pacific Theater. Research indicates that 60-80 sunken military 
vessels and hundreds of sunken military aircraft are scattered across 
the seafloor. In addition to Navy steamers and aircraft, there are 
whaling ships, ancient Japanese sailing ships known as junks, motorized 
East Asian style fishing vessels known as Hawaiian fishing sampans, 
Pacific colliers, and other vessels from the 19th and 20th centuries.
    Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea is also a sacred place to Native 
Hawaiians, who regard the islands and wildlife as k[umacr]puna, or 
ancestors. The region holds deep cosmological and traditional 
significance to the people of Hawai[revaps]i and the Native Hawaiian 
culture, and contains a host of intact and significant archaeological 
sites found on the islands of Nihoa and Mokumanamana, both of which are 
on the National Register of Historic Places and Hawai[revaps]i Register 
of Historic Places. Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea is as much a 
spiritual space as it is a physical geographical area, rooted deep in 
Native Hawaiian creation and settlement stories.

Article IV: Scope of Regulations

Section 1. Activities Subject to Regulation
    The following activities are subject to regulation, including 
prohibition, as may be necessary to ensure the protection and effective 
management of the ecological, cultural, historical, conservation, 
recreational, scientific, educational, or esthetic resources or 
qualities of the area:
    1. Access to the sanctuary;
    2. Ship reporting, ship routeing, and other shipping activities;
    3. Vessel monitoring;
    4. Vessel discharge;
    5. Exploring for, developing, or producing oil, gas, or minerals, 
or any energy development activities;
    6. Using or attempting to use poisons, electrical charges, or 
explosives in the collection or harvest of a sanctuary resource;
    7. Introducing or otherwise releasing an introduced species from 
within or into the sanctuary;
    8. Deserting a vessel;
    9. Commercial fishing;
    10. Non-commercial fishing;
    11. Possessing fishing gear;
    12. Anchoring on or having a vessel anchored on any living or dead 
coral with an anchor, anchor chain, or anchor rope;
    13. Drilling into, dredging, or otherwise altering the submerged 
lands; or constructing, placing, or abandoning any structure, material, 
or other matter on the submerged lands;
    14. Removing, moving, taking, harvesting, possessing, injuring, 
disturbing, or damaging; or attempting to remove, move, take, harvest, 
possess, injure, disturb, or damage any living or nonliving sanctuary 
resource;
    15. Attracting any living sanctuary resource;
    16. Touching coral, living or dead;
    17. Swimming, snorkeling, or closed or open circuit SCUBA diving;
    18. Discharging or depositing any material or other matter, or 
discharging or depositing any material or other matter outside of the 
sanctuary that subsequently enters the sanctuary;
    19. Anchoring a vessel;
    20. Native Hawaiian practices;
    21. Research and scientific exploration;
    22. Scientific research and development by Federal agencies;
    23. Activities that will further the educational value of the 
sanctuary or will assist in the conservation and management of the 
sanctuary;
    24. Recreational activities; and
    25. Interfering with, obstructing, delaying, or preventing an 
investigation, search, seizure, or disposition of seized property in 
connection with enforcement of the NMSA or any regulation or permit 
issued under the NMSA.
    Listing an activity here means that the Secretary of Commerce can 
regulate the activity, after complying with all applicable laws, 
without going through the designation procedures required by paragraphs 
(a) and (b) of section 304 of the NMSA. No term of designation issued 
under the authority of the NMSA may take effect in Hawai[revaps]i state 
waters within the sanctuary if the Governor of Hawai[revaps]i certifies 
to the Secretary of Commerce that such term of designation is 
unacceptable within the review period specified in the NMSA.
Section 2. Emergencies
    Where necessary to prevent or minimize the destruction of, loss of, 
or injury to a sanctuary resource or quality, or to minimize the 
imminent risk of such destruction, loss, or injury, any and all 
activities, including those not listed in Section 1, are subject to 
immediate temporary regulation, including prohibition.

Article V: Alteration of This Designation

    The terms of designation, as defined under section 304(a)(4) of the 
NMSA, may be modified only by the same procedures by which the original 
designation is made, including public hearings, consultations with 
interested Federal, Tribal, State, regional, and local authorities and 
agencies, review by the appropriate Congressional committees, and 
approval by the Secretary of Commerce, or his or her designee.

III. Changes from Proposed to Final Regulations

    Based on public comments received between March 1 and May 7, 2024, 
internal deliberations, consultations, engagement with cooperating 
agencies, and meetings with constituents, NOAA has made the following 
changes to the proposed rule and corresponding changes to the final EIS 
and sanctuary management plan.

A. Definitions

    NOAA added the term ``categories of hazardous cargoes'' to 15 CFR 
922.24, the site-specific definitions. ``Categories of hazardous 
cargoes'' is defined in PMNM regulations, 50 CFR 404.3, and is added to 
the final regulations for consistency with existing regulations for 
ship reporting. Defining ``categories of hazardous cargoes'' provides 
clarity to the public on what information must be reported when 
conducting passage without interruption to comply with the

[[Page 4861]]

ship reporting requirements, as specified in the sanctuary regulations 
at 15 CFR 922.243.
    NOAA has made a minor revision to the term ``recreational 
activity,'' by striking ``within the Midway Atoll Special Management 
Area'' from the definition, making it consistent with the definition 
provided in Presidential Proclamation 8031 establishing the Monument.

B. Cooperative Management

    In response to public comments, NOAA has clarified how the 
sanctuary will be managed in partnership with other Federal and State 
agencies. In the proposed rule, NOAA proposed that the sanctuary would 
be co-managed with the State of Hawai[revaps]i. In the proposed 
regulations, NOAA identified the role that states may have in co-
managing a sanctuary pursuant to the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, 
if all or part of the proposed sanctuary is within the territorial 
limits of any state. Recognition of the State of Hawai[revaps]i as a 
sanctuary co-manager was not meant to exclude the other Monument co-
trustees, DOI and OHA. To the contrary, partnerships with other Federal 
and State agencies with overlapping jurisdiction are critical to the 
success of the National Marine Sanctuary System and the protection of 
marine areas of special national significance.
    In the final regulations, NOAA has renamed 15 CFR 922.242 
``Cooperative Management'' and added new text regarding how NOAA will 
manage the sanctuary in partnership with USFWS and OHA in addition to 
the State of Hawai[revaps]i. In doing so, NOAA reaffirms that the 
existing co-management structure of the Monument is critical to the 
success of the sanctuary. NOAA will work in cooperation with Monument 
co-trustees to update the Memorandum of Agreement for Promoting 
Coordinated Management of Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea Marine National 
Monument with the State of Hawai[revaps]i, DOI, and OHA that reflects 
the addition of the sanctuary, and specifically addresses how the 
addition of a sanctuary will supplement and complement, and not 
supplant, the existing Monument management framework.
    In the final regulations, NOAA recognizes USFWS's management 
authority over Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian 
Islands National Wildlife Refuge. NOAA also clarifies that nothing in 
the regulations or establishment of the national marine sanctuary shall 
diminish USFWS's authority to administer Midway Atoll National Wildlife 
Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge under the National 
Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, as amended, and other USFWS 
authorities. Where Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea National Marine 
Sanctuary overlays Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian 
Islands National Wildlife Refuge, NOAA will implement the NMSA to 
provide supplemental authority to protect resources. NOAA and USFWS are 
developing an agreement to provide details on the execution of 
sanctuary management where the national marine sanctuary overlaps with 
Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National 
Wildlife Refuge.

C. Access

    In the proposed regulations, NOAA stated that a vessel may pass 
without interruption through the sanctuary without requiring a permit 
as long as the vessel does not stop, anchor, or engage in any 
prohibited activities. In the final regulations, NOAA has made a minor 
revision to 15 CFR 922.243(a)(5)(b), removing the word ``anchor'' from 
this statement. The removal of ``anchor'' is a technical revision 
because anchoring a vessel is already listed as a prohibited or 
otherwise regulated activity. In 15 CFR 922.243(c)(7), NOAA has added 
clarification on the events that would trigger ``further reports,'' 
including ``pollution incidents and goods lost overboard.'' This 
addition will help address potential threats and impacts to sanctuary 
resources in a timely manner from vessels transiting within the 
reporting area.
    In the proposed regulations, NOAA stated that access is prohibited 
except under certain circumstances. NOAA has clarified that the 
prohibition on access does not restrict scientific exploration or 
research activities by or for the Secretary of Commerce or the 
Secretary of the Interior when the activity occurs within the Outer 
Sanctuary Zone, consistent with the exception provided in 15 CFR 
922.244(f).
    Finally, in 15 CFR 922.243(c), NOAA has also made technical 
revisions, removing the list of vessels for which the ship reporting 
requirements do not apply. This information is redundant of the 
exceptions provided in 15 CFR 922.243(a)(1) through (a)(4).

D. Prohibited or Otherwise Regulated Activities

    NOAA has added a prohibition on failing to comply with vessel 
monitoring systems requirements in violation of 15 CFR 922.246; and a 
prohibition on failing to comply with ship reporting requirements in 
violation of 15 CFR 922.243. NOAA made these technical revisions to 
clarify for the public the full scope of activities listed that are 
prohibited or otherwise regulated within the sanctuary.
    NOAA has also made technical revisions and clarifications to the 
prohibition on discharging or depositing any material or other matter 
into the sanctuary, or discharging or depositing any material or other 
matter outside of the sanctuary that subsequently enters the sanctuary 
and injures or has the potential to injure any resources of the 
sanctuary. Specifically, NOAA has clarified the list of exceptions to 
this prohibition for consistency with Presidential Proclamation 8031, 
the implementing regulations at 50 CFR part 404, and other applicable 
law such as the Clean Water Act. For example, consistent with existing 
law in the Monument, NOAA has clarified that this prohibition does not 
apply to fish, fish parts, or chumming materials (bait) used in or 
resulting from lawful fishing activities, provided that such discharge 
or deposit is during the conduct of lawful fishing activities within 
the Sanctuary. In addition, NOAA has clarified that the exceptions for 
``discharge incidental to vessel operations,'' and the discharges 
within Special Preservation Areas or the Midway Atoll Special 
Management Area may only be conducted in accordance with other 
applicable law, such as the Clean Water Act and its implementing 
regulations.
    In the proposed rule, NOAA provided exceptions to vessel discharge 
when conducting passage without interruption under 15 CFR 922.243, but 
did not clarify that this exception also applies to the discharge 
prohibition under 15 CFR 922.244. NOAA has made these revisions in 15 
CFR 922.244 to provide clarity to resource managers and the public, and 
consistency with existing Monument management. NOAA has made 
corresponding changes to the regulations at 15 CFR 922.243, removing 
the list of vessel discharge exceptions from this section. This 
revision is not substantive.

E. Exemption for Non-Commercial Fishing

    In the proposed rule, NOAA proposed that eight prohibited or 
otherwise regulated activities in 15 CFR 922.244 would not apply to 
non-commercial fishing activities in the Outer Sanctuary Zone 
authorized by regulations promulgated pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), provided that no sale of 
harvested fish occurs. In response to comments of concern for this 
exemption, NOAA has made changes to ensure that a non-

[[Page 4862]]

commercial fishing permit authorized pursuant to the MSA is only exempt 
from a limited subset of prohibited or otherwise regulated activities 
in the Outer Sanctuary Zone, which may only be conducted as incidental 
to and necessary to conduct lawful non-commercial fishing activity.
    First, NOAA has removed the exemption for ``touching coral, living 
or dead,'' as this activity is not expected to occur as incidental to a 
lawful non-commercial fishing activity.
    Second, NOAA has removed the exemption for ``discharging or 
depositing any material or other matter into the sanctuary, or 
discharging or depositing any material or other matter outside of the 
sanctuary that subsequently enters the sanctuary and injures or has the 
potential to injure any resources of the sanctuary, with exceptions.'' 
NOAA has determined that non-commercial fishing activities authorized 
under the MSA do not require a broad exemption for discharge, and 
should be held to similar standards as other vessels. As described 
above, NOAA has also clarified the types of discharge that would not be 
regulated, including ``fish, fish parts, or chumming materials (bait) 
used in or resulting from lawful fishing activity, provided that such 
discharge or deposit is during the conduct of lawful fishing activity 
within the Sanctuary.'' This exception is consistent with Presidential 
Proclamation 8031, and the existing regulations for PMNM at 50 CFR 
404.7.
    Third, NOAA has removed the exemption for anchoring a vessel. NOAA 
has concluded that this activity should not occur as incidental to a 
lawful non-commercial fishing activity in the Outer Sanctuary Zone. 
Anchoring a vessel in the Outer Sanctuary Zone would not be practical 
given the average ocean depths within this area of the sanctuary.
    NOAA has also clarified that this exemption from the sanctuary's 
permitting requirements is only applicable provided that the fish 
harvested, either in whole or in part, are neither intended to enter 
commerce nor enter commerce through sale, barter, or trade, and that 
the resource is managed sustainably, consistent with Presidential 
Proclamation 9478. Moreover, consistent with the outcome of the NMSA 
Section 304(a)(5) process, for the exemption to apply, the fish 
harvested, either in whole or in part, are not intended to be sold and 
shall not be sold for any purposes, including, but not limited to, 
cost-recovery. Finally, NOAA has clarified that the activities under 
paragraph (a)(9) through (12), and (a)(14) may only be conducted as 
incidental and necessary to conduct lawful non-commercial fishing 
activities.

F. Permit Procedures and Criteria

    In the proposed regulations, NOAA proposed two new general permit 
categories specific to the sanctuary: (i) Native Hawaiian Practices; 
and (ii) Recreation. In the final regulations, NOAA maintains these two 
general permit categories in 15 CFR 922.30. For ease of reference, NOAA 
has moved the additional permit issuance criteria and requirements to 
the site-specific regulations for the proposed sanctuary at 15 CFR 
922.245. This revision is not substantive. NOAA has also made a 
revision to the additional permit issuance criteria for Recreation 
permits. NOAA has amended the permitting criteria at 15 CFR 922.245 to 
clarify that a ``recreational activity'' may only be permitted within 
the Midway Atoll Special Management Area, consistent with existing 
regulations for the Monument.
    Finally, as described below, NOAA moved the Vessel Monitoring 
System (VMS) requirements from 15 CFR 922.245 to a standalone section 
at 15 CFR 922.246. NOAA retained, with minor edits, the requirement to 
outfit a vessel with a NOAA Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) type-
approved VMS unit, as a condition of a permit. This is consistent with 
the regulations implementing Presidential Proclamation 8031 at 50 CFR 
part 404, and specifically, the permitting findings that must be made 
under 50 CFR 404.11(d).

G. Vessel Monitoring System

    In the proposed rule, NOAA proposed, as a part of the permit 
procedures and criteria under 15 CFR 922.245, that an owner or operator 
of a vessel that has been issued a sanctuary general permit or special 
use permit must ensure that such vessel has a NOAA OLE type-approved 
VMS on board when operating within the sanctuary. In the final 
regulations, NOAA has moved the VMS requirements to a standalone 
section at 15 CFR 922.246 for consistency with the regulations 
implementing Presidential Proclamation 8031 at 50 CFR part 404. NOAA 
also made non-substantive technical changes to the VMS requirements to 
more closely align with the Monument's implementing regulations, 
specifically 50 CFR 404.5.

H. Sunken Military Craft

    NOAA has added new text regarding the Sunken Military Craft Act 
acknowledging that sunken military craft in the sanctuary will continue 
to be administered by the respective Secretary concerned pursuant to 
the Sunken Military Craft Act. NOAA will enter into a Memorandum of 
Agreement with the appropriate agencies regarding collaboration on 
implementing the Sunken Military Craft Act.

I. Emergency Regulations

    NOAA has added information to Section IV of this final rule 
describing emergency regulations. This is a technical clarification of 
a regulatory provision that applies to all national marine sanctuaries, 
pursuant to the National Marine Sanctuary Program Regulations at 15 CFR 
922 subpart A--Regulations of General Applicability. Adding this to the 
final rule provides clarity to the public on a supplemental authority 
that is provided through sanctuary designation.

J. Technical Edits

    In addition to the changes discussed above, NOAA has made technical 
edits throughout this final rule. Many of these technical edits are 
necessary to conform with revisions to 15 CFR part 922 that became 
effective on October 16, 2024. These technical edits are not 
substantive. NOAA has also made two minor changes to the terms of 
designation that were included in the proposed rule. First, NOAA has 
added more detail to one sentence describing the special 
characteristics of the area. Second, NOAA has added ``ship reporting, 
ship routeing, and other shipping activities'' to the list of 
activities subject to regulation in Article IV of the terms of 
designation to reflect the full scope of activities that may be 
regulated. In the draft terms of designation, NOAA only included ``ship 
reporting.''

IV. Summary of Final Regulations

A. Adding New Subpart W

    NOAA is amending 15 CFR part 922 by adding a new subpart (subpart 
W) that contains site-specific regulations for the sanctuary. This 
subpart will include the boundary, contain definitions of common terms 
used in the new subpart, identify prohibited activities and exceptions, 
and establish procedures for permitting otherwise prohibited 
activities. The regulations will be applied in accordance with 
generally recognized principles of international law and in accordance 
with treaties, conventions, and other agreements to which the United 
States is a party, consistent with sections 305(a) and 307(k) of the 
NMSA and the NMSA's Regulations of General Applicability at 15 CFR 
922.1(b). No regulation shall

[[Page 4863]]

apply to or be enforced against a person who is not a citizen, 
national, or resident alien of the United States unless in accordance 
with generally recognized principles of international law, or 
applicable treaties, conventions, and other agreements.

B. Sanctuary Boundary

    NOAA's designation of Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea National Marine 
Sanctuary consists of the marine environment surrounding the 
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands from the shoreline of the islands and 
atolls seaward to 200 nautical miles, including all waters of the 
Monument. NOAA estimates the area encompassed in the designation is 
approximately 582,570 square miles (439,910 square nautical miles).

C. Definitions

    This rule incorporates and adopts common terms defined in the 
national regulations at 15 CFR 922.11. In addition, NOAA is including 
20 site-specific definitions. To the extent that a term appears at 15 
CFR 922.11 and the definitions section of the final rule, the 
definition in the final rule would govern.
     The definitions for ``Bottomfish Species'' and ``Pelagic 
Species'' are adopted from regulations for Fisheries in the Western 
Pacific, 50 CFR 665.201 and 50 CFR 665.800.
     ``Ecological integrity'', ``Midway Atoll Special 
Management Area'', ``Native Hawaiian practices'', ``Pono'', 
``Recreational activity'', ``Special Preservation Area (SPA)'', 
``Stowed and not available for immediate use'', ``Sustenance fishing'', 
and ``Vessel monitoring system or VMS'', are adopted from Presidential 
Proclamation 8031.
     ``Commercial fishing'' and ``Non-commercial fishing'' are 
adopted from the MSA and, in part, from regulations for Fisheries in 
the Western Pacific, 50 CFR 665.12.
     ``Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA)'' is adopted from 
International Maritime Organization (IMO) Resolution A.982(24), 
December 1, 2005.
     ``Areas to be avoided (ATBA)'', ``Categories of hazardous 
cargoes'' and ``Office of Law Enforcement'' are adopted from 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea Marine National Monument regulations, 50 
CFR 404.3.
     ``Outer Sanctuary Zone'' refers to the area of the 
sanctuary that would extend from approximately 50 nautical miles from 
all the islands and emergent lands of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands 
to the extent of the seaward limit of the United States Exclusive 
Economic Zone west of 163[deg] West Longitude. This area of the 
sanctuary would correspond with the area designated as a marine 
national monument by Presidential Proclamation 9478, referred to as the 
``Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea Marine National Monument Expansion'' or 
MEA. NOAA provides this definition to provide clarity to the public 
where there is a regulation that only applies to this area of the 
sanctuary, and not the entire sanctuary. Note that the MEA and the 
Outer Sanctuary Zone are coextensive. In this final rule, when 
describing the sanctuary regulations, the term ``Outer Sanctuary Zone'' 
is used, and when describing the directives of Presidential 
Proclamation 9478, the term ``MEA'' is used.
     ``Reporting Area'' refers to the area of the sanctuary 
that extends outward ten nautical miles from the PSSA boundary, as 
designated by the IMO, and excludes the ATBAs that fall within the PSSA 
boundary. The reporting area is defined by the coordinates set forth in 
Appendix E to the final rule. NOAA defines the ``reporting area'' to 
clarify which areas of the sanctuary apply to ship reporting 
requirements.
     ``Scientific instrument'' is a term used in Presidential 
Proclamation 9478, but the term was not defined. Specifically, 
Presidential Proclamation 9478 prohibits ``drilling into, dredging, or 
otherwise altering the submerged lands, or constructing, placing, or 
abandoning any structure, material, or other matter on the submerged 
lands, except for scientific instruments''. NOAA defines ``scientific 
instrument'' to clarify what activities may be conducted pursuant to a 
permit. NOAA defines ``scientific instrument'' to mean ``a device, 
vehicle, or tool used for scientific purposes and is inclusive of 
structures, materials, or other matter incidental to proper use of such 
device, vehicle, or tool.'' In defining ``scientific instrument,'' 
NOAA's definition provides for the inclusion of ``structures, 
materials, or other matter incidental to proper use of such device, 
vehicle, or tool'' because, based on the type of activities previously 
permitted in the Monument, proper deployment and use of most scientific 
instruments requires more than the instrument itself. For example, 
there may be incidental ballast discharge associated with the use of a 
scientific instrument like a remotely operated vehicle, or ROV. A 
narrower definition of ``scientific instrument'' could unduly restrict 
NOAA's ability to permit activities in the area of the sanctuary that 
overlaps with the MEA. NOAA believes a narrower definition would be 
inconsistent with the intent of Presidential Proclamation 9478, which 
states ``Undisturbed seamount communities in the adjacent area are of 
significant scientific interest because they provide opportunities to 
examine the impacts of physical, biological, and geological processes 
on ecosystem diversity, including understanding the impacts of climate 
change on these deep-sea communities. These seamounts and ridges also 
provide the opportunity for identification and discovery of many 
species not yet known to humans, with possible implications for 
research, medicine, and other important uses. Recent scientific 
research, utilizing new technology, has shown that many species 
identified as objects in Proclamation 8031 inhabit previously unknown 
geographical ranges that span beyond the existing Monument, and in some 
cases the adjacent area also provides important foraging habitat for 
these species.'' These statements clearly demonstrate the significant 
scientific value of the MEA and underscore the opportunities for 
research and discovery to occur in the sanctuary.

D. Cooperative Management of the Sanctuary

    Pursuant to the NMSA, states may choose to have a role in co-
managing a sanctuary if all or part of the sanctuary is within the 
territorial limits of any state. As the sanctuary includes state 
waters, NOAA will co-manage the sanctuary with the State of 
Hawai[revaps]i. NOAA establishes the framework for co-management in 
section 922.242 of the final regulations NOAA and the State of 
Hawai[revaps]i may update existing agreements or develop additional 
agreements as necessary to provide details on the execution of 
sanctuary management, such as activities, programs, and permitting that 
can be updated to adapt to changing conditions or threats to the 
sanctuary resources.
    NOAA and the State of Hawai[revaps]i will manage the sanctuary in 
partnership with the USFWS and OHA consistent with the management of 
the Monument. The existing co-management structure of the Monument will 
be critical to the success of the sanctuary. NOAA will work in 
cooperation with the Monument co-trustees to update the Memorandum of 
Agreement for Promoting Coordinated Management of 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea Marine National Monument with the State 
of Hawai[revaps]i, DOI, and OHA that reflects the addition of the 
sanctuary, and specifically addresses how the addition of a sanctuary 
will supplement and complement, and not supplant, existing Monument 
management. This is

[[Page 4864]]

consistent with the existing Memorandum of Agreement, which includes a 
provision that states that ``in the event of the designation of the 
Monument or any portion of the Monument as a National Marine Sanctuary 
under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, nothing herein shall be 
construed as automatically terminating or otherwise amending this 
Agreement.'' NOAA may enter into additional Memorandums of Agreement 
with the Monument co-trustees regarding this collaboration that may 
address, but not be limited to, sanctuary resource protection, 
educational programs, permitting, enforcement, research activities, 
development, and threats to resources. Any future proposed changes to 
sanctuary regulations or boundaries would be coordinated with the State 
and other Monument co-trustees and subject to public review as mandated 
by the NMSA and other Federal statutes.
    The Secretary of the Interior, through the USFWS, has sole 
responsibility for management of the areas of the Monument that overlay 
the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, the Battle of Midway 
National Memorial, and the Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, 
and exercises that responsibility in consultation with the Secretary of 
Commerce. Nothing in these regulations or establishment of the national 
marine sanctuary shall diminish USFWS's authority to administer Midway 
Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife 
Refuge under the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act as 
amended, and other USFWS authorities. Where 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea National Marine Sanctuary overlays Midway 
Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife 
Refuge, NOAA will implement the NMSA to provide supplemental authority 
to protect resources.
    NOAA, in exercising its management authority under National Marine 
Sanctuaries Act Section 304(d), recognizes USFWS' management authority 
over Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands 
National Wildlife Refuge under the National Wildlife Refuge System 
Administration Act.
    The Director of the USFWS has agreed that 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea National Marine Sanctuary will provide 
supplemental authorities where the sanctuary overlays the Midway Atoll 
National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge. 
NOAA and USFWS are developing an agreement to memorialize this 
decision, and to provide details on the execution of sanctuary 
management where the national marine sanctuary overlaps with Midway 
Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife 
Refuge, consistent with the spirit of cooperative management of the 
area and recognizing USFWS has sole authority in Midway Atoll National 
Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge pursuant 
to the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act.
    Implementation of NOAA and USFWS authorities shall not enlarge or 
diminish the jurisdiction of the State of Hawai[revaps]i, including the 
State's responsibilities and requirements to manage Kure Atoll Wildlife 
Sanctuary and the State of Hawai[revaps]i Northwestern Hawaiian Islands 
Marine Refuge.

E. Access

    In PMNM, pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 8031, access is 
prohibited except under the following circumstances: (1) for emergency 
response and law enforcement purposes; (2) for activities and exercises 
of the Armed Forces; (3) for persons who have been issued Monument 
permits; and (4) for passage without interruption. For consistency, and 
to protect sanctuary resources, NOAA extends the access restrictions 
which apply to the area of the sanctuary that overlaps the PMNM to the 
area of the sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA as follows:
    Access to the sanctuary is prohibited and thus unlawful except 
under the following circumstances: (1) for emergency response actions, 
law enforcement activities, and activities and exercises of the Armed 
Forces; (2) pursuant to a sanctuary permit; (3) when conducting non-
commercial fishing activities in the Outer Sanctuary Zone authorized 
under the MSA in accordance with 15 CFR 922.244 (d); (4) when 
conducting scientific exploration or research activities by or for the 
Secretary of Commerce or the Secretary of the Interior when the 
activity occurs within the Outer Sanctuary Zone); and (5) when passing 
through the sanctuary without interruption.
    A vessel may pass without interruption through the sanctuary 
without requiring a permit as long as the vessel does not stop or 
engage in prohibited activities within the sanctuary. A vessel passing 
through the sanctuary without interruption may be subject to the ship 
reporting system, as described below.
    The access restrictions will be applied in accordance with 
generally recognized principles of international law and in accordance 
with treaties, conventions, and other agreements to which the United 
States is a party, consistent with sections 305(a) and 307(k) of the 
NMSA and the NMSA's Regulations of General Applicability at 15 CFR 
922.1(b). No regulation shall apply to or be enforced against a person 
who is not a citizen, national, or resident alien of the United States 
unless in accordance with generally recognized principles of 
international law, or applicable treaties, conventions, and other 
agreements.

F. Ship Reporting

    The final rule includes regulations to implement the ship reporting 
system (CORAL SHIPREP) adopted by the IMO, which require entrance and 
exit notifications for vessels that pass without interruption through 
the sanctuary areas contained within a reporting area. Requiring 
vessels to notify NOAA immediately upon entering the reporting area 
will help make the vessel operators aware that they are traveling 
through a fragile area with potential navigational hazards, such as the 
extensive coral reefs found in many shallow areas of the sanctuary 
contained within the reporting area.
    The ship reporting requirements apply to vessels that pass through 
the sanctuary without interruption. Conversely, the ship reporting 
requirements do not apply to vessels covered by an exemption at 15 CFR 
922.243(a)(1) through (a)(4), or to sovereign immune vessels, which are 
specifically exempted from the reporting requirement in the ship 
reporting system adopted by the IMO. Furthermore, the ship reporting 
requirements will be applied in accordance with generally recognized 
principles of international law and in accordance with treaties, 
conventions, and other agreements to which the United States is a 
party, consistent with sections 305(a) and 307(k) of the NMSA and the 
NMSA's Regulations of General Applicability at 15 CFR 922.1(b). No 
regulation shall apply to or be enforced against a person who is not a 
citizen, national, or resident alien of the United States unless in 
accordance with generally recognized principles of international law, 
or applicable treaties, conventions, and other agreements.
    NOAA defines the reporting area as ``the area of the sanctuary that 
extends outward ten nautical miles from the PSSA [Particularly 
Sensitive Sea Area] boundary, as designated by the IMO, and excludes 
the ATBAs [Areas to be avoided] that fall within the PSSA boundary.'' 
The reporting area is further defined by the coordinates set forth in 
Appendix E to the final rule. Appendix E includes a coordinates table 
for the

[[Page 4865]]

``Reporting Area Outer Boundary,'' which contains the reporting area's 
boundary surrounding the PSSA. Appendix E also includes coordinate 
tables for the ``Inner Reporting Area Boundary'' for each of the four 
ATBAs that fall within the PSSA, but which are not part of the 
reporting area.
    The reporting area for the sanctuary will not include the four 
voluntary ATBAs adopted by the IMO that are also within the PSSA. An 
ATBA is an area within which either navigation is particularly 
hazardous or it is exceptionally important to avoid casualties. While 
ATBAs can be mandatory (i.e., vessels are required by applicable law to 
avoid and operate outside of the area) most are voluntary and vessels 
may travel through them. Because the four ATBAs in the PSSA are 
voluntary, as adopted by the IMO and implemented by these regulations, 
the ATBAs are outside of the reporting area. Nonetheless, by virtue of 
entering or exiting an ATBA, vessels would also be departing or 
entering the reporting area, and, therefore be subject to the reporting 
area's requirements four times: (1) once when it enters the reporting 
area; (2) once when it leaves the reporting area to enter the ATBA; (3) 
once when it exits the ATBA and enters the reporting area on the other 
side of the ATBA; and (4) once when it again leaves the reporting area. 
The potential burden of reporting four times is justified by the 
navigational hazards that exist within the ATBAs. The reporting area 
also includes three large areas within the PSSA that are not within the 
ATBAs. These breaks between the four ATBAs allow for north-south 
passages through the sanctuary areas contained within the reporting 
area that can be utilized for navigation to avoid ATBAs. Vessels 
passing through the sanctuary in these areas would only send email 
notification twice: once upon entering the reporting area, and again 
upon leaving the reporting area.
    NOAA will implement CORAL SHIPREP's requirements under the NMSA in 
keeping with the United States' and IMO's long-standing interest in 
providing additional protection to the natural, cultural, and historic 
resources in PMNM through ship reporting requirements. In June 2006, 
Presidential Proclamation 8031 directed the Secretary of Commerce and 
Secretary of Interior to require notification from any person passing 
through PMNM without interruption at least 72 hours, but no longer than 
1 month, prior to the entry date, and within 12 hours of departure. 
Presidential Proclamation 8031 further indicated the specific types of 
information that must be provided in the notification. These 
notification requirements were subsequently codified in 50 CFR 404.4. 
Presidential Proclamation 8031 also directed the Secretary of State, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of Interior, 
to seek the cooperation of other governments and international 
organizations in furtherance of the purposes of the proclamation and 
consistent with applicable regional and multilateral arrangements for 
the protection and management of special marine areas.
    Following Executive Order 13178 and Presidential Proclamation 8031, 
in April 2007 the United States proposed to the IMO that PMNM be 
designated as a PSSA to protect the attributes of the fragile and 
integrated coral reef ecosystem from potential hazards associated with 
international shipping activities. The U.S. noted in its proposal that 
the proposed PSSA and its associated protective measures would result 
in a minimal burden to international shipping, would significantly 
further increase maritime safety, would protect of the fragile 
environment, would preserve cultural resources and areas of cultural 
importance significant to Native Hawaiians, and would facilitate 
responses to developing maritime emergencies. On April 3, 2008, the IMO 
designated the PMNM as a PSSA. As part of the PSSA designation process, 
the IMO adopted U.S. proposals for associated protective measures. 
These measures included expanding and consolidating the six existing 
recommendatory ATBAs in the PMNM into four larger areas and enlarging 
the class of vessels to which they apply. In addition, the IMO adopted 
a ship reporting system for vessels transiting the PMNM, which is 
mandatory for ships 300 gross tons or greater that are entering or 
departing a U.S. port or place and recommended for other ships. The 
system requires that ships notify the U.S. shore-based authority (i.e., 
the U.S. Coast Guard; NOAA will be receiving all messages associated 
with this program on behalf of the Coast Guard) at the time they begin 
transiting the reporting area and again when they exit. In December 
2008, NOAA and the USFWS published final regulations to establish a 
ship reporting system for PMNM, which implemented measures adopted by 
the IMO requiring notification by ships passing through PMNM without 
interruption (73 FR 73592). These regulations modified the previous 
notification requirements at 50 CFR 404.4.
    NOAA will implement the ship reporting system as adopted by the IMO 
and establish the reporting area using the boundary coordinates in 
Appendix E to this final rule to provide additional protection to the 
natural, cultural, and historic resources in the sanctuary. 
Accordingly, NOAA's regulations build upon the requirements outlined in 
Presidential Proclamation 8031, and reflect additions made through the 
IMO's adoption of a ship reporting system and the implementation of 
that system in 50 CFR 404.4. NOAA provides minor language changes from 
the process adopted by IMO Resolution MEPC.171(57) and IMO Resolution 
MSC.279(85) to provide clarity to the public on which vessels are 
required to participate in ship reporting and the type of information 
that should be reported.

G. Activities That Are Prohibited or Otherwise Regulated

    NOAA will supplement and complement existing management of this 
area through prohibited or otherwise regulated activities in section 
922.244. Presidential Proclamations 8031, 8112, and 9478, and 
regulations implementing Presidential Proclamations 8031 and 8112 at 50 
CFR part 404 provide the foundation for the prohibitions. However, 
minor changes are made to remove discrepancies and gaps in prohibitions 
and regulated activities between PMNM and the MEA in order to allow for 
consistency in management across the sanctuary.
    Within PMNM, the prohibitions in section 922.244 are already 
effectively in place under 50 CFR part 404, except for prohibitions 1 
and 4 (detailed below). Minor changes are made to prohibitions 1 and 4 
to remove discrepancies across the two zones (PMNM and MEA). 
Regulations implementing Presidential Proclamation 9478 have not been 
promulgated for the MEA. Many of the prohibitions adopted in the rule 
are identified in Presidential Proclamation 9478, which established the 
MEA. Any prohibitions for the area of the sanctuary that overlaps with 
the MEA that are not adopted directly from Presidential Proclamation 
9478 are identified below.
1. Prohibition on Exploring for, Developing, or Producing Oil, Gas, or 
Minerals, or Any Energy Development Activities
    Consistent with the presidential proclamations establishing the 
Monument, NOAA prohibits exploring for, developing, or producing oil, 
gas, or minerals to protect sanctuary resources and create a seamless 
management area

[[Page 4866]]

throughout the sanctuary. The addition of the prohibition on ``any 
energy development activities'' would be new for PMNM, and was added to 
further the underlying intent of the prohibition on oil, gas, and 
mineral development by accounting for technological advances in other 
forms of energy development.
    In addition to creating consistency across the two zones, this 
prohibition will help advance the sanctuary's goals and objectives by 
protecting sensitive marine ecosystems such as fragile coral reefs and 
deep-sea corals, benthic habitat, and seamounts. Prohibiting oil, gas, 
and mineral development reduces the risk of offshore spills, such as 
the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, that could significantly harm 
sanctuary resources. Deep seabed mining, oil and gas drilling, and 
other energy development activities, such as renewable energy system 
installation, destroys fragile benthic habitat, releases sequestered 
carbon, and spreads sediment plumes that can suffocate both sensitive 
shallow and deep-sea coral reefs, which negatively impacts nursery and 
foraging habitat for fish, and reduces the ecosystem's overall 
resilience.
2. Prohibition on Using or Attempting To Use Poisons, Electrical 
Charges, or Explosives in the Collection or Harvest of a Sanctuary 
Resource
    This prohibition is consistent with prohibitions identified in the 
presidential proclamations establishing the Monument.
3. Prohibition on Introducing or Otherwise Releasing an Introduced 
Species From Within or Into the Sanctuary
    This prohibition is consistent with prohibitions identified in the 
presidential proclamations establishing the Monument.
4. Prohibition on Deserting a Vessel
    Deserting a vessel is currently a regulated activity (allowed only 
with a permit) in PMNM pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 8031. 
Deserting a vessel is a prohibited activity in the MEA pursuant to 
Presidential Proclamation 9478. Based on NOAA's experience in managing 
national marine sanctuaries, NOAA does not see a need to permit this 
activity. Prohibiting this activity will create consistency in 
management across the sanctuary and help to prevent desertion of a 
vessel following a sinking, grounding, or other incident. Prevention is 
much less expensive than responding to a deserted vessel and can 
optimally prevent impacts and damage to sanctuary resources as well as 
to private property.
5. Prohibition on Anchoring on or Having a Vessel Anchored on Any 
Living or Dead Coral With an Anchor, Anchor Chain, or Anchor Rope
    This prohibition is consistent with prohibitions identified in the 
presidential proclamations establishing the Monument.
6. Prohibition on Commercial Fishing or Possessing Commercial Fishing 
Gear Except When Stowed and Not Available for Immediate Use
    Presidential Proclamation 8031 provided that commercial fishing for 
bottomfish and pelagic fish in PMNM that was permitted by NOAA prior to 
June 16, 2006 was allowed to continue for 5 years from the date of the 
proclamation, until June 15, 2011. After that date, Presidential 
Proclamation 8031 prohibited commercial fishing for bottomfish and 
associated pelagic species in PMNM. Presidential Proclamation 9478 also 
prohibits commercial fishing, as well as possessing commercial fishing 
gear except when stowed and not available for immediate use during 
passage without interruption in the MEA. With these sanctuary 
regulations, NOAA provides a sanctuary-wide prohibition on commercial 
fishing or possessing commercial fishing gear except when stowed and 
not available for immediate use to be consistent with the presidential 
proclamations establishing the Monument.
7. Prohibition on Failing To Comply With Vessel Monitoring Systems 
Requirements in Violation of Sec.  922.246
    This prohibition is consistent with requirements identified in 
Presidential Proclamation 8031. The VMS requirement for permittees 
operating within the areas of the sanctuary that overlap with the MEA 
would be a new requirement. Further discussion of the VMS requirements 
is included within Section IV. L. of this final rule.
8. Prohibition on Failing To Comply With Ship Reporting Requirements in 
Violation of Sec.  922.243
    This prohibition is consistent with the requirements of the ship 
reporting system (CORAL SHIPREP), as adopted by the IMO and implemented 
in PMNM under 50 CFR 404.4. Further discussion of the ship reporting 
system requirements is included within Section IV.F of this final rule.
9. Prohibition on Non-Commercial Fishing or Possessing Non-Commercial 
Fishing Gear Except When Stowed and Not Available for Immediate Use
    The presidential proclamations establishing the Monument broadly 
restrict the harvest of fishery resources by prohibiting removing, 
moving, taking, harvesting, possessing, injuring, disturbing, or 
damaging any living or nonliving monument resource, as well as attempts 
to do the same, except as may be allowed with a permit. As noted above, 
Presidential Proclamations 8031 and 9478 further specify prohibitions 
on commercial fishing and the possession of commercial fishing gear. 
The presidential proclamations also identify certain types of non-
commercial fishing that may be regulated (i.e., allowed pursuant to a 
permit or incidental to a permitted activity). Presidential 
Proclamation 8031, for example, authorizes sustenance fishing 
incidental to an activity permitted in PMNM. Presidential Proclamation 
9478, for example, provides that non-commercial fishing is a regulated 
activity (i.e., allowed only with a permit) in the MEA. In the 
sanctuary, for consistency with the proclamations, NOAA will prohibit 
``non-commercial fishing'' unless conducted pursuant to a sanctuary 
permit or, as discussed below, authorized under the MSA in the Outer 
Sanctuary Zone. The final rule adopts the definition of ``non-
commercial fishing'' from the regulations for Fisheries in the Western 
Pacific, which is defined as ``fishing that does not meet the 
definition of commercial fishing in the MSA, and includes, but is not 
limited to, sustenance, subsistence, traditional indigenous, and 
recreational fishing.'' 50 CFR 665.12.
    The final rule also provides that ``possessing non-commercial 
fishing gear except when stowed and not available for immediate use'' 
is prohibited unless conducted pursuant to a sanctuary permit or, as 
discussed below, authorized under the MSA in the Outer Sanctuary Zone. 
Presidential Proclamation 8031 includes ``possessing fishing gear,'' as 
a regulated activity (allowed only with a permit) in PMNM. Presidential 
Proclamation 9478 prohibits possessing commercial fishing gear. The 
final rule creates continuity between the two areas, and aims to 
prevent non-commercial gear from being utilized in an unauthorized 
manner that could lead to injury to sanctuary resources.

[[Page 4867]]

10. Prohibition on Drilling Into, Dredging, or Otherwise Altering the 
Submerged Lands; or Constructing, Placing, or Abandoning Any Structure, 
Material, or Other Matter on the Submerged Lands
    This activity is a regulated activity (i.e., allowed only with a 
permit) in PMNM under Presidential Proclamation 8031. In the MEA, 
Presidential Proclamation 9478 prohibits this type of activity, except 
when conducted for the use of scientific instruments, which is allowed 
only with a permit, subject to such terms and conditions as the 
Secretaries deem appropriate. In the sanctuary, these activities are 
prohibited unless conducted pursuant to a sanctuary permit. In the 
Outer Sanctuary Zone, such a permit may only be issued for scientific 
instruments.
11. Prohibition on Removing, Moving, Taking, Harvesting, Possessing, 
Injuring, Disturbing, or Damaging; or Attempting To Remove, Move, Take, 
Harvest, Possess, Injure, Disturb, or Damage Any Living or Nonliving 
Sanctuary Resource
    These activities are prohibited unless conducted pursuant to a 
sanctuary permit, consistent with the presidential proclamations 
establishing the Monument.
12. Prohibition on Attracting Any Living Sanctuary Resource
    This activity is prohibited unless conducted pursuant to a 
sanctuary permit. This prohibition is consistent with a regulated 
activity identified in Presidential Proclamation 8031 for PMNM. This 
prohibition is new in the area of sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA. 
Prohibiting this activity is intended to address the potential for 
harassment and disturbance from human interactions with living 
sanctuary resources.
13. Prohibition on Touching Coral, Living or Dead
    This activity is prohibited unless conducted pursuant to a 
sanctuary permit. This prohibition is consistent with a regulated 
activity (i.e., allowed only with a permit) identified in Presidential 
Proclamation 8031 for PMNM. This prohibition would be new for the area 
of sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA. However, prohibition 10 
(above) effectively includes this activity, as touching coral is 
considered a disturbance which may cause injury or damage. Therefore, 
regulating this activity in the Outer Sanctuary Zone is primarily a 
technical addition which provides clarity to the public and resource 
managers.
14. Prohibition on Swimming, Snorkeling, or Closed or Open Circuit 
SCUBA Diving
    These activities are prohibited unless conducted pursuant to a 
sanctuary permit. This prohibition is consistent with a regulated 
activity identified in Presidential Proclamation 8031 for any Special 
Preservation Area or the Midway Atoll Special Management Area. This 
prohibition would be new for areas of PMNM that fall outside of any 
Special Preservation Area or the Midway Atoll Special Management Area, 
and for the MEA. Expanding this regulated activity to the entire area 
of the proposed sanctuary allows NOAA to ensure that all in-water 
activities are done in compliance with the permit findings criteria and 
requirements, and are consistent with the care and management of 
sanctuary resources.
15. Prohibition on Discharging or Depositing Any Material or Other 
Matter Into the Sanctuary, or Discharging or Depositing Any Material or 
Other Matter Outside of the Sanctuary That Subsequently Enters the 
Sanctuary and Injures or Has the Potential To Injure Any Resources of 
the Sanctuary, With Exceptions
    These activities are prohibited unless conducted pursuant to a 
sanctuary permit. This prohibition is consistent with regulated 
activities identified in Presidential Proclamation 8031 for PMNM. The 
sanctuary regulations provide an exception to this activity, for 
``discharge incidental to vessel operations such as approved marine 
sanitation device effluent, cooling water, and engine exhaust''. Within 
Special Preservation Areas or the Midway Atoll Special Management Area, 
discharge is limited to ``vessel engine cooling water, weather deck 
runoff, and vessel engine exhaust''. The exceptions to this otherwise 
regulated activity must be conducted in accordance with other Federal 
statutes and regulations, such as section 312 of the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act, as amended, (FWPCA), 33 U.S.C. 1321 et seq. In 
addition, and consistent with exceptions identified in Presidential 
Proclamation 8031 for PMNM, the sanctuary regulations provide an 
exception for ``fish, fish parts, or chumming materials (bait) used in 
or resulting from lawful fishing activity, provided that such discharge 
or deposit is during the conduct of lawful fishing activity within the 
sanctuary''.
    While this prohibition is technically new for the area of the 
sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA, Presidential Proclamation 9478 
effectively includes this activity. Regulating this activity for the 
Outer Sanctuary Zone provides clarity to the public and resource 
managers. Further, the prohibition on discharges within or into the 
sanctuary is provided in recognition that various substances can be 
discharged from vessels or from infrastructure or individuals along the 
shoreline that can harm sanctuary resources or qualities. Establishing 
a cohesive regulatory framework across the sanctuary would benefit 
sanctuary resources and sanctuary users.
16. Prohibition on Anchoring a Vessel
    This activity is prohibited unless conducted pursuant to a 
sanctuary permit. While this activity may be permitted via a sanctuary 
permit, anchoring on living or dead coral may never be permitted, as 
noted above under prohibition 5. NOAA is regulating anchoring a vessel 
for consistency with a regulated activity identified in Presidential 
Proclamation 8031 for PMNM and because there is the potential for 
sanctuary resources, other than corals, to be impacted by anchoring. 
This prohibition is new for the area of the sanctuary that overlaps 
with the MEA. NOAA is including this prohibition on anchoring a vessel 
throughout the sanctuary to provide clarity to the public, resource 
managers, and enforcement personnel that all users of the sanctuary are 
subject to the same prohibition on anchoring a vessel unless conducted 
pursuant to a sanctuary permit.

H. Exemptions for Emergencies

    Consistent with existing management of this area, the prohibitions 
for the sanctuary would not apply to any activity necessary to respond 
to emergencies that threaten life, property, or the environment, or to 
activities necessary for law enforcement purposes.

I. U.S. Armed Forces Exemption

    Consistent with existing management of this area, NOAA provides a 
broad exemption to allow activities and exercises of the U.S. Armed 
Forces, including those carried out by the U.S. Coast Guard. NOAA 
recognizes that this broad exemption is necessary to ensure military 
readiness for the Department of Defense to conduct existing training, 
operations, and military readiness activities in the area of the 
sanctuary. The United States military has been able to maintain 
readiness and conduct training and other operations in other national 
marine sanctuaries based on similar broad exemptions.
    All activities and exercises of the Armed Forces shall be carried 
out in a

[[Page 4868]]

manner that avoids, to the extent practicable and consistent with 
operational requirements, adverse impacts on sanctuary resources and 
qualities. For any actions of the Armed Forces that are likely to 
destroy, cause the loss of, or injure sanctuary resources, the Armed 
Forces must comply with the Interagency Cooperation requirements 
outlined in section 304(d) of the NMSA, regardless of whether those 
actions are exempted from the sanctuary's prohibitions.

J. Exemption for Non-Commercial Fishing

    NOAA exempts non-commercial fishing authorized under the MSA in the 
Outer Sanctuary Zone from needing a sanctuary permit for certain 
regulated activities provided under paragraph (a)(9) through (12), and 
(a)(14) in the final rule, provided that certain requirements are 
satisfied. Those requirements are that the fish harvested, either in 
whole or in part: (1) are not intended to enter commerce and shall not 
enter commerce through sale, barter, or trade, and that the resource is 
managed sustainably; and (2) are not intended to be sold and shall not 
be sold for any purposes, including, but not limited to, cost-recovery.
    In addition, the exempted activities under paragraph (a)(9) through 
(12), and (a)(14) must only be conducted as incidental to and necessary 
to conduct lawful non-commercial fishing activity. NOAA will prepare a 
separate proposed rule under the MSA, which shall serve as the primary 
mechanism for authorizing non-commercial fishing activities in the 
Outer Sanctuary Zone. NOAA will periodically evaluate the effect of 
non-commercial fishing activities on sanctuary resources. Such 
evaluations would take into consideration the best scientific 
information available and evaluate whether additional actions are 
necessary for the proper care and management of sanctuary resources, 
including fishery resources, consistent with goals and objectives of 
the sanctuary. This exemption only applies to the Outer Sanctuary Zone.

K. Sanctuary Permit Procedures and Criteria

1. Sanctuary General Permits
    NOAA provides the authority to issue sanctuary general permits to 
allow certain activities that would otherwise violate prohibitions in 
paragraphs (a)(9) through (15). The sanctuary permitting system was 
developed to allow for integration with the Monument permitting system, 
to ensure a continued joint permitting system administered by Monument 
co-managers. NOAA may, in cooperation with the Monument co-trustees, 
modify the existing memorandum of agreement or develop a new memorandum 
of agreement to add further clarification on joint permitting.
    National marine sanctuary program-wide regulations at 15 CFR 922.30 
describe various purposes for which a sanctuary general permit can be 
issued. Three of these which would apply to this sanctuary are:
     Research--activities that constitute scientific research 
or scientific monitoring of a national marine sanctuary resource or 
quality;
     Education--activities that enhance public awareness, 
understanding, or appreciation of a national marine sanctuary or 
national marine sanctuary resource or quality; and
     Management--activities that assist in managing a national 
marine sanctuary.
    NOAA adds two additional permit categories to 15 CFR 922.30 under 
which a sanctuary general permit could be issued in the sanctuary:
     Native Hawaiian Practices--activities that allow for 
Native Hawaiian practices within the sanctuary; and
     Recreation--recreational activities within the sanctuary, 
but limited to the Midway Atoll Special Management Area.
    The Native Hawaiian Practices general permit category is consistent 
with the types of activities permitted for the PMNM. Presidential 
Proclamation 9478 provided Native Hawaiian practices as a regulated 
activity. For consistency in management across the proposed sanctuary, 
and to protect sanctuary resources while facilitating responsible user 
access, NOAA would apply this general permit category across the 
sanctuary.
    The Recreation general permit category is consistent with the types 
of activities permitted for PMNM, specifically within the Midway Atoll 
Special Management Area. For consistency with existing Monument 
management, this general permit category would continue to be limited 
to recreational activities within the Midway Atoll Special Management 
Area.
    The general regulations in 15 CFR part 922, subpart D relating to 
the permit application process, review procedures, amendments, and 
other permitting stipulations would apply. These national permitting 
regulations include a list of factors NOAA considers in deciding 
whether or not to issue the permit, such as whether the activity must 
be conducted within the sanctuary, and whether the activity will be 
compatible with the primary objective of protection of sanctuary 
resources and qualities. NOAA will be able to impose specific terms and 
conditions through a permit as appropriate. The general regulations' 
permitting review criteria is largely consistent with the permitting 
findings established by Presidential Proclamation 8031 for PMNM, and 
implemented through 50 CFR 404.11.
    In addition to permit review procedures and evaluation criteria in 
15 CFR 922.33, some additional permit review criteria apply in the 
sanctuary, including additional criteria specific to Native Hawaiian 
Practices permits and Recreation permits. NOAA is providing these 
additional permit criteria in 15 CFR 922.245 to be consistent with the 
permit criteria for PMNM.
2. Special Use Permits
    NOAA has the authority to issue special use permits (SUPs) in 
national marine sanctuaries, as established by section 310 of the NMSA 
(16 U.S.C. 1441) and by 15 CFR 922 subpart D. SUPs can be used to 
authorize specific activities in a sanctuary if such authorization is 
necessary to establish conditions of access to, and use of, any 
sanctuary resource or to promote public use and understanding of a 
sanctuary resource. Section 310 of the NMSA establishes four 
requirements for SUPs: (1) activities must be compatible with the 
purposes for which the sanctuary is designated and with protection of 
sanctuary resources; (2) SUPs shall not authorize the conduct of any 
activity for a period of more than five years unless otherwise renewed; 
(3) activities carried out under the SUP must be conducted in a manner 
that does not destroy, cause the loss of, or injure sanctuary 
resources; and (4) permittees are required to purchase and maintain 
comprehensive general liability insurance, or post an equivalent bond, 
against claims arising out of activities conducted under the SUP and to 
agree to hold the United States harmless against such claims. The NMSA 
authorizes NOAA to assess and collect fees for the conduct of any 
activity under a SUP, including costs incurred, or expected to be 
incurred, in issuing the permit and the fair market value use of 
sanctuary resources. Implementing regulations at 15 CFR 922.35 provide 
additional detail on assessment of fees for SUPs. Like with sanctuary 
general permits, NOAA can place conditions on SUPs specific to the 
activity being permitted. NOAA shall provide appropriate public notice 
before

[[Page 4869]]

identifying any category of activity subject to a special use permit.
    NOAA is not adding any new SUP category as part of this 
designation. In evaluating applications for special use permits, NOAA 
will consider all applicable permitting requirements, including 
permitting procedures and criteria under the Monument's existing 
management framework. For example, certain activities may be subject to 
the requirements of special ocean use permits, as authorized by 
Presidential Proclamation 8031, and issued by Monument managers in the 
PMNM via 50 CFR 404.11. Special ocean use permit requirements were 
modeled after the NMSA's authority for SUPs, but also include a few 
additional requirements. For example, one of the requirements for 
special use permits outside Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge is 
that the activity does not involve the use of a commercial passenger 
vessel. For special use permits in Midway Atoll National Wildlife 
Refuge, an additional requirement is that the Director of the USFWS or 
their designee determines that the activity is compatible with the 
purposes for which the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge was 
designated.
3. Sustenance Fishing
    NOAA may authorize sustenance fishing outside of any Special 
Preservation Area as a term or condition of any sanctuary permit. 
Sustenance fishing in the Midway Atoll Special Management Area shall 
not be allowed unless the activity has been determined by the Director 
of the USFWS or their designee to be compatible with the purposes for 
which the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge was established. 
Sustenance fishing is fishing for bottomfish or pelagic species in 
which all catch is consumed within the sanctuary. Sustenance Fishing is 
allowed incidental to an activity permitted in the PMNM under 
Presidential Proclamation 8031, and in regulations at 50 CFR part 404. 
Sustenance fishing was not specifically identified in Presidential 
Proclamation 9478 governing the MEA, but is allowable, consistent with 
proper care and management of monument objects. For consistency in 
management and permitting, NOAA is allowing for this activity as a term 
or condition of a general permit or special use permit.

L. Vessel Monitoring System

    To complement existing management and provide consistency across 
the entirety of the sanctuary, an owner or operator of a vessel that 
has been issued a general permit or special use permit under 15 CFR 
part 922 subpart D must ensure that such vessel has a NOAA Office of 
Law Enforcement (OLE)--approved Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) on board 
when operating within the sanctuary. Presidential Proclamation 8031 
requires an owner or operator of a vessel that has been issued a permit 
for accessing the PMNM to have an OLE--approved VMS on board. Such a 
requirement was not included in Presidential Proclamation 9478. For 
consistency in permitting, and for the reasons identified below, NOAA 
implements this requirement across the sanctuary.
    This requirement supports monitoring and surveillance, enforcement, 
and other incidental uses, consistent with the long-standing history of 
using vessel monitoring systems in the remote and vast area of the 
sanctuary, beginning with Executive Order 13178 in 2000. In directing 
the Secretary of Commerce to manage the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands 
Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve, section 5(b) of Executive Order 13178, 
indicated that priority management issues and actions must include 
enforcement and surveillance, including the use of new technologies, as 
well as the use of vessel monitoring systems, if warranted. The 2005 
Final Reserve Operations Plan included an Enforcement Action Plan with 
strategies to investigate innovative technology that would be effective 
for enforcement and surveillance activities within this large, remote 
area, as well as to implement VMS.
    In 2006, Presidential Proclamation 8031, as noted above, required 
an OLE-approved VMS on vessels with permits to access the PMNM. VMS is 
currently being used in the PMNM and is part of the Monument Management 
Plan's Enforcement Action Plan. The Monument Management Plan 
highlights, as an example, that when the 85-foot longliner Swordman I, 
carrying more than 6,000 gallons of diesel fuel and hydraulic oil, ran 
aground at Pearl and Hermes Reef in 2000, vessel monitoring system 
technology allowed agents to track the disaster and quickly send out 
equipment for an extensive cleanup. Further, the Monument Management 
Plan recognizes that the Monument's remote location presents unique 
surveillance and enforcement challenges, which a mandatory vessel 
monitoring system is critical to addressing.
    In designating a sanctuary in the remote and vast area of the 
Monument and Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem 
Reserve, NOAA recognizes the need to overcome these natural barriers to 
surveillance and enforcement through the use of VMS.

M. Scientific Exploration and Research by the Department of Commerce 
and the Department of the Interior

    Presidential Proclamation 9478, which designated the MEA, 
stipulates that the prohibitions required by the proclamation ``shall 
not restrict scientific exploration or research activities by or for 
the Secretaries and nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to 
require a permit or other authorization from the other Secretary for 
their respective scientific activities.'' Presidential Proclamation 
9478 further highlights the significant scientific value of the MEA and 
underscores the opportunities for research and discovery to occur in 
that area, including understanding the impacts of climate change on 
deep-sea communities and identifying new species. NOAA exempts the 
Department of Commerce's and Department of the Interior's scientific 
exploration or research activities from the sanctuary's prohibitions 
and permitting requirements within the Outer Sanctuary Zone to be 
consistent with Presidential Proclamation 9478. However, such 
activities must still comply with other Federal laws such as the NEPA, 
the Endangered Species Act, the National Marine Sanctuaries Act section 
304(d), and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

N. Sunken Military Craft

    NOAA is also adding language regarding the Sunken Military Craft 
Act of 2004 (SMCA; Pub. L. 108-375, Title XIV, sections 1401 to 1408; 
10 U.S.C. 113 note) that acknowledges that sunken military craft in the 
sanctuary will continue to be administered by the respective Secretary 
concerned pursuant to the SMCA. NOAA will enter into a Memorandum of 
Agreement with the appropriate agencies regarding collaboration on 
implementing the SMCA. See section VI.H for more information.

O. Emergency Regulations

    NOAA is not including any sanctuary-specific regulation to allow 
for development of emergency regulations to address urgent threats to 
sanctuary resources. Rather, the emergency regulation provision 
included in the regulations of general applicability, which apply to 
all national marine sanctuaries (see 15 CFR 922.7), would also apply to 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea National Marine Sanctuary. Emergency 
regulations are used when there is an imminent risk to sanctuary 
resources and a temporary regulation or

[[Page 4870]]

prohibition is necessary to prevent or minimize the destruction or loss 
of those resources, or otherwise minimize the imminent risk of such 
destruction, loss, or injury.

P. Other Conforming Amendments

    The regulations related to National Marine Sanctuary Permitting, 15 
CFR part 922, subpart D, are amended so that the regulations are 
accurate and up-to-date. The modified sections to conform to adding a 
new sanctuary are as follows:
     Section 922.30 National Marine Sanctuary general permits;
     Section 922.33 Review procedures and evaluation; and
     Section 922.37 Appeals of permitting decisions.
    Notably, NOAA amends 15 CFR 922.37 ``Appeals of permitting 
decisions,'' to reflect that the general appeals process for sanctuary 
permits will not apply to permit applications for the sanctuary. 
Consistent with the current interagency permitting system that has been 
in place for the Monument, there would be no appeals process for the 
sanctuary. Should a permit applicant want NOAA and the other agencies 
to reconsider a permitting decision, they would need to file a new 
permit application.

V. Response to Comments

    All comments were considered by NOAA and the State and, where 
appropriate, modifications were made to the final EIS, sanctuary 
management plan, and sanctuary rule. NOAA and the State's responses to 
comments address significant issues and concerns raised by members of 
the public, government agencies, stakeholder groups, non-profit 
organizations, and K[amacr]naka [revaps][Omacr]iwi community groups. 
For a full scope of all of the comments received on the draft 
designation documents, including the draft EIS and the draft management 
plan, and their responses, please review the final EIS Appendix K. This 
final rule includes NOAA's responses to comments that address the 
significant issues raised in public comments within the scope of the 
proposed rule specifically, and offer additional information about why 
certain changes were made to the rule, the terms of designation, or the 
regulations. The final rule retains the numbering/naming of the comment 
from the final EIS Appendix K so readers can track the comments that 
have been included in this preamble and more efficiently find other 
related comments/responses in the Appendix K that have not been 
included in this preamble. As such, cross-references have been retained 
here for completeness.
    1. A-1 Comment: The majority of comments NOAA received supported 
the proposed sanctuary designation, including Alternative 1 (NOAA's 
Preferred Alternative), and encouraged NOAA to proceed with the 
designation process. Commenters who support the designation cited 
reasons including:
     Additional regulations, protections, enforcement, and 
programmatic and legal benefits for Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea under 
the National Marine Sanctuaries Act;
     Enhancing long-term protections for biological, cultural, 
and historical resources;
     Comprehensive and coordinated management of the marine 
areas of Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea;
     Preserving Native Hawaiian culture, traditional practices, 
sacredness of waters, and connections to place for current and future 
generations;
     Safeguarding marine biodiversity; coral reefs, pelagic, 
and deep-ocean ecosystems; and endemic, threatened, and endangered 
species;
     Regulating, mitigating, or preventing threats such as 
invasive species, overfishing, illegal fishing, deep-sea mining, 
military activities, pollution, oil spills, marine debris, erosion, and 
climate change;
     Additional sources of funding to support operations, 
research, emergency response, citizen science, education, and outreach; 
and
     Opportunities for recreation and tourism;
    Response: NOAA agrees that these are some of the main benefits of 
designating the marine areas of the Monument as a national marine 
sanctuary. NOAA notes that many of these comments specifically indicate 
a preference for Alternative 1, and NOAA has considered this in 
carrying Alternative 1 forward in the final EIS as the Final Agency-
Preferred Alternative.
    2. A-2 Comment: A minority of commenters expressed opposition to 
sanctuary designation, citing concerns that designating a sanctuary:
     Is an overreach by the Federal government;
     Is an act of colonialism and/or infringes on the rights of 
Indigenous peoples;
     Would come at a cost to Native Hawaiian, American Samoan, 
and/or Pacific Islander well-being, including loss of the ability to 
practice cultural traditions and connections to ocean resources;
     Would limit access to the ocean and resources for food, 
livelihood, and cultural sustenance, and limit Indigenous rights and 
their ability to freely fish in local waters;
     Would decrease the amount of fishing waters across the 
Pacific;
     Would lead to overfishing;
     Adds unnecessary layers of bureaucracy, as the existing 
Monument management and protections are extensive and sufficient for 
the area, and that if new protections/management is needed, these 
should be enacted through the Monument;
     Would relinquish the Monument title and co-management 
framework;
     Would weaken current protections, and allow the Department 
of Commerce to violate protections, opening the doors to deep-sea 
mining and recreational tourism, and taking away human and financial 
resources needed to manage the area; and
     Would be redundant of current management of the Monument, 
and therefore unnecessary. Some commenters also expressed that they 
felt current Monument management to be poor, or that current management 
capacity is lacking; and that a sanctuary would not improve this.
    Response: Through the public sanctuary designation process, and 
from public input received during scoping and the proposed designation 
stage, NOAA has determined that this action responds to the need to 
address threats to and discrepancies in management of nationally 
significant resources. NOAA has also determined that the current 
management regime will benefit from additional regulatory tools, as 
well as the first set of implementing regulations for the MEA. Chapter 
2 of the final EIS and Section I.B of the final rule preamble describes 
the purpose and need for the sanctuary.
    NOAA respects the views of the commenters, including those who 
expressed concern that sanctuary designation is an overreach by the 
Federal government; is an act of colonialism; would impact the 
livelihood of Pacific Islanders and/or limit Indigenous rights. NOAA 
seeks to support the rights of K[amacr]naka [revaps][Omacr]iwi and 
Pacific Islanders, and to support biocultural conservation and 
restoration work by growing collective kuleana and affirming respect 
and reciprocity for the place and people. The sanctuary management plan 
(final EIS Appendix A) objectives include managing the area as a sacred 
site consistent with K[amacr]naka [revaps][Omacr]iwi traditional 
knowledge, management concepts, and principles articulated within Mai 
Ka P[omacr] Mai. K[amacr]naka [revaps][Omacr]iwi culture is 
foundational in the co-management legacy of 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea (see final EIS, sections 1.2.4 and 
4.5.1), and the

[[Page 4871]]

designation aims to ensure ecological integrity and achieve strong, 
long-term protection and perpetuation of Northwestern Hawaiian Island 
ecosystems, K[amacr]naka [revaps][Omacr]iwi culture, and maritime 
heritage resources for current and future generations. Native Hawaiian 
access will continue under sanctuary designation. See also the 
responses to comments C.1, C.2, and E.7.
    Regarding commenters who expressed concerns with the impact of 
sanctuary designation on the existing Monument, existing regulations, 
and or existing management of the area, see also the responses to E.1 
and E.2. Regarding commenters who expressed concerns with the impact of 
sanctuary designation on fishing, see also the comments D.1, D.3, and 
D.5. NOAA also recognizes that some comments raise concerns that are 
outside the scope of this designation, including the ongoing process to 
designate a proposed national marine sanctuary in the Pacific Remote 
Islands. The underlying concerns of these comments were still 
considered in the context of Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea National 
Marine Sanctuary. Detailed responses to specific points of concern and 
opposition are addressed in the subsequent responses.
    3. B-1 Comment: Commenters expressed opposition to for-profit 
activities in the sanctuary. One commenter recommended that no human 
activity should be allowed in the sanctuary.
    Response: The sanctuary regulations were drafted to supplement and 
complement existing management of the area. The existing Monument 
management regime allows for some for-profit activities such as 
professional film-making, and activities such as wildlife management, 
research, and Native Hawaiian practices. All are subject to permitting 
requirements. Consistent with the existing management of the area, NOAA 
will allow for regulated access to the sanctuary for these types of 
activities. As in the Monument, in order to receive a permit for a 
regulated activity, a number of findings criteria need to be met, 
including that the proposed activity is conducted consistent with the 
primary objective of protection of sanctuary resources.
    4. B-2 Comment: Commenters expressed concern regarding access to 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea, noting that the area can currently only 
be experienced by a select group of scientists, Native Hawaiian 
cultural practitioners, and wealthy individuals.
    Response: The sanctuary regulations and permit categories were 
drafted to supplement and complement existing management of the area. 
Consistent with the presidential proclamations designating the PMNM and 
MEA, and the Monument implementing regulations at 50 CFR part 404, NOAA 
will allow for regulated access. Anyone may apply for a permit to 
access the sanctuary. There are six categories of permitted activities: 
research, recreation, education, Native Hawaiian practices, 
conservation and management, and special use. In addition, a vessel may 
pass without interruption through the sanctuary without requiring a 
permit as long as the vessel does not stop or engage in prohibited 
activities within the sanctuary.
    Additionally, the sanctuary management plan describes strategies to 
engage and support diverse communities who care for 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea, including Indigenous and underserved 
communities. NOAA recognizes the constraints imposed by the vastness 
and remote nature of the proposed sanctuary (nearly 300 miles at its 
closest point from the main Hawaiian Islands), and therefore strives to 
provide education and outreach that brings the place to the people. 
Through the Mokup[amacr]papa Discovery Center and collaborations with 
other interpretive centers, organizations, business agencies, and 
others, NOAA has expanded a network serving both local, regional, and 
international audiences.
    5. B-3 Comment: Commenters provided recommendations that permits be 
easy to acquire through a streamlined process to minimize barriers and 
reduce redundant reviews under various authorities and regulations. One 
commenter suggested that the process to acquire a sanctuary or Monument 
Native Hawaiian practices permit, specifically, should be prioritized 
and streamlined.
    Response: The Monument joint permitting process has been in place 
and permits have been issued by the co-trustees since 2007. The 
sanctuary includes a permitting system modeled after the existing 
Monument permitting system, and was developed to allow for integration 
with the Monument permitting system, to ensure continued joint 
permitting administered by Monument co-trustees. See final EIS Section 
3.3.1 for an updated description of the permitting process. Through 
sanctuary designation, NOAA strives to conduct seamless, integrated 
management, such that sanctuary permits, including Native Hawaiian 
practices permits, will go through the same streamlined process as 
currently exists for the Monument.
    6. B-4 Comment: Commenters expressed concerns regarding activities 
that take place in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands under claims of 
innocent passage, and requested that all activities in the area of the 
proposed sanctuary comply with the United Nations Convention on the Law 
of the Sea, which the U.S. recognizes as customary international law, 
and applicable international treaties.
    Response: In the preamble of the proposed rule, NOAA specified that 
the proposed access and ship reporting regulations would be applied in 
accordance with generally recognized principles of international law, 
in accordance with sections 305(a) and 307(k) of the NMSA and the NMSA 
Regulations of General Applicability at 15 CFR 922.1(b). That is, no 
regulation shall apply to or be enforced against a person who is not a 
citizen, national, or resident alien of the United States unless in 
accordance with generally recognized principles of international law. 
In accordance with 15 CFR 922.1(b), NOAA has long interpreted the text 
of NMSA Section 305(a) as encompassing international law, including 
customary international law.
    In the preamble of this final rule, NOAA has clarified its 
intention that all regulations will be applied in accordance with 
generally recognized principles of international law, as well as in 
accordance with treaties, conventions, and other agreements to which 
the United States is a party.
    7. B-5 Comment: A commenter provided a recommendation that the 
IMO's designation of the Monument as a PSSA apply to the MEA. The 
commenter also recommended that NOAA should determine, as part of the 
sanctuary designation process, if additional regulatory and management 
controls are necessary.
    Response: The IMO process for designating an area as a PSSA is 
outside the scope of this action. If the U.S. Government determines at 
a future time that designation of some or all of the Monument as a PSSA 
is warranted, the IMO process would remain available. Through sanctuary 
designation, NOAA will implement the ship reporting system (CORAL 
SHIPREP), which was adopted by the IMO as an associated protective 
measure to the designation of the Monument as a PSSA. The ship 
reporting system's reporting area extends outward 10 nautical miles 
from the PSSA boundary, as designated by the IMO, and therefore 
includes some portions of the MEA waters. After thorough analysis, NOAA 
concluded that additional regulatory measures are not necessary at this 
time, beyond the

[[Page 4872]]

sanctuary regulations for ship reporting, access, and prohibited or 
otherwise regulated activities. Section IV.F of this final rule 
preamble provides details of the ship reporting system.
    8. B-6 Comment: Commenters expressed support for access for 
recreational activities, including snorkeling and scuba diving; and 
allowing opportunities for the public to interact with 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea in a safe and responsible manner. 
Commenters stated that allowing access for recreational activities may 
lead to increased awareness and support for the National Marine 
Sanctuary System. Commenters also provided recommendations for 
regulating recreational activities.
    Other commenters expressed concern for the potential negative 
impacts to resources from allowing visitation, recreation, and tourism 
activities in the sanctuary, specifically Midway Atoll. A few 
commenters opposed recreational access to the sanctuary, noting that 
access should be limited to research and conservation activities and/or 
to the Midway Atoll Special Management Area.
    Response: For the sanctuary, consistent with existing regulations 
for PMNM, recreational activity will be defined as activities conducted 
for personal enjoyment that do not result in the extraction of 
sanctuary resources and that do not involve a fee-for-service 
transaction. This includes, but is not limited to, wildlife viewing, 
scuba diving, snorkeling, and boating. Recreation can provide 
significant educational opportunities, build constituencies, and 
provide assistance to natural resource managers. However, these 
activities can also lead to wildlife disturbance, habitat degradation, 
and pollution. It is a goal of the Monument to prevent, avoid, or 
minimize negative human impacts associated with recreation by allowing 
access only for those activities that do not threaten the natural 
character or biological integrity of the Monument or Native Hawaiian 
cultural, historic, or maritime heritage resources.
    Midway Atoll Special Management Area is the only area of the 
Monument where recreational activities are permitted. Thus, while the 
sanctuary will allow for recreational activities via a permit, permits 
will only be issued for the Midway Atoll Special Management Area within 
the sanctuary, in coordination with the Monument Management Board and 
consistent with permitting for the existing Monument. Consistent with 
permit criteria for recreational activities within the Monument, 
recreation permits will not be issued for activities associated with 
any for-hire operation or for activities that involve extractive use.
    9. B-7 Comment: Commenters expressed support for allowing a fee-
for-service transaction for public visitation and recreational 
activities at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, and pointed out 
the existing authority of the USFWS to charge fees for public 
visitation. Commenters requested that the EIS recognize the authority 
of the USFWS to charge fees for services.
    Response: Consistent with existing permit criteria and regulations 
for recreational activities within the Monument, recreation permits 
will not be issued for activities associated with any for-hire 
operation, and recreational activities are defined as activities 
conducted for personal enjoyment that do not result in the extraction 
of sanctuary resources and that do not involve a fee-for-service 
transaction. However, NOAA acknowledges that the USFWS has the 
authority to charge fees for services including public visitation (50 
CFR part 25 Subpart E; Refuge Rules and Policies). Sanctuary 
designation will not change this authority, and the USFWS will still be 
able to charge fees for services, including public visitation to Midway 
Atoll. See also the response to E.3.
    The EIS has been revised to acknowledge that the USFWS has the 
authority to charge fees for services including public visitation. See 
sections 3.2 and 4.6.2 of the final EIS.
    10. B-8 Comment: Commenters requested that the USFWS consider a 
visitation program at Midway Atoll; and/or expressed support for 
recreation and visitation to Midway Atoll. Comments also requested that 
the final EIS describe the sanctuary permit process for public 
visitation and recreational activities at Midway Atoll National 
Wildlife Refuge.
    Response: A visitation program to Midway Atoll is outside the scope 
of this action. NOAA will share these comments with the USFWS, a 
cooperating agency for this action, who has operated a Visitor Services 
Program for Midway Atoll. The USFWS' Midway Atoll Comprehensive Master 
Plan (2022) affirms the goals, objectives, and strategies of the 
previous 2008 Midway Atoll Visitor Services Plan, and USFWS' intent to 
implement a Visitor Services Program.
    11. B-9 Comment: A commenter suggested that standards for 
permitting should be strengthened significantly, prioritizing Native 
Hawaiian practices without opening the door to other types of 
activities.
    Response: Consistent with the presidential proclamations 
designating PMNM and the MEA, and PMNM implementing regulations at 50 
CFR part 404, NOAA will allow for regulated access to the sanctuary. 
The sanctuary regulations include a permitting system modeled after the 
existing Monument permitting system, which was developed to allow for 
integration with the Monument permitting system to ensure continued 
joint permitting administered by the Monument Management Board (MMB). 
The final rule adopts the same permit criteria as currently required 
for Monument permits, including the additional criteria for Native 
Hawaiian practices and recreation permits. For additional information 
regarding Native Hawaiian practices permitting, see the responses to 
B.14 and C.1.
    12. B-10 Comment: Commenters recommended that NOAA hold mandatory 
public hearings for all permit applications, that there should be a 
permanent public record for all permits granted, and that there should 
be no multiple-year permits allowed.
    Response: The sanctuary regulations include a permitting system 
modeled after the existing Monument permitting system, and was 
developed to allow for integration with the Monument permitting system 
to ensure continued joint permitting administered by MMB. Therefore, 
NOAA intends to continue with the existing public notification process 
for the Monument, which does not include mandatory public hearings for 
all permit applicants. Instead, the existing permit system for the 
Monument includes a Permit Application Unified Public Notification 
Policy to engage and inform the public of activities proposed to occur 
within the Monument. Posting of a permit application does not equate to 
permit approval. After posting, each application is thoroughly reviewed 
by the MMB. Final permitted activities may differ from the proposed 
activities. Some of the public notification practices for the existing 
Monument include:
     Within 10 calendar days of receipt of an application, a 
summary of an applicant's proposed activities is posted for public 
viewing.
     Within 40 calendar days of receipt of an application, a 
full permit application is posted for public viewing.
     Permit applications that include proposed activities 
within the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands State Marine Refuge are also 
posted to the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) website for 
seven days prior to the scheduled BLNR meeting as part of the overall 
BLNR submittal process. The

[[Page 4873]]

BLNR hearings and review process are open to the public.
    All information provided in the application is reviewed by the 
Monument co-trustees to evaluate the potential benefits of the 
activity, determine whether the proposed methods will achieve the 
proposed results, evaluate any possible detrimental environmental 
impacts, and determine if issuance of a permit is appropriate. Factored 
in is a consideration of whether the timeframe of the proposed action 
is appropriate. Actions occurring within State waters are subject to a 
maximum permit duration of one year, while multi-year permits may only 
be issued outside of State waters. Therefore, consistent with existing 
management, multi-year permits may be granted in areas of the sanctuary 
that do not overlap with state waters.
    Additionally, permits granted are documented within an annual 
permitted activities report, published by the Monument. Reports for 
previous years may be viewed on the Permitted Activities Annual Reports 
website.
    13. B-11 Comment: Commenters recommended that independent 
cumulative impact assessments be required for all permit applications.
    Response: Permit decisions are Federal actions which are subject to 
NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. In accordance with NEPA, NOAA considers 
possible cumulative environmental impacts when considering Federal 
actions, including a decision of whether to issue a permit.
    14. B-12 Comment: Commenters expressed concern that a special use 
permit would introduce commercial activities.
    Response: In the Monument, some forms of commercial activity are 
currently permitted under special ocean use permits. The existing 
regulations at 50 CFR 404 for PMNM include permit criteria and 
regulations for special ocean use, which means an activity or use of 
the Monument that is engaged in to generate revenue or profits for one 
or more of the persons associated with the activity or use, and does 
not destroy, cause the loss of, or injure Monument resources. This 
includes ocean-based ecotourism and other activities such as 
educational and research activities that are engaged in to generate 
revenue, but does not include commercial fishing.
    Likewise, before issuing a SUP in the sanctuary, NOAA will also 
ensure, among other things, that the requested activity is compatible 
with the purposes for which the sanctuary is designated and with 
protection of sanctuary resources, and is conducted in a manner that 
does not destroy, cause the loss of, or injure sanctuary resources (16 
U.S.C. 1441(c)). NOAA can place conditions on SUPs specific to the 
activity being permitted. Individual permit applications that would 
require a SUP are also reviewed with respect to all other pertinent 
regulations and statutes, including NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and 
any required consultations, permits, or authorizations. Accordingly, 
there are sufficient safeguards in place for any activity proposed for 
a SUP in the sanctuary, whether of a commercial or non-commercial 
nature.
    In addition, NOAA is not proposing any new SUP categories as part 
of this designation. In order to do so, NOAA would be required to 
provide appropriate public notice before identifying a new category of 
activity subject to a SUP (16 U.S.C. 1441(b)).
    15. B-13 Comment: Commenters asked why the sanctuary permit would 
not allow for appeals of permit decisions.
    Response: The permitting system for the sanctuary is modeled after 
the existing Monument permitting system. The permitting system would 
not supplant the joint permitting system for the Monument, and was 
developed to ensure a continued joint permitting system administered by 
the MMB. The existing permit system for the Monument does not include a 
process to appeal a permit decision. Instead, a permit applicant may 
seek reconsideration of a permitting decision by filing a new permit 
application that redresses the issue(s) in the initial application that 
caused the denial. To ensure consistency with the existing permit 
system for the Monument, the National Marine Sanctuary Program 
regulations at 15 CFR 922.37 for appeals of permitting decisions will 
not apply to Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea National Marine Sanctuary. 
This will ensure that permit decisions are not made solely by NOAA, but 
in consideration with the other Monument co-trustees. See the final 
EIS, Section 3.3.1 and Section IV.P of this final rule for discussion 
of appeals of permitting decisions.
    16. B-14 Comment: A commenter stated that the proposed rule's 
definition of ``Native Hawaiian Practices'' provides a solid 
foundation, but is concerned that ``Native Hawaiian'' is not defined. 
The commenter requested that the definition should narrowly reference 
indigenous practices and only those practices of the k[amacr]naka 
maoli, who lived and thrived in Hawai[revaps]i prior to European and 
American arrival.
    Response: NOAA will not define ``Native Hawaiian'' in the sanctuary 
regulations because the issuance of Native Hawaiian practices permit is 
based on evaluating the activity against the permit criteria. To be 
consistent with the types of activities permitted for the Monument, and 
allow for an integrated permit process, NOAA will issue Native Hawaiian 
practices permits based on the same permit review procedures and 
additional evaluation criteria as those used for the Monument:
     The activity is non-commercial and will not involve the 
sale of any organism or material collected;
     The purpose and intent of the activity is appropriate and 
deemed necessary by traditional standards in the Native Hawaiian 
culture (pono), and demonstrates an understanding of, and background 
in, the traditional practice and its associated values and protocols;
     The activity benefits the resources of the Northwestern 
Hawaiian Islands and the Native Hawaiian community;
     The activity supports or advances the perpetuation of 
traditional knowledge and ancestral connections of Native Hawaiians to 
the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands; and
     Any living sanctuary resource harvested under this permit 
will be consumed or utilized in the sanctuary.
    The permitting system for the sanctuary is modeled after the 
existing Monument permitting system. The permitting system will not 
supplant the joint permitting system for the Monument, and was 
developed to ensure a continued joint permitting system administered by 
the MMB. The existing permit system for the Monument does not define 
Native Hawaiian, and instead provides a specific set of findings 
criteria for a Native Hawaiian practice permit. The criteria for the 
Monument Native Hawaiian practice permit were developed following a 
workshop in 2004 facilitated by Kia[revaps]i Kai, a graduate program at 
the Kamakak[umacr]okalani Center for Hawaiian Studies at the University 
of Hawai[revaps]i at M[amacr]noa, collecting input from Native Hawaiian 
cultural practitioners, fishermen, and others to create criteria for 
culturally-appropriate activities in Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea. 
Presidential Proclamation 8031 subsequently applied these criteria in 
providing for additional findings for Native Hawaiian practice permits, 
as did the Monument's implementing regulations at 50 CFR part 404.
    However, while Native Hawaiian is not defined in the regulations, 
the final EIS, recognizes a definition for the term Native Hawaiian per 
existing Federal law as important background information for the 
reader. See also the response to C.8.

[[Page 4874]]

    17. B-15 Comment: Commenters requested that wind turbine activity, 
in addition to mining and exploratory activities related to energy 
development, be prohibited.
    Response: Consistent with the presidential proclamations 
establishing the Monument, NOAA will prohibit exploring for, 
developing, or producing oil, gas, or minerals to protect sanctuary 
resources. NOAA will also prohibit ``any energy development 
activities'' to further the underlying intent of the prohibition on 
oil, gas, and mineral development by accounting for technological 
advances in other forms of energy development. This includes, but is 
not limited to, wind turbines and exploratory mining activity.
    18. B-16 Comment: Commenters requested that submarine activity be 
prohibited, with several comments specifically requesting prohibitions 
on military submarine use.
    Response: Access to the sanctuary, and therefore submarine use 
within the sanctuary, would be prohibited and thus unlawful except 
under the following circumstances: for emergency response actions, law 
enforcement activities, and activities and exercises of the Armed 
Forces; pursuant to a sanctuary permit; when conducting scientific 
exploration or research activities by or for the Secretary of Commerce 
and/or the Secretary of the Interior in the Outer Sanctuary Zone; and 
when passing through the sanctuary without interruption. Further, all 
regulations will be applied in accordance with generally recognized 
principles of international law, as well as in accordance with 
treaties, conventions, and other agreements to which the United States 
is a party. No regulation shall apply to or be enforced against a 
person who is not a citizen, national, or resident alien of the United 
States (including foreign flag vessels) unless in accordance with 
international law, or applicable treaties, conventions, and other 
agreements.
    The sanctuary regulations allow activities and exercises of the 
U.S. Armed Forces. This is consistent with the existing management of 
the Monument, as both Presidential Proclamation 8031 and Presidential 
Proclamation 9478 provided broad exemptions for activities of the U.S. 
Armed Forces. However, all activities and exercises of the Armed Forces 
must be carried out in a manner that avoids, to the extent practicable 
and consistent with operational requirements, adverse impacts on 
sanctuary resources and qualities.
    19. B-17 Comment: Commenters expressed concern regarding the 
potential spread of invasive species and diseases from vessel transit 
and biofouling, and requests that the prohibition on introducing 
invasive species apply to all vessels, including those passing without 
interruption.
    Response: The sanctuary regulations will prohibit introducing or 
otherwise releasing an introduced species from within or into the 
sanctuary. The sanctuary regulations would also prohibit discharging or 
depositing any material or other matter into the sanctuary. These 
prohibitions are consistent with prohibitions identified in the 
presidential proclamations establishing the Monument. These 
prohibitions would apply to all vessels, including those passing 
without interruption. A vessel may only pass without interruption 
through the sanctuary without requiring a permit, as long as the vessel 
does not stop or engage in prohibited activities within the sanctuary.
    20. B-18 Comment: Commenters stated that the provisions of 
Presidential Proclamation 8031, 50 CFR 404, Executive Order 13178 for 
the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve, and the 
State of Hawai`i Northwestern Islands Marine Refuge should be applied 
to the sanctuary regulations for the Monument Expansion Area and the 
full sanctuary, and specifically the prohibitions regarding fishing. 
Commenters also stated that Presidential Proclamation 9478 is too weak 
and provides ``loopholes.''
    Response: In drafting the sanctuary regulations, NOAA reviewed the 
executive orders, presidential proclamations, and regulations that 
currently guide Monument management. NOAA adopted the management 
measures from these benchmarks, and, in a few areas, added to those 
measures to allow for consistency in regulation and management across 
the sanctuary. The sanctuary regulations are largely consistent with 
Executive Order 13178, establishing the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands 
Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve (Reserve). Where the sanctuary regulations 
do not align with Executive Order 13178, the regulations comply with 
other applicable law including Presidential Proclamations 8031 and 9478 
establishing PMNM and MEA, respectively, which succeeded the 2000 
executive order establishing the Reserve. For example, while Executive 
Order 13178 sets caps on commercial fishing, the sanctuary regulations 
prohibit commercial fishing across the sanctuary, consistent with the 
presidential proclamations. In addition, the MEA's location outside the 
reserve, and other applicable law for that area such as Presidential 
Proclamation 9478, account for differences in management, including for 
non-commercial fishing.
    NOAA also considered that while the Monument is managed as a unit, 
several State and Federal conservation areas exist within it, where 
specific authorities apply. For example, the State of Hawai[revaps]i 
has primary responsibility for managing the State waters of the 
Monument, including the State of Hawai[revaps]i Northwestern Islands 
Marine Refuge. These existing authorities will still remain in effect. 
The State of Hawai[revaps]i also served as a cooperating agency for the 
EIS, allowing consideration and input into the draft documents. 
Further, as the sanctuary overlaps with State waters, the State will 
co-manage the sanctuary with NOAA, and the governor of Hawai[revaps]i 
will also review NOAA's designation documents before the sanctuary 
designation is final.
    21. B-19 Comment: A commenter expressed support for the prohibition 
on altering the seabed by modification or placement of materials, 
except for scientific instruments, providing new protections for the 
limited and sensitive habitats of the Outer Sanctuary Zone. The 
commenter noted that access through permitting would allow managers to 
review methodologies and monitor permittees, and that while minimal 
user contact with the seafloor occurs or is anticipated in the Outer 
Sanctuary Zone, these resources are rare and extremely vulnerable to 
disturbance.
    Response: NOAA agrees. In the MEA, Presidential Proclamation 9478 
prohibits this type of activity, except for when conducted for the use 
of scientific instruments, which is allowed only with a permit, subject 
to such terms and conditions as the Secretaries of Commerce and 
Interior deem appropriate. Therefore, in the sanctuary, these 
activities are prohibited unless conducted pursuant to a sanctuary 
permit, and in the Outer Sanctuary Zone, such a permit may only be 
issued for scientific instruments.
    22. B-20 Comment: A commenter expressed concern for the prohibition 
on anchoring a vessel, noting that for safety reasons, there are some 
scenarios when a vessel should be able to anchor.
    Response: Anchoring a vessel is prohibited unless conducted 
pursuant to a sanctuary permit. While this activity may be permitted 
via a sanctuary permit, anchoring on living or dead coral may never be 
permitted. NOAA will regulate anchoring a vessel for consistency with a 
regulated activity

[[Page 4875]]

identified in Presidential Proclamation 8031 for PMNM and because there 
is the potential for sanctuary resources, other than corals, to be 
impacted by anchoring. This prohibition is new for the area of the 
sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA. NOAA recognizes that there may be 
scenarios where anchoring a vessel is necessary for safety. Consistent 
with existing management of this area, the prohibitions for the 
sanctuary, including the prohibitions on anchoring, will not apply to 
any activity necessary to respond to emergencies that threaten life, 
property, or the environment, or to activities necessary for law 
enforcement purposes.
    23. B-21 Comment: Commenters expressed concerns regarding the 
sufficiency of enforcement in the sanctuary and the need for improved 
monitoring and enforcement to protect sanctuary resources. Some 
commenters specifically pointed out the need for increased monitoring 
of pollution to prevent entanglement of marine life. Suggestions and 
recommendations included improved or expanded monitoring and 
surveillance, use of technology to aid enforcement including Automatic 
Information Service and satellite monitoring, promulgation of strict 
regulations, dedicated funding, a risk assessment framework for 
vulnerable ecosystems, and increased collaboration with the National 
Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service and the State of 
Hawai[revaps]i for satellite management. Commenters also requested that 
enforcement be conducted by traditional vessels or new technologies to 
eliminate noise pollution that may impact marine life.
    Response: With sanctuary designation, the NMSA provides various 
regulatory tools and authorities for the protection of sanctuary 
resources. This includes the authority to conduct enforcement 
activities; assess civil penalties for violations of sanctuary 
regulations or permits; impose liability for destruction, loss of, or 
injury to sanctuary resources and provide natural resource damage 
assessment authorities for destruction, loss of, or injury to any 
sanctuary resource; and issue emergency response regulations. In 
addition, consistent with the existing management of the Monument, the 
sanctuary implements regulations requiring VMS units for an owner or 
operator of a vessel that has been issued a permit, as well as a ship 
reporting system for vessels that pass without interruption through the 
reporting areas. Both regulatory tools are intended to increase 
monitoring, in order to assist enforcement activities by the U.S. Coast 
Guard and NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement and further the protection 
of sanctuary resources. Additionally, as described in the sanctuary 
management plan (final EIS, Appendix A), NOAA will continue to monitor 
ecosystems and seek out and develop new tools and technologies for 
resource protection and monitoring (Strategy 1.2, Strategy 2.2, 
Strategy 2.3); and to work with the existing interagency Law 
Enforcement Coordination Team to enhance communication and coordination 
among enforcement personnel in order to facilitate responses to 
incidents and uphold sanctuary regulations and policies (Strategy 1.9).
    NOAA will continue to actively work and advocate inside the 
ecosystem protection framework established for the Monument to minimize 
risks and damages to sanctuary resources. For example, ongoing research 
aims to identify derelict fishing gear and other marine debris through 
unique spectral signatures that can be visualized from space to record 
locations and provide that information back to partners for removal. 
This technology has the potential to greatly reduce the effort to 
locate these hazards so that they can be removed from the environment. 
Some broad risk assessment investigations have been conducted by the 
Monument co-trustees (e.g., the Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea Marine 
National Monument Climate Change Vulnerability Analysis (2014)), 
however, much more remains to be done. Challenges include the vast 
geographic extent of ecosystems and seasonal access limitations. 
Conducting such assessments will require substantial time, as well as 
the participation of all Monument co-trustee agencies.
    Regarding reducing noise pollution from vessels to minimize 
wildlife disturbances, uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) technology is 
constantly improving and NOAA is exploring ways to utilize sail drones 
and other vessel systems in order to maintain a physical presence in 
sanctuary waters without having to dedicate staffed assets. These 
uncrewed platforms can utilize satellites to transmit location, vessel 
identification, and photographic evidence back to law enforcement 
officials in order to expand the geographic capacity of their limited 
resources.
    24. B-22 Comment: Commenters recommended harsh penalties for those 
who violate the regulations, including requests for permit violators to 
be banned from receiving future permits.
    Response: The NMSA authorizes NOAA to assess civil penalties for 
violations of provisions of the NMSA, including sanctuary regulations 
and permits. Each violation of the NMSA, any NMSA regulation, or any 
permit issued pursuant thereto, is subject to a civil penalty. Each day 
of a continuing violation constitutes a separate violation. The NMSA 
has a statutory maximum of $216,972 per violation, per the December 27, 
2023 annual adjustment for inflation (see 88 Federal Register 89300).
    Additionally, the NMSA regulations provide a list of findings, in 
addition to site-specific permit review criteria, which must be made 
before issuing a permit, such as whether the activity will be 
compatible with the primary objective of protection of sanctuary 
resources and qualities. The NMSA regulations also provide for the 
denial of a permit application based on various determinations, 
including that the applicant has acted in violation of the terms and 
conditions of a permit in a sanctuary in which the proposed activity is 
to take place, or has acted in violation of any sanctuary regulation, 
or for other good cause.
    25. C-1 Comment: Commenters expressed support for Native Hawaiian 
rights, including statements that access to the sanctuary should be 
allowed for Native Hawaiians to connect with ancestors and 
[revaps][amacr]ina and to perpetuate cultural practices based on pilina 
(relationships), kuleana (responsibilities), and genealogical 
connections to Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea. This includes voyaging, 
which is vital for health, well-being, and in keeping Hawaiian culture 
and language alive. Commenters also stated that the allowance of Native 
Hawaiian traditional and customary practices should not be diminished 
or limited through sanctuary designation.
    Response: NOAA recognizes the importance of Native Hawaiians' 
access to the sanctuary. Consistent with the presidential proclamations 
designating the Monument, NOAA will allow for regulated access to the 
sanctuary. Access will continue through a permit process. The sanctuary 
includes a permitting system modeled after the existing Monument 
permitting system, and was developed to allow for integration with the 
Monument permitting system, to ensure continued joint permitting 
administered by the MMB. The sanctuary has adopted the same permit 
criteria as currently required for the Monument, including for Native 
Hawaiian practices permits. See also the response to B.14.
    The criteria for the Monument Native Hawaiian practices permit were 
developed following a workshop in 2004 facilitated by Kia[revaps]i Kai, 
a graduate

[[Page 4876]]

program at the Kamakak[umacr]okalani Center for Hawaiian Studies at the 
University of Hawai[revaps]i at M[amacr]noa, collecting input from 
K[amacr]naka [revaps][Omacr]iwi cultural practitioners, fishermen, and 
others to create criteria for culturally-appropriate activities in 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea. For more than 20 years, the 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea Native Hawaiian Cultural Working Group 
(CWG) has provided guidance and advice. The CWG is a group of 
K[amacr]naka [revaps][Omacr]iwi k[umacr]puna (elders), researchers, 
cultural practitioners, educators, and community members that have deep 
connections and historical ties to Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea 
through a living pilina (relationship), bound by genealogy, cultural 
protocols, and values building contemporary multi-disciplinary research 
and practice. Although the group is not a formalized advisory body, the 
CWG and many of its members have been involved for over two decades 
since the establishment of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef 
Ecosystem Reserve in 2000, and provide an important K[amacr]naka 
[revaps][Omacr]iwi perspective that continues to inform Monument 
management. Since 2007, there have been 34 Native Hawaiian practices 
permits issued to perpetuate cultural practices ranging from 
traditional voyaging navigator apprenticeship and training, Hawaiian-
led archaeological and cultural resource research, integrated cultural 
and scientific ecosystem monitoring, resource gathering including bird 
feathers/bones, and subsistence harvesting of fish, algae, and 
invertebrates. The growing number of Native Hawaiian permits submitted 
and issued provides significant support for and interest in conducting 
Hawaiian cultural practices, with at least eight ongoing cultural 
initiatives occurring on 27 separate expeditions.
    26. C-7 Comment: A commenter expressed concern that the findings of 
the Cultural Impact Assessment E Hoi I Ke Au A Kanaloa were not 
integrated in the draft EIS and the Western Pacific Regional Fishery 
Management Council's (WPRFMC) draft fishing regulations.
    Response: Findings of the Cultural Impact Assessment E Hoi I Ke Au 
A Kanaloa relating to the sanctuary proposal were addressed in Section 
2.3.2, and more extensively in Chapter 5, of the draft EIS. NOAA is 
preparing a separate proposed rule for regulations governing fishing in 
the MEA under the authority of the MSA. Therefore, development and 
analysis of non-commercial fishing regulations for the MEA is not part 
of this action and was not analyzed in the draft or final EIS. NOAA and 
the State encourage commenters to participate in the future public 
review process for non-commercial fishing regulations in the MEA under 
the authority of the MSA, and any associated NEPA and/or other 
environmental compliance documentation.
    27. C-8 Comment: A commenter expressed concern that ``Native 
Hawaiian'' is not defined. The commenter recommended the following 
language and definition be adopted and integrated into the final EIS: 
Native Hawaiian is defined as ``any individual who is a descendant of 
the aboriginal people who, prior to 1778, occupied and exercised 
sovereignty in the area that now constitutes the State of 
Hawai[revaps]i.'' The commenter also recommended the incorporation of 
other self-identification names, including but not limited to 
K[amacr]naka Maoli, K[amacr]naka [revaps][Omacr]iwi, and indigenous 
peoples or indigenous Native Hawaiians.
    Response: In the final EIS, NOAA recognizes a definition for the 
term Native Hawaiian as it is commonly defined per existing Federal law 
as any individual who is a descendant of the aboriginal people who, 
prior to 1778, occupied and exercised sovereignty in the area that now 
constitutes the State of Hawai[revaps]i. See Section 1.2.4. Throughout 
the EIS, NOAA also uses K[amacr]naka [revaps][Omacr]iwi and/or 
K[amacr]naka Maoli as terms that refer to Native Hawaiians.
    28. D-1 Comment: Commenters expressed opposition to any new fishing 
closures, citing reasons that included:
     Fishing becomes more difficult and expensive for 
fishermen, including the Hawai[revaps]i longline fishery. The small 
boat fishing industry will slowly go away;
     No scientific evidence that large marine reserves provide 
conservation benefits to fish stocks;
     Fishing areas should be managed under Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), and closures do not 
support MSA Standard 1: Conservation and management measures shall 
prevent overfishing while achieving, on a continuing basis, the optimum 
yield from each fishery for the United States fishing industry;
     Fishing closures do not meet the administration's mandate 
for equity and justice for underserved communities;
     Fishing closures affect food security and well-being of 
Native Hawaiians;
     Intergenerational transmission of fishing traditions will 
be impeded or lost;
     Native Hawaiians should be able to fish for food; and
     Sanctuaries and fishing should be able to coexist.
    Response: NOAA is not establishing any new fishing closures through 
sanctuary designation. The sanctuary regulations regarding commercial 
and non-commercial fishing are consistent with the existing Monument 
and its management of the area. The presidential proclamations 
establishing the Monument broadly restrict the harvest of fishery 
resources by prohibiting removing, moving, taking, harvesting, 
possessing, injuring, disturbing, or damaging any living or nonliving 
Monument resource, as well as attempts to do the same, except as may be 
allowed with a permit. Presidential Proclamations 8031 and 9478 further 
specify prohibitions on commercial fishing and the possession of 
commercial fishing gear. The presidential proclamations also identify 
certain types of non-commercial fishing that may be regulated (i.e., 
allowed pursuant to a permit or incidental to a permitted activity). 
Presidential Proclamation 8031, for example, authorizes sustenance 
fishing incidental to an activity permitted in PMNM. Presidential 
Proclamation 9478, for example, provides that non-commercial fishing is 
a regulated activity (i.e., allowed only with a permit) in the MEA.
    In the sanctuary, the fishing regulations included in the final 
rule are consistent with Presidential Proclamation 9478 and the 
existing management of the area. This includes prohibiting commercial 
fishing and regulating non-commercial fishing pursuant to a sanctuary 
permit or authorized under the MSA in the Outer Sanctuary Zone. The 
final rule provides the first set of implementing regulation consistent 
with directives in Presidential Proclamation 9478, which has the force 
of law.
    29. D-2 Comment: Commenters provided suggestions and 
recommendations that appropriately regulated and monitored commercial 
fishing, including longline fishing and trolling, should be allowed in 
the sanctuary, as well as the ``small boat community.'' One commenter 
stated that regulated traditional small boat fisheries should have a 
place. One commenter also inquired whether opportunities/mechanisms for 
future re-evaluation and allowance of commercial fishing in the 
sanctuary exist. One commenter also stated that there should be fishing 
line limits to reduce overfishing.
    Response: In the sanctuary, fishing regulations are consistent with 
existing applicable law in the Monument. Existing applicable law in the 
area of the sanctuary prohibits commercial fishing. Presidential 
Proclamation 8031,

[[Page 4877]]

and its implementing regulations at 50 CFR part 404, prohibits 
commercial fishing for bottomfish and associated pelagic species in the 
Monument after June 15, 2011. Presidential Proclamation 9478 also 
prohibits commercial fishing in the MEA. Therefore, any consideration 
of regulations allowing commercial fishing in the sanctuary would not 
alter existing fishing prohibitions in the area. See the response to 
D.1 for more detail.
    30. D-3 Comment: Commenters expressed opposition to allowing 
commercial fishing in Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea.
    Response: For consistency with existing regulations and the 
presidential proclamations establishing the Monument, regulations 
include a sanctuary-wide prohibition on commercial fishing. See also 
the responses to D.1 and D.2.
    31. D-4 Comment: Commenters requested increased support for 
monitoring and enforcing fishing prohibitions, and requesting that 
international fishing vessels be prohibited.
    Response: Existing applicable law in the area of the sanctuary 
prohibits commercial fishing. NOAA and the State agree that monitoring 
and enforcement of fishing prohibitions is critical to protecting 
sanctuary resources. NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement and the U.S. 
Coast Guard support enforcement efforts across the National Marine 
Sanctuary System. To assist in this coordinated effort for Monument 
enforcement, ONMS facilitates a Monument Law Enforcement Coordination 
Team which is composed of law enforcement representatives from NOAA, 
USFWS, U.S. Coast Guard, and Hawai[revaps]i Division of Conservation 
and Resource Enforcement. This group meets regularly to coordinate 
joint enforcement efforts in the Monument.
    The designation of a national marine sanctuary provides the first 
set of implementing regulations for the directives in Presidential 
Proclamation 9478, including the prohibition on commercial fishing and 
regulation on non-commercial fishing. By establishing these new 
implementing regulations, NOAA will have new tools for enforcement, 
including the enforcement of fishing regulations. Sanctuary designation 
imparts a specific set of new benefits afforded by the NMSA, including 
the authorization to assess civil penalties for violations of the NMSA, 
including sanctuary regulations and permits.
    Additionally, foreign fishing has remained prohibited in U.S. 
waters since the introduction of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act of 1976. This prohibition was enacted 
on February 28, 1977 and remains in effect today with limited 
exceptions related to international fishery agreements that predated 
the MSA. There are no such allowances for foreign fishing activities 
within the U.S. EEZ that surrounds Hawai[revaps]i.
    Regarding monitoring, see also the responses to B.21 and K.2.
    32. D-5 Comment: Commenters expressed opposition to allowing non-
commercial fishing and to the exemption (for non-commercial fishing in 
the MEA) in the proposed sanctuary rule, based upon biological, 
cultural, or co-management considerations. Out of concern for the 
proposed exemption of non-commercial fishing permits, one commenter 
suggested that non-commercial fishing permits should only be rarely 
granted, and carry strict catch limits.
    Response: The presidential proclamations that established the 
Monument (8031 and 9478) served as benchmarks for drafting regulations 
for the sanctuary. The presidential proclamations identify certain 
types of non-commercial fishing that may be regulated (i.e., allowed 
pursuant to a permit or incidental to a permitted activity). 
Presidential Proclamation 8031 authorizes sustenance fishing incidental 
to an activity permitted in PMNM. Presidential Proclamation 9478 
provides that non-commercial fishing is a regulated activity (i.e., 
allowed only with a permit) in the MEA, provided that the fish 
harvested, either in whole or in part, cannot enter commerce through 
sale, barter, or trade, and that the resource is managed sustainably. 
In the sanctuary, for consistency with the proclamations, ``non-
commercial fishing'' is prohibited unless conducted pursuant to a 
sanctuary permit or through an exemption for non-commercial fishing 
authorized under the MSA in the Outer Sanctuary Zone (the area that 
overlaps with the MEA).
    In response to comments of concern for this exemption, NOAA has 
made changes to the exemption for non-commercial fishing to ensure that 
a non-commercial fishing permit authorized under the MSA is only exempt 
from a limited subset of prohibited or otherwise regulated activities, 
and that these exempted activities are only conducted as incidental to 
and necessary to a lawful non-commercial fishing activity. NOAA has 
also clarified that this narrow exemption from the sanctuary's 
permitting requirements is only applicable provided that the fish 
harvested, either in whole or in part, are neither intended to enter 
commerce nor enter commerce through sale, barter, or trade and that the 
resource is managed sustainably, consistent with Presidential 
Proclamation 9478. Moreover, for the exemption to apply, the fish 
harvested, either in whole or in part, must not be intended to be sold 
and shall not be sold for any purposes, including, but not limited to, 
cost-recovery. Corresponding changes have been made in the final EIS 
Section 3.3.1.
    NOAA is preparing a separate proposed rule for regulations 
governing fishing in the MEA under the authority of the MSA, and will 
invite the public to provide comments on the proposed non-commercial 
fishing regulations for the MEA. NOAA and the State encourage 
commenters to participate in the future public review process for non-
commercial fishing regulations in the MEA under the authority of the 
MSA, including on the issuance of permits and catch limits, as those 
are outside the scope of this action.
    33. D-6 Comment: Some commenters stated that fishing should not be 
restricted for Native Hawaiians and Indigenous populations and/or 
cultural practices. One commenter emphasized that it is culturally 
important to be able to bring fish home to share with family.
    Response: Consistent with the existing management of the Monument 
and the proclamations that established the Monument, NOAA would 
continue to allow for regulated access to the sanctuary. K[amacr]naka 
[revaps][Omacr]iwi and Indigenous communities may apply for a permit to 
fish within the sanctuary. For consistency with the proclamations that 
established the Monument, ``non-commercial fishing'' is prohibited in 
the Sanctuary unless conducted pursuant to a sanctuary permit or 
authorized under the MSA in the Outer Sanctuary Zone. See the response 
to D.5. In the Outer Sanctuary Zone, the sanctuary regulations will not 
restrict the sharing of fish from non-commercial fishing activities 
authorized under the MSA.
    34. D-7 Comment: A commenter requested that sustenance fishing be 
the only form of fishing allowed in the proposed sanctuary; and that 
there be a requirement that fish caught be consumed within the 
sanctuary, and not taken outside of the sanctuary. Others requested 
that sustenance fishing be allowed conditionally. Suggested conditions 
include by location; by permit type, and by sustainability criteria: 
(1) the activity must be ``pono;'' (2) the activity must benefit the 
resources of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and the Native Hawaiian 
community; and (3) any resource

[[Page 4878]]

harvested from the Monument must be consumed in the Monument. Finally, 
one commenter supported defining sustenance fishing as a Native 
Hawaiian practice.
    Response: Sustenance fishing is currently allowed incidental to an 
activity permitted in PMNM, pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 8031, 
and the implementing regulations at 50 CFR part 404. Sustenance fishing 
was not specifically identified in Presidential Proclamation 9478 
governing the MEA, but is considered a form of non-commercial fishing 
which may be regulated. For consistency in management and permitting, 
NOAA will manage this activity as a term or condition of a general 
permit or special use permit for the sanctuary, outside of any special 
preservation area. NOAA's sanctuary permit will follow the conditions 
of the existing Monument permitting system, including the 
considerations that sustenance fishing must be conducted only for the 
purpose of providing sustenance in support of activities otherwise 
allowed under an established permit and that the harvested resource 
must be consumed within the Monument.
    In the Outer Sanctuary Zone, other types of non-commercial fishing 
may be allowed, consistent with the proper care and management of 
sanctuary resources and monument objects. Sanctuary designation 
provides the first set of implementing regulations for many of the 
directives in Presidential Proclamation 9478, including the regulation 
of non-commercial fishing in the MEA. Presidential Proclamation 9478 
stated that non-commercial fishing may be regulated ``provided that the 
fish harvested, either in whole or in part, cannot enter commerce 
through sale, barter, or trade, and that the resource is managed 
sustainably.'' Consistent with this proclamation, some forms of non-
commercial fishing beyond sustenance fishing may be allowed in the MEA/
Outer Sanctuary Zone.
    NOAA is preparing a separate proposed rule for regulations 
governing fishing in the MEA under the authority of the MSA, and will 
invite the public to provide comments on the proposed non-commercial 
fishing regulations for the MEA. NOAA and the State encourage 
commenters to participate during that process.
    35. D-8 Comment: Some commenters suggested that only subsistence 
fishing be allowed in the proposed sanctuary.
    Response: In State of Hawai[revaps]i waters, extending three miles 
seaward of any coastline (excluding Midway Atoll), Native Hawaiian 
subsistence fishing, as defined by the State of Hawai[revaps]i, may be 
allowed. NOAA acknowledges that the Monument's managing agencies define 
sustenance and/or subsistence fishing in different ways. Regardless, in 
PMNM, all fish caught shall be consumed within the Monument. Within the 
sanctuary, sustenance fishing would continue to be allowed (outside of 
the special preservation areas) to provide sustenance in support of 
activities otherwise allowed under an established permit.
    36. D-9 Comment: Commenters asked why regulations have not been 
issued for the MEA to manage non-commercial fishing.
    Response: President Obama issued Presidential Proclamation 9478 on 
August 31, 2016, which established the MEA. On September 23, 2016, NOAA 
Fisheries requested that the Western Pacific Regional Fishery 
Management Council (WPRFMC) develop recommendations to establish 
fishing regulations under the MSA, including the prohibition on 
commercial fishing and the regulation of non-commercial fishing within 
the MEA. However, no further action was taken by the WPRFMC in response 
to Presidential Proclamation 9478 at that time. NOAA cannot speculate 
as to why WPRFMC decided not to take action at that time.
    NOAA is preparing a separate proposed rule for regulations 
governing fishing in the MEA under the authority of the MSA to reflect 
the outcome of the WPRFMC recommendation and the NMSA Section 304(a)(5) 
process. Appendix C to the final EIS provides further details of this 
consultation process.
    37. D-10 Comment: Commenters expressed concern regarding the 
exemption of non-commercial fishing in the MEA, and that the issuance 
of non-commercial fishing permits will open the door to other types of 
fishing in Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea. Commenters also expressed 
concern that a sanctuary designation would remove existing protections 
that prohibit various forms of fishing. One commenter recommended 
removing the exemption of non-commercial fishing to allow for more 
dialogue with the Native Hawaiian community.
    Response: See the responses to D.5 and F.4. Sanctuary designation 
does not remove any existing protections that prohibit fishing. For 
consistency with the presidential proclamations establishing the 
Monument and the regulations at 50 CFR part 404, the sanctuary 
regulations will authorize limited forms of fishing.
    38. D-11 Comment: Commenters expressed support for allowing 
recreational fishing, to sustain the community and to allow for 
cultural and traditional practices. One commenter recommended that 
recreational fishing be monitored and regulated; that recreational 
fishers be required to attend courses to receive permits; and that NOAA 
and the State of Hawai[revaps]i update methods of data collection for 
recreational fishing. Another commenter suggested imposing fees for 
recreational fishing. Other commenters requested that NOAA implement 
measures to prevent recreational fishers from targeting ``trophy'' 
fish, and to limit fishing in general, to stem overfishing.
    Response: For consistency with the proclamations, ``non-commercial 
fishing'' is prohibited in the Sanctuary unless conducted pursuant to a 
sanctuary permit or, as discussed below, through an exemption for non-
commercial fishing authorized under the MSA in the Outer Sanctuary 
Zone. The final rule adopts the definition of ``non-commercial 
fishing'' from the regulations for fisheries in the Western Pacific, 
which is defined as ``fishing that does not meet the definition of 
commercial fishing in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act, and includes, but is not limited to, sustenance, 
subsistence, traditional indigenous, and recreational fishing'' (50 CFR 
665.12). NOAA will periodically evaluate the effect of non-commercial 
fishing activities on sanctuary resources. Such evaluations would take 
into consideration the best scientific information available and 
evaluate whether additional actions are necessary for the proper care 
and management of sanctuary resources, including fishery resources, 
consistent with goals and objectives of the sanctuary.
    Any requirements for non-commercial fishing permits authorized by 
NOAA Fisheries under the MSA are outside the scope of this action. NOAA 
is preparing a separate proposed rule for regulations governing fishing 
in the MEA under the authority of the MSA, and will invite the public 
to provide comments on the proposed non-commercial fishing regulations. 
NOAA and the State encourage commenters to provide input during the 
public review process for non-commercial fishing in the MEA.
    39. D-12 Comment: A commenter expressed opposition to the issuance 
of permits for recreational fishing in the MEA.
    Response: Please see the response to D.11. As required by Section 
304(a)(5) of the NMSA, NOAA consulted with the WPRFMC to recommend any 
draft fishing regulations it deemed necessary to implement the 
sanctuary designation.

[[Page 4879]]

The WPRFMC determined it was necessary to develop non-commercial 
fishing regulations, including for recreational fishing, for the area 
of the proposed sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA
    40. D-13 Comment: Commenters expressed support for non-commercial 
fishing in the MEA proposed by WPRFMC, including allowing sale and/or 
cost recovery.
    Response: In accordance with Section 304(a)(5) of the NMSA, NOAA 
provided the WPRFMC with the opportunity to recommend any draft fishing 
regulations it deemed necessary to implement the proposed sanctuary 
designation. NOAA accepted the majority of the WPRFMC's recommendation, 
including those parts that were found to fulfill the purposes and 
policies of the NMSA and the goals and objectives of the proposed 
sanctuary designation. However, the WPRFMC's recommendation providing 
Native Hawaiian subsistence practices fishing permit applicants the 
ability to request limited cost recovery by selling their catch failed 
to fulfill the purposes and policies of the NMSA and the goals and 
objectives of the proposed sanctuary designation (see NOAA Response 
Letter dated on May 31, 2023, in the final EIS Appendix C.1). NOAA is 
preparing a separate proposed rule under the MSA to reflect the outcome 
of the NMSA Section 304(a)(5) consultation process. Appendix C to the 
final EIS provides further details on this consultation process.
    41. D-14 Comment: Commenters expressed opposition to the annual 
catch limits proposed by WPRFMC. Several comments expressed concern 
that it does not align with Native Hawaiian cultural or subsistence 
practices. One commenter suggested additional involvement from the 
Native Hawaiian community and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) on 
this matter.
    Response: Any requirements and conditions for non-commercial 
fishing permits authorized by the MSA are outside the scope of this 
action. NOAA is preparing a separate proposed rule for regulations 
governing fishing in the MEA under the authority of the MSA, and will 
invite the public to provide comments on the proposed non-commercial 
fishing regulations, including the catch limits. NOAA and the State 
encourage commenters to participate in the future public review process 
for non-commercial fishing in the MEA.
    42. D-15 Comment: Commenters expressed opposition to any sale, 
barter, or trade and the cost recovery mechanism proposed by WPRFMC. 
Comments also expressed concern regarding WPRFMC's definition of 
``customary exchange'' and that it does not align with Native Hawaiian 
cultural or subsistence practices.
    Response: NOAA agrees with some aspects of this comment. See the 
response to D.13 for information on NOAA's consideration of the 
WPRFMC's recommended fishing regulations, and the response to D.5 for 
details of the exemption for non-commercial fishing. NOAA has narrowed 
this exemption, making it only applicable provided that the fish 
harvested, either in whole or in part, are neither intended to enter 
commerce nor enter commerce through sale, barter, or trade and that the 
resource is managed sustainably, consistent with Presidential 
Proclamation 9478. Moreover, for the exemption to apply, the fish 
harvested, either in whole or in part, are not intended to be sold and 
shall not be sold for any purposes, including, but not limited to, 
cost-recovery. See the final EIS, Section 3.3.1. The WPRFMC's final 
recommendation (April 23, 2023) did not include a definition of 
``customary exchange'', and NOAA ONMS has not included a definition of 
customary exchange in the sanctuary regulations.
    43. D-16 Comment: Commenters requested that NOAA reject the 
proposed non-commercial fishing regulations by NOAA Fisheries and 
WPRFMC.
    Response: NOAA accepted the majority of the WPRFMC's recommendation 
as it was found to fulfill the purposes and policies of the NMSA and 
the goals and objectives of the proposed sanctuary designation. 
However, NOAA did reject a portion of the WPRFMC's recommendation that 
would have allowed sale of catch under a Native Hawaiian subsistence 
fishing practices permit, as it was not found to fulfill the goals and 
objectives of the sanctuary designation. See the response to D.13, as 
well as Appendix C to the final EIS, for further details of this 
consultation process.
    44. D-17 Comment: Commenters expressed concern for a portion of the 
WPRFMC's recommendation on ``research fishing,'' and definition that 
would include ``research fishing'' as a form of non-commercial fishing.
    Response: NOAA is preparing a separate proposed rule for 
regulations governing fishing in the MEA under the authority of the 
MSA, based on the WPRFMC's recommendations. NOAA and the State 
encourage commenters to provide additional input, including on research 
fishing, to the future public review process for non-commercial fishing 
regulations in the MEA.
    45. D-18 Comment: A commenter expressed concern that while 
resources in the Monument are a co-management trust responsibility, the 
proposed fishing regulations for the MEA have been developed without 
adequate inclusion of the perspectives of the Monument co-managers.
    Response: NMSA Section 304(a)(5) required NOAA to consult with the 
WPRFMC to recommend any draft fishing regulations it deemed necessary 
to implement the sanctuary designation. The State of Hawai[revaps]i 
maintains voting seats, and the USFWS maintains non-voting seats on the 
WPRFMC. The WPRFMC determined it was necessary to develop non-
commercial fishing regulations under the MSA, for the area of the 
proposed sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA. In accordance with the 
Section 304(a)(5) process, NOAA accepted those parts of the WPRFMC's 
recommendation that fulfilled the purposes and policies of the NMSA and 
the goals and objectives of the proposed sanctuary designation, and 
rejected those parts that did not. Under the MSA's rulemaking process, 
the WPRFMC will transmit its recommendation to NOAA Fisheries, who will 
then prepare a proposed rule for non-commercial fishing regulations in 
the MEA under the MSA.
    46. D-19 Comment: Commenters expressed concern regarding the 
separation of the NOAA Fisheries fishing regulations from the sanctuary 
designation process, which lacks transparency and thorough analysis of 
potential impacts. Commenters also requested an additional EIS and a 
public review of the proposed fishing regulations for the MEA. 
Commenters expressed concern that the proposed fishing regulations were 
developed in an improper sequence and there was no timeline included. 
Commenters also stated that impacts of WPRFMC's proposed non-commercial 
fishing regulations should have been analyzed within the draft EIS.
    Response: NOAA acknowledges the confusion regarding the timeline of 
proposed fishing regulations for the MEA. NOAA Fisheries is responsible 
for fisheries management under the MSA and is preparing a separate 
proposed rule for regulations governing fishing in the MEA under the 
authority of the MSA. NOAA Fisheries will analyze the environmental 
impacts of the non-commercial fishing regulations in the MEA under the 
authority of the MSA in a manner consistent with NEPA. NOAA has made 
revisions in sections 1.4 and 3.7.2 of the final EIS to clarify this. 
NOAA and the State encourage commenters to participate in the future

[[Page 4880]]

public review process for non-commercial fishing regulations in the MEA 
under the authority of the MSA.
    47. D-23 Comment: A commenter recommended that any activity 
relating to the extraction of fish be led by Native Hawaiians.
    Response: The permitting system and regulations for the sanctuary 
is modeled after the existing Monument regulations and permitting 
system. The permitting system would not supplant the joint permitting 
system for the Monument, and was developed to ensure a continued joint 
permitting system administered by the MMB. While the presidential 
proclamations establishing the Monument broadly restrict the harvest of 
fishery resources, and identify certain types of non-commercial fishing 
that may be regulated (i.e., allowed pursuant to a permit or incidental 
to a permitted activity), there are no restrictions as to who may apply 
for a permit. Sanctuary designation will not change this.
    48. D-24 Comment: Commenters expressed opposition to allowing any 
form of fishing in the proposed sanctuary. Some associated comments 
stated opposition to the removal of any wildlife from the proposed 
sanctuary.
    Response: See the response to D.1. The presidential proclamations 
establishing the Monument broadly restrict the harvest of fishery 
resources and further specify prohibitions on commercial fishing and 
identify certain types of non-commercial fishing that may be regulated. 
In the sanctuary, regulations for fishing are consistent with the 
proclamations and existing management of the area.
    49. D-25 Comment: A commenter requested that, in the event of a 
natural disaster occurring with severe impacts to the food supply of 
Hawai[revaps]i, the proposed sanctuary should allow for sustenance 
fishing and sharing of fish with community.
    Response: NOAA cannot speculate about how the NMSA and other 
authorities may or may not be used in the future scenario described by 
the commenter. However, in the Outer Sanctuary Zone (MEA), the 
sanctuary regulations will not restrict the sharing of fish from non-
commercial fishing activities authorized under the MSA.
    50. D-26 Comment: A commenter emphasized that new sanctuary 
regulations should be limited to those relating to the seafloor and 
islands within the MEA, as the MSA already provides for the management 
of fisheries in all U.S. waters.
    Response: NOAA may regulate fishing under the MSA and the NMSA. See 
also the response to D.9. While NOAA may regulate fishing under NMSA, 
and regulates fishing in the sanctuary consistent with the existing 
management of the area, per section 304(a)(5) of the NMSA, NOAA also 
provided the WPRFMC with the opportunity to recommend any draft fishing 
regulations it deemed necessary to implement the proposed sanctuary 
designation. NOAA is preparing a separate proposed rule for regulations 
governing fishing in the MEA under the authority of the MSA to reflect 
the outcome of the NMSA section 304(a)(5) process.
    51. D-27 Comment: A commenter expressed opposition to any 
prohibitions that may affect existing community-based subsistence 
fishery areas, and requested that NOAA incorporate language that 
explicitly includes community- and cultural-based subsistence-based 
fishing practices as part of protected Native Hawaiian customs and 
practices.
    Response: Community-based subsistence fishery areas are locally 
based, legally designated areas in the Main Hawaiian Islands where 
communities and the state government work together to protect and 
support traditional Hawaiian fishing practices. To date, there have 
been no community-based subsistence fishery areas established within 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea. Since these areas are typically 
initiated at the local level by communities seeking enhanced protection 
of their nearshore resources, the future establishment of a community-
based subsistence fishery area within Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea is 
unlikely. As such, a discussion of such areas is beyond the scope of 
this action. For a description of how culturally-based subsistence 
fishing practices are addressed within the sanctuary, please see the 
response to D.8.
    52. E-1 Comment: Commenters asked how a proposed sanctuary would 
modify the existing co-management structure for the Monument. 
Commenters requested articulation of roles of OHA, USFWS, and the State 
of Hawai[revaps]i, specifically who has jurisdiction in which areas, as 
well as requested that the EIS provide a detailed governance framework 
and a dispute resolution process for the proposed sanctuary. Commenters 
also stated that the draft EIS and/or draft sanctuary management plan 
did not clearly articulate how the sanctuary would function in 
coordination with the existing Monument, nor articulate how the 
Monument co-trustee's authorities could be used to supplement and 
complement NOAA authorities. One commenter suggested that NOAA provide 
a graphic depicting the relationship of the proposed sanctuary with 
existing Monument management. Finally, some commenters questioned if 
there are deficiencies in the existing Monument management framework, 
while one commenter stated that the proposed sanctuary rule has led to 
confusion over the legitimacy of the Monument co-management framework.
    Response: The existing Monument is jointly administered by the four 
co-trustees (DOC, DOI, State of Hawai[revaps]i, and OHA) through the 
seven-member MMB. ONMS and NOAA Fisheries collaborate to fulfill DOC's 
co-trustee responsibilities under the Monument, and ONMS serves on the 
seven-member MMB. A graphic of the existing management structure is 
described in the final EIS Section 3.2. Sanctuary designation will not 
change the existing management structure, and ONMS' role within the 
management framework will remain, with the added authority provided by 
the NMSA. Additional information has been added to the sanctuary 
management plan in sections 1 (About This Document) and 2 (Cooperative 
and Coordinated Management) and Acknowledgements to clarify this. NOAA 
has also made revisions to the description of the No Action Alternative 
in Section 3.2 of the final EIS to better articulate the existing roles 
of each Monument co-trustee, including their jurisdiction and 
authorities that guide their role in managing the Monument. Existing 
authorities, including management authorities of all Monument co-
trustees, will remain in effect under all action alternatives.
    As a result of the existing Monument management framework, of which 
ONMS is a critical part, the final rule and sanctuary management plan 
have been specifically designed to be consistent with the current 
management framework, and to allow for seamless operations between the 
Monument and sanctuary. The sanctuary will supplement and complement 
existing management of the Monument, and not replace or diminish the 
existing management of the Monument. In accordance with the NMSA, in 
designating a sanctuary, NOAA determines if existing authorities should 
be supplemented to ensure coordinated and comprehensive conservation 
and management of the area.
    NOAA has provided additional details clarifying consistency with 
the management framework in Section 3.3.1 of the final EIS. 
Specifically, NOAA will work in cooperation with the Monument co-
trustees to update the existing MOA for the Monument with

[[Page 4881]]

the State of Hawai[revaps]i, DOI/USFWS, and OHA to reflect the addition 
of the sanctuary. Further, the existing Monument MOA includes a 
provision that states that ``in the event of the designation of the 
Monument or any portion of the Monument as a National Marine Sanctuary 
under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, nothing herein shall be 
construed as automatically terminating or otherwise amending this 
Agreement.''
    53. E-2 Comment: Commenters expressed concerns regarding the 
exclusion of some of the Monument co-trustee agencies from co-
management of the sanctuary. Commenters requested that NOAA co-manage 
the sanctuary with all of the Monument co-trustees (DOI, OHA, and the 
State of Hawai[revaps]i), and that NOAA should receive approval from 
and/or collaborate with the other co-trustees regarding decision making 
for the sanctuary. Commenters also requested that a MOA be developed to 
articulate the governance framework for the sanctuary, and any co-
management agreement.
    Response: NOAA has clarified in the final rule and the final EIS 
(see final EIS Section 3.3.1, final rule Section IV.D, and sanctuary 
management plan Section 2) how the sanctuary will be managed in 
partnership with USFWS and OHA. In the proposed rule, NOAA proposed 
that the sanctuary would be co-managed with the State of Hawai`i. 
Recognition of the State of Hawai`i as a co-manager was not meant to 
exclude the other Monument co-trustees, USFWS and OHA. To the contrary, 
partnerships with other Federal and State agencies with overlapping 
jurisdiction are critical to the success of the National Marine 
Sanctuary System. In the proposed regulations, NOAA was trying to 
explain the role that states may have in co-managing a sanctuary under 
the NMSA if all or part of the proposed sanctuary is within the 
territorial limits of any state. In the final regulations and 
management plan, NOAA has added new text regarding how NOAA will manage 
the sanctuary in partnership with the other Monument co-trustees, DOI/
USFWS and OHA, as the existing co-management structure of 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea Marine National Monument is critical to 
the success of the sanctuary.
    NOAA intends to, in cooperation with the Monument co-trustees, 
update the existing MOA for the Monument between the State of 
Hawai[revaps]i, DOI/USFWS, and OHA to reflect the addition of the 
sanctuary. NOAA is developing an MOU with the USFWS to provide details 
on using supplemental authority under the NMSA to protect resources 
where the sanctuary overlaps with national wildlife refuges. Finally, 
the sanctuary management plan was developed in consultation with the 
State, USFWS, and OHA to explicitly ensure concurrence of plans between 
the sanctuary and the Monument. Additional language has been added to 
the sanctuary management plan (Appendix A) to better reflect the goal 
of cooperative management with the Monument co-trustees.
    54. E-3 Comment: Commenters requested that the final EIS should 
include a clear description of the permitting system for the proposed 
sanctuary and how it would relate to the existing Monument permitting 
system, including how sanctuary permits would be reviewed, approved, 
and conditioned. Commenters expressed that NOAA should not have sole 
authority over permitting for activities in the area of the sanctuary 
and Monument; that only one permitting system should apply to the area; 
that permits should be approved by all Monument co-trustees; and that 
the Monument permit process should be amended to include sanctuary 
permitting. One commenter expressed concern regarding the proposed 
special use permit, which allows for fee collection for permit 
processing. The commenter questioned how this would work alongside the 
Monument permit process, and asked if NOAA would keep fees internally, 
or divide fees received equitably amongst Monument co-managers.
    Response: The Monument's joint permitting system has been in place 
and permits have been issued by the co-trustees since 2007. The unified 
Monument permitting process includes a unified Monument permit 
application, instructions, and template (see final EIS Section 3.2). 
All permitted activities in PMNM are authorized under the issuance of a 
single Monument permit signed by the USFWS, NOAA, and the State of 
Hawai[revaps]i, in cooperation with OHA. The sanctuary permitting 
system would complement the existing Monument permitting system, and 
was developed to allow for integration with the Monument permitting 
system, to ensure continued joint permitting administered by the MMB, 
which includes ONMS. The sanctuary permitting system would not supplant 
the joint permitting system for PMNM. The sanctuary permit categories 
were designed to provide the same management function and permittee 
interface as the current Monument permit categories. The sanctuary 
adopts the same permit criteria as currently required for Monument 
permits, including the additional criteria for Native Hawaiian 
practices and recreation permits. To provide more clarity, NOAA has 
updated its description of the sanctuary permitting process in the 
final EIS, Section 3.3.1.
    Prior to sanctuary designation, regulations to issue permits in the 
MEA had not been established and activities in the MEA have been 
approved via a Letter of Authorization signed by USFWS. The co-trustees 
agreed to implement this USFWS process as an interim measure. Sanctuary 
designation provides the first set of implementing regulations 
consistent with directives in Presidential Proclamation 9478, including 
regulations for permitting, in addition to governing the sanctuary.
    Regarding special use permits, NOAA intends for any issuance of 
special use permits to be done so in coordination with the existing 
permit process. NOAA points out that while the Monument is jointly 
administered, some areas are also guided by other specific authorities. 
For example, USFWS has the authority to charge fees for services 
including public visitation (50 CFR part 25 Subpart E) in areas of the 
Monument that also fall within a national wildlife refuge. NOAA's 
authority to collect fees for special use permits provides Monument 
managers with a larger area, beyond the national wildlife refuges, for 
which permit fees may be collected for specific activities. In 
accordance with the NMSA, NOAA may recover administrative costs for 
staff time to review and take action on the permit, and for a fair 
market value for use of the sanctuary. While this authority may be 
used, the collection of fees is not required. Further, NOAA is not 
proposing any new category of activity subject to a special use permit 
as part of this designation, and due to the existing regulations for 
the Monument and the sanctuary, the issuance of special use permits is 
expected to be limited.
    55. E-4 Comment: Commenters expressed concern regarding the 
proposed process for permitting non-commercial fishing in the MEA. 
Commenters specifically stated that any fishing permits should also 
require a consistency review by the Monument co-managers. Some 
commenters suggested that non-commercial fishing in the MEA should be 
part of a single permitting process for the sanctuary and/or Monument, 
and not done through a separate process, noting that any permits that 
authorize resource extraction should be reviewed by the MMB.
    Response: NOAA's ONMS will not issue non-commercial fishing permits 
as part of the sanctuary regulations, but

[[Page 4882]]

will allow sustenance fishing as a term or condition of a permit, 
consistent with existing management of the Monument. In response to a 
recommendation for fishing regulations in the MEA by the WPRFMC, NOAA 
Fisheries is preparing a separate proposed rule for regulations 
governing fishing in the MEA under the authority of the MSA, will 
complete the environmental compliance requirements, and will accept 
public comment on the proposal. NOAA and the State of Hawai[revaps]i 
encourage the commenter to review and participate in the future public 
review process for the proposed rule and any associated NEPA and/or 
other environmental compliance documentation for non-commercial fishing 
regulations in the MEA.
    56. E-5 Comment: Commenters expressed concern regarding potential 
conflicts between the proposed sanctuary permitting process and 
permitting authorized by the USFWS for the Midway Atoll and Hawaiian 
Islands National Wildlife Refuges. One commenter stated that the USFWS 
has an existing process to review and issue permits to regulate use of 
the national wildlife refuges for research, education, management, and 
recreation. A commenter suggested the development of a MOU among USFWS, 
NOAA, and the State of Hawai[revaps]i to clarify the permit process, 
which should include provisions for dispute resolution and for 
emergency situations when actions are necessary to protect human health 
and safety on Midway Atoll. Commenters also expressed concern regarding 
the permitting of activities in the MEA, including questioning why NOAA 
does not recognize DOI's authority to issue permits in the MEA, and 
requested that any new permitting in the MEA should be done following 
agreement with the MMB. Finally, one commenter questioned if the USFWS 
would need to acquire permits from NOAA for management activities in 
the national wildlife refuge waters.
    Response: NOAA has added additional clarification in the final rule 
and the final EIS (see Section 3.3.1 and Section IV.D in the preamble 
of the final rule) regarding how the sanctuary will be managed in 
partnership with other agencies. In addition to co-management with the 
State, NOAA will manage the sanctuary in partnership with the USFWS and 
OHA consistent with the management of the Monument. NOAA will work in 
cooperation with Monument co-trustees to update the memorandum of 
agreement for the Monument with the State of Hawai`i, DOI/USFWS, and 
OHA that reflects the addition of the sanctuary, and specifically 
addresses how the addition of a sanctuary will supplement and 
complement, and not supplant, the existing Monument management 
framework. NOAA and USFWS are developing an agreement to provide 
details on the execution of sanctuary management where the national 
marine sanctuary overlaps with Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge 
and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, and will consider if 
provisions are needed for dispute resolution and for emergency 
situations when actions are necessary to protect human health and 
safety on Midway Atoll.
    Management of the MEA is governed by Presidential Proclamation 
9478. Prior to sanctuary designation, regulations to issue permits in 
the MEA had not yet been established and activities in the MEA have 
been approved via a Letter of Authorization signed by USFWS. The co-
trustees agreed to implement this USFWS process as an interim measure. 
Sanctuary designation provides the first set of implementing 
regulations, including regulations for permitting, in the MEA.
    57. E-6 Comment: Commenters requested that NOAA co-manage the 
sanctuary specifically with the USFWS, and/or that NOAA consult with 
USFWS for decision making and environmental analysis in the proposed 
sanctuary. Some commenters also requested that NOAA recognize the 
authority of the USFWS, that NOAA not supersede the authority of the 
USFWS, and that NOAA acknowledge that the USFWS has sole authority for 
certain decisions in the national wildlife refuges. Some commenters 
expressed concern that the proposed sanctuary would give NOAA and the 
State of Hawai[revaps]i precedence over USFWS management of refuge 
waters. One commenter recommended that a MOA be developed and signed by 
the Secretaries of Interior and Commerce, and that a 3rd party neutral 
facilitator be selected to oversee implementation of the MOA. The 
commenter specified that the MOA should be reviewed and updated, as 
needed, every five years.
    Response: NOAA will manage the sanctuary in partnership with the 
USFWS. Nothing in the establishment of the national marine sanctuary 
will diminish USFWS's authority to administer Midway Atoll National 
Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge under the 
National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act. Where 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea National Marine Sanctuary overlays Midway 
Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife 
Refuge, NOAA will implement the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to 
provide supplemental authority to protect resources.
    In other sanctuary sites, when there is jurisdictional overlap 
between NOAA and USFWS, the agencies have worked to implement their 
respective authorities in a manner that complements, but does not 
diminish or interfere with, existing authorities and strengthens 
existing protections and management. NOAA and USFWS are developing an 
agreement to provide details on the execution of sanctuary management 
where the national marine sanctuary overlaps with Midway Atoll National 
Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Any 
agreement developed between NOAA and the USFWS will be updated as 
needed, as determined by the agencies.
    58. E-7 Comment: Commenters requested that NOAA co-manage the 
sanctuary specifically with OHA. Commenters emphasized that excluding 
OHA would be akin to suppressing Native Hawaiian voices and/or usurping 
the sovereignty of OHA. Commenters requested that NOAA consider 
temporarily halting sanctuary designation until Federal law allows for 
explicit co-management structures that include native governing bodies 
as equal decision-makers, and requested that NOAA work with OHA and the 
Native Hawaiian community to achieve the ability for Indigenous 
governing bodies to be eligible to be named as co-managers for marine 
sanctuaries under the NMSA. One commenter also pointed out that for 
National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, the American Samoa 
Department of Commerce has been designated as a co-manager to assist 
NOAA with the administration of the sanctuary, and therefore, OHA 
should be able to serve as a co-manager of the proposed sanctuary.
    Response: NOAA will manage the sanctuary in partnership with the 
OHA, consistent with the management of the Monument. The existing co-
management structure of the Monument and cooperation with OHA is 
critical to the success of the sanctuary. NOAA will work in cooperation 
with Monument co-trustee to update the Memorandum of Agreement for 
Promoting Coordinated Management of Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea 
Marine National Monument with the State of Hawai[revaps]i, DOI/USFWS, 
and OHA that reflects the addition of the sanctuary, and specifically 
addresses how the addition of a sanctuary will supplement and 
complement, and not supplant, the existing Monument management 
framework. Under Monument management, OHA has primary responsibility 
for representing the interests of the K[amacr]naka [revaps][Omacr]iwi

[[Page 4883]]

community in the perpetuation of Hawaiian cultural resources and 
practices. Sanctuary designation will not change this, and NOAA intends 
to consult with OHA on all matters related to the perpetuation of 
Hawaiian cultural resources and practices.
    Pursuant to the NMSA, a ``state'' as defined under the act, may 
have a role in co-managing a sanctuary if all or part of the proposed 
sanctuary is within the territorial limits of any state. For this 
reason, NOAA will co-manage the sanctuary with the State of 
Hawai[revaps]i. In addition, pursuant to the NMSA, the ``state'' means 
each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth 
of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 
American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and any other commonwealth, 
territory, or possession of the United States. As the NMSA also defines 
``state'' to include American Samoa, they may be a co-manager of 
National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa, and the American Samoa 
Department of Commerce acts as the lead territorial agency.
    59. E-8 Comment: Commenters requested that NOAA co-manage the 
sanctuary with Native Hawaiians, noting that it is critical for Native 
Hawaiians to be present, participatory, and empowered in all decision-
making aspects regarding Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea. Commenters 
requested that Native Hawaiians should direct and oversee plans for the 
sanctuary, and that NOAA should defer to opinions of Native Hawaiian 
groups and agencies. Some commenters suggested that management with 
Native Hawaiians go beyond co-management with OHA.
    Response: See the response to E.7, regarding how NOAA will manage 
the sanctuary in partnership with OHA, but NOAA also agrees that there 
are opportunities for co-stewardship with the K[amacr]naka 
[revaps][Omacr]iwi community beyond OHA. NOAA agrees that it is 
important to have K[amacr]naka [revaps][Omacr]iwi expertise in 
management, including in leadership roles and that growing long-lasting 
partnerships with existing K[amacr]naka [revaps][Omacr]iwi community 
partners is integral to management of the sanctuary (see the responses 
to C.2 and K.1).
    NOAA has a responsibility to, and takes opportunities to work 
through equitable partnerships with all Indigenous Peoples. The Imila-
alpa Commitments demonstrate ONMS' dedication to strengthening 
partnerships with Indigenous governments, organizations, and 
communities and ensuring that ONMS' intentions align with its actions. 
The commitments also state that ONMS will work to implement White House 
and NOAA guidance on integrating Indigenous knowledge into processes 
and approaches.
    60. E-9 Comment: Commenters suggested or requested that the Native 
Hawaiian CWG be granted authority in reviewing and approving permits to 
access Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea and/or be granted authority to vet 
the permit applications. Some commenters suggested that the Native 
Hawaiian Cultural Working Group should be included as a fifth co-
trustee of the Monument.
    Response: For more than 20 years, the CWG, which advises OHA as a 
co-trustee of the Monument, has provided guidance and an important 
Native Hawaiian perspective to inform Monument management. The CWG is a 
group of K[amacr]naka [revaps][Omacr]iwi k[umacr]puna (elders), 
researchers, cultural practitioners, educators, and community members 
that have deep connections and historical ties to 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea through a living pilina (relationship) 
bound by genealogy, cultural protocols, and values building 
contemporary multi-disciplinary research and practice. The CWG and many 
of its members have been involved since ONMS created the CWG following 
the establishment of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef 
Ecosystem Reserve in 2000. The CWG has a permit subcommittee that 
reviews Monument permits and provides input to OHA, a Monument co-
trustee who also sits on the Monument permit working group. The 
sanctuary permitting system will complement the existing Monument 
permitting system, and was developed to allow for integration with the 
Monument permitting system, to ensure continued joint permitting 
administered by the MMB. Therefore, NOAA intends for the CWG to 
continue to provide advice and guidance on permitting for 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea.
    Consideration of the CWG as a co-trustee of the Monument is outside 
the scope of the action to designate a national marine sanctuary, 
because a sanctuary designation would not alter the underlying Monument 
management structure.
    61. E-10 Comment: Commenters expressed concerns regarding NOAA 
being the primary manager of the proposed sanctuary, and questioned 
what role the State of Hawai[revaps]i had in developing the proposed 
sanctuary. One commenter requested that there be a checks and balance 
system with the State of Hawai[revaps]i and Native Hawaiian groups when 
reviewing the objectives, actions, regulations, exceptions, permits, 
and penalties.
    Response: The NMSA provides authority for NOAA, among other things, 
to designate a sanctuary and promulgate regulations implementing the 
designation. Pursuant to the NMSA, states may choose to have a role in 
co-managing a sanctuary if all or part of the proposed sanctuary is 
within the territorial limits of any state. As the sanctuary includes 
state waters, NOAA will co-manage the sanctuary with the State of 
Hawai[revaps]i. NOAA establishes the framework for co-management in 
Section 922.242 of the final rule and may update existing agreements or 
develop additional agreements with the State of Hawai[revaps]i to 
clarify the terms of co-management. Any future proposed changes to 
sanctuary regulations or boundaries would be coordinated with the State 
and subject to public review as mandated by the NMSA and other Federal 
statutes.
    The State of Hawai[revaps]i also supports the sanctuary proposal. 
While NOAA was the lead Federal agency in the preparation of the EIS, 
the State of Hawai[revaps]i served as a cooperating agency and co-
developed the draft EIS and final EIS, which was also developed in 
accordance with the Hawai[revaps]i Environmental Policy Act (HEPA, 
Chapter 343 HRS, HAR Chapter 11-200.1). The State of Hawai[revaps]i 
also co-developed the sanctuary management plan.
    62. F-1 Comment: Some commenters opposed the exemption for 
``scientific exploration or research activities by or for the Secretary 
of Commerce or the Secretary of the Interior when the activity occurs 
in the Outer Sanctuary Zone.'' Commenters stated that the exemption may 
provide a loophole to permit large-scale take/extraction of resources. 
Commenters felt that the Department of Commerce and the Department of 
the Interior should still be required to obtain sanctuary permits.
    Response: Presidential Proclamation 9478, which designated the MEA, 
specifically states that the prohibitions ``shall not restrict 
scientific exploration or research activities by or for the Secretaries 
and nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to require a permit 
or other authorization from the other Secretary for their respective 
scientific activities.'' Presidential Proclamation 9478 further 
highlights the significant scientific value of the MEA and underscores 
the opportunities for research and discovery to occur in that area, 
including understanding the impacts of climate change on deep-sea 
communities and identifying new species. NOAA is exempting scientific 
exploration or research activities from the sanctuary's

[[Page 4884]]

prohibitions and permitting requirements for both the Department of 
Commerce and the Department of Interior within the Outer Sanctuary 
Zone, to be consistent with Presidential Proclamation 9478. However, 
such activities must still comply with other Federal environmental laws 
such as the NEPA, the Endangered Species Act, the NMSA section 304(d), 
and the Marine Mammal Protection Act
    63. F-2 Comment: Commenters requested that Hawaiian-focused 
research conducted by Hawaiians be prioritized by providing an 
exemption for these activities.
    Response: The sanctuary permitting system and the exemptions were 
modeled after the existing Monument permitting system. The sanctuary 
permitting system would not supplant the existing permitting system for 
the Monument and was developed to ensure a continued joint permitting 
system administered by the MMB. Therefore, rather than introducing a 
new exemption, NOAA and the State will work to prioritize Hawaiian-
focused research through other practices, as described in the draft 
sanctuary management plan (final EIS Appendix A), including:
     supporting and facilitating K[amacr]naka 
[revaps][Omacr]iwi (Native Hawaiian) access and research (Strategy 
2.6);
     weaving together multiple knowledge systems, values, 
practices, and methods, in science and research (Strategy 2.7); and
     supporting research initiatives that focus on next-
generation capacity building for leadership succession of K[amacr]naka 
[revaps][Omacr]iwi (Native Hawaiian) and Pacific Islanders who are 
severely underrepresented in STEM and ocean sciences (Strategy 2.8).
    64. F-3 Comment: Some commenters opposed the exemption for the 
activities and exercises of the U.S. Armed Forces, noting specific 
concern for military sonar activity.
    Response: The sanctuary regulations and both Presidential 
Proclamations 8031 and 9478 include a broad exemption to allow 
activities and exercises of the U.S. Armed Forces, including those 
carried out by the U.S. Coast Guard. The sanctuary regulations specify 
that all activities and exercises of the Armed Forces shall be carried 
out in a manner that avoids, to the extent practicable and consistent 
with operational requirements, adverse impacts on sanctuary resources 
and qualities. For any Federal agency actions, including actions of the 
Armed Forces that are likely to destroy, cause the loss of, or injure 
sanctuary resources, the Armed Forces must comply with the consultation 
requirements outlined in Section 304(d) of the NMSA, regardless of 
whether those actions are exempted from the sanctuary's regulations.
    65. F-4 Comment: Commenters expressed opposition to the exemption 
for non-commercial fishing activities authorized under the MSA. 
Commenters stated that non-commercial fishing permit holders should not 
have exemptions to conduct the otherwise prohibited and regulated 
activities of the sanctuary and that any non-commercial fishing 
activities should still require a separate sanctuary permit. One 
commenter stated that ONMS should promulgate regulations under the 
National Marine Sanctuaries Act as a backstop and not rely solely on 
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
application. Commenters stated that the exemption for non-commercial 
fishing is counter to Mai Ka P[omacr] Mai. Commenters also requested 
that NOAA gather more input from the Native Hawaiian community, 
including the OHA and the Native Hawaiian Cultural Working Group on 
this topic.
    Response: As required by Section 304(a)(5) of the NMSA, NOAA 
provided the WPRFMC with the opportunity to recommend any draft fishing 
regulations it deemed necessary to implement the proposed sanctuary 
designation. NOAA participated in six public meetings hosted by the 
WPRFMC on November 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th, and 10th of 2022, which 
were focused on the development of fishing regulations for the area of 
the proposed sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA. In December 2022, 
the WPRFMC provided a recommendation for non-commercial fishing 
regulations for the area of the proposed sanctuary that overlaps with 
the MEA. NOAA accepted the majority of the WPRFMC's recommendations, as 
they were found to fulfill the purposes and policies of the NMSA and 
the goals and objectives of the proposed sanctuary designation. 
However, the WPRFMC's recommendation to provide Native Hawaiian 
subsistence practices fishing permit applicants the ability to request 
limited cost recovery by selling their catch in the permit application 
process through a statement of need for cost recovery along with 
expected costs, failed to fulfill the purposes and policies of the NMSA 
and the goals and objectives of the proposed sanctuary designation. 
Additionally, NOAA found that the allowance of ``sale'' under a Native 
Hawaiian subsistence practices fishing permit is inconsistent with the 
State's constitutional protection of Native Hawaiian traditional and 
customary rights.
    Accordingly, the sanctuary regulations proposed that prohibitions 
in paragraphs (a)(7) through (14) in Section 922.244 would not apply to 
non-commercial fishing activities in the Outer Sanctuary Zone 
authorized under the MSA, provided that no sale of harvested fish 
occurs. In response to comments of concern for this exemption, NOAA has 
made changes to ensure that a non-commercial fishing permit authorized 
under the MSA is only exempt from a limited subset of prohibited or 
otherwise regulated activities that may only be conducted as incidental 
to and necessary to a lawful non-commercial fishing activity. NOAA has 
also clarified that this narrow exemption from the sanctuary's 
permitting requirements is only applicable provided that the fish 
harvested, either in whole or in part, are neither intended to enter 
commerce nor enter commerce through sale, barter, or trade and that the 
resource is managed sustainably, consistent with Presidential 
Proclamation 9478. Moreover, consistent with the outcome of the NMSA 
Section 304(a)(5) process, for the exemption to apply, the fish 
harvested, either in whole or in part, are not intended to be sold and 
shall not be sold for any purposes, including, but not limited to, 
cost-recovery. See the final EIS, Section 3.3.1.
    NOAA is preparing a separate proposed rule for regulations 
governing fishing in the MEA under the authority of the MSA, and will 
accept public comment on the proposal. NOAA and the State of 
Hawai[revaps]i encourage the commenter to participate in the future 
public review process for the proposed rule and any associated NEPA 
and/or other environmental compliance documentation for non-commercial 
fishing regulations in the MEA. Until a public process is conducted, 
and a final rule is issued for fishing regulations under the authority 
of the MSA, non-commercial fishing permits will not be issued for the 
MEA/Outer Sanctuary Zone. Consistent with existing Monument management, 
the sanctuary may authorize sustenance fishing outside of any special 
preservation area as a term or condition of any sanctuary permit.
    66. F-5 Comment: Commenters requested a prohibition on mining, and/
or stating opposition to mining activities, or any exemption allowing 
them.
    Response: Consistent with the presidential proclamations 
establishing the Monument, NOAA will prohibit exploring for, 
developing, or producing

[[Page 4885]]

oil, gas, or minerals to protect sanctuary resources. NOAA will also 
prohibit ``any energy development activities'' to further the 
underlying intent of the prohibition on oil, gas, and mineral 
development by accounting for technological advances in other forms of 
energy development. Likewise, NOAA is not providing an exemption for 
mining activities.
    67. F-6 Comment: A commenter stated that scientific or management 
activities undertaken by the USFWS within the Monument are not subject 
to any additional sanctuary requirements or authorization from NOAA.
    Response: Nothing in the establishment of the national marine 
sanctuary will diminish USFWS's authority to administer Midway Atoll 
National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge 
under the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act. Where 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea National Marine Sanctuary overlays Midway 
Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife 
Refuge, NOAA will implement the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to 
provide supplemental authority to protect resources. In other sanctuary 
sites when there is jurisdictional overlap between NOAA and USFWS, the 
agencies have worked to implement their respective authorities in a 
manner that complements, but does not diminish or interfere with, 
existing authorities and would strengthen existing protections and 
management. NOAA and USFWS are developing an agreement to provide 
details on the execution of sanctuary management where the national 
marine sanctuary overlaps with Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge 
and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge.
    The sanctuary permitting system was modeled after the existing 
Monument permitting system to ensure a single joint permitting system 
continues to be administered by the MMB. In addition, this final rule 
does not include authorization authority for the sanctuary. Consistent 
with Presidential Proclamation 9478, the sanctuary regulations exempt 
both the DOC/NOAA and the DOI/USFWS from the prohibitions, including 
the need to obtain a permit or authorization from the Secretary of 
Commerce in order to conduct scientific exploration or research 
activities in the MEA. NOAA has clarified the proposed framework for 
management and permitting in partnership with USFWS and the other 
Monument managers in the final EIS, Section 3.3.1.
    68. G-1 Comment: Some commenters requested an extension of the 
public comment period and/or additional virtual public meetings. Some 
commenters expressed concern that there was not adequate public 
education, engagement, and notification for the public comment period 
and meetings; that the methods for comment were not accessible for all 
and/or not an adequate way to gauge support or opposition; and that all 
communities, specifically the fishing community, were not properly 
engaged in the comment period. One commenter expressed concern that the 
public meetings did not allow for agency responses or answers to oral 
testimony and requested that the NOAA website provide responses to 
frequently asked questions from the public meetings.
    Response: NOAA followed the designation processes and procedures as 
required pursuant to the NMSA and NEPA, both of which require broad 
public participation, as well as the Administrative Procedure Act's 
notice requirements. The public comment period took place over the 
course of 68 days from March 1 to May 7, 2024. NOAA accepted public 
comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal and by traditional 
mail. NOAA also encouraged public comments in both English and 
[revaps][Omacr]lelo Hawai[revaps]i (Hawaiian language). NOAA and the 
State held 11 public comment meetings (nine in-person and two virtual). 
Additionally, prior to the public comment meetings, the State of 
Hawai[revaps]i Division of Aquatic Resources held a virtual public 
informational meeting to engage the public. NOAA and the State of 
Hawai[revaps]i provided question and answer sessions at the in-person 
public meetings, prior to and following the formal oral comment portion 
of the meeting.
    NOAA also posted sanctuary designation process information and FAQs 
on the ONMS website in response to questions received during public 
meetings. NOAA believes that it has fairly engaged with and considered 
input from local communities, K[amacr]naka [revaps][Omacr]iwi, 
government, and other stakeholders through extensive consultations, 
meetings, and discussions about sanctuary designation, and that draft 
designation documents and process steps have complied with applicable 
laws and policies, including the NMSA, NEPA, Administrative Procedure 
Act, and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. For 
more details regarding the public engagement process, see the final 
EIS, sections 1.3.1 and 1.3.2.
    NOAA also specifically engaged with the fishing community and 
consulted with the WPRFMC as required by Section 304(a)(5) of the NMSA. 
Through this consultation, NOAA provided the WPRFMC with the 
opportunity to recommend any draft fishing regulations it deemed 
necessary to implement the proposed sanctuary designation. NOAA and the 
State of Hawai[revaps]i also participated in six public meetings hosted 
by the WPRFMC on November 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th, and 10th of 2022, 
which were focused on the development of fishing regulations for the 
area of the proposed sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA.
    69. H-2 Comment: A commenter recommended that, in describing the 
purposes and policies of the NMSA, and specifically, 16 U.S.C 1431 
(b)(4), NOAA should define ``sustainable use'' as ``to provide enhanced 
protections for pristine marine waters,'' and prohibit use of the 
waters or marine ecosystems.
    Response: The NMSA authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to 
designate national marine sanctuaries that meet the purposes and 
policies of the NMSA, including 16 U.S.C. 1431(b)(4), which focuses, in 
part, on the sustainable use of the marine environment. The sanctuary 
regulations build upon the existing protections for the Northwestern 
Hawaiian Islands, which provide for both restricted access to the area 
and responsible use subject to strict permitting terms and conditions. 
Given this management model, NOAA does not see a need for the sanctuary 
regulations to define ``sustainable use'' at this time.
    70. I-1 Comment: Some commenters recommended that NOAA select 
Alternative 3, a boundary which excludes the waters of Midway Atoll and 
Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuges. Commenters provided several 
reasons for supporting Alternative 3, including that the USFWS should 
have sole jurisdiction to manage the national wildlife refuges; that a 
sanctuary that overlaps with the national wildlife refuges would be 
inconsistent with presidential proclamations that created the Monument; 
that a sanctuary that overlaps with the national wildlife refuges would 
not comply with the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act; 
and that a sanctuary that overlaps with the national wildlife refuges 
may negatively impact the USFWS management of the national wildlife 
refuges.
    Response: NOAA identified Alternative 1 (which would include the 
waters of Midway Atoll and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuges 
in the proposed sanctuary) as the Agency-Preferred Alternative based on 
its comparative merits. Nothing in the establishment of the national 
marine

[[Page 4886]]

sanctuary will diminish USFWS's authority to administer Midway Atoll 
National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge 
under the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act. Where 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea National Marine Sanctuary overlays Midway 
Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife 
Refuge, NOAA will implement the NMSA to provide supplemental authority 
to protect resources. NOAA and USFWS are developing an agreement to 
provide details on the execution of sanctuary management where the 
national marine sanctuary overlaps with Midway Atoll National Wildlife 
Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge.
    In addition, the existing Monument is already jointly administered 
through a seven-member Monument Management Board, which includes NOAA's 
ONMS. ONMS and the USFWS have been cooperatively managing the area of 
the proposed sanctuary for nearly 20 years. As a result of the existing 
Monument management framework, of which ONMS is a critical part, this 
sanctuary rule has been specifically designed not to create any 
regulatory inconsistencies, and to ensure consistent management between 
the Monument, the national wildlife refuges, and the sanctuary.
    Further, both NOAA and the State disagree that the designation is 
inconsistent with the directives that established the Northwestern 
Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve and the Monument. In 
part, the purpose of the designation is to specifically implement the 
provisions of Executive Order 13178, Presidential Proclamation 9478, 
and the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2021, that directed NOAA to consider initiating the 
sanctuary designation process.
    71. I-2 Comment: Commenters expressed opposition to any sanctuary 
that would include additional portions of Middle Bank, beyond the areas 
that are included in the Monument.
    Response: NOAA considered designating a sanctuary that expanded 
beyond the southeastern portion of the Monument boundary to include 
Middle Bank. However, NOAA eliminated this alternative from detailed 
study, as described in the draft and final EIS, Section 3.7.
    72. I-3 Comment: Commenters requested that NOAA consider including 
most or all of Middle Bank in the proposed sanctuary boundary, because 
of the scientific, ecological, and commercial benefits of the area. 
Commenters also requested that NOAA consider expanding the boundary to 
include more area.
    Response: NOAA identified Alternative 1 (which is coextensive with 
marine portions of the Monument) as the Agency-Preferred Alternative 
based on its comparative merits, and therefore does not include all of 
Middle Bank or any additional areas that are not part of the Monument. 
This is consistent with the defined purpose and need and with the 
provisions of Executive Order 13178, Presidential Proclamation 8031, 
Presidential Proclamation 9478, and the Joint Explanatory Statement 
accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.
    Although NOAA considered sanctuary boundary alternatives that 
included Middle Bank, NOAA concluded that aligning the boundary of the 
sanctuary with that of the Monument best fulfills the purposes and 
policies of the NMSA. In addition, the NMSA directs NOAA that it may 
designate any discrete area of the marine environment as a national 
marine sanctuary and promulgate regulations implementing the 
designation if it is determined that the area is of a size and nature 
that will permit comprehensive and coordinated conservation and 
management. NOAA concluded that any boundary alternative that expands 
beyond the existing boundaries of PMNM and the MEA would not be 
practicable in light of the need for comprehensive and coordinated 
management in a manner which complements the existing Monument 
management framework. NOAA has added these clarifications to the draft 
and final EIS, Section 3.7.1.
    73. I-4 Comment: Commenters recommended Alternative 2, a boundary 
which excludes the MEA, as the preferred alternative. Some commenters 
expressed support for this alternative, emphasizing that excluding the 
MEA may allow for more fishing, including commercial fishing, in that 
area.
    Response: NOAA identified Alternative 1 as the Agency-Preferred 
Alternative, which includes the MEA, based on its comparative merits. 
This final rule implements and is consistent with directives in 
Presidential Proclamation 9478, which has the force of law. 
Presidential Proclamation 9478, which designated the MEA, prohibits 
commercial fishing and provides that non-commercial fishing may be a 
regulated activity (i.e., allowed only with a permit). Selection of 
Alternative 2 would not alter the directives provided in Presidential 
Proclamation 9478, including the prohibition on commercial fishing in 
the MEA.
    74. I-5 Comment: A commenter requested the inclusion of a legal 
definition of shoreline delineation in relation to iron seawall ruins 
and rubble at Tern Island, and questioned if the seawall and debris 
would be included in the sanctuary boundary.
    Response: The shoreline in the State of Hawai[revaps]i as defined 
by the Hawai[revaps]i Department of Land and Natural Resources is ``the 
upper reaches of the wash of the waves, other than storm or seismic 
waves, at high tide during the season of the year in which the highest 
wash of the waves occur, usually evidenced by the edge of vegetation 
growth, or the upper limit of debris left by the wash of the waves'' 
(HAR Sec.  13-222). The Coastal Lands Program of the Hawai[revaps]i 
Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Conservation and 
Coastal Lands maintains the State of Hawaii Shoreline Certification 
Program (see Shoreline Certification Rules in HAR Sec.  13-222). It is 
this program that would determine where the shoreline is delineated in 
the location of the iron seawall on Tern Island when necessary. 
Therefore, under the current definitions, any debris or rubble or 
portion of the Tern Island iron seawall that occurs seaward of this 
shoreline as defined by the State of Hawai[revaps]i will be within the 
sanctuary, and that which occurs upland of the shoreline will be 
outside the sanctuary.
    75. I-6 Comment: A commenter requested that the shoreward boundary 
be extended to the mean high tide.
    Response: NOAA considered an alternative that designated the mean 
high tide line as the shoreward boundary, but eliminated this 
alternative from detailed study (see Section 3.7.1 of the EIS). NOAA 
typically uses the shoreline as legally defined by the State within 
which the national marine sanctuary occurs, because the shoreline 
delineates the boundary between public and private land. The shoreline 
in the State of Hawai[revaps]i as defined by the Hawai[revaps]i 
Department of Land and Natural Resources is ``the upper reaches of the 
wash of the waves, other than storm or seismic waves, at high tide 
during the season of the year in which the highest wash of the waves 
occur, usually evidenced by the edge of vegetation growth, or the upper 
limit of debris left by the wash of the waves'' (HAR Sec.  13-222). 
NOAA strives to designate a sanctuary which supplements and complements 
existing authorities, and this designation adheres to both the State's 
definition as well as the current landward boundary designation of the 
Monument.

[[Page 4887]]

    76. J-12 Comment: Commenters expressed concerns regarding the lack 
of analysis and description on NOAA's ability to issue ``emergency 
regulations'' to prevent or minimize the loss or injury to a sanctuary 
resource. The commenter stated that the regulations issued jointly by 
NOAA and USFWS in 2006 for the original Monument contain an exemption 
from prohibitions for emergency actions, and that Presidential 
Proclamation 9478 specifically exempts from prohibitions activities 
``necessary to respond to emergencies threatening life, property, or 
the environment, or to activities necessary for law enforcement 
purposes.'' The commenters questioned why sanctuary authority to issue 
sanctuary regulations is necessary given existing provisions and 
regulations for the Monument.
    Response: NOAA acknowledges that the existing management of the 
area includes exemptions for any activity necessary to respond to 
emergencies that threaten life, property, or the environment, or to 
activities necessary for law enforcement purposes. These exemptions are 
also included in the sanctuary regulations. However, NOAA's references 
to ``emergency regulations'' throughout the EIS are not referring to 
this exemption, but to NOAA's authority pursuant to 15 CFR 922.7, which 
states that ``where necessary to prevent or minimize the destruction 
of, loss of, or injury to a Sanctuary resource or quality, or minimize 
the imminent risk of such destruction, loss, or injury, any and all 
such activities are subject to immediate temporary regulation, 
including prohibition.'' This authority may be useful in implementing 
immediate temporary regulations to protect resources following 
incidents of resource damages, such as vessel groundings or disease. 
NOAA has added information regarding emergency regulations in the final 
rule, Section IV.O.
    77. K-6 Comment: Commenters suggested that scientific research 
should not be conducted in a way that would harm resources. Commenters 
also expressed concerns about the use of remotely operated vehicles 
(ROVs) and other scientific instruments on the seafloor.
    Response: The sanctuary includes a permitting system modeled after 
the existing Monument permitting system, such that there are sufficient 
safeguards in place that apply to the permit review process for all 
activities, including for scientific research and ROVs. The sanctuary 
has adopted the same permit criteria as currently required for Monument 
permits, including that the proposed activity will be conducted in a 
manner compatible with resource protection. In addition, conditions can 
be placed on the permit specific to the activity being permitted and 
permit applications would be reviewed with respect to all other 
pertinent regulations and statutes, including NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq., and any required consultations, permits, or authorizations.
    78. K-8 Comment: A commenter suggested that NOAA leave Battle of 
Midway vessels and aircraft undisturbed to be respectful of the war and 
preserve the materials for future archaeological purposes.
    Response: NOAA's management principles emphasize an in-situ 
management approach for the long-term protection of site information 
and integrity, as well as other preservation methods and activities 
outlined in the ONMS policy guidance document Monitoring and Management 
of Tangible Maritime Heritage Resources. The Sunken Military Craft Act 
of 2004 preserves and protects all sunken military craft that are owned 
by the U.S. government, as well as foreign sunken military craft that 
lie within U.S. waters, from unauthorized disturbances.
    79. K-10: Commenters expressed concerns regarding the impacts of 
sonar activity and underwater detonations to marine mammals, fish, sea 
turtles, and sea invertebrates. Commenters specifically expressed 
concern with impacts from sonar activity and testing by the military. 
One commenter recommended mid-frequency active sonar as an alternative 
technology.
    Response: Consistent with the presidential proclamations 
establishing the Monument, NOAA will prohibit ``using or attempting to 
use poisons, electrical charges, or explosives in the collection or 
harvest of a sanctuary resource.'' NOAA will also prohibit, unless 
conducted pursuant to a permit ``removing, moving, taking, harvesting, 
possessing, injuring, disturbing, or damaging; or attempting to remove, 
move, take, harvest, possess, injure, disturb, or damage any living or 
nonliving sanctuary resource.'' The use of sonar by U.S. Armed Forces 
is a lawful Armed Forces activity and the use has been analyzed by the 
U.S Navy within prior environmental planning documents (HSTT, 2018) and 
is subject to other applicable laws, permits, and authorizations, 
including the MMPA.
    NOAA provides a broad exemption to allow activities and exercises 
of the U.S. Armed Forces, including those carried out by the U.S. Coast 
Guard, to be consistent with existing management of this area, as 
provided for the Monument by Presidential Proclamations 8031 and 9478. 
However, all activities and exercises of the Armed Forces shall be 
carried out in a manner that avoids, to the extent practicable and 
consistent with operational requirements, adverse impacts on sanctuary 
resources and qualities. See also the F.3 response.
    80. K-11 Comment: A commenter recommended protections for 
kohol[amacr] (humpback whale) that are similar to the protections 
included in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, 
including vessel rules, restrictions on sonar, and maintaining a 
minimum distance away from kohol[amacr].
    Response: NOAA will prohibit several activities in the sanctuary 
that are responsive to this comment, consistent with the presidential 
proclamations establishing the Monument. The prohibitions most relevant 
for the protection of humpback whales include prohibitions on 
``removing, moving, taking, harvesting, possessing, injuring, 
disturbing, or damaging; or attempting to remove, move, take, harvest, 
possess, injure, disturb, or damage any living or nonliving sanctuary 
resource'' and ``attracting any living sanctuary resource.'' The use of 
sonar by the U.S. Armed Forces is a lawful activity of the Armed 
Forces, but is subject to other applicable laws, permits, and 
authorizations, including the MMPA.
    81. K-12 Comment: A commenter requested that the Outer Sanctuary 
Zone be named ``pu[revaps]uhonua,'' which means a place of safety and 
refuge. Another commenter asked if there would be a process for naming 
this area of the sanctuary.
    Response: NOAA will give further consideration to this and would 
like to ensure an inclusive process that allows for additional input 
and discussion from all stakeholders and Monument co-trustees regarding 
a name for the Outer Sanctuary Zone. The proposed name and the process 
of naming this Outer Sanctuary Zone will be discussed within the 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea Native Hawaiian CWG, facilitated by OHA.
    82. L-5 Comment: A commenter requested that the rule language be 
revised to allow for an ongoing process for updating the sanctuary 
regulations. Specifically, the commenter suggested replacing the words 
``as may be necessary,'' in the Terms of Designation, Activities 
Subject to Regulation section, with ``on an ongoing basis.''
    Response: The terms of designation, as defined under section 
304(a)(4) of the NMSA, may be modified only by the same procedures by 
which the original designation is made, including public hearings, 
consultations with interested

[[Page 4888]]

Federal, Tribal, State, regional, and local authorities and agencies, 
review by the appropriate Congressional committees, and approval by the 
Secretary of Commerce, or his or her designee. Any future proposed 
changes to sanctuary regulations or boundaries would be subject to 
public review as mandated by the NMSA and other Federal statutes.
    83. L-6 Comment: A commenter provided questions and suggestions 
regarding perceived data anomalies in the boundary description, 
including:
     ``The proposed SMA and SPA boundaries do not coincide with 
the boundaries as described in Presidential Proclamation 8031 nor do 
they coincide with the proclamation's SMA and certain SPA boundaries as 
charted on ENCs that are larger scale than Band 2 (General Navigational 
Purpose). It appears that the coordinates of the proposed boundaries 
may have been derived from the SMA and SPA boundaries of the national 
monument as depicted on the Band 2 ENCs.
     Appendix A to Subpart W, Points 610-662--
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea National Marine Sanctuary Boundary: 
Points 610 through 662 form the easternmost extent of the proposed 
sanctuary boundary. However, these points are coincident with a portion 
of the Inner Reporting Area Boundary Around Nihoa ATBA. Should Points 
610 through 662 be coincident with the Reporting Area Outer Boundary 
instead of the Inner Reporting Area Boundary?
     Pages 15302-15303, Appendix D to Subpart W--Unnamed, 
unnumbered table: ONMS did not designate a table number and name for 
the first set of coordinates that encompasses Kure Atoll.
     Pages 15306-15307, Appendix E to Subpart W, Table 1--Ship 
Reporting Area (Reporting Area Outer Boundary): According to FR page 
15278, Column 1: ``NOAA proposes to establish this reporting area, 
which would be defined as ``the area of the proposed sanctuary that 
extends outward ten nautical miles from the PSSA [Particularly 
Sensitive Sea Area] boundary, as designated by the IMO. . .'' The 
coordinates for the Reporting Area Outer Boundary of Appendix E/Table 1 
do not completely coincide with a 10-NM buffer (geodesic) from the PSSA 
boundary per the International Maritime Organization (IMO). I recommend 
a re-evaluation of the boundary points for the Reporting Area Outer 
Boundary.''
    Response: The boundary discrepancies in the special management area 
and special preservation areas have been corrected and the updated 
coordinate tables, appended to this final rule, will correspond to the 
coordinates as described in Presidential Proclamation 8031.
    Regarding the outer boundary of the Reporting Area, NOAA will 
define the Reporting Area as was defined by IMO Resolution MSC.171(57) 
and the subsequent amendment IMO Resolution MSC.279(85) adopted in 
December 2008. This boundary has been corrected and is now described 
citing the geographic coordinates of the outer boundary of the 
``CORALSHIPREP'' reporting area of IMO Resolution MSC.279(85).
    Regarding the missing designation of a table number and name for 
the first set of coordinates that encompass the Kure Atoll Special 
Preservation Area, after investigating the issue, NOAA determined that 
the table did in fact have a name and number as referenced at the web 
address and therefore no corrective action was necessary.
    Regarding the portion of the proposed sanctuary boundary identified 
as being coincident with the Inner Ship Reporting Area Boundary around 
the Nihoa Area to be Avoided, NOAA determined that this portion of the 
boundary was the same as that used for both the original and expanded 
marine national monument, and intends that it will also be used for 
this portion of the national marine sanctuary boundary. Therefore, no 
edits were necessary.

VI. Classification

A. National Marine Sanctuaries Act

    NOAA consulted with the WPRFMC as required by section 304(a)(5) of 
the NMSA. Through this consultation, NOAA provided the WPRFMC with the 
opportunity to recommend any draft fishing regulations it deemed 
necessary to implement the proposed sanctuary designation. NOAA 
initiated the consultation on November 19, 2021. On March 22, 2022, the 
WPRFMC agreed to develop draft fishing regulations for the proposed 
sanctuary. NOAA participated in six public meetings hosted by the 
WPRFMC on November 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th, and 10th of 2022, which 
were focused on the development of fishing regulations for the area of 
the proposed sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA. At its 193rd meeting 
in December of 2022, the WPRFMC provided a final recommendation. NOAA 
found that the final recommendation, in part, did not fulfill the 
purposes and policies of the NMSA and the goals and objectives of the 
proposed designation. The WPRFMC amended their recommendation during 
their 194th meeting in March of 2023, and submitted a revised final 
recommendation to NOAA on April 14, 2023.
    In May of 2023, NOAA accepted the majority of the WPRFMC's 
recommendation as it fulfilled the purposes and policies of the NMSA 
and the goals and objectives of the proposed sanctuary designation. 
However, the WPRFMC's recommendation for the disposition of Native 
Hawaiian Subsistence Practices Fishing catch, which would provide 
permit applicants the ability to request limited cost-recovery by 
selling their catch, was rejected by NOAA in a decision letter dated 
May 31, 2023. As NOAA explained in the letter, any recommendation for 
the allowance of ``sale'' is inconsistent with the goals and objectives 
of the proposed sanctuary designation. To reflect the outcome of the 
NMSA 304(a)(5) process, NOAA has prepared this final rule under the 
NMSA, and is preparing a separate proposed rule for regulations 
governing fishing in the MEA under the authority of the MSA.
    Pursuant to section 304(a)(1)(C) of the NMSA, the Committee on 
Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Governor 
of Hawai[revaps]i will have the opportunity to review this final 
action.

B. National Environmental Policy Act

    As described in Section I above, NOAA and the State of 
Hawai[revaps]i prepared a final EIS to evaluate the impacts of 
designating a national marine sanctuary, which considered four 
alternatives for the designation of a national marine sanctuary in 
marine portions of the Monument. Copies of the final EIS, final 
management plan, and Record of Decision are available at the website 
listed in the ADDRESSES section of this final rule.

C. Executive Orders 12866: Regulatory Impact, 13563 Improving 
Regulation and Regulatory Review, and 14094: Modernizing Regulatory 
Review

    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has determined this final 
rule to be significant under Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory 
Planning and Review,'' 58 FR 190 (Oct 4, 1993), as supplemented by 
Executive Order 14094, ``Modernizing Regulatory Review,'' 88 FR 21879 
(April 6, 2023). NOAA prepared an analysis of the potential costs and 
benefits associated with this action, which is available at https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/papahanaumokuakea/.
    The final rule is largely consistent with the existing management

[[Page 4889]]

framework for the Monument. Because the site-specific regulations 
finalized under the NMSA have been crafted to ensure consistency with 
Presidential Proclamations 8031, 8112, and 9478, the overall management 
framework for the area will largely remain unchanged. The designation 
would clarify aspects of existing Monument management and add to that 
management framework in ways that would have a limited effect on the 
public given that access to and activity within the Monument is already 
highly regulated and requires a permit in most instances. In most 
cases, permit applicants would be subject to substantially similar 
findings criteria and permitting requirements as currently required 
within the Monument. Further, the area of the sanctuary is extremely 
remote, nearly 300 miles at its closest point from the main Hawaiian 
Islands, and very few entities operate there. Limited activities are 
expected to continue. Therefore, the quantifiable benefits and costs 
associated with the site-specific regulations are limited. The primary 
benefits of sanctuary designation are provided by the supplemental 
authorities provided through the NMSA and National Marine Sanctuary 
Program regulations.

D. Executive Order 13132: Federalism Assessment

    NOAA has concluded that this regulatory action does not have 
federalism implications sufficient to warrant preparation of a 
federalism assessment under Executive Order 13132 because NOAA 
supplements and complements State and local laws under the NMSA rather 
than supersedes or conflicts with them. This final rule will not have 
substantial direct effects on State or local governments. NOAA has 
coordinated closely with State partners throughout the development of 
this final rule and, where applicable and practicable, the final rule 
aligns with existing State regulations. In addition, the State of 
Hawai[revaps]i served as a cooperating agency and co-developed the 
draft EIS and final EIS, which was also developed in accordance with 
the Hawai[revaps]i Environmental Policy Act (HEPA, Chapter 343 HRS, HAR 
Chapter 11-200.1). The State of Hawai[revaps]i also co-developed the 
sanctuary management plan. NOAA has aimed for consistent regulations 
throughout sanctuary waters including those within State and Federal 
jurisdiction.

E. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA; 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) requires 
Federal agencies to prepare an analysis of a rule's impact on small 
entities whenever the agency is required to publish a rulemaking, 
unless the agency certifies, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 605, that the action 
will not have significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities. The RFA requires agencies to consider, but not 
necessarily minimize, the effects of rules on small entities. The goal 
of the RFA is to inform the agency and public of expected economic 
effects of the rule and to ensure the agency considers alternatives 
that minimize the expected economic effects on small entities while 
meeting applicable goals and objectives. Pursuant to section 605(b) of 
the RFA, the Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce 
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business 
Administration that the proposed rule would not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The purpose, 
context, and statutory basis for this action is described above and not 
repeated here. The rationale for that certification was set forth in 
the preamble of the proposed rule (89 FR 15272, March 1, 2024), and 
NOAA's analysis stands.
    This final rule is not expected to place a substantial number of 
small entities at a significant competitive disadvantage to large 
entities, and would not significantly reduce profits for a substantial 
number of small entities operating in the area of the sanctuary, as the 
overall management framework for the area will largely remain 
unchanged. The final rule would be largely consistent with the existing 
management framework for the Monument, which was established by 
Presidential Proclamation 8031 and 8112 (PMNM, 0-50 nm), and by 
Presidential Proclamation 9478 (MEA, 50-200 nm). The existing 
management framework established by these Presidential Proclamations 
has the force of law, and includes a permitting system, under which all 
entities are subject to the same reporting requirements. Further, very 
few entities operate in the area of the sanctuary, as the area of the 
sanctuary is extremely remote, nearly 300 miles at its closest point 
from the main Hawaiian Islands. The number of permits issued for the 
Monument annually ranged from 9 to 21 between 2018 and 2022.
    Through this final rule, permit applicants, including applicants 
for activities in the area of the sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA, 
would be subject to substantially similar findings criteria and 
permitting requirements as currently required for PMNM. Based on the 
NOAA Monument manager's site knowledge and experience, the final rule 
is not expected to result in an increase in the number of permit 
requests, as the majority of users operate in the area of the sanctuary 
that overlaps with PMNM, and do not solely operate in the area of the 
sanctuary that overlaps with the MEA. Therefore, these additional 
permitting requirements will not significantly reduce profits for a 
substantial number of small entities because most entities are already 
subject to such requirements.
    NOAA does not charge a fee for review and issuance of general 
permits, and there are minimal, indirect costs associated with the time 
for an individual to complete a permit application and respond to any 
follow-up questions from NOAA. While NOAA may assess fees for the 
conduct of any activity authorized under a special use permit, fees are 
not required and decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. No unique 
professional skills are necessary to meet these reporting requirements.
    Although NOAA has made minor technical changes and clarifications 
to the regulations from the proposed rule to the final rule, none of 
the changes alter the initial determination that this rule will not 
have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
NOAA also did not receive any comments relevant to the analysis or 
conclusions of this determination. Therefore, the determination that 
this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities remains unchanged. As a result, a final 
regulatory flexibility analysis was not required and none was prepared.

F. Paperwork Reduction Act

    Notwithstanding any other provisions of the law, no person is 
required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty 
for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et 
seq., unless that collection of information displays a currently valid 
OMB control number. NOAA plans to use an existing collection, 
Papah[acirc]naumoku[acirc]kea Marine National Monument Permit 
Applications and Reports for Permits, currently approved under OMB 
Control Number 0648-0548 in association with this final rule. This 
information collection is currently used to determine whether to 
approve or deny a permit application for the 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea Marine National Monument. Information 
collected includes such items as the professional qualifications and 
financial ability of the applicant (as related to the requested

[[Page 4890]]

activity); the duration of the activity and its effects; the 
appropriateness of the methods and procedures proposed by the applicant 
for the conduct of the activity; and the extent to which the conduct of 
the activity may diminish or enhance the qualities for which the 
Monument was designated. Some of the information collected may also be 
used to inform management actions or decision making after a final 
decision has been made. Additional information regarding this 
collection of information--including all background materials--can be 
found at https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain by using the search 
function to enter either the title of the collection or the OMB Control 
Number.
    NOAA believes designating a national marine sanctuary in the marine 
portions of the Monument will not result in a significant change to the 
burden, reporting, recordkeeping, and other compliance requirements as 
discussed in the preamble of the rule. To the extent compliance with 
this final rule would impose a burden on persons, including small 
businesses, NOAA believes this burden will be minimal. NOAA did not 
receive any comments in response to this determination at the proposed 
rule stage. Following sanctuary designation, NOAA may elect to re-visit 
the current collection to determine if additional changes are needed. 
Should NOAA, in consultation with the Department of Interior, the State 
of Hawaii, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, believe additional 
changes are needed to better facilitate implementation of sanctuary 
permitting and reporting, NOAA will publish a 60 day notice announcing 
potential revisions for public comment before submitting materials to 
OMB.

G. National Historic Preservation Act

    Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA, 54 
U.S.C. 306108) requires Federal agencies to take into account the 
effects of their undertakings on historic properties and afford the 
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) the opportunity to 
comment with regard to the undertaking. ``Historic property'' means any 
prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure, or object 
included in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of 
Historic Places maintained by the Secretary of the Interior. This term 
includes artifacts, records, and material remains that are related to 
and located within such properties, including properties of traditional 
religious and cultural importance to an Indigenous nation or Tribe or 
Native Hawaiian organization (see 36 CFR 800.16(l)).
    The regulations implementing section 106 of the NHPA (36 CFR part 
800) establish a process requiring Federal agencies to: (1) determine 
whether the undertaking is a type of activity that could affect 
historic properties; (2) identify historic properties in the area of 
potential effects; (3) assess potential adverse effects; and (4) 
resolve adverse effects. The regulations require that Federal agencies 
consult with States, Tribes, and other interested parties when making 
their effect determinations.
    NOAA has determined that the designation of a national marine 
sanctuary and related rulemaking for sanctuary-specific regulations 
meet the definition of an undertaking as defined at Sec.  800.16(y). In 
fulfilling its responsibilities under section 106 of the NHPA, NOAA 
initiated consultation with the Hawai[revaps]i State Historic 
Preservation Division through the Hawai[revaps]i Cultural Resource 
Information System on November 21, 2021. NOAA also invited the Advisory 
Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) to participate on November 21, 
2021. NOAA further initiated an effort to identify consulting parties 
to participate in the Section 106 process through distribution of over 
500 letters to individuals, organizations, and families. This included 
outreach to families with lineal and cultural connections to 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea, cultural practitioners, Native Hawaiian 
Organizations, the fishing community (including subsistence, 
recreational, and commercial fishers), maritime heritage organizations, 
government agencies, and others. These letters solicited input 
regarding the identification of, and potential effects on, historic 
properties from the proposed sanctuary designation for the purpose of 
obtaining input for the Section 106 review and to additionally 
determine their interest in participating as a consulting party. 
Through this process NOAA identified 31 consulting parties.
    NOAA subsequently hosted ten Section 106 consultation meetings with 
the consulting parties. Through these consultation meetings, NOAA 
further sought to invite consulting party and public input regarding 
the identification of, and potential effects on, historic properties 
from the proposed sanctuary designation. Subsequently, pursuant to 36 
CFR 800.4(d)(1) NOAA issued a Finding of No Historic Properties 
Affected for this undertaking (see final EIS Appendix C). The 
consulting parties have been notified of the finding and the finding 
was provided to the Hawai[revaps]i State Historic Preservation Division 
for concurrence.
    As the draft EIS was a joint Federal-State action, the State also 
prepared a Cultural Impact Assessment and Legal Analysis pursuant to 
the Hawai[revaps]i Environmental Policy Act, Hawai[revaps]i Revised 
Statutes (HRS) section 343, the corresponding Hawai[revaps]i 
Administrative Rules (HAR) section 11-200.1, and the Environmental 
Council's 1997 Guidelines for Assessing Cultural Impacts. Pursuant to 
HRS Sec.  6E-8 and HAR Sec.  13-275-3, the Hawai[revaps]i Department of 
Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) submitted a written request to the 
State Historic Preservation Division (SHPD) for an agency determination 
letter. On June 7, 2024, SHPD concurred with DLNR's determination of no 
historic properties affected. The concurrence letter from the State 
Historic Preservation Division is available at https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/papahanaumokuakea/.

H. Sunken Military Craft Act

    The Sunken Military Craft Act of 2004 (SMCA; Pub. L. 108-375, Title 
XIV, sections 1401 to 1408; 10 U.S.C. 113 note) preserves and protects 
from unauthorized disturbance all sunken military craft that are owned 
by the United States government, as well as foreign sunken military 
craft that lie within United States waters, as defined in the SMCA. 
Thousands of U.S. sunken military craft lie in waters around the world, 
many accessible to looters, treasure hunters, and others who may cause 
damage to them. These craft, and their associated contents, represent a 
collection of non-renewable and significant historical resources that 
often serve as war graves, carry unexploded ordnance, and contain oil 
and other hazardous materials. By protecting sunken military craft, the 
SMCA helps reduce the potential for irreversible harm to these 
nationally important historical and cultural resources.
    Sunken military craft are administered by the respective Secretary 
concerned pursuant to the SMCA. The Secretary concerned is solely 
responsible for authorizing disturbance of sunken military craft under 
the SMCA, specifically for archaeological, historical, or educational 
purposes, and will consult with NOAA when considering permitting such 
activities. The Secretary concerned is also responsible for 
determinations of sunken military craft status and ownership, publicly 
disclosing the location of sunken military craft, and for determining 
eligibility and nominating

[[Page 4891]]

sunken military craft as historic properties to the National Register 
of Historic Places. Any agreements with foreign sovereigns regarding 
sunken military craft in U.S. waters are negotiated by the Secretary of 
Defense, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of the Navy, 
according to authorities vested in each by the SMCA. The Secretary 
concerned, or his or her designee, and NOAA will ensure coordination 
and foster collaboration on any research, monitoring, and educational 
activities pertaining to sunken military craft located within the 
sanctuary system.
    The 1942 Battle of Midway occurred both at Midway Atoll as well as 
some 100-150 nautical miles north of the atoll in the northwestern 
portion of Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea. Aircraft carriers from the 
historic conflict have been located in the deep ocean, and multiple 
aircraft and sunken military vessels have been surveyed within the 
Midway Atoll Special Management Area. Hundreds of aircraft and several 
other aircraft carriers and destroyers from the battle remain to be 
discovered in Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea.

K. Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA)

    Section 307 of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA; 16 U.S.C. 
1456) requires Federal agencies to consult with a State's coastal 
program on potential Federal agency activities that affect any land or 
water use or natural resource of the coastal zone. Because the 
sanctuary lies partially within State waters, NOAA submitted its 
Federal consistency determination to the Hawai[revaps]i Coastal Zone 
Management Program of the Office of Planning and Sustainable 
Development. NOAA's analysis found the proposed action would be 
undertaken in a manner consistent to the maximum extent practicable 
with the enforceable policies of the Hawai[revaps]i Coastal Zone 
Management Program. NOAA's Federal consistency determination, and the 
State of Hawai`i May 17, 2024 concurrence letter, are included in the 
final EIS Appendix C1.

L. Executive Order 12898 and 14096: Environmental Justice

    Executive Order 12898 and Executive Order 14096 direct Federal 
agencies to identify and address disproportionately high and adverse 
effects of their actions on human health and the environment of 
communities with environmental justice concerns. Additionally, Federal 
agencies are directed to better protect overburdened communities from 
pollution and environmental harms; strengthen engagement with 
communities and mobilize Federal agencies to confront existing and 
legacy barriers and injustices; promote the latest science, data, and 
research, including on cumulative impacts; increase accountability and 
transparency in Federal environmental justice policy; and honor and 
build on the foundation of ongoing environmental justice work. The 
designation of national marine sanctuaries by NOAA helps to ensure the 
enhancement of environmental quality for all populations in the United 
States. The sanctuary designation would not result in disproportionate 
negative impacts on any communities with environmental justice 
concerns. In addition, many of the potential impacts from designating 
the sanctuary would result in long-term or permanent beneficial impacts 
by protecting resources, which may have a positive impact on 
communities by providing employment and educational opportunities, and 
potentially result in improved ecosystem services.

List of Subjects in 15 CFR Part 922

    Administrative practice and procedure; Coastal zone; Cultural 
resources; Environmental; Protection; Fishing; Historic preservation; 
Marine protected areas; Marine resources; Natural resources; National 
marine sanctuaries; Penalties; Recreation and recreation areas; 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements; Shipwrecks; Wildlife.

Nicole R. LeBoeuf,
Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management, 
National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration.

    For the reasons set forth above, NOAA amends part 922, title 15 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 922--NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY PROGRAM REGULATIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 922 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.


0
2. Amend Sec.  922.30 by:
0
a. Removing the word ``and'' at the end of paragraph (b)(6);
0
b. Removing the period at the end of paragraph (b)(7) and adding ``;'' 
in its place; and
0
c. Adding paragraphs (b)(8) and (9).
    The additions read as follows:


Sec.  922.30  National Marine Sanctuary general permits

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (8) Native Hawaiian Practices--activities that allow for Native 
Hawaiian practices within Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea National Marine 
Sanctuary; and
    (9) Recreation--recreational activities within 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea National Marine Sanctuary limited to the 
Midway Atoll Special Management Area.

0
3. Amend Sec.  922.33 by:
0
a. Removing the word ``and'' at the end of paragraph (a)(8);
0
b Removing the period at the end of paragraph (a)(9) and adding ``; 
and'' in its place; and
0
c. Adding paragraph (a)(10).
    The addition read as follows:


Sec.  922.33  Review procedures and evaluation.

    (a) * * *
    (10) For Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea National Marine Sanctuary, 
there is no practicable alternative to conducting the activity within 
the sanctuary and the activity can be conducted with adequate 
safeguards for the resources and ecological integrity of the sanctuary. 
Further, for Native Hawaiian Practices and Recreation permits in 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea National Marine Sanctuary, the activity 
meets the additional site-specific permit review criteria identified in 
Sec.  922.245.
* * * * *

0
4. Amend 922.37 by adding paragraph (g).


Sec.  922.37  Appeals of permitting decisions.

* * * * *
    (g) Paragraphs (a) through (f) of this section do not apply to 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea National Marine Sanctuary.
* * * * *

0
5. Add subpart W to read as follows:

Subpart W--Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea National Marine Sanctuary

Sec.
922.240 Boundary.
922.241 Definitions.
922.242 Cooperative management.
922.243 Access.
922.244 Prohibited or otherwise regulated activities.
922.245 Permit procedures and criteria.
922.246 Vessel monitoring system.
922.247 Sunken military craft.
Appendix A to Subpart W of Part 922--Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea 
National Marine Sanctuary Boundary Description and Coordinates
Appendix B to Subpart W of Part 922--Coordinates for the Outer 
Sanctuary Zone
Appendix C to Subpart W of Part 922--Coordinates for the Midway 
Atoll Special Management Area

[[Page 4892]]

Appendix D to Subpart W of Part 922--Coordinates for the Special 
Preservation Areas (SPAs)
Appendix E to Subpart W of Part 922--Coordinates for the Ship 
Reporting Area
Appendix F to Subpart W of Part 922--IMO Standard Reporting Format 
and Data Syntax for Ship Reporting System


Sec.  922.240  Boundary.

    Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea National Marine Sanctuary consists of 
an area of approximately 582,570 square miles (439,910 square nautical 
miles) of Pacific Ocean waters surrounding the Northwestern Hawaiian 
Islands and the submerged lands thereunder. The precise boundary 
coordinates are listed in Appendix A to this subpart. The outer seaward 
sanctuary boundary begins approximately 200 nautical miles SW of Kure 
Atoll at Point 1 and continues from this point roughly north to each 
successive point in numerical order to Point 232 which is approximately 
204 nautical miles north of Kure Atoll. From Point 232 the sanctuary 
boundary continues roughly ESE to each successive point in numerical 
order to Point 609 which is approximately 200 nautical miles NE of 
Necker Island. From Point 609 the sanctuary boundary continues south to 
Point 610 which is approximately 90 nautical miles ENE of Necker 
Island. From Point 610 the sanctuary boundary continues roughly east 
and then SE and south to Point 635 which is approximately 50 nautical 
miles east of Nihoa. From Point 635 the sanctuary boundary continues 
roughly south and then SW and west to each successive point in 
numerical order to Point 662 which is approximately 71 nautical miles 
SW of Nihoa. From Point 662 the sanctuary boundary continues south to 
Point 663 which is approximately 236 nautical miles SSW of Nihoa. From 
Point 663 the sanctuary boundary continues roughly NW to each 
successive point in numerical order to Point 703 which is approximately 
200 nautical miles SSE of Necker Island. From Point 703 the boundary 
continues roughly NW to each successive point in numerical order to 
Point 1128 where it ends approximately 200 nautical miles SW of Kure 
Atoll. The inner landward boundary of the sanctuary follows the 
shoreline as defined by the State of Hawai[revaps]i (HAR Sec.  13-222).


Sec.  922.241  Definitions.

    In addition to those definitions found at Sec.  922.11, the 
following definitions apply to this subpart. To the extent that a term 
appears in Sec.  922.11 and this section, the definition in this 
section governs.
    Areas to be avoided (ATBA) means the four areas, as adopted by the 
International Maritime Organization, that should be avoided by vessels 
that are conducting passage without interruption through the sanctuary. 
The precise boundary coordinates for the ATBAs are listed in Appendix E 
to this subpart.
    Bottomfish species means all species of bottomfish as defined at 50 
CFR 665.201.
    Categories of hazardous cargoes means goods classified in the 
International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code; substances 
classified in chapter 17 of the International Code for the Construction 
and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code) 
and chapter 19 of the International Code for the Construction and 
Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code); oils as 
defined in MARPOL Annex I; noxious liquid substances as defined in 
MARPOL Annex II; harmful substances as defined in MARPOL Annex III; and 
radioactive materials specified in the International Code for the Safe 
Carriage of Packaged Irradiated Nuclear Fuel, Plutonium and High-Level 
Radioactive Waste on Board Ships (INF Code).
    Commercial fishing means, as defined in the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, fishing in which the fish 
harvested, either in whole or in part, are intended to enter commerce 
or enter commerce through sale, barter, or trade.
    Ecological integrity means a condition determined to be 
characteristic of an ecosystem that has the ability to maintain the 
function, structure, and abundance of natural biological communities, 
including rates of change in response to natural environmental 
variation.
    Midway Atoll Special Management Area means the area of the 
sanctuary surrounding Midway Atoll out to a distance of 12 nautical 
miles. The coordinates are listed in Appendix C to this subpart.
    Native Hawaiian practices means cultural activities conducted for 
the purposes of perpetuating traditional knowledge, caring for and 
protecting the environment and strengthening cultural and spiritual 
connections to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands that have demonstrable 
benefits to the Native Hawaiian community. This may include, but is not 
limited to, the non-commercial use of sanctuary resources for direct 
personal consumption while in the sanctuary.
    Non-commercial fishing means fishing that does not meet the 
definition of commercial fishing in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act, and includes, but is not limited to, 
sustenance, subsistence, traditional indigenous, and recreational 
fishing.
    Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) means NOAA, National Marine 
Fisheries Service, Office of Law Enforcement.
    Outer Sanctuary Zone means the waters and submerged lands extending 
from approximately 50 nautical miles from all islands and emergent 
lands of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to the extent of the seaward 
limit of the United States Exclusive Economic Zone (U.S. EEZ) west of 
163[deg] West Longitude. The precise boundary coordinates for the Outer 
Sanctuary Zone are listed in Appendix B to this subpart.
    Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) means an area that needs 
special protection through action by the International Maritime 
Organization because of its significance for recognized ecological, 
socio-economic, or scientific attributes where such attributes may be 
vulnerable to damage by international shipping activities.
    Pelagic species means Western Pacific Pelagic Management Unit 
Species as defined at 50 CFR 665.800.
    Pono means appropriate, correct, and deemed necessary by 
traditional standards in Hawaiian culture.
    Recreational activity means an activity conducted for personal 
enjoyment that does not result in the extraction of sanctuary resources 
and that does not involve a fee-for-service transaction. This includes, 
but is not limited to, wildlife viewing, SCUBA diving, snorkeling, and 
boating.
    Reporting area means the area of the sanctuary that extends outward 
ten nautical miles from the Particularly Sensitive Sea Area boundary, 
as designated by the International Maritime Organization, and excludes 
the Areas to be Avoided that fall within the Particularly Sensitive Sea 
Area boundary. The precise boundary coordinates for the reporting area 
are listed in Appendix E to this subpart.
    Scientific instrument means a device, vehicle, or tool used for 
scientific purposes and is inclusive of structures, materials, or other 
matter incidental to proper use of such device, vehicle, or tool.
    Special Preservation Area (SPA) means discrete, biologically 
important areas of the sanctuary within which uses are subject to 
certain conditions, restrictions, and prohibitions, including but not 
limited to access restrictions. The coordinates are listed in Appendix 
D to this subpart.

[[Page 4893]]

    Stowed and not available for immediate use means not readily 
accessible for immediate use, e.g., by being securely covered and 
lashed to a deck or bulkhead, tied down, unbaited, unloaded, or 
partially disassembled (e.g., spear shafts being kept separate from 
spearguns).
    Sustenance fishing means fishing for bottomfish or pelagic species 
in which all catch is consumed within the sanctuary, and that is 
incidental to an activity permitted under this part.
    Vessel monitoring system (VMS) means a mobile transceiver unit as 
described in Sec.  922.246 and approved by NOAA's Office of Law 
Enforcement for use on vessels permitted to access the sanctuary, as 
required by this part.


Sec.  922.242  Cooperative management.

    (a) NOAA has primary responsibility for the management of the 
sanctuary pursuant to the National Marine Sanctuaries Act. As the 
sanctuary includes State waters, NOAA will co-manage 
Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea National Marine Sanctuary with the State 
of Hawai[revaps]i.
    (b) NOAA will also manage the sanctuary in partnership with the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
    (c) Nothing in these regulations or establishment of the national 
marine sanctuary shall diminish U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 
authority to administer Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and 
Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge under the National Wildlife 
Refuge System Administration Act, as amended, and other U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service authorities. Where Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea 
National Marine Sanctuary overlays Midway Atoll National Wildlife 
Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, NOAA will 
implement the National Marine Sanctuaries Act to provide supplemental 
authority to protect resources.
    (d) NOAA, in exercising its management authority under National 
Marine Sanctuaries Act Section 304(d), recognizes U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service's management authority over Midway Atoll National 
Wildlife Refuge and Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge under the 
National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, as amended.


Sec.  922.243  Access.

    (a) Access to the Sanctuary is prohibited and thus unlawful except:
    (1) When conducting emergency response actions, law enforcement 
activities, and activities and exercises of the Armed Forces in 
accordance with Sec.  922.244(b) and (c);
    (2) Pursuant to a permit issued under Sec.  922.245;
    (3) When conducting non-commercial fishing activities in the Outer 
Sanctuary Zone authorized under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act in accordance with Sec.  922.244 (d);
    (4) When conducting scientific exploration or research activities 
by or for the Secretary of Commerce or the Secretary of the Interior in 
the Outer Sanctuary Zone in accordance with Sec.  922.244 (f).
    (5) When conducting passage without interruption in accordance with 
paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of this section.
    (b) A vessel may pass without interruption through the sanctuary 
without requiring a permit as long as the vessel does not stop or 
engage in the prohibited activities listed in Sec.  922.244 within the 
sanctuary.
    (c) For areas of the sanctuary that are contained within the 
reporting area surrounding the Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) 
designated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a ship 
reporting system (CORAL SHIPREP) specified below shall be in effect. 
The coordinates for the Reporting Area are listed in Appendix E to this 
subpart.
    (1) The following vessels, except vessels entitled to sovereign 
immunity under international law, passing through the reporting area of 
the sanctuary without interruption, must participate in the ship 
reporting system as specified in paragraphs (c)(2) through (6) of this 
section:
    (i) Vessels of the United States of any size;
    (ii) All other ships 300 gross tonnage or greater that are entering 
or departing a United States port or place; and
    (iii) All other ships of any size entering or departing a United 
States port or place and experiencing an emergency while transiting 
through the reporting area.
    (2) All vessels passing through the reporting area of the sanctuary 
without interruption other than those described in paragraph (c)(1) of 
this section are encouraged to participate in the ship reporting system 
set forth in paragraphs (c)(2) through (6) of this section.
    (3) Immediately upon entering the reporting area, vessels described 
in paragraph (c)(1) of this section must provide the following 
information by email sent to [email protected] in the IMO 
standard reporting format and data syntax shown in Appendix F to this 
subpart:
    (i) Vessel name, call sign or ship station identity, flag, and IMO 
identification number if applicable, and either Federal documentation 
or State registration number if applicable;
    (ii) Date, time (UTC) and month of entry;
    (iii) Position;
    (iv) True course;
    (v) Speed in knots and tenths;
    (vi) Destination and estimated time of arrival;
    (vii) Intended route through the reporting area;
    (viii) Vessel draft (in meters);
    (ix) Categories of hazardous cargoes on board;
    (x) Any vessel defects or deficiencies that restrict 
maneuverability or impair normal navigation;
    (xi) Any pollution incident or goods lost overboard within the 
PSSA, the reporting area, or the U.S. EEZ;
    (xii) Contact information for the vessel's agent or owner;
    (xiii) Vessel size (length overall, gross tonnage) and type; and
    (xiv) Total number of persons on board.
    (4) Immediately upon leaving the reporting area, vessels described 
in paragraph (c)(1) of this section must provide the following 
information by email sent to [email protected] in the IMO 
standard reporting format and data syntax shown in Appendix F to this 
subpart:
    (i) Vessel name, call sign or ship station identity, flag, and IMO 
identification number if applicable, and either Federal documentation 
or State registration number if applicable;
    (ii) Date, time (UTC), and month of exit;
    (iii) Position; and
    (iv) Any pollution incident or goods lost overboard within the 
PSSA, the reporting area, or the U.S. EEZ.
    (5) For vessels that are not equipped with on-board email 
capability, advanced notice of entrance (as outlined in paragraph 
(c)(3) of this section) shall be provided at least 72 hours, but not 
more than one month, prior to entering the reporting area. Notification 
of departure (as outlined in paragraph (c)(4) of this section) must be 
provided within 12 hours of leaving the reporting area. Notification 
under this paragraph may be made by email, telephone, or fax, by 
contacting:
    (i) Email: [email protected];
    (ii) Telephone: 1-808-395-6944 or 1-866-478-6944; or
    (iii) Fax: 1-808-455-3093.
    (6) Further reports shall be made by the vessels described in 
paragraph (c)(1) of this section, and are encouraged for

[[Page 4894]]

the vessels described in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, whenever 
there is a change in navigation status or circumstances, particularly 
in relation to the intended route, defects or deficiencies, pollution 
incidents, or goods lost overboard.


Sec.  922.244  Prohibited or otherwise regulated activities.

    (a) The following activities are prohibited and thus are unlawful 
for any person to conduct or to cause to be conducted within the 
sanctuary, except as specified in paragraphs (b) through (f) of this 
section:
    (1) Exploring for, developing, or producing oil, gas, or minerals, 
or any energy development activities;
    (2) Using or attempting to use poisons, electrical charges, or 
explosives in the collection or harvest of a sanctuary resource;
    (3) Introducing or otherwise releasing an introduced species from 
within or into the sanctuary;
    (4) Deserting a vessel;
    (5) Anchoring on or having a vessel anchored on any living or dead 
coral with an anchor, anchor chain, or anchor rope;
    (6) Commercial fishing, or possessing commercial fishing gear 
except when stowed and not available for immediate use;
    (7) Failing to comply with the vessel monitoring system 
requirements in violation of Sec.  922.246.
    (8) Failing to comply with ship reporting requirements in violation 
of Sec.  922.243.
    (9) Non-commercial fishing, or possessing non-commercial fishing 
gear except when stowed and not available for immediate use;
    (10) Drilling into, dredging, or otherwise altering the submerged 
lands; or constructing, placing, or abandoning any structure, material, 
or other matter on the submerged lands;
    (11) Removing, moving, taking, harvesting, possessing, injuring, 
disturbing, or damaging; or attempting to remove, move, take, harvest, 
possess, injure, disturb, or damage any living or nonliving sanctuary 
resource;
    (12) Attracting any living sanctuary resource;
    (13) Touching coral, living or dead;
    (14) Swimming, snorkeling, or closed or open circuit SCUBA diving;
    (15) Discharging or depositing any material or other matter into 
the sanctuary, or discharging or depositing any material or other 
matter outside of the sanctuary that subsequently enters the sanctuary 
and injures or has the potential to injure any resources of the 
sanctuary, except for:
    (i) Fish, fish parts, or chumming materials (bait) used in or 
resulting from lawful fishing activity, provided that such discharge or 
deposit is during the conduct of lawful fishing activity within the 
sanctuary;
    (ii) Discharge incidental to vessel operations such as approved 
marine sanitation device effluent, cooling water, and engine exhaust, 
consistent with Federal statute or regulation; and
    (iii) Within Special Preservation Areas or the Midway Atoll Special 
Management Area, discharging or depositing material or other matter is 
limited to vessel engine cooling water, weather deck runoff, and vessel 
engine exhaust, consistent with Federal statute or regulation.
    (16) Anchoring a vessel.
    (b) The prohibitions in paragraph (a) of this section do not apply 
to activities necessary to respond to emergencies threatening life, 
property, or the environment, or to activities necessary for law 
enforcement purposes.
    (c) The prohibitions in paragraph (a) of this section do not apply 
to activities and exercises of the U.S. Armed Forces (including those 
carried out by the U.S. Coast Guard). This includes the U.S. Armed 
Forces' response to emergencies posing an unacceptable threat to human 
health or safety or to the marine environment and admitting of no other 
feasible solution. All activities and exercises of the U.S. Armed 
Forces shall be carried out in a manner that avoids, to the extent 
practicable and consistent with operational requirements, adverse 
impacts on sanctuary resources and qualities. These regulations shall 
not limit or otherwise affect the U.S. Armed Forces discretion to use, 
maintain, improve, manage, or control any property under their 
administrative control or otherwise limit the availability of such 
property for military mission purposes, including, but not limited to, 
defensive areas and airspace reservations.
    (d) The prohibitions in paragraph (a)(9) through (12), and (a)(14) 
of this section do not apply to non-commercial fishing activities in 
the Outer Sanctuary Zone authorized under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act provided that:
    (1) Fish harvested, either in whole or in part, are not intended to 
enter commerce and shall not enter commerce through sale, barter, or 
trade, and that the resource is managed sustainably;
    (2) Fish harvested, either in whole or in part, are not intended to 
be sold and shall not be sold for any purposes, including, but not 
limited to, cost-recovery; and
    (3) The activities under paragraph (a)(9) through (12), and (a)(14) 
are only conducted as incidental to and necessary to conduct lawful 
non-commercial fishing activity.
    (e) The prohibitions in paragraphs (a)(9) through (16) of this 
section, do not apply to any activity conducted under and in accordance 
with the scope, purpose, terms, and conditions of a sanctuary general 
permit, or special use permit issued pursuant to subpart D of this 
part. In no event, may the Director issue a National Marine Sanctuary 
general permit or special use permit authorizing or otherwise approving 
activities listed in paragraph (a)(10) of this section for anything 
other than scientific instruments, when the activity occurs within the 
Outer Sanctuary Zone.
    (f) The prohibitions in paragraph (a) of this section shall not 
restrict scientific exploration or research activities by or for the 
Secretary of Commerce or the Secretary of the Interior when the 
activity occurs within the Outer Sanctuary Zone.


Sec.  922.245  Permit procedures and criteria.

    (a) A person may conduct an activity otherwise prohibited by Sec.  
922.244(a)(9) through (16), if such activity is specifically allowed by 
and conducted in accordance with the scope, purpose, terms and 
conditions of a permit issued under this section and subpart D of this 
part, and any additional permit issuance criteria and requirements in 
paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section.
    (1) Native Hawaiian Practices
    (i) The activity is non-commercial and will not involve the sale of 
any organism or material collected;
    (ii) The purpose and intent of this activity is appropriate and 
deemed necessary by traditional standards in the Native Hawaiian 
culture (pono), and demonstrates an understanding of, and background 
in, the traditional practice, and its associated values and protocols;
    (iii) The activity benefits the resources of the Northwestern 
Hawaiian Islands and the Native Hawaiian community;
    (iv) The activity supports or advances the perpetuation of 
traditional knowledge and ancestral connections of Native Hawaiians to 
the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands; and
    (v) Any living sanctuary resource harvested from the sanctuary will 
be consumed or utilized in the sanctuary.
    (2) Recreation permits
    (i) The activity is limited to the Midway Atoll Special Management 
Area.
    (ii) The activity is for the purpose of recreational activities as 
defined in Sec.  922.241;

[[Page 4895]]

    (iii) The activity is not associated with any for-hire operation;
    (iv) The activity does not involve any extractive use; and
    (b) Applications for permits should be addressed to the NOAA Inouye 
Regional Center, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries; ATT: Permit 
Coordinator, Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea, 1845 Wasp Blvd., Building 
176, Honolulu, HI 96818.
    (c) The Secretary of Commerce may authorize sustenance fishing 
outside of any Special Preservation Area as a term or condition of any 
general permit or special use permit issued under this section and 
subpart D of this part. Sustenance fishing in the Midway Atoll Special 
Management Area shall not be allowed unless the activity has been 
determined by the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or 
their designee to be compatible with the purposes for which the Midway 
Atoll National Wildlife Refuge was established. Sustenance fishing must 
be conducted in a manner compatible with this part, including 
considering the extent to which the conduct of the activity may 
diminish Sanctuary resources, qualities, and ecological integrity, as 
well as any indirect, secondary, or cumulative effects of the activity 
and the duration of such effects. The Secretary of Commerce may develop 
procedures for systematic reporting of sustenance fishing.
    (d) In addition to other applicable permit issuance criteria and 
requirements, a permit may not be issued under this section unless the 
applicant's vessel has been outfitted with a VMS unit approved by OLE 
and the applicant complies with the requirements of Sec.  922.246.


Sec.  922.246  Requirements for a vessel monitoring system.

    (a) Requirement for use. An owner or operator of a vessel that has 
been issued a general permit or special use permit under Sec.  922.245 
and subpart D of this part must ensure that such vessel is operating a 
NOAA OLE type-approved VMS on board when operating within the 
sanctuary. An operating VMS includes an operating mobile transmitting 
unit on the vessel and a functioning communication link between the 
unit and OLE as provided by an OLE-approved communication service 
provider. As a condition of authorized access to the sanctuary, a 
vessel owner or operator subject to the requirements for a VMS in this 
section must allow OLE, the U.S. Coast Guard, and their authorized 
officers and designees access to the vessel's position data obtained 
from the VMS. NOAA may have access to, and use of, collected data for 
scientific, statistical, and management purposes, and to monitor 
implementation of this subpart.
    (b) Installing and activating the VMS. (1) OLE has approval 
authority over the type of VMS used and the installation and operation 
of the VMS unit.
    (2) The owner or operator of a vessel must coordinate with OLE to 
install and activate an approved VMS prior to operating within the 
sanctuary. For the purposes of this section, the following contact 
information applies:
    (i) OLE. Address: 1845 Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818; 
telephone: 808-725-6100; facsimile: 808-725-6199; email: 
[email protected]; business hours: Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Hawaii Standard Time.
    (ii) VMS Helpdesk. Telephone: 888-219-9228; email: 
[email protected]; business hours: Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., Eastern Time.
    (c) Interruption of operation of the VMS. When a vessel's VMS is 
not operating properly within the sanctuary, the owner or operator must 
immediately contact OLE, and follow instructions from that office. If 
notified by OLE that a vessel's VMS is not operating properly, the 
owner and operator must follow instructions from that office. In either 
event, such instructions may include, but are not limited to, manually 
communicating a vessel's location as directed by OLE; or exiting the 
sanctuary until the VMS is operable.
    (d) Activities Regarding VMS For Vessels Operating in the 
Sanctuary. The following activities regarding vessel monitoring systems 
are prohibited and thus unlawful for any person to conduct or cause to 
be conducted:
    (1) Operating any vessel within the sanctuary without an OLE type-
approved VMS;
    (2) Failing to install, activate, repair, or replace a VMS prior to 
entering the sanctuary;
    (3) Failing to operate and maintain a VMS on board the vessel;
    (4) Tampering with, damaging, destroying, altering, or in any way 
distorting, rendering useless, inoperative, ineffective, or inaccurate 
the VMS, or VMS signal, or attempting any of the same;
    (5) Failing to contact OLE or follow OLE instructions when 
automatic position reporting has been interrupted;
    (6) Registering a VMS to more than one vessel permitted to operate 
within the sanctuary at the same time;
    (7) Connecting or leaving connected additional equipment to a VMS 
unit without the prior approval of OLE; and
    (8) Making a false statement, oral or written, to an authorized 
officer regarding the installation, use, operation, or maintenance of a 
VMS unit-or communication service provider.


Sec.  922.247  Sunken military craft.

    Sunken military craft are administered by the respective Secretary 
concerned pursuant to the Sunken Military Craft Act (Pub. L. 108-375, 
Title XIV, sections 1401 to 1408; 10 U.S.C. 113 note). The Director 
will enter into a Memorandum of Agreement regarding collaboration with 
other Federal agencies charged with implementing the Sunken Military 
Craft Act that may address aspects of managing and protecting sunken 
military craft. The Director will request approval from the Secretary 
concerned for any terms and conditions of ONMS permits that may involve 
sunken military craft.

Appendix A to Subpart W of Part 922--Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea 
National Marine Sanctuary Boundary Description and Coordinates

[Coordinates listed in this appendix are unprojected (Geographic) 
and based on the North American Datum of 1983]

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Point No.                      Longitude      Latitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..........................................       180.00000     25.38976
2..........................................       179.99985     25.38982
3..........................................       179.96681     25.40451
4..........................................       179.93392     25.41950
5..........................................       179.90119     25.43478
6..........................................       179.86863     25.45034
7..........................................       179.83622     25.46619
8..........................................       179.78793     25.49050
9..........................................       179.75595     25.50707
10.........................................       179.72415     25.52391
11.........................................       179.69252     25.54104
12.........................................       179.66108     25.55844
13.........................................       179.62981     25.57612
14.........................................       179.59874     25.59408
15.........................................       179.56786     25.61231
16.........................................       179.53716     25.63081
17.........................................       179.50667     25.64959
18.........................................       179.47637     25.66863
19.........................................       179.44627     25.68794
20.........................................       179.41638     25.70751
21.........................................       179.38670     25.72735
22.........................................       179.35722     25.74745
23.........................................       179.32796     25.76781
24.........................................       179.28448     25.79883
25.........................................       179.25576     25.81983
26.........................................       179.22255     25.84463
27.........................................       179.18175     25.87583
28.........................................       179.15383     25.89770
29.........................................       179.12613     25.91982
30.........................................       179.09868     25.94218
31.........................................       179.07146     25.96479
32.........................................       179.03108     25.99915
33.........................................       179.00447     26.02235
34.........................................       178.97810     26.04578
35.........................................       178.93902     26.08137
36.........................................       178.91329     26.10537
37.........................................       178.88781     26.12961
38.........................................       178.86259     26.15407

[[Page 4896]]

 
39.........................................       178.82525     26.19117
40.........................................       178.80068     26.21618
41.........................................       178.77639     26.24141
42.........................................       178.75236     26.26685
43.........................................       178.71683     26.30540
44.........................................       178.69349     26.33136
45.........................................       178.65901     26.37068
46.........................................       178.63637     26.39715
47.........................................       178.61378     26.42409
48.........................................       178.59171     26.45096
49.........................................       178.56993     26.47801
50.........................................       178.54844     26.50526
51.........................................       178.52725     26.53270
52.........................................       178.49601     26.57420
53.........................................       178.46544     26.61611
54.........................................       178.44544     26.64427
55.........................................       178.41601     26.68685
56.........................................       178.39677     26.71544
57.........................................       178.37784     26.74421
58.........................................       178.35922     26.77314
59.........................................       178.34092     26.80223
60.........................................       178.30653     26.85803
61.........................................       178.28885     26.88744
62.........................................       178.26294     26.93185
63.........................................       178.24606     26.96164
64.........................................       178.22951     26.99158
65.........................................       178.21329     27.02166
66.........................................       178.19632     27.05394
67.........................................       178.17402     27.09774
68.........................................       178.15895     27.12831
69.........................................       178.14422     27.15901
70.........................................       178.12274     27.20529
71.........................................       178.10884     27.23631
72.........................................       178.08864     27.28305
73.........................................       178.06920     27.33006
74.........................................       178.05667     27.36154
75.........................................       178.03853     27.40896
76.........................................       178.02687     27.44071
77.........................................       178.01003     27.48851
78.........................................       177.99924     27.52051
79.........................................       177.98881     27.55259
80.........................................       177.97873     27.58477
81.........................................       177.96901     27.61703
82.........................................       177.95509     27.66559
83.........................................       177.94198     27.71432
84.........................................       177.93368     27.74690
85.........................................       177.92568     27.77984
86.........................................       177.91811     27.81256
87.........................................       177.90744     27.86176
88.........................................       177.90079     27.89464
89.........................................       177.89149     27.94406
90.........................................       177.88574     27.97707
91.........................................       177.88037     28.01014
92.........................................       177.87300     28.05982
93.........................................       177.86647     28.10959
94.........................................       177.86258     28.14281
95.........................................       177.85744     28.19271
96.........................................       177.85447     28.22601
97.........................................       177.85073     28.27600
98.........................................       177.84871     28.30936
99.........................................       177.84706     28.34273
100........................................       177.84529     28.39281
101........................................       177.84436     28.44291
102........................................       177.84422     28.47631
103........................................       177.84445     28.50971
104........................................       177.84551     28.55981
105........................................       177.84670     28.59348
106........................................       177.84844     28.63098
107........................................       177.85148     28.68101
108........................................       177.85399     28.71434
109........................................       177.85761     28.75561
110........................................       177.86197     28.79830
111........................................       177.86786     28.84813
112........................................       177.87226     28.88131
113........................................       177.87543     28.90360
114........................................       177.87967     28.93173
115........................................       177.88514     28.96554
116........................................       177.89133     29.00123
117........................................       177.90063     29.05066
118........................................       177.90735     29.08379
119........................................       177.91806     29.13300
120........................................       177.92567     29.16572
121........................................       177.93780     29.21468
122........................................       177.94636     29.24722
123........................................       177.95989     29.29590
124........................................       177.96959     29.32896
125........................................       177.97946     29.36122
126........................................       177.98970     29.39340
127........................................       178.00575     29.44148
128........................................       178.01692     29.47341
129........................................       178.03438     29.52113
130........................................       178.04647     29.55280
131........................................       178.06531     29.60012
132........................................       178.08497     29.64717
133........................................       178.09853     29.67840
134........................................       178.11268     29.71000
135........................................       178.13426     29.75642
136........................................       178.15665     29.80255
137........................................       178.17203     29.83313
138........................................       178.19577     29.87875
139........................................       178.21216     29.90921
140........................................       178.22879     29.93930
141........................................       178.25439     29.98416
142........................................       178.27525     30.01949
143........................................       178.29311     30.04905
144........................................       178.31861     30.09001
145........................................       178.34009     30.12350
146........................................       178.35931     30.15271
147........................................       178.38857     30.19588
148........................................       178.41018     30.22681
149........................................       178.43934     30.26737
150........................................       178.47063     30.30946
151........................................       178.49239     30.33792
152........................................       178.51400     30.36556
153........................................       178.54703     30.40666
154........................................       178.57973     30.44608
155........................................       178.60482     30.47552
156........................................       178.62805     30.50216
157........................................       178.65341     30.53061
158........................................       178.68811     30.56854
159........................................       178.71589     30.59815
160........................................       178.75298     30.63662
161........................................       178.77809     30.66199
162........................................       178.80351     30.68713
163........................................       178.84220     30.72443
164........................................       178.88157     30.76121
165........................................       178.90818     30.78543
166........................................       178.94864     30.82133
167........................................       178.97598     30.84496
168........................................       179.00360     30.86835
169........................................       179.04556     30.90297
170........................................       179.07393     30.92578
171........................................       179.11693     30.95947
172........................................       179.14594     30.98161
173........................................       179.18995     31.01433
174........................................       179.21963     31.03582
175........................................       179.26463     31.06757
176........................................       179.29516     31.08855
177........................................       179.34112     31.11928
178........................................       179.38763     31.14941
179........................................       179.41894     31.16915
180........................................       179.45050     31.18861
181........................................       179.49827     31.21728
182........................................       179.54657     31.24532
183........................................       179.57905     31.26365
184........................................       179.61792     31.28512
185........................................       179.65085     31.30287
186........................................       179.70065     31.32895
187........................................       179.73411     31.34598
188........................................       179.77707     31.36728
189........................................       179.81095     31.38371
190........................................       179.86214     31.40779
191........................................       179.89652     31.42346
192........................................       179.94844     31.44640
193........................................       179.98329     31.46131
194........................................      -180.00000     31.46823
195........................................      -179.96410     31.48309
196........................................      -179.92880     31.49722
197........................................      -179.89333     31.51105
198........................................      -179.83980     31.53119
199........................................      -179.78591     31.55062
200........................................      -179.74978     31.56318
201........................................      -179.71350     31.57542
202........................................      -179.65880     31.59317
203........................................      -179.62215     31.60460
204........................................      -179.56692     31.62114
205........................................      -179.51138     31.63695
206........................................      -179.47371     31.64721
207........................................      -179.41770     31.66179
208........................................      -179.38021     31.67109
209........................................      -179.33210     31.68252
210........................................      -179.28243     31.69383
211........................................      -179.23675     31.70369
212........................................      -179.19878     31.71149
213........................................      -179.16071     31.71896
214........................................      -179.10344     31.72953
215........................................      -179.06516     31.73615
216........................................      -179.00758     31.74546
217........................................      -178.94983     31.75399
218........................................      -178.90738     31.75980
219........................................      -178.86874     31.76473
220........................................      -178.82975     31.76934
221........................................      -178.79099     31.77358
222........................................      -178.75218     31.77748
223........................................      -178.71332     31.78104
224........................................      -178.67441     31.78425
225........................................      -178.63547     31.78712
226........................................      -178.59650     31.78964
227........................................      -178.55749     31.79182
228........................................      -178.51846     31.79366
229........................................      -178.47941     31.79515
230........................................      -178.43412     31.79649
231........................................      -178.39504     31.79729
232........................................      -178.35596     31.79775
233........................................      -178.32396     31.79786
234........................................      -178.28487     31.79769
235........................................      -178.24553     31.79717
236........................................      -178.20645     31.79631
237........................................      -178.16738     31.79510
238........................................      -178.12834     31.79354
239........................................      -178.08931     31.79165
240........................................      -178.05031     31.78940
241........................................      -178.01134     31.78682
242........................................      -177.97241     31.78389
243........................................      -177.93351     31.78061
244........................................      -177.89466     31.77699
245........................................      -177.85585     31.77303
246........................................      -177.81646     31.76865
247........................................      -177.77776     31.76401
248........................................      -177.73912     31.75902
249........................................      -177.70055     31.75369
250........................................      -177.66205     31.74802
251........................................      -177.62362     31.74202
252........................................      -177.58526     31.73567
253........................................      -177.54140     31.72800
254........................................      -177.50321     31.72097
255........................................      -177.46512     31.71361
256........................................      -177.42712     31.70592
257........................................      -177.38921     31.69789
258........................................      -177.35141     31.68952
259........................................      -177.31372     31.68082
260........................................      -177.27613     31.67179

[[Page 4897]]

 
261........................................      -177.23866     31.66242
262........................................      -177.20131     31.65273
263........................................      -177.16094     31.64185
264........................................      -177.12384     31.63149
265........................................      -177.08687     31.62082
266........................................      -177.04995     31.60978
267........................................      -176.99406     31.60543
268........................................      -176.95227     31.60174
269........................................      -176.91352     31.59795
270........................................      -176.87481     31.59382
271........................................      -176.83616     31.58934
272........................................      -176.79756     31.58453
273........................................      -176.73979     31.57666
274........................................      -176.70136     31.57100
275........................................      -176.66300     31.56499
276........................................      -176.60561     31.55534
277........................................      -176.56718     31.54844
278........................................      -176.52911     31.54125
279........................................      -176.49114     31.53372
280........................................      -176.45325     31.52586
281........................................      -176.41282     31.51708
282........................................      -176.37095     31.50759
283........................................      -176.33338     31.49873
284........................................      -176.29414     31.48910
285........................................      -176.23818     31.47469
286........................................      -176.20102     31.46467
287........................................      -176.14552     31.44902
288........................................      -176.10869     31.43818
289........................................      -176.07199     31.42701
290........................................      -176.03543     31.41553
291........................................      -175.99902     31.40371
292........................................      -175.94468     31.38539
293........................................      -175.90865     31.37278
294........................................      -175.87278     31.35985
295........................................      -175.83644     31.34637
296........................................      -175.80089     31.33281
297........................................      -175.76551     31.31893
298........................................      -175.72777     31.30370
299........................................      -175.67361     31.30264
300........................................      -175.62462     31.30118
301........................................      -175.58577     31.29962
302........................................      -175.56300     31.29856
303........................................      -175.50480     31.29533
304........................................      -175.44667     31.29132
305........................................      -175.38862     31.28654
306........................................      -175.33066     31.28099
307........................................      -175.27281     31.27467
308........................................      -175.21509     31.26757
309........................................      -175.15433     31.25928
310........................................      -175.10019     31.25117
311........................................      -175.05021     31.24316
312........................................      -174.99307     31.23327
313........................................      -174.93613     31.22261
314........................................      -174.87938     31.21120
315........................................      -174.82112     31.19865
316........................................      -174.78357     31.19012
317........................................      -174.74612     31.18126
318........................................      -174.69017     31.16735
319........................................      -174.65301     31.15766
320........................................      -174.61598     31.14764
321........................................      -174.57907     31.13730
322........................................      -174.54229     31.12663
323........................................      -174.48737     31.11001
324........................................      -174.43277     31.09266
325........................................      -174.39656     31.08069
326........................................      -174.36049     31.06840
327........................................      -174.32457     31.05579
328........................................      -174.28881     31.04287
329........................................      -174.25322     31.02962
330........................................      -174.21779     31.01607
331........................................      -174.16782     30.99630
332........................................      -174.12317     30.97807
333........................................      -174.08834     30.96342
334........................................      -174.03646     30.94087
335........................................      -174.00210     30.92545
336........................................      -173.95092     30.90176
337........................................      -173.91394     30.88410
338........................................      -173.88027     30.86763
339........................................      -173.83015     30.84236
340........................................      -173.79699     30.82515
341........................................      -173.74828     30.79912
342........................................      -173.71286     30.77965
343........................................      -173.67333     30.75735
344........................................      -173.63202     30.73339
345........................................      -173.60020     30.71444
346........................................      -173.56860     30.69522
347........................................      -173.52165     30.66586
348........................................      -173.49065     30.64594
349........................................      -173.45306     30.62120
350........................................      -173.40817     30.59091
351........................................      -173.37804     30.57004
352........................................      -173.34479     30.54651
353........................................      -173.30046     30.51431
354........................................      -173.25673     30.48153
355........................................      -173.22791     30.45935
356........................................      -173.19936     30.43692
357........................................      -173.15960     30.40490
358........................................      -173.12000     30.37227
359........................................      -173.09242     30.34897
360........................................      -173.06512     30.32542
361........................................      -173.02470     30.28965
362........................................      -172.98494     30.25335
363........................................      -172.95880     30.22886
364........................................      -172.93295     30.20413
365........................................      -172.89474     30.16662
366........................................      -172.85721     30.12860
367........................................      -172.83096     30.10131
368........................................      -172.79458     30.06247
369........................................      -172.77072     30.03631
370........................................      -172.74717     30.00995
371........................................      -172.71244     29.97001
372........................................      -172.67843     29.92961
373........................................      -172.65616     29.90243
374........................................      -172.62336     29.86129
375........................................      -172.60190     29.83362
376........................................      -172.57892     29.80334
377........................................      -172.55812     29.77530
378........................................      -172.52756     29.73290
379........................................      -172.50760     29.70441
380........................................      -172.48798     29.67574
381........................................      -172.46870     29.64690
382........................................      -172.44976     29.61789
383........................................      -172.42200     29.57406
384........................................      -172.40392     29.54464
385........................................      -172.37746     29.50021
386........................................      -172.35178     29.45544
387........................................      -172.33510     29.42540
388........................................      -172.31074     29.38007
389........................................      -172.29495     29.34967
390........................................      -172.27193     29.30382
391........................................      -172.25703     29.27308
392........................................      -172.23535     29.22673
393........................................      -172.22135     29.19567
394........................................      -172.20103     29.14885
395........................................      -172.18794     29.11749
396........................................      -172.18269     29.10461
397........................................      -172.14425     29.10857
398........................................      -172.10644     29.11211
399........................................      -172.06858     29.11531
400........................................      -172.01172     29.11947
401........................................      -171.95480     29.12286
402........................................      -171.91682     29.12469
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901........................................      -171.99082     22.40461
902........................................      -172.03998     22.42318
903........................................      -172.09233     22.42751
904........................................      -172.12811     22.43088
905........................................      -172.18170     22.43653
906........................................      -172.21738     22.44070
907........................................      -172.25302     22.44519
908........................................      -172.28861     22.45001
909........................................      -172.32414     22.45515
910........................................      -172.37735     22.46346
911........................................      -172.41274     22.46941
912........................................      -172.46572     22.47892
913........................................      -172.50095     22.48566
914........................................      -172.55367     22.49638
915........................................      -172.58872     22.50392
916........................................      -172.64114     22.51582
917........................................      -172.67599     22.52415
918........................................      -172.71075     22.53279
919........................................      -172.76272     22.54635
920........................................      -172.79725     22.55578
921........................................      -172.83168     22.56552
922........................................      -172.86601     22.57558
923........................................      -172.90023     22.58594
924........................................      -172.95136     22.60207
925........................................      -172.98531     22.61320
926........................................      -173.03602     22.63048

[[Page 4900]]

 
927........................................      -173.08645     22.64845
928........................................      -173.11992     22.66081
929........................................      -173.15325     22.67347
930........................................      -173.18646     22.68643
931........................................      -173.23601     22.70643
932........................................      -173.26888     22.72014
933........................................      -173.30160     22.73415
934........................................      -173.34556     22.75354
935........................................      -173.37723     22.74830
936........................................      -173.41276     22.74274
937........................................      -173.44836     22.73750
938........................................      -173.48400     22.73258
939........................................      -173.51970     22.72798
940........................................      -173.55544     22.72371
941........................................      -173.59122     22.71976
942........................................      -173.62704     22.71613
943........................................      -173.66290     22.71283
944........................................      -173.69879     22.70985
945........................................      -173.73471     22.70720
946........................................      -173.77065     22.70487
947........................................      -173.80661     22.70286
948........................................      -173.84260     22.70118
949........................................      -173.87860     22.69983
950........................................      -173.91461     22.69880
951........................................      -173.95063     22.69810
952........................................      -173.98666     22.69772
953........................................      -174.02268     22.69767
954........................................      -174.05871     22.69794
955........................................      -174.09473     22.69854
956........................................      -174.13075     22.69947
957........................................      -174.16675     22.70072
958........................................      -174.20274     22.70229
959........................................      -174.23871     22.70419
960........................................      -174.27466     22.70642
961........................................      -174.31059     22.70897
962........................................      -174.34649     22.71185
963........................................      -174.38235     22.71504
964........................................      -174.41819     22.71857
965........................................      -174.45398     22.72242
966........................................      -174.48974     22.72659
967........................................      -174.52545     22.73108
968........................................      -174.56111     22.73589
969........................................      -174.59672     22.74103
970........................................      -174.63227     22.74649
971........................................      -174.66777     22.75227
972........................................      -174.70321     22.75837
973........................................      -174.73859     22.76479
974........................................      -174.77389     22.77153
975........................................      -174.82672     22.78224
976........................................      -174.86184     22.78978
977........................................      -174.89689     22.79763
978........................................      -174.93185     22.80580
979........................................      -174.96673     22.81429
980........................................      -175.00151     22.82309
981........................................      -175.03621     22.83220
982........................................      -175.07081     22.84163
983........................................      -175.10531     22.85136
984........................................      -175.13972     22.86141
985........................................      -175.17401     22.87177
986........................................      -175.20820     22.88244
987........................................      -175.24228     22.89342
988........................................      -175.27624     22.90471
989........................................      -175.31009     22.91630
990........................................      -175.34381     22.92820
991........................................      -175.37741     22.94040
992........................................      -175.41089     22.95290
993........................................      -175.44423     22.96571
994........................................      -175.47744     22.97882
995........................................      -175.51051     22.99222
996........................................      -175.54345     23.00593
997........................................      -175.57624     23.01993
998........................................      -175.60888     23.03422
999........................................      -175.64138     23.04881
1000.......................................      -175.67372     23.06370
1001.......................................      -175.70591     23.07887
1002.......................................      -175.73795     23.09434
1003.......................................      -175.76982     23.11009
1004.......................................      -175.81731     23.13426
1005.......................................      -175.84877     23.15073
1006.......................................      -175.88005     23.16748
1007.......................................      -175.91116     23.18451
1008.......................................      -175.94209     23.20183
1009.......................................      -175.98815     23.22832
1010.......................................      -176.01862     23.24633
1011.......................................      -176.04891     23.26461
1012.......................................      -176.09398     23.29254
1013.......................................      -176.12379     23.31150
1014.......................................      -176.15339     23.33073
1015.......................................      -176.18280     23.35022
1016.......................................      -176.21200     23.36998
1017.......................................      -176.25542     23.40011
1018.......................................      -176.28410     23.42052
1019.......................................      -176.31256     23.44119
1020.......................................      -176.35486     23.47268
1021.......................................      -176.38278     23.49399
1022.......................................      -176.41048     23.51554
1023.......................................      -176.43795     23.53735
1024.......................................      -176.46520     23.55940
1025.......................................      -176.50563     23.59294
1026.......................................      -176.53229     23.61560
1027.......................................      -176.55872     23.63850
1028.......................................      -176.59790     23.67330
1029.......................................      -176.62372     23.69679
1030.......................................      -176.66199     23.73246
1031.......................................      -176.68719     23.75653
1032.......................................      -176.71213     23.78082
1033.......................................      -176.73682     23.80534
1034.......................................      -176.76125     23.83007
1035.......................................      -176.78542     23.85503
1036.......................................      -176.80933     23.88021
1037.......................................      -176.83297     23.90559
1038.......................................      -176.85635     23.93119
1039.......................................      -176.87945     23.95700
1040.......................................      -176.90229     23.98302
1041.......................................      -176.93602     24.02243
1042.......................................      -176.96913     24.06229
1043.......................................      -176.99085     24.08911
1044.......................................      -177.01229     24.11613
1045.......................................      -177.03344     24.14334
1046.......................................      -177.06462     24.18450
1047.......................................      -177.08505     24.21218
1048.......................................      -177.10518     24.24004
1049.......................................      -177.12502     24.26808
1050.......................................      -177.14456     24.29630
1051.......................................      -177.17331     24.33895
1052.......................................      -177.19210     24.36760
1053.......................................      -177.21058     24.39642
1054.......................................      -177.22875     24.42540
1055.......................................      -177.25544     24.46918
1056.......................................      -177.27284     24.49856
1057.......................................      -177.28992     24.52810
1058.......................................      -177.30670     24.55779
1059.......................................      -177.32315     24.58763
1060.......................................      -177.33929     24.61762
1061.......................................      -177.36249     24.66210
1062.......................................      -177.38606     24.67081
1063.......................................      -177.41985     24.68359
1064.......................................      -177.45352     24.69667
1065.......................................      -177.48704     24.71005
1066.......................................      -177.53706     24.73067
1067.......................................      -177.57023     24.74479
1068.......................................      -177.60325     24.75920
1069.......................................      -177.63612     24.77391
1070.......................................      -177.66883     24.78890
1071.......................................      -177.71760     24.81194
1072.......................................      -177.74992     24.82767
1073.......................................      -177.78207     24.84367
1074.......................................      -177.81404     24.85997
1075.......................................      -177.83690     24.87185
1076.......................................      -177.88667     24.87745
1077.......................................      -177.94111     24.88429
1078.......................................      -177.97195     24.88850
1079.......................................      -177.99642     24.89200
1080.......................................      -178.05062     24.90028
1081.......................................      -178.10469     24.90929
1082.......................................      -178.14066     24.91569
1083.......................................      -178.16577     24.92034
1084.......................................      -178.21953     24.93078
1085.......................................      -178.27313     24.94194
1086.......................................      -178.32655     24.95380
1087.......................................      -178.37978     24.96637
1088.......................................      -178.43281     24.97965
1089.......................................      -178.48563     24.99363
1090.......................................      -178.53822     25.00832
1091.......................................      -178.59058     25.02370
1092.......................................      -178.61445     25.03096
1093.......................................      -178.64360     25.04005
1094.......................................      -178.67821     25.05115
1095.......................................      -178.70077     25.05859
1096.......................................      -178.72148     25.06052
1097.......................................      -178.75794     25.06420
1098.......................................      -178.81257     25.07031
1099.......................................      -178.86732     25.07718
1100.......................................      -178.90360     25.08214
1101.......................................      -178.93984     25.08742
1102.......................................      -178.98140     25.09383
1103.......................................      -179.01755     25.09959
1104.......................................      -179.07166     25.10883
1105.......................................      -179.10765     25.11539
1106.......................................      -179.14357     25.12227
1107.......................................      -179.19731     25.13318
1108.......................................      -179.25088     25.14480
1109.......................................      -179.28649     25.15295
1110.......................................      -179.32201     25.16141
1111.......................................      -179.35744     25.17018
1112.......................................      -179.38198     25.17642
1113.......................................      -179.43515     25.19048
1114.......................................      -179.47030     25.20018
1115.......................................      -179.50534     25.21020
1116.......................................      -179.55771     25.22581
1117.......................................      -179.60982     25.24211
1118.......................................      -179.66167     25.25910
1119.......................................      -179.69609     25.27081
1120.......................................      -179.73039     25.28283
1121.......................................      -179.76456     25.29514
1122.......................................      -179.79860     25.30776
1123.......................................      -179.83251     25.32068
1124.......................................      -179.86628     25.33389
1125.......................................      -179.89991     25.34741
1126.......................................      -179.93340     25.36122
1127.......................................      -179.96674     25.37533
1128.......................................      -180.00000     25.38976
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix B to Subpart W of Part 922--Coordinates for the Outer 
Sanctuary Zone

[Coordinates listed in this appendix are unprojected (Geographic) 
and based on the North American Datum of 1983]
    The boundaries for the areas listed in this appendix, unless 
otherwise described in this rule, begin at Point 1 as indicated in 
the particular area's coordinate table and continue to each 
successive point in numerical order until ending at the last point 
in the table.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Point No.                      Longitude      Latitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..........................................       180.00000     25.38976
2..........................................       179.99985     25.38982

[[Page 4901]]

 
3..........................................       179.96681     25.40451
4..........................................       179.93392     25.41950
5..........................................       179.90119     25.43477
6..........................................       179.86863     25.45034
7..........................................       179.83622     25.46619
8..........................................       179.78793     25.49050
9..........................................       179.75595     25.50707
10.........................................       179.72415     25.52391
11.........................................       179.69252     25.54104
12.........................................       179.66108     25.55844
13.........................................       179.62981     25.57612
14.........................................       179.59874     25.59408
15.........................................       179.56786     25.61231
16.........................................       179.53716     25.63081
17.........................................       179.50667     25.64959
18.........................................       179.47637     25.66863
19.........................................       179.44627     25.68794
20.........................................       179.41638     25.70751
21.........................................       179.38670     25.72735
22.........................................       179.35722     25.74745
23.........................................       179.32796     25.76781
24.........................................       179.28448     25.79883
25.........................................       179.25576     25.81983
26.........................................       179.22255     25.84463
27.........................................       179.18175     25.87583
28.........................................       179.15383     25.89770
29.........................................       179.12613     25.91982
30.........................................       179.09868     25.94218
31.........................................       179.07146     25.96479
32.........................................       179.03108     25.99915
33.........................................       179.00447     26.02235
34.........................................       178.97810     26.04578
35.........................................       178.93902     26.08137
36.........................................       178.91329     26.10537
37.........................................       178.88781     26.12961
38.........................................       178.86259     26.15407
39.........................................       178.82525     26.19117
40.........................................       178.80068     26.21618
41.........................................       178.77639     26.24141
42.........................................       178.75236     26.26685
43.........................................       178.71684     26.30540
44.........................................       178.69349     26.33136
45.........................................       178.65901     26.37068
46.........................................       178.63637     26.39715
47.........................................       178.61378     26.42409
48.........................................       178.59171     26.45096
49.........................................       178.56993     26.47801
50.........................................       178.54844     26.50526
51.........................................       178.52724     26.53270
52.........................................       178.49600     26.57420
53.........................................       178.46544     26.61611
54.........................................       178.44544     26.64427
55.........................................       178.41601     26.68685
56.........................................       178.39677     26.71544
57.........................................       178.37784     26.74421
58.........................................       178.35922     26.77314
59.........................................       178.34092     26.80223
60.........................................       178.30653     26.85803
61.........................................       178.28885     26.88744
62.........................................       178.26293     26.93184
63.........................................       178.24606     26.96164
64.........................................       178.22951     26.99158
65.........................................       178.21329     27.02166
66.........................................       178.19632     27.05394
67.........................................       178.17402     27.09775
68.........................................       178.15895     27.12831
69.........................................       178.14422     27.15901
70.........................................       178.12274     27.20530
71.........................................       178.10884     27.23631
72.........................................       178.08864     27.28305
73.........................................       178.06920     27.33006
74.........................................       178.05667     27.36154
75.........................................       178.03853     27.40896
76.........................................       178.02687     27.44071
77.........................................       178.01003     27.48851
78.........................................       177.99924     27.52051
79.........................................       177.98881     27.55259
80.........................................       177.97873     27.58477
81.........................................       177.96901     27.61703
82.........................................       177.95509     27.66559
83.........................................       177.94198     27.71432
84.........................................       177.93368     27.74690
85.........................................       177.92568     27.77984
86.........................................       177.91811     27.81256
87.........................................       177.90744     27.86176
88.........................................       177.90079     27.89464
89.........................................       177.89149     27.94406
90.........................................       177.88574     27.97707
91.........................................       177.88037     28.01014
92.........................................       177.87300     28.05982
93.........................................       177.86647     28.10958
94.........................................       177.86258     28.14281
95.........................................       177.85744     28.19271
96.........................................       177.85448     28.22601
97.........................................       177.85073     28.27601
98.........................................       177.84871     28.30936
99.........................................       177.84706     28.34273
100........................................       177.84529     28.39281
101........................................       177.84437     28.44291
102........................................       177.84422     28.47631
103........................................       177.84445     28.50971
104........................................       177.84551     28.55981
105........................................       177.84670     28.59348
106........................................       177.84844     28.63098
107........................................       177.85148     28.68101
108........................................       177.85399     28.71434
109........................................       177.85761     28.75561
110........................................       177.86197     28.79830
111........................................       177.86786     28.84813
112........................................       177.87226     28.88131
113........................................       177.87543     28.90359
114........................................       177.87967     28.93174
115........................................       177.88514     28.96554
116........................................       177.89133     29.00123
117........................................       177.90063     29.05066
118........................................       177.90735     29.08379
119........................................       177.91806     29.13300
120........................................       177.92568     29.16572
121........................................       177.93780     29.21468
122........................................       177.94636     29.24723
123........................................       177.95989     29.29590
124........................................       177.96959     29.32896
125........................................       177.97946     29.36123
126........................................       177.98970     29.39340
127........................................       178.00575     29.44148
128........................................       178.01692     29.47341
129........................................       178.03438     29.52113
130........................................       178.04647     29.55280
131........................................       178.06531     29.60012
132........................................       178.08497     29.64717
133........................................       178.09853     29.67840
134........................................       178.11268     29.71000
135........................................       178.13426     29.75642
136........................................       178.15665     29.80255
137........................................       178.17203     29.83313
138........................................       178.19577     29.87875
139........................................       178.21216     29.90921
140........................................       178.22879     29.93930
141........................................       178.25439     29.98416
142........................................       178.27525     30.01949
143........................................       178.29311     30.04905
144........................................       178.31861     30.09002
145........................................       178.34009     30.12350
146........................................       178.35931     30.15271
147........................................       178.38857     30.19588
148........................................       178.41018     30.22681
149........................................       178.43934     30.26737
150........................................       178.47063     30.30946
151........................................       178.49239     30.33792
152........................................       178.51400     30.36556
153........................................       178.54703     30.40666
154........................................       178.57973     30.44608
155........................................       178.60482     30.47552
156........................................       178.62805     30.50217
157........................................       178.65341     30.53062
158........................................       178.68811     30.56854
159........................................       178.71589     30.59815
160........................................       178.75298     30.63662
161........................................       178.77809     30.66199
162........................................       178.80351     30.68714
163........................................       178.84220     30.72443
164........................................       178.88157     30.76121
165........................................       178.90818     30.78543
166........................................       178.94864     30.82133
167........................................       178.97598     30.84496
168........................................       179.00360     30.86835
169........................................       179.04556     30.90298
170........................................       179.07393     30.92578
171........................................       179.11693     30.95947
172........................................       179.14594     30.98161
173........................................       179.18995     31.01433
174........................................       179.21963     31.03582
175........................................       179.26462     31.06757
176........................................       179.29516     31.08855
177........................................       179.34112     31.11929
178........................................       179.38763     31.14941
179........................................       179.41894     31.16915
180........................................       179.45050     31.18861
181........................................       179.49827     31.21728
182........................................       179.54657     31.24532
183........................................       179.57905     31.26365
184........................................       179.61792     31.28512
185........................................       179.65085     31.30287
186........................................       179.70065     31.32895
187........................................       179.73411     31.34597
188........................................       179.77707     31.36728
189........................................       179.81095     31.38371
190........................................       179.86214     31.40779
191........................................       179.89652     31.42346
192........................................       179.94844     31.44640
193........................................       179.98329     31.46131
194........................................      -180.00000     31.46823
195........................................      -179.96410     31.48309
196........................................      -179.92880     31.49723
197........................................      -179.89333     31.51105
198........................................      -179.83980     31.53119
199........................................      -179.78591     31.55062
200........................................      -179.74978     31.56318
201........................................      -179.71350     31.57542
202........................................      -179.65880     31.59317
203........................................      -179.62215     31.60460
204........................................      -179.56691     31.62114
205........................................      -179.51138     31.63695
206........................................      -179.47371     31.64721
207........................................      -179.41770     31.66178
208........................................      -179.38021     31.67109
209........................................      -179.33210     31.68252
210........................................      -179.28243     31.69383
211........................................      -179.23675     31.70369
212........................................      -179.19878     31.71149
213........................................      -179.16071     31.71896
214........................................      -179.10344     31.72953
215........................................      -179.06516     31.73615
216........................................      -179.00758     31.74546
217........................................      -178.94983     31.75399
218........................................      -178.90738     31.75980
219........................................      -178.86874     31.76473
220........................................      -178.82975     31.76934
221........................................      -178.79099     31.77358
222........................................      -178.75218     31.77748
223........................................      -178.71331     31.78104
224........................................      -178.67441     31.78425

[[Page 4902]]

 
225........................................      -178.63547     31.78712
226........................................      -178.59650     31.78964
227........................................      -178.55749     31.79182
228........................................      -178.51846     31.79366
229........................................      -178.47941     31.79515
230........................................      -178.43412     31.79649
231........................................      -178.39504     31.79729
232........................................      -178.35596     31.79775
233........................................      -178.32396     31.79786
234........................................      -178.28487     31.79769
235........................................      -178.24552     31.79717
236........................................      -178.20645     31.79631
237........................................      -178.16738     31.79510
238........................................      -178.12834     31.79355
239........................................      -178.08931     31.79165
240........................................      -178.05031     31.78940
241........................................      -178.01134     31.78682
242........................................      -177.97241     31.78389
243........................................      -177.93351     31.78061
244........................................      -177.89466     31.77699
245........................................      -177.85585     31.77303
246........................................      -177.81646     31.76865
247........................................      -177.77776     31.76401
248........................................      -177.73912     31.75902
249........................................      -177.70055     31.75369
250........................................      -177.66205     31.74802
251........................................      -177.62362     31.74202
252........................................      -177.58526     31.73567
253........................................      -177.54140     31.72800
254........................................      -177.50321     31.72097
255........................................      -177.46512     31.71361
256........................................      -177.42712     31.70592
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758........................................      -164.49463     20.23438
759........................................      -164.54771     20.23197
760........................................      -164.58106     20.23084
761........................................      -164.60571     20.23016
762........................................      -164.65884     20.22922
763........................................      -164.71217     20.22902
764........................................      -164.74760     20.22930
765........................................      -164.78302     20.22990
766........................................      -164.83614     20.23141
767........................................      -164.88922     20.23366
768........................................      -164.92459     20.23557
769........................................      -164.97761     20.23904
770........................................      -165.01292     20.24176
771........................................      -165.04914     20.24489
772........................................      -165.10200     20.25007
773........................................      -165.13720     20.25393
774........................................      -165.18992     20.26033
775........................................      -165.24253     20.26745
776........................................      -165.27754     20.27261
777........................................      -165.31250     20.27808
778........................................      -165.36483     20.28690
779........................................      -165.41702     20.29644
780........................................      -165.45173     20.30321
781........................................      -165.50401     20.31402
782........................................      -165.54798     20.32372
783........................................      -165.60124     20.31609
784........................................      -165.65391     20.30930
785........................................      -165.70669     20.30323
786........................................      -165.75955     20.29790
787........................................      -165.81249     20.29329
788........................................      -165.86549     20.28942
789........................................      -165.91855     20.28628
790........................................      -165.97164     20.28388
791........................................      -166.02477     20.28221
792........................................      -166.07792     20.28127
793........................................      -166.13108     20.28107
794........................................      -166.18423     20.28160
795........................................      -166.23737     20.28288
796........................................      -166.29049     20.28488
797........................................      -166.34357     20.28762
798........................................      -166.36478     20.28892
799........................................      -166.39682     20.29110
800........................................      -166.43214     20.29382
801........................................      -166.48507     20.29852
802........................................      -166.52032     20.30205
803........................................      -166.57311     20.30796
804........................................      -166.61798     20.31350
805........................................      -166.65308     20.31816
806........................................      -166.70563     20.32577
807........................................      -166.74060     20.33125
808........................................      -166.77552     20.33705
809........................................      -166.82777     20.34635
810........................................      -166.87988     20.35637
811........................................      -166.91453     20.36345
812........................................      -166.94911     20.37085
813........................................      -166.99267     20.38061
814........................................      -167.02709     20.38865
815........................................      -167.07857     20.40130
816........................................      -167.11278     20.41012
817........................................      -167.14689     20.41926
818........................................      -167.19433     20.43226
819........................................      -167.22831     20.44187
820........................................      -167.26218     20.45180
821........................................      -167.29596     20.46203
822........................................      -167.32963     20.47258
823........................................      -167.36319     20.48344
824........................................      -167.39664     20.49460
825........................................      -167.44659     20.51193
826........................................      -167.47975     20.52386
827........................................      -167.51278     20.53610
828........................................      -167.54695     20.54913
829........................................      -167.57973     20.56197
830........................................      -167.61238     20.57511
831........................................      -167.64489     20.58856
832........................................      -167.67726     20.60230
833........................................      -167.70949     20.61634
834........................................      -167.74158     20.63068
835........................................      -167.77351     20.64532
836........................................      -167.80530     20.66024
837........................................      -167.83694     20.67546
838........................................      -167.86841     20.69097
839........................................      -167.91533     20.71478
840........................................      -167.94640     20.73101
841........................................      -167.97731     20.74752
842........................................      -168.00804     20.76432
843........................................      -168.03861     20.78140
844........................................      -168.08412     20.80755
845........................................      -168.11424     20.82533
846........................................      -168.14417     20.84338
847........................................      -168.17392     20.86172
848........................................      -168.20348     20.88032
849........................................      -168.24746     20.90873
850........................................      -168.27653     20.92801
851........................................      -168.31977     20.95743
852........................................      -168.36255     20.98744
853........................................      -168.40487     21.01804
854........................................      -168.43282     21.03877
855........................................      -168.47433     21.07033
856........................................      -168.50174     21.09169
857........................................      -168.54244     21.12420
858........................................      -168.58263     21.15727
859........................................      -168.62230     21.19089
860........................................      -168.66145     21.22506
861........................................      -168.68726     21.24813
862........................................      -168.71283     21.27145
863........................................      -168.75073     21.30685
864........................................      -168.77569     21.33075
865........................................      -168.81266     21.36701
866........................................      -168.83700     21.39147
867........................................      -168.87302     21.42858
868........................................      -168.90847     21.46618
869........................................      -168.93178     21.49152
870........................................      -168.96624     21.52992
871........................................      -168.99177     21.55913
872........................................      -169.02276     21.59546
873........................................      -169.04473     21.62184
874........................................      -169.07716     21.66178
875........................................      -169.09844     21.68866
876........................................      -169.12982     21.72934
877........................................      -169.15039     21.75669
878........................................      -169.18071     21.79808
879........................................      -169.20233     21.82840
880........................................      -169.21703     21.84743
881........................................      -169.23883     21.85466
882........................................      -169.27247     21.86611
883........................................      -169.32272     21.88387
884........................................      -169.37269     21.90231
885........................................      -169.42237     21.92143
886........................................      -169.47175     21.94122
887........................................      -169.52083     21.96170
888........................................      -169.56958     21.98284
889........................................      -169.61800     22.00464
890........................................      -169.66609     22.02710

[[Page 4905]]

 
891........................................      -169.71382     22.05022
892........................................      -169.76119     22.07399
893........................................      -169.80819     22.09840
894........................................      -169.85481     22.12345
895........................................      -169.90103     22.14914
896........................................      -169.94686     22.17546
897........................................      -169.97718     22.19335
898........................................      -170.00653     22.21103
899........................................      -170.05123     22.20415
900........................................      -170.08671     22.19907
901........................................      -170.12224     22.19431
902........................................      -170.15783     22.18987
903........................................      -170.19345     22.18575
904........................................      -170.22911     22.18196
905........................................      -170.28268     22.17688
906........................................      -170.31843     22.17390
907........................................      -170.35421     22.17125
908........................................      -170.39002     22.16891
909........................................      -170.42584     22.16691
910........................................      -170.46169     22.16523
911........................................      -170.51549     22.16332
912........................................      -170.55136     22.16245
913........................................      -170.58725     22.16191
914........................................      -170.62314     22.16170
915........................................      -170.65929     22.16181
916........................................      -170.69518     22.16224
917........................................      -170.73106     22.16301
918........................................      -170.76693     22.16410
919........................................      -170.80279     22.16551
920........................................      -170.83863     22.16725
921........................................      -170.89236     22.17047
922........................................      -170.92815     22.17302
923........................................      -170.96391     22.17590
924........................................      -170.99964     22.17910
925........................................      -171.03533     22.18263
926........................................      -171.07099     22.18648
927........................................      -171.12440     22.19286
928........................................      -171.15995     22.19751
929........................................      -171.19545     22.20249
930........................................      -171.23089     22.20780
931........................................      -171.28396     22.21635
932........................................      -171.33689     22.22563
933........................................      -171.38967     22.23563
934........................................      -171.42477     22.24269
935........................................      -171.47727     22.25389
936........................................      -171.52961     22.26579
937........................................      -171.58175     22.27841
938........................................      -171.63369     22.29174
939........................................      -171.68543     22.30577
940........................................      -171.73694     22.32050
941........................................      -171.78823     22.33594
942........................................      -171.83927     22.35207
943........................................      -171.89005     22.36889
944........................................      -171.94057     22.38641
945........................................      -171.99082     22.40461
946........................................      -172.03998     22.42318
947........................................      -172.09233     22.42751
948........................................      -172.12811     22.43088
949........................................      -172.18170     22.43653
950........................................      -172.21738     22.44070
951........................................      -172.25302     22.44519
952........................................      -172.28861     22.45001
953........................................      -172.32414     22.45515
954........................................      -172.37735     22.46346
955........................................      -172.41274     22.46941
956........................................      -172.46572     22.47892
957........................................      -172.50095     22.48567
958........................................      -172.55366     22.49638
959........................................      -172.58872     22.50392
960........................................      -172.64114     22.51582
961........................................      -172.67599     22.52415
962........................................      -172.71075     22.53279
963........................................      -172.76272     22.54635
964........................................      -172.79725     22.55578
965........................................      -172.83168     22.56552
966........................................      -172.86601     22.57558
967........................................      -172.90023     22.58594
968........................................      -172.95136     22.60207
969........................................      -172.98531     22.61320
970........................................      -173.03602     22.63048
971........................................      -173.08645     22.64845
972........................................      -173.11992     22.66081
973........................................      -173.15325     22.67347
974........................................      -173.18646     22.68643
975........................................      -173.23601     22.70643
976........................................      -173.26888     22.72014
977........................................      -173.30160     22.73415
978........................................      -173.34556     22.75354
979........................................      -173.37723     22.74830
980........................................      -173.41277     22.74274
981........................................      -173.44836     22.73750
982........................................      -173.48400     22.73258
983........................................      -173.51970     22.72798
984........................................      -173.55544     22.72371
985........................................      -173.59122     22.71976
986........................................      -173.62704     22.71613
987........................................      -173.66290     22.71283
988........................................      -173.69879     22.70985
989........................................      -173.73470     22.70720
990........................................      -173.77065     22.70487
991........................................      -173.80661     22.70286
992........................................      -173.84260     22.70118
993........................................      -173.87860     22.69983
994........................................      -173.91461     22.69880
995........................................      -173.95063     22.69810
996........................................      -173.98666     22.69772
997........................................      -174.02268     22.69767
998........................................      -174.05871     22.69794
999........................................      -174.09473     22.69854
1000.......................................      -174.13075     22.69947
1001.......................................      -174.16675     22.70072
1002.......................................      -174.20274     22.70229
1003.......................................      -174.23871     22.70419
1004.......................................      -174.27466     22.70642
1005.......................................      -174.31059     22.70897
1006.......................................      -174.34649     22.71185
1007.......................................      -174.38235     22.71505
1008.......................................      -174.41819     22.71857
1009.......................................      -174.45398     22.72242
1010.......................................      -174.48974     22.72659
1011.......................................      -174.52545     22.73108
1012.......................................      -174.56111     22.73589
1013.......................................      -174.59672     22.74103
1014.......................................      -174.63227     22.74649
1015.......................................      -174.66777     22.75227
1016.......................................      -174.70321     22.75837
1017.......................................      -174.73859     22.76479
1018.......................................      -174.77389     22.77154
1019.......................................      -174.82672     22.78224
1020.......................................      -174.86184     22.78978
1021.......................................      -174.89689     22.79763
1022.......................................      -174.93185     22.80580
1023.......................................      -174.96673     22.81429
1024.......................................      -175.00151     22.82308
1025.......................................      -175.03621     22.83220
1026.......................................      -175.07081     22.84163
1027.......................................      -175.10531     22.85136
1028.......................................      -175.13972     22.86141
1029.......................................      -175.17401     22.87178
1030.......................................      -175.20820     22.88244
1031.......................................      -175.24228     22.89342
1032.......................................      -175.27624     22.90471
1033.......................................      -175.31009     22.91630
1034.......................................      -175.34381     22.92820
1035.......................................      -175.37741     22.94040
1036.......................................      -175.41089     22.95290
1037.......................................      -175.44423     22.96571
1038.......................................      -175.47744     22.97882
1039.......................................      -175.51051     22.99222
1040.......................................      -175.54345     23.00593
1041.......................................      -175.57624     23.01993
1042.......................................      -175.60888     23.03422
1043.......................................      -175.64138     23.04881
1044.......................................      -175.67372     23.06370
1045.......................................      -175.70591     23.07887
1046.......................................      -175.73795     23.09434
1047.......................................      -175.76982     23.11009
1048.......................................      -175.81731     23.13426
1049.......................................      -175.84877     23.15073
1050.......................................      -175.88005     23.16748
1051.......................................      -175.91116     23.18451
1052.......................................      -175.94209     23.20183
1053.......................................      -175.98815     23.22832
1054.......................................      -176.01862     23.24633
1055.......................................      -176.04891     23.26461
1056.......................................      -176.09398     23.29254
1057.......................................      -176.12379     23.31150
1058.......................................      -176.15339     23.33073
1059.......................................      -176.18280     23.35022
1060.......................................      -176.21200     23.36998
1061.......................................      -176.25542     23.40011
1062.......................................      -176.28410     23.42053
1063.......................................      -176.31256     23.44120
1064.......................................      -176.35486     23.47268
1065.......................................      -176.38278     23.49399
1066.......................................      -176.41048     23.51554
1067.......................................      -176.43795     23.53735
1068.......................................      -176.46520     23.55940
1069.......................................      -176.50563     23.59294
1070.......................................      -176.53229     23.61560
1071.......................................      -176.55872     23.63850
1072.......................................      -176.59790     23.67330
1073.......................................      -176.62372     23.69679
1074.......................................      -176.66199     23.73246
1075.......................................      -176.68719     23.75653
1076.......................................      -176.71213     23.78082
1077.......................................      -176.73682     23.80534
1078.......................................      -176.76125     23.83007
1079.......................................      -176.78542     23.85503
1080.......................................      -176.80933     23.88021
1081.......................................      -176.83297     23.90559
1082.......................................      -176.85635     23.93119
1083.......................................      -176.87945     23.95700
1084.......................................      -176.90229     23.98302
1085.......................................      -176.93602     24.02243
1086.......................................      -176.96913     24.06229
1087.......................................      -176.99085     24.08911
1088.......................................      -177.01229     24.11613
1089.......................................      -177.03344     24.14334
1090.......................................      -177.06462     24.18451
1091.......................................      -177.08505     24.21218
1092.......................................      -177.10518     24.24004
1093.......................................      -177.12502     24.26808
1094.......................................      -177.14456     24.29630
1095.......................................      -177.17331     24.33895
1096.......................................      -177.19209     24.36760
1097.......................................      -177.21058     24.39642
1098.......................................      -177.22875     24.42540
1099.......................................      -177.25544     24.46918
1100.......................................      -177.27284     24.49856
1101.......................................      -177.28992     24.52810
1102.......................................      -177.30670     24.55779
1103.......................................      -177.32315     24.58763
1104.......................................      -177.33929     24.61762
1105.......................................      -177.36249     24.66210
1106.......................................      -177.38606     24.67081
1107.......................................      -177.41985     24.68359
1108.......................................      -177.45352     24.69667
1109.......................................      -177.48704     24.71005
1110.......................................      -177.53706     24.73067
1111.......................................      -177.57023     24.74479
1112.......................................      -177.60325     24.75920

[[Page 4906]]

 
1113.......................................      -177.63612     24.77391
1114.......................................      -177.66883     24.78891
1115.......................................      -177.71760     24.81195
1116.......................................      -177.74992     24.82767
1117.......................................      -177.78206     24.84367
1118.......................................      -177.81404     24.85996
1119.......................................      -177.83690     24.87185
1120.......................................      -177.88667     24.87745
1121.......................................      -177.94111     24.88429
1122.......................................      -177.97195     24.88850
1123.......................................      -177.99642     24.89200
1124.......................................      -178.05062     24.90028
1125.......................................      -178.10469     24.90929
1126.......................................      -178.14066     24.91569
1127.......................................      -178.16577     24.92034
1128.......................................      -178.21953     24.93078
1129.......................................      -178.27313     24.94194
1130.......................................      -178.32655     24.95380
1131.......................................      -178.37978     24.96637
1132.......................................      -178.43281     24.97965
1133.......................................      -178.48563     24.99363
1134.......................................      -178.53822     25.00832
1135.......................................      -178.59058     25.02370
1136.......................................      -178.61445     25.03096
1137.......................................      -178.64360     25.04005
1138.......................................      -178.67821     25.05115
1139.......................................      -178.70077     25.05859
1140.......................................      -178.72148     25.06052
1141.......................................      -178.75794     25.06420
1142.......................................      -178.81257     25.07031
1143.......................................      -178.86732     25.07718
1144.......................................      -178.90360     25.08214
1145.......................................      -178.93984     25.08742
1146.......................................      -178.98140     25.09382
1147.......................................      -179.01755     25.09959
1148.......................................      -179.07166     25.10883
1149.......................................      -179.10765     25.11539
1150.......................................      -179.14357     25.12227
1151.......................................      -179.19731     25.13318
1152.......................................      -179.25088     25.14480
1153.......................................      -179.28649     25.15295
1154.......................................      -179.32201     25.16140
1155.......................................      -179.35744     25.17018
1156.......................................      -179.38198     25.17642
1157.......................................      -179.43516     25.19048
1158.......................................      -179.47030     25.20018
1159.......................................      -179.50534     25.21020
1160.......................................      -179.55770     25.22581
1161.......................................      -179.60982     25.24211
1162.......................................      -179.66168     25.25911
1163.......................................      -179.69610     25.27081
1164.......................................      -179.73039     25.28283
1165.......................................      -179.76456     25.29514
1166.......................................      -179.79860     25.30776
1167.......................................      -179.83251     25.32068
1168.......................................      -179.86628     25.33389
1169.......................................      -179.89991     25.34741
1170.......................................      -179.93340     25.36122
1171.......................................      -179.96674     25.37533
1172.......................................      -180.00000     25.38976
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix C to Subpart W of Part 922--Coordinates for the Midway Atoll 
Special Management Area

[Coordinates listed in this appendix are unprojected (Geographic) 
and based on the North American Datum of 1983]
    The boundaries for the areas listed in this appendix, unless 
otherwise described in this rule, begin at Point 1 as indicated in 
the particular area's coordinate table and continue to each 
successive point in numerical order until ending at the last point 
in the table.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Point No.                      Longitude      Latitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..........................................      -177.31267     27.99792
2..........................................      -177.36342     27.99124
3..........................................      -177.41762     27.99216
4..........................................      -177.47082     27.99962
5..........................................      -177.51875     28.01516
6..........................................      -177.55393     28.03661
7..........................................      -177.59424     28.06817
8..........................................      -177.62036     28.10572
9..........................................      -177.64395     28.14862
10.........................................      -177.65507     28.20134
11.........................................      -177.65600     28.21430
12.........................................      -177.65028     28.23674
13.........................................      -177.65187     28.25877
14.........................................      -177.63704     28.29735
15.........................................      -177.62519     28.31624
16.........................................      -177.60768     28.33804
17.........................................      -177.59529     28.36997
18.........................................      -177.56544     28.40418
19.........................................      -177.52661     28.43628
20.........................................      -177.49013     28.46044
21.........................................      -177.44568     28.47591
22.........................................      -177.42409     28.48231
23.........................................      -177.37872     28.48480
24.........................................      -177.32412     28.48128
25.........................................      -177.26570     28.46492
26.........................................      -177.21865     28.44274
27.........................................      -177.17255     28.41268
28.........................................      -177.13782     28.37680
29.........................................      -177.11574     28.33244
30.........................................      -177.08945     28.26879
31.........................................      -177.08725     28.21427
32.........................................      -177.08489     28.17927
33.........................................      -177.09363     28.15669
34.........................................      -177.10914     28.12595
35.........................................      -177.12481     28.09780
36.........................................      -177.15060     28.06781
37.........................................      -177.18677     28.03986
38.........................................      -177.22207     28.02105
39.........................................      -177.26492     28.00572
40.........................................      -177.31267     27.99792
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix D to Subpart W of Part 922--Coordinates for the Special 
Preservation Areas (SPAs)

[Coordinates listed in this appendix are unprojected (Geographic) 
and based on the North American Datum of 1983]

    The boundaries for the areas listed in this appendix, unless 
otherwise described in this rule, begin at Point 1 as indicated in 
the particular area's coordinate table and continue to each 
successive point in numerical order until ending at the last point 
in the table.

     Table 1--Coordinates for H[omacr]lanik[umacr] (Kure Atoll) SPA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Point No.                      Longitude      Latitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..........................................      -178.42982     28.39284
2..........................................      -178.43641     28.39991
3..........................................      -178.44628     28.41516
4..........................................      -178.44829     28.43220
5..........................................      -178.44120     28.45537
6..........................................      -178.43083     28.47814
7..........................................      -178.41324     28.49646
8..........................................      -178.40698     28.50082
9..........................................      -178.39886     28.50648
10.........................................      -178.38081     28.51486
11.........................................      -178.35703     28.51998
12.........................................      -178.33482     28.52195
13.........................................      -178.33480     28.52195
14.........................................      -178.33096     28.52588
15.........................................      -178.32267     28.52960
16.........................................      -178.30753     28.54606
17.........................................      -178.29651     28.54402
18.........................................      -178.28574     28.52279
19.........................................      -178.28205     28.50290
20.........................................      -178.28203     28.50289
21.........................................      -178.27634     28.49938
22.........................................      -178.26090     28.48707
23.........................................      -178.25026     28.47569
24.........................................      -178.24590     28.47103
25.........................................      -178.23869     28.45022
26.........................................      -178.23126     28.41686
27.........................................      -178.23242     28.39706
28.........................................      -178.23826     28.37827
29.........................................      -178.24572     28.36305
30.........................................      -178.24663     28.36228
31.........................................      -178.24665     28.36227
32.........................................      -178.23880     28.35166
33.........................................      -178.22857     28.34386
34.........................................      -178.21418     28.34135
35.........................................      -178.21125     28.32830
36.........................................      -178.21580     28.32098
37.........................................      -178.22682     28.31875
38.........................................      -178.23360     28.32678
39.........................................      -178.26169     28.33216
40.........................................      -178.26256     28.34256
41.........................................      -178.26685     28.34603
42.........................................      -178.26983     28.34386
43.........................................      -178.28608     28.33631
44.........................................      -178.31541     28.33530
45.........................................      -178.36386     28.34022
46.........................................      -178.38109     28.34407
47.........................................      -178.40622     28.32394
48.........................................      -178.42837     28.32125
49.........................................      -178.43274     28.36763
50.........................................      -178.42982     28.39284
------------------------------------------------------------------------


      Table 2--Coordinates for Manawai (Pearl and Hermes Atoll) SPA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Point No.                      Longitude      Latitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..........................................      -176.03652     27.75775
2..........................................      -176.04088     27.76832
3..........................................      -176.04088     27.76832
4..........................................      -176.04830     27.77010
5..........................................      -176.06549     27.78232
6..........................................      -176.03704     27.84094
7..........................................      -176.03441     27.85558
8..........................................      -176.03489     27.87411
9..........................................      -176.02724     27.89274
10.........................................      -176.01285     27.89991
11.........................................      -175.98350     27.91077
12.........................................      -175.98347     27.91080
13.........................................      -175.97662     27.91971
14.........................................      -175.96741     27.92798
15.........................................      -175.95689     27.93510
16.........................................      -175.94636     27.93942
17.........................................      -175.93781     27.94332
18.........................................      -175.92692     27.95035
19.........................................      -175.90613     27.96355
20.........................................      -175.88894     27.97471
21.........................................      -175.87548     27.98165
22.........................................      -175.86046     27.98780
23.........................................      -175.83952     27.99711

[[Page 4907]]

 
24.........................................      -175.82333     28.00466
25.........................................      -175.81383     28.00844
26.........................................      -175.80379     28.01098
27.........................................      -175.79318     28.01152
28.........................................      -175.78174     28.01106
29.........................................      -175.77016     28.01031
30.........................................      -175.76421     28.00935
31.........................................      -175.76418     28.00935
32.........................................      -175.76189     28.01111
33.........................................      -175.73451     28.02165
34.........................................      -175.71502     28.00762
35.........................................      -175.70865     27.98973
36.........................................      -175.70863     27.98971
37.........................................      -175.69833     27.98219
38.........................................      -175.69171     27.97663
39.........................................      -175.68857     27.97399
40.........................................      -175.68160     27.96778
41.........................................      -175.67658     27.96256
42.........................................      -175.67240     27.95558
43.........................................      -175.66795     27.94587
44.........................................      -175.66433     27.93515
45.........................................      -175.66239     27.92393
46.........................................      -175.66156     27.91419
47.........................................      -175.66186     27.89972
48.........................................      -175.66410     27.88349
49.........................................      -175.66915     27.86916
50.........................................      -175.67268     27.85916
51.........................................      -175.67530     27.84825
52.........................................      -175.67894     27.83626
53.........................................      -175.68258     27.82801
54.........................................      -175.68899     27.81801
55.........................................      -175.69097     27.81125
56.........................................      -175.69321     27.80550
57.........................................      -175.69331     27.80524
58.........................................      -175.69713     27.79526
59.........................................      -175.70412     27.78375
60.........................................      -175.70943     27.77649
61.........................................      -175.71351     27.77101
62.........................................      -175.71352     27.77099
63.........................................      -175.71049     27.76347
64.........................................      -175.71993     27.75551
65.........................................      -175.72502     27.75516
66.........................................      -175.72955     27.74921
67.........................................      -175.73541     27.74444
68.........................................      -175.74364     27.73989
69.........................................      -175.75468     27.73513
70.........................................      -175.76640     27.73259
71.........................................      -175.77924     27.73129
72.........................................      -175.79543     27.73023
73.........................................      -175.81639     27.73105
74.........................................      -175.82556     27.73236
75.........................................      -175.83310     27.73358
76.........................................      -175.83756     27.73456
77.........................................      -175.84175     27.73504
78.........................................      -175.84594     27.73228
79.........................................      -175.85277     27.72748
80.........................................      -175.86185     27.72274
81.........................................      -175.87480     27.71713
82.........................................      -175.89491     27.70934
83.........................................      -175.91378     27.70257
84.........................................      -175.92997     27.69926
85.........................................      -175.94532     27.69745
86.........................................      -175.95649     27.69766
87.........................................      -175.96681     27.69937
88.........................................      -175.97685     27.70332
89.........................................      -175.98968     27.71026
90.........................................      -176.00334     27.72044
91.........................................      -176.01701     27.73237
92.........................................      -176.02593     27.74182
93.........................................      -176.02997     27.74680
94.........................................      -176.03178     27.74903
95.........................................      -176.03652     27.75775
------------------------------------------------------------------------


          Table 3--Coordinates for Kapou (Lisianski Island) SPA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Point No.                      Longitude      Latitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..........................................      -173.79069     25.94039
2..........................................      -173.79506     25.91077
3..........................................      -173.79506     25.91077
4..........................................      -173.85089     25.87148
5..........................................      -173.89161     25.87949
6..........................................      -173.94399     25.87998
7..........................................      -174.10879     25.96371
8..........................................      -174.12000     25.97958
9..........................................      -174.14257     26.00021
10.........................................      -174.15729     26.04055
11.........................................      -174.15482     26.12273
12.........................................      -174.13333     26.17497
13.........................................      -174.08554     26.21215
14.........................................      -174.05059     26.21724
15.........................................      -173.98290     26.21243
16.........................................      -173.93333     26.18331
17.........................................      -173.89656     26.14220
18.........................................      -173.86186     26.11938
19.........................................      -173.82229     26.08560
20.........................................      -173.79999     26.04164
21.........................................      -173.76666     26.00831
22.........................................      -173.75210     25.98825
23.........................................      -173.75283     25.97102
24.........................................      -173.79069     25.94039
------------------------------------------------------------------------


           Table 4--Coordinates for Kamole (Laysan Island) SPA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Point No.                      Longitude      Latitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..........................................      -171.65000     25.71667
2..........................................      -171.66667     25.70000
3..........................................      -171.70000     25.69167
4..........................................      -171.70833     25.70000
5..........................................      -171.73333     25.70000
6..........................................      -171.75000     25.69167
7..........................................      -171.78333     25.69167
8..........................................      -171.81667     25.70833
9..........................................      -171.85000     25.75833
10.........................................      -171.86667     25.79167
11.........................................      -171.87500     25.83333
12.........................................      -171.85000     25.86667
13.........................................      -171.83333     25.88333
14.........................................      -171.80000     25.90000
15.........................................      -171.76667     25.90000
16.........................................      -171.67500     25.88333
17.........................................      -171.62500     25.86667
18.........................................      -171.60000     25.83333
19.........................................      -171.59167     25.79167
20.........................................      -171.60000     25.76667
21.........................................      -171.61667     25.74167
22.........................................      -171.63333     25.72500
23.........................................      -171.65000     25.71667
------------------------------------------------------------------------


   Table 5--Coordinates for Kamokuokamohoali[revaps]i (Maro Reef) SPA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Point No.                      Longitude      Latitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..........................................      -170.51714     25.56669
2..........................................      -170.40880     25.46669
3..........................................      -170.35047     25.37502
4..........................................      -170.40880     25.25835
5..........................................      -170.42547     25.25002
6..........................................      -170.54214     25.25835
7..........................................      -170.59214     25.28335
8..........................................      -170.65047     25.30002
9..........................................      -170.76714     25.31669
10.........................................      -170.80047     25.33335
11.........................................      -170.80880     25.35835
12.........................................      -170.86714     25.39169
13.........................................      -170.89214     25.45002
14.........................................      -170.90047     25.52502
15.........................................      -170.90047     25.55002
16.........................................      -170.87547     25.58335
17.........................................      -170.80881     25.62502
18.........................................      -170.77547     25.63335
19.........................................      -170.70880     25.63335
20.........................................      -170.68381     25.61669
21.........................................      -170.57547     25.59169
22.........................................      -170.51714     25.56669
------------------------------------------------------------------------


         Table 6--Coordinates for [revaps][Omacr]n[umacr]nui and
              [revaps][Omacr]nuiki (Gardner Pinnacles) SPA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Point No.                      Longitude      Latitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..........................................      -167.93207     25.06955
2..........................................      -167.92506     25.04175
3..........................................      -167.94165     25.01326
4..........................................      -167.94166     24.94164
5..........................................      -167.92273     24.90603
6..........................................      -167.90123     24.88174
7..........................................      -167.89166     24.84997
8..........................................      -167.89766     24.74763
9..........................................      -167.87266     24.62908
10.........................................      -167.87360     24.59072
11.........................................      -167.86659     24.56315
12.........................................      -167.87500     24.49164
13.........................................      -167.89063     24.44829
14.........................................      -167.90184     24.42844
15.........................................      -167.95440     24.41115
16.........................................      -167.98968     24.41979
17.........................................      -168.00369     24.43801
18.........................................      -168.01666     24.50831
19.........................................      -168.05000     24.57498
20.........................................      -168.08333     24.59164
21.........................................      -168.12500     24.69997
22.........................................      -168.13333     24.77497
23.........................................      -168.15000     24.81664
24.........................................      -168.15000     24.88331
25.........................................      -168.22500     24.94997
26.........................................      -168.26666     25.00831
27.........................................      -168.27799     25.06540
28.........................................      -168.26794     25.09301
29.........................................      -168.25089     25.10375
30.........................................      -168.22575     25.16587
31.........................................      -168.19632     25.18175
32.........................................      -168.14166     25.19164
33.........................................      -168.08636     25.19273
34.........................................      -168.04128     25.17404
35.........................................      -167.98333     25.12498
36.........................................      -167.93207     25.06955
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 4908]]


        Table 7--Coordinates for Lalo (French Frigate Shoals) SPA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Point No.                      Longitude      Latitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..........................................      -165.58333     23.99997
2..........................................      -165.58333     23.49997
3..........................................      -166.75000     23.66664
4..........................................      -166.92817     23.68779
5..........................................      -166.92756     23.74082
6..........................................      -166.92417     24.03651
7..........................................      -166.75227     24.03400
8..........................................      -166.75000     24.16664
9..........................................      -165.58333     23.99997
------------------------------------------------------------------------


           Table 8--Coordinates for Mokumanamana (Necker) SPA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Point No.                      Longitude      Latitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..........................................      -164.55178     23.64216
2..........................................      -164.53515     23.61324
3..........................................      -164.53018     23.58826
4..........................................      -164.52734     23.55099
5..........................................      -164.50977     23.52283
6..........................................      -164.45148     23.49085
7..........................................      -164.44165     23.48045
8..........................................      -164.39327     23.46288
9..........................................      -164.36812     23.46322
10.........................................      -164.32711     23.44904
11.........................................      -164.30462     23.43128
12.........................................      -164.28233     23.39686
13.........................................      -164.27062     23.35708
14.........................................      -164.25021     23.30870
15.........................................      -164.25676     23.28970
16.........................................      -164.26716     23.27912
17.........................................      -164.27585     23.25682
18.........................................      -164.29815     23.23537
19.........................................      -164.33671     23.23253
20.........................................      -164.36910     23.23801
21.........................................      -164.39560     23.25619
22.........................................      -164.45702     23.26300
23.........................................      -164.47063     23.27037
24.........................................      -164.48333     23.29164
25.........................................      -164.52500     23.30831
26.........................................      -164.59613     23.30887
27.........................................      -164.63036     23.29942
28.........................................      -164.64112     23.30040
29.........................................      -164.63917     23.31377
30.........................................      -164.62971     23.32387
31.........................................      -164.61895     23.32681
32.........................................      -164.62156     23.34246
33.........................................      -164.60917     23.35387
34.........................................      -164.58863     23.40643
35.........................................      -164.57950     23.44490
36.........................................      -164.60558     23.45599
37.........................................      -164.60917     23.46675
38.........................................      -164.62260     23.47995
39.........................................      -164.65117     23.49002
40.........................................      -164.69597     23.49691
41.........................................      -164.73352     23.49654
42.........................................      -164.76980     23.48444
43.........................................      -164.78209     23.50277
44.........................................      -164.79929     23.50920
45.........................................      -164.81081     23.52337
46.........................................      -164.83255     23.53736
47.........................................      -164.84703     23.56743
48.........................................      -164.83436     23.60088
49.........................................      -164.81981     23.61619
50.........................................      -164.80110     23.62243
51.........................................      -164.76840     23.62148
52.........................................      -164.73854     23.63112
53.........................................      -164.68789     23.65058
54.........................................      -164.62458     23.66325
55.........................................      -164.57582     23.65644
56.........................................      -164.55178     23.64216
------------------------------------------------------------------------


                Table 9--Coordinates for Nihoa Island SPA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Point No.                      Longitude      Latitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..........................................      -161.97131     23.09961
2..........................................      -161.97057     23.10037
3..........................................      -161.96981     23.10112
4..........................................      -161.96904     23.10185
5..........................................      -161.96825     23.10258
6..........................................      -161.96745     23.10329
7..........................................      -161.96663     23.10399
8..........................................      -161.96580     23.10468
9..........................................      -161.96495     23.10535
10.........................................      -161.96409     23.10602
11.........................................      -161.96322     23.10667
12.........................................      -161.96234     23.10731
13.........................................      -161.96144     23.10793
14.........................................      -161.96053     23.10854
15.........................................      -161.95961     23.10914
16.........................................      -161.95867     23.10972
17.........................................      -161.95773     23.11029
18.........................................      -161.95677     23.11085
19.........................................      -161.95580     23.11139
20.........................................      -161.95482     23.11191
21.........................................      -161.95383     23.11242
22.........................................      -161.95283     23.11292
23.........................................      -161.95182     23.11340
24.........................................      -161.95080     23.11387
25.........................................      -161.94977     23.11432
26.........................................      -161.94874     23.11475
27.........................................      -161.94769     23.11517
28.........................................      -161.94664     23.11558
29.........................................      -161.94557     23.11597
30.........................................      -161.94450     23.11634
31.........................................      -161.94342     23.11670
32.........................................      -161.94234     23.11704
33.........................................      -161.94125     23.11736
34.........................................      -161.94015     23.11767
35.........................................      -161.93905     23.11796
36.........................................      -161.93794     23.11824
37.........................................      -161.93682     23.11850
38.........................................      -161.93570     23.11874
39.........................................      -161.93458     23.11897
40.........................................      -161.93345     23.11917
41.........................................      -161.93232     23.11937
42.........................................      -161.93118     23.11954
43.........................................      -161.93004     23.11970
44.........................................      -161.92890     23.11984
45.........................................      -161.92775     23.11996
46.........................................      -161.92661     23.12007
47.........................................      -161.92546     23.12016
48.........................................      -161.92431     23.12023
49.........................................      -161.92315     23.12029
50.........................................      -161.92200     23.12032
51.........................................      -161.92085     23.12035
52.........................................      -161.91969     23.12035
53.........................................      -161.91854     23.12034
54.........................................      -161.91739     23.12030
55.........................................      -161.91624     23.12026
56.........................................      -161.91509     23.12019
57.........................................      -161.91394     23.12011
58.........................................      -161.91279     23.12001
59.........................................      -161.91164     23.11989
60.........................................      -161.91050     23.11976
61.........................................      -161.90936     23.11961
62.........................................      -161.90823     23.11944
63.........................................      -161.90709     23.11925
64.........................................      -161.90597     23.11905
65.........................................      -161.90484     23.11883
66.........................................      -161.90372     23.11860
67.........................................      -161.90261     23.11835
68.........................................      -161.90150     23.11808
69.........................................      -161.90040     23.11779
70.........................................      -161.89930     23.11749
71.........................................      -161.89821     23.11717
72.........................................      -161.89713     23.11684
73.........................................      -161.89605     23.11649
74.........................................      -161.89520     23.11619
75.........................................      -161.89498     23.11612
76.........................................      -161.89401     23.11577
77.........................................      -161.89392     23.11574
78.........................................      -161.89287     23.11534
79.........................................      -161.89182     23.11493
80.........................................      -161.89079     23.11450
81.........................................      -161.88976     23.11405
82.........................................      -161.88874     23.11359
83.........................................      -161.88774     23.11311
84.........................................      -161.88674     23.11262
85.........................................      -161.88575     23.11212
86.........................................      -161.88477     23.11160
87.........................................      -161.88381     23.11107
88.........................................      -161.88285     23.11052
89.........................................      -161.88191     23.10995
90.........................................      -161.88097     23.10938
91.........................................      -161.88005     23.10878
92.........................................      -161.87915     23.10818
93.........................................      -161.87825     23.10756
94.........................................      -161.87737     23.10693
95.........................................      -161.87650     23.10628
96.........................................      -161.87564     23.10563
97.........................................      -161.87480     23.10495
98.........................................      -161.87397     23.10427
99.........................................      -161.87316     23.10358
100........................................      -161.87236     23.10287
101........................................      -161.87157     23.10215
102........................................      -161.87080     23.10142
103........................................      -161.87004     23.10067
104........................................      -161.86930     23.09992
105........................................      -161.86858     23.09916
106........................................      -161.86787     23.09838
107........................................      -161.86750     23.09796
108........................................      -161.86718     23.09759
109........................................      -161.86650     23.09679
110........................................      -161.86584     23.09599
111........................................      -161.86520     23.09517
112........................................      -161.86457     23.09435
113........................................      -161.86396     23.09351
114........................................      -161.86337     23.09267
115........................................      -161.86279     23.09181
116........................................      -161.86224     23.09095
117........................................      -161.86170     23.09008
118........................................      -161.86117     23.08920
119........................................      -161.86067     23.08832
120........................................      -161.86018     23.08742
121........................................      -161.85972     23.08653
122........................................      -161.85927     23.08562
123........................................      -161.85884     23.08470
124........................................      -161.85842     23.08378
125........................................      -161.85803     23.08286
126........................................      -161.85766     23.08193
127........................................      -161.85730     23.08099
128........................................      -161.85697     23.08004
129........................................      -161.85665     23.07910
130........................................      -161.85635     23.07814
131........................................      -161.85608     23.07719
132........................................      -161.85582     23.07622

[[Page 4909]]

 
133........................................      -161.85558     23.07526
134........................................      -161.85536     23.07429
135........................................      -161.85516     23.07332
136........................................      -161.85499     23.07235
137........................................      -161.85483     23.07137
138........................................      -161.85469     23.07039
139........................................      -161.85457     23.06941
140........................................      -161.85447     23.06843
141........................................      -161.85439     23.06744
142........................................      -161.85433     23.06645
143........................................      -161.85429     23.06547
144........................................      -161.85428     23.06448
145........................................      -161.85428     23.06349
146........................................      -161.85430     23.06251
147........................................      -161.85434     23.06152
148........................................      -161.85440     23.06053
149........................................      -161.85449     23.05955
150........................................      -161.85459     23.05857
151........................................      -161.85471     23.05758
152........................................      -161.85485     23.05660
153........................................      -161.85502     23.05563
154........................................      -161.85520     23.05465
155........................................      -161.85540     23.05367
156........................................      -161.85562     23.05271
157........................................      -161.85586     23.05174
158........................................      -161.85612     23.05078
159........................................      -161.85641     23.04982
160........................................      -161.85671     23.04887
161........................................      -161.85703     23.04791
162........................................      -161.85736     23.04697
163........................................      -161.85772     23.04603
164........................................      -161.85810     23.04510
165........................................      -161.85850     23.04417
166........................................      -161.85891     23.04324
167........................................      -161.85935     23.04233
168........................................      -161.85980     23.04142
169........................................      -161.86027     23.04051
170........................................      -161.86076     23.03962
171........................................      -161.86126     23.03873
172........................................      -161.86179     23.03785
173........................................      -161.86233     23.03698
174........................................      -161.86289     23.03611
175........................................      -161.86347     23.03525
176........................................      -161.86407     23.03440
177........................................      -161.86468     23.03357
178........................................      -161.86531     23.03274
179........................................      -161.86596     23.03191
180........................................      -161.86662     23.03110
181........................................      -161.86730     23.03031
182........................................      -161.86800     23.02951
183........................................      -161.86871     23.02873
184........................................      -161.86943     23.02796
185........................................      -161.87018     23.02720
186........................................      -161.87094     23.02646
187........................................      -161.87171     23.02572
188........................................      -161.87250     23.02500
189........................................      -161.87330     23.02428
190........................................      -161.87412     23.02358
191........................................      -161.87495     23.02290
192........................................      -161.87579     23.02222
193........................................      -161.87665     23.02156
194........................................      -161.87752     23.02091
195........................................      -161.87841     23.02027
196........................................      -161.87931     23.01965
197........................................      -161.88022     23.01903
198........................................      -161.88114     23.01844
199........................................      -161.88207     23.01786
200........................................      -161.88302     23.01729
201........................................      -161.88398     23.01673
202........................................      -161.88494     23.01619
203........................................      -161.88592     23.01567
204........................................      -161.88691     23.01515
205........................................      -161.88791     23.01466
206........................................      -161.88892     23.01417
207........................................      -161.88994     23.01371
208........................................      -161.89097     23.01326
209........................................      -161.89201     23.01282
210........................................      -161.89306     23.01240
211........................................      -161.89411     23.01200
212........................................      -161.89517     23.01161
213........................................      -161.89624     23.01123
214........................................      -161.89732     23.01088
215........................................      -161.89841     23.01054
216........................................      -161.89950     23.01021
217........................................      -161.90059     23.00990
218........................................      -161.90170     23.00961
219........................................      -161.90281     23.00934
220........................................      -161.90392     23.00908
221........................................      -161.90504     23.00884
222........................................      -161.90617     23.00861
223........................................      -161.90730     23.00840
224........................................      -161.90843     23.00821
225........................................      -161.90875     23.00816
226........................................      -161.90956     23.00803
227........................................      -161.91070     23.00788
228........................................      -161.91185     23.00774
229........................................      -161.91299     23.00761
230........................................      -161.91366     23.00755
231........................................      -161.91414     23.00751
232........................................      -161.91529     23.00742
233........................................      -161.91644     23.00734
234........................................      -161.91759     23.00729
235........................................      -161.91874     23.00725
236........................................      -161.91990     23.00723
237........................................      -161.92105     23.00723
238........................................      -161.92221     23.00724
239........................................      -161.92336     23.00727
240........................................      -161.92336     23.00727
241........................................      -161.92451     23.00732
242........................................      -161.92566     23.00738
243........................................      -161.92681     23.00747
244........................................      -161.92796     23.00757
245........................................      -161.92910     23.00768
246........................................      -161.93024     23.00782
247........................................      -161.93138     23.00797
248........................................      -161.93252     23.00814
249........................................      -161.93365     23.00832
250........................................      -161.93478     23.00852
251........................................      -161.93590     23.00874
252........................................      -161.93702     23.00898
253........................................      -161.93814     23.00923
254........................................      -161.93924     23.00950
255........................................      -161.94035     23.00978
256........................................      -161.94144     23.01008
257........................................      -161.94253     23.01040
258........................................      -161.94362     23.01074
259........................................      -161.94469     23.01109
260........................................      -161.94576     23.01146
261........................................      -161.94682     23.01184
262........................................      -161.94788     23.01224
263........................................      -161.94892     23.01265
264........................................      -161.94996     23.01308
265........................................      -161.95098     23.01352
266........................................      -161.95200     23.01399
267........................................      -161.95301     23.01446
268........................................      -161.95401     23.01495
269........................................      -161.95500     23.01546
270........................................      -161.95597     23.01598
271........................................      -161.95694     23.01651
272........................................      -161.95790     23.01706
273........................................      -161.95884     23.01762
274........................................      -161.95977     23.01820
275........................................      -161.96069     23.01879
276........................................      -161.96160     23.01940
277........................................      -161.96172     23.01948
278........................................      -161.96189     23.01960
279........................................      -161.96250     23.02001
280........................................      -161.96338     23.02065
281........................................      -161.96425     23.02129
282........................................      -161.96510     23.02195
283........................................      -161.96595     23.02262
284........................................      -161.96677     23.02330
285........................................      -161.96759     23.02400
286........................................      -161.96839     23.02471
287........................................      -161.96917     23.02543
288........................................      -161.96995     23.02616
289........................................      -161.97070     23.02690
290........................................      -161.97144     23.02765
291........................................      -161.97217     23.02842
292........................................      -161.97287     23.02920
293........................................      -161.97357     23.02998
294........................................      -161.97424     23.03078
295........................................      -161.97490     23.03159
296........................................      -161.97555     23.03240
297........................................      -161.97617     23.03323
298........................................      -161.97678     23.03406
299........................................      -161.97738     23.03491
300........................................      -161.97795     23.03576
301........................................      -161.97851     23.03662
302........................................      -161.97905     23.03749
303........................................      -161.97957     23.03837
304........................................      -161.98008     23.03926
305........................................      -161.98056     23.04015
306........................................      -161.98103     23.04105
307........................................      -161.98148     23.04196
308........................................      -161.98191     23.04287
309........................................      -161.98232     23.04379
310........................................      -161.98271     23.04472
311........................................      -161.98309     23.04565
312........................................      -161.98344     23.04659
313........................................      -161.98378     23.04753
314........................................      -161.98409     23.04848
315........................................      -161.98439     23.04943
316........................................      -161.98467     23.05039
317........................................      -161.98493     23.05135
318........................................      -161.98516     23.05232
319........................................      -161.98538     23.05329
320........................................      -161.98558     23.05426
321........................................      -161.98576     23.05523
322........................................      -161.98592     23.05621
323........................................      -161.98606     23.05719
324........................................      -161.98618     23.05817
325........................................      -161.98628     23.05915
326........................................      -161.98635     23.06013
327........................................      -161.98641     23.06112
328........................................      -161.98645     23.06211
329........................................      -161.98647     23.06309
330........................................      -161.98647     23.06408
331........................................      -161.98645     23.06507
332........................................      -161.98640     23.06606
333........................................      -161.98634     23.06704
334........................................      -161.98626     23.06803
335........................................      -161.98616     23.06901
336........................................      -161.98603     23.06999
337........................................      -161.98589     23.07097
338........................................      -161.98573     23.07195
339........................................      -161.98555     23.07293
340........................................      -161.98535     23.07390
341........................................      -161.98512     23.07487
342........................................      -161.98488     23.07583
343........................................      -161.98462     23.07680
344........................................      -161.98434     23.07776
345........................................      -161.98404     23.07871

[[Page 4910]]

 
346........................................      -161.98372     23.07966
347........................................      -161.98338     23.08061
348........................................      -161.98302     23.08155
349........................................      -161.98265     23.08248
350........................................      -161.98225     23.08341
351........................................      -161.98183     23.08433
352........................................      -161.98140     23.08525
353........................................      -161.98095     23.08616
354........................................      -161.98048     23.08706
355........................................      -161.97999     23.08796
356........................................      -161.97948     23.08885
357........................................      -161.97896     23.08973
358........................................      -161.97841     23.09060
359........................................      -161.97785     23.09147
360........................................      -161.97727     23.09232
361........................................      -161.97668     23.09317
362........................................      -161.97606     23.09401
363........................................      -161.97543     23.09484
364........................................      -161.97479     23.09566
365........................................      -161.97413     23.09647
366........................................      -161.97345     23.09727
367........................................      -161.97275     23.09806
368........................................      -161.97204     23.09884
369........................................      -161.97131     23.09961
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix E to Subpart W of Part 922--Coordinates for the Ship Reporting 
Area

[Coordinates listed in this appendix are unprojected (Geographic) 
and based on the North American Datum of 1983]

    The Reporting Area Outer Boundary is defined by the following 
geographic coordinates and description as outlined in IMO Resolution 
MSC.279(85) Appendix 1--Outer Boundary adopted on 1 December 2008 
that superseded and amended IMO Resolution MEPC.171(57) adopted on 4 
April 2008.
    The outer boundary of the CORALSHIPREP reporting area consists 
of lines connecting the following geographical positions:
    Starting at (1) 29[deg] 24'.21 N, 178[deg] 06'.45 W;
    A rhumb line to (2) 29[deg] 12'.16 N, 177[deg] 04'.25 W;
    Then a rhumb line to (3) 28[deg] 43'.78 N, 175[deg] 13'.76 W;
    Then a rhumb line to (4) 27[deg] 00'.28 N, 173[deg] 25'.37 W;
    Then a rhumb line to (5) 26[deg] 44'.85 N, 171[deg] 28'.22 W;
    Then a rhumb line to (6) 26[deg] 23'.95 N, 170[deg] 20'.25 W;
    Then a rhumb line to (7) 25[deg] 56'.49 N, 167[deg] 32'.03 W;
    Then a rhumb line to (8) 24[deg] 50'.23 N, 165[deg] 58'.56 W;
    Then a rhumb line to (9) 24[deg] 02'.61 N, 161[deg] 42'.30 W;
    Then an arc with a 60.25 nm radius centered at (21) 23[deg] 
03'.61 N, 161[deg] 55'.22 W;
    To a point (10) 22[deg] 04'.59 N, 162[deg] 08'.14 W;
    Then a rhumb line to (11) 22[deg] 35'.32 N, 164[deg] 53'.46 W;
    Then a rhumb line to (12) 22[deg] 47'.86 N, 166[deg] 40'.44 W;
    Then a rhumb line to (13) 24[deg] 03'.30 N, 168[deg] 27'.53 W;
    Then a rhumb line to (14) 24[deg] 26'.59 N, 170[deg] 50'.37 W;
    Then a rhumb line to (15) 24[deg] 46'.49 N, 171[deg] 52'.87 W;
    Then a rhumb line to (16) 25[deg] 07'.23 N, 174[deg] 30'.23 W;
    Then a rhumb line to (17) 27[deg] 05'.50 N, 176[deg] 35'.40 W;
    Then a rhumb line to (18) 27[deg] 15'.11 N, 177[deg] 35'.26 W;
    Then a rhumb line to (19) 27[deg] 26'.10 N, 178[deg] 32'.23 W;
    Then an arc with a 60.17 nm radius centered at (20) 28[deg] 
25'.23 N, 178[deg] 19'.51 W;
    Then to point (1) 29[deg] 24'.21 N, 178[deg] 06'.45 W.
    The boundaries for the Inner Reporting Areas listed in this 
appendix, unless otherwise described in this rule, begin at Point 1 
as indicated in the particular area's coordinate table and continue 
to each successive point in numerical order until ending at the last 
point in the table.

    Table 1--Coordinates of the Inner Reporting Area Boundary Around
  H[omacr]lanik[umacr] (Kure Atoll), Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll), Manawai
           (Pearl and Hermes Atoll) Area To Be Avoided (ATBA)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Point No.                      Longitude      Latitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..........................................      -175.78700     27.01217
2..........................................      -175.87900     27.01133
3..........................................      -175.96933     27.01817
4..........................................      -176.05883     27.03317
5..........................................      -176.14683     27.05567
6..........................................      -176.23183     27.08533
7..........................................      -176.31317     27.12283
8..........................................      -176.39000     27.16633
9..........................................      -176.46233     27.21700
10.........................................      -176.47833     27.22950
11.........................................      -176.49783     27.24600
12.........................................      -177.55517     27.41583
13.........................................      -178.49833     27.59783
14.........................................      -178.56550     27.61067
15.........................................      -178.62200     27.62550
16.........................................      -178.67750     27.64333
17.........................................      -178.73167     27.66417
18.........................................      -178.78417     27.68800
19.........................................      -178.83500     27.71483
20.........................................      -178.88383     27.74433
21.........................................      -178.93050     27.77650
22.........................................      -178.97483     27.81117
23.........................................      -179.01667     27.84817
24.........................................      -179.05650     27.88700
25.........................................      -179.09350     27.92817
26.........................................      -179.12683     27.97150
27.........................................      -179.15783     28.01683
28.........................................      -179.18500     28.06350
29.........................................      -179.20883     28.11183
30.........................................      -179.22917     28.16117
31.........................................      -179.24583     28.21167
32.........................................      -179.25900     28.26300
33.........................................      -179.26850     28.31517
34.........................................      -179.27417     28.36733
35.........................................      -179.27600     28.41200
36.........................................      -179.27617     28.42000
37.........................................      -179.27600     28.43017
38.........................................      -179.27400     28.47250
39.........................................      -179.26833     28.52483
40.........................................      -179.25900     28.57683
41.........................................      -179.24583     28.62817
42.........................................      -179.22900     28.67850
43.........................................      -179.20900     28.72800
44.........................................      -179.18550     28.77633
45.........................................      -179.15867     28.82317
46.........................................      -179.12833     28.86850
47.........................................      -179.09500     28.91200
48.........................................      -179.05850     28.95350
49.........................................      -179.01917     28.99300
50.........................................      -178.97700     29.03017
51.........................................      -178.93217     29.06500
52.........................................      -178.88500     29.09717
53.........................................      -178.83550     29.12667
54.........................................      -178.78400     29.15350
55.........................................      -178.73067     29.17733
56.........................................      -178.67567     29.19817
57.........................................      -178.61933     29.21583
58.........................................      -178.56183     29.23033
59.........................................      -178.50350     29.24167
60.........................................      -178.44433     29.24983
61.........................................      -178.38467     29.25467
62.........................................      -178.32483     29.25600
63.........................................      -178.26500     29.25417
64.........................................      -178.20533     29.24900
65.........................................      -178.14633     29.24050
66.........................................      -177.20117     29.05783
67.........................................      -177.12150     29.04250
68.........................................      -175.59117     28.64933
69.........................................      -175.57250     28.64450
70.........................................      -175.32900     28.58183
71.........................................      -175.17750     28.43733
72.........................................      -175.14917     28.41017
73.........................................      -175.15067     28.40883
74.........................................      -175.08183     28.33483
75.........................................      -175.03200     28.26750
76.........................................      -174.98883     28.19633
77.........................................      -174.95383     28.12150
78.........................................      -174.92800     28.04383
79.........................................      -174.91033     27.96400
80.........................................      -174.90083     27.88350
81.........................................      -174.90083     27.80200
82.........................................      -174.91033     27.72133
83.........................................      -174.92850     27.64133
84.........................................      -174.95533     27.56350
85.........................................      -174.99050     27.48833
86.........................................      -175.03383     27.41667
87.........................................      -175.08450     27.34883
88.........................................      -175.14317     27.28633
89.........................................      -175.20783     27.22883
90.........................................      -175.27783     27.17650
91.........................................      -175.35417     27.13133
92.........................................      -175.43483     27.09283
93.........................................      -175.51917     27.06100
94.........................................      -175.60667     27.03700
95.........................................      -175.69633     27.02150
96.........................................      -175.78700     27.01217
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 4911]]


    Table 2--Coordinates for the Inner Reporting Area Boundary Around
   `[Otilde]n[utilde]nui and `[Otilde]nuiki (Gardner Pinnacles), Lalo
           (French Frigate Shoals), Mokumanamana (Necker) ATBA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Point No.                      Longitude      Latitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..........................................      -168.00150     25.83633
2..........................................      -167.87767     25.82733
3..........................................      -167.87750     25.82833
4..........................................      -167.80583     25.81650
5..........................................      -167.61200     25.78483
6..........................................      -167.44133     25.66400
7..........................................      -167.32983     25.58500
8..........................................      -166.75000     25.17383
9..........................................      -166.05600     24.68183
10.........................................      -165.58317     24.59400
11.........................................      -164.51867     24.39633
12.........................................      -164.51900     24.39317
13.........................................      -164.49567     24.38850
14.........................................      -164.40867     24.36417
15.........................................      -164.32317     24.33500
16.........................................      -164.24267     24.29583
17.........................................      -164.16617     24.24983
18.........................................      -164.09483     24.19767
19.........................................      -164.03000     24.13833
20.........................................      -163.97050     24.07467
21.........................................      -163.92033     24.00450
22.........................................      -163.87650     23.93083
23.........................................      -163.84267     23.85283
24.........................................      -163.81633     23.77217
25.........................................      -163.79983     23.68950
26.........................................      -163.79267     23.60567
27.........................................      -163.79333     23.52117
28.........................................      -163.80467     23.43783
29.........................................      -163.82500     23.35567
30.........................................      -163.85233     23.27550
31.........................................      -163.89117     23.19933
32.........................................      -163.93583     23.12567
33.........................................      -163.98967     23.05767
34.........................................      -164.05017     22.99417
35.........................................      -164.11833     22.93783
36.........................................      -164.19150     22.88700
37.........................................      -164.26967     22.84333
38.........................................      -164.35267     22.80800
39.........................................      -164.43800     22.77883
40.........................................      -164.52667     22.75817
41.........................................      -164.61717     22.74717
42.........................................      -164.70850     22.74417
43.........................................      -164.79983     22.74867
44.........................................      -164.82533     22.75183
45.........................................      -164.85800     22.75650
46.........................................      -164.85883     22.75283
47.........................................      -165.58317     22.83767
48.........................................      -166.32717     22.92500
49.........................................      -166.38867     22.93217
50.........................................      -166.60000     22.95683
51.........................................      -166.75000     23.06250
52.........................................      -166.79083     23.09133
53.........................................      -168.38100     24.21167
54.........................................      -168.37967     24.21467
55.........................................      -168.45467     24.26750
56.........................................      -168.52767     24.31917
57.........................................      -168.59917     24.37117
58.........................................      -168.66567     24.42850
59.........................................      -168.72583     24.49183
60.........................................      -168.77717     24.56117
61.........................................      -168.82150     24.63433
62.........................................      -168.85767     24.71133
63.........................................      -168.88533     24.79083
64.........................................      -168.90467     24.87233
65.........................................      -168.91367     24.95533
66.........................................      -168.91583     25.03867
67.........................................      -168.90717     25.12167
68.........................................      -168.88867     25.20317
69.........................................      -168.86267     25.28317
70.........................................      -168.82667     25.35950
71.........................................      -168.78217     25.43233
72.........................................      -168.73100     25.50150
73.........................................      -168.67367     25.56483
74.........................................      -168.60867     25.62283
75.........................................      -168.53733     25.67483
76.........................................      -168.46133     25.72067
77.........................................      -168.38033     25.75950
78.........................................      -168.29600     25.79050
79.........................................      -168.20783     25.81317
80.........................................      -168.11817     25.82867
81.........................................      -168.02700     25.83517
82.........................................      -168.00150     25.83633
------------------------------------------------------------------------


 Table 3--Coordinates for Inner Reporting Area Boundary Around the Kapou
  (Lisianski Island), Kamole (Laysan Island), Kamokuokamohoali`i (Maro
                         Reef), Raita Bank ATBA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Point No.                      Longitude      Latitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..........................................      -173.56150     26.85217
2..........................................      -173.51450     26.84583
3..........................................      -173.51317     26.84817
4..........................................      -171.62833     26.60000
5..........................................      -171.56400     26.59150
6..........................................      -171.51400     26.58500
7..........................................      -171.45833     26.56783
8..........................................      -171.41933     26.55583
9..........................................      -170.38400     26.23767
10.........................................      -169.81600     26.14483
11.........................................      -169.81717     26.13933
12.........................................      -169.76383     26.12700
13.........................................      -169.67617     26.10050
14.........................................      -169.59400     26.06617
15.........................................      -169.51517     26.02517
16.........................................      -169.44083     25.97750
17.........................................      -169.37233     25.92200
18.........................................      -169.31000     25.86117
19.........................................      -169.25317     25.79633
20.........................................      -169.20567     25.72567
21.........................................      -169.16550     25.65083
22.........................................      -169.13467     25.57283
23.........................................      -169.11267     25.49233
24.........................................      -169.09883     25.41017
25.........................................      -169.09400     25.32717
26.........................................      -169.09883     25.24417
27.........................................      -169.11100     25.16150
28.........................................      -169.13367     25.08083
29.........................................      -169.16600     25.00283
30.........................................      -169.20583     24.92767
31.........................................      -169.25233     24.85583
32.........................................      -169.30800     24.78950
33.........................................      -169.37033     24.72817
34.........................................      -169.43850     24.67233
35.........................................      -169.51300     24.62367
36.........................................      -169.59400     24.58333
37.........................................      -169.67767     24.55033
38.........................................      -169.76467     24.52233
39.........................................      -169.85133     24.50517
40.........................................      -169.94217     24.49467
41.........................................      -170.03017     24.49267
42.........................................      -170.07617     24.49350
43.........................................      -170.73983     24.59617
44.........................................      -170.79300     24.60483
45.........................................      -170.83950     24.61967
46.........................................      -170.86950     24.62933
47.........................................      -171.83650     24.93717
48.........................................      -174.41400     25.27683
49.........................................      -174.64083     25.49267
50.........................................      -174.70050     25.55467
51.........................................      -174.75333     25.62217
52.........................................      -174.79733     25.69467
53.........................................      -174.83417     25.77050
54.........................................      -174.86283     25.84883
55.........................................      -174.88183     25.93000
56.........................................      -174.89117     26.01183
57.........................................      -174.89350     26.09450
58.........................................      -174.88450     26.17650
59.........................................      -174.86800     26.25767
60.........................................      -174.84283     26.33667
61.........................................      -174.80733     26.41250
62.........................................      -174.76567     26.48583
63.........................................      -174.71600     26.55433
64.........................................      -174.65817     26.61850
65.........................................      -174.59383     26.67667
66.........................................      -174.52383     26.72917
67.........................................      -174.44783     26.77483
68.........................................      -174.36817     26.81500
69.........................................      -174.28383     26.84650
70.........................................      -174.19650     26.87000
71.........................................      -174.10717     26.88683
72.........................................      -174.01633     26.89567
73.........................................      -173.92467     26.89567
74.........................................      -173.83367     26.88817
75.........................................      -173.74300     26.87600
76.........................................      -173.65233     26.86417
77.........................................      -173.56150     26.85217
------------------------------------------------------------------------


 Table 4--Coordinates for the Inner Reporting Area Boundary Around Nihoa
                                  ATBA
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Point No.                      Longitude      Latitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..........................................      -161.78483     23.88033
2..........................................      -161.74450     23.87317
3..........................................      -161.74233     23.88033
4..........................................      -161.68667     23.86833
5..........................................      -161.63200     23.85300
6..........................................      -161.57850     23.83467
7..........................................      -161.52633     23.81317
8..........................................      -161.47583     23.78883
9..........................................      -161.42700     23.76150
10.........................................      -161.38017     23.73133
11.........................................      -161.33550     23.69867
12.........................................      -161.29333     23.66333
13.........................................      -161.25350     23.62567
14.........................................      -161.21650     23.58567
15.........................................      -161.18217     23.54367
16.........................................      -161.15083     23.49983

[[Page 4912]]

 
17.........................................      -161.12250     23.45417
18.........................................      -161.09750     23.40700
19.........................................      -161.07567     23.35850
20.........................................      -161.05717     23.30867
21.........................................      -161.04217     23.25800
22.........................................      -161.03067     23.20650
23.........................................      -161.02250     23.15450
24.........................................      -161.01817     23.10217
25.........................................      -161.01717     23.04950
26.........................................      -161.01983     22.99700
27.........................................      -161.02617     22.94483
28.........................................      -161.03583     22.89300
29.........................................      -161.04917     22.84183
30.........................................      -161.06583     22.79167
31.........................................      -161.08583     22.74250
32.........................................      -161.10900     22.69450
33.........................................      -161.13550     22.64800
34.........................................      -161.16500     22.60317
35.........................................      -161.19750     22.56017
36.........................................      -161.23283     22.51900
37.........................................      -161.27083     22.48017
38.........................................      -161.31150     22.44350
39.........................................      -161.35433     22.40933
40.........................................      -161.39950     22.37767
41.........................................      -161.44667     22.34867
42.........................................      -161.49567     22.32250
43.........................................      -161.54633     22.29917
44.........................................      -161.59833     22.27883
45.........................................      -161.65167     22.26167
46.........................................      -161.70617     22.24750
47.........................................      -161.76133     22.23667
48.........................................      -161.81717     22.22883
49.........................................      -161.87350     22.22450
50.........................................      -161.93000     22.22333
51.........................................      -161.98633     22.22550
52.........................................      -162.04250     22.23083
53.........................................      -162.09083     22.23850
54.........................................      -162.09817     22.23950
55.........................................      -162.11467     22.24317
56.........................................      -162.20300     22.26450
57.........................................      -162.28850     22.29500
58.........................................      -162.37000     22.33283
59.........................................      -162.44733     22.37883
60.........................................      -162.51917     22.43133
61.........................................      -162.58483     22.49017
62.........................................      -162.64350     22.55467
63.........................................      -162.69533     22.62450
64.........................................      -162.73900     22.69883
65.........................................      -162.77450     22.77717
66.........................................      -162.80083     22.85800
67.........................................      -162.81817     22.94100
68.........................................      -162.82633     23.02500
69.........................................      -162.82483     23.10967
70.........................................      -162.81483     23.19350
71.........................................      -162.79500     23.27617
72.........................................      -162.76633     23.35600
73.........................................      -162.72917     23.43367
74.........................................      -162.68350     23.50667
75.........................................      -162.63050     23.57517
76.........................................      -162.56967     23.63767
77.........................................      -162.50300     23.69483
78.........................................      -162.42983     23.74533
79.........................................      -162.35183     23.78933
80.........................................      -162.26933     23.82583
81.........................................      -162.18317     23.85400
82.........................................      -162.09383     23.87400
83.........................................      -162.00417     23.88567
84.........................................      -161.91250     23.88933
85.........................................      -161.82133     23.88483
86.........................................      -161.78483     23.88033
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix F to Subpart W of Part 922--IMO Standard Reporting Format and 
Data Syntax for Ship Reporting System

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Function       Information required   Example field
               -----------------------------------------       text
  Telegraphy                                            ----------------
                     System          CORAL SHIPREP //    CORAL SHIPREP //
                   identifier
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A               Ship............  Vessel name/call sign/ A/OCEAN VOYAGER/
                                   flag/IMO number/       C5FU8/BAHAMAS/
                                   Federal                IMO 9359165/.
                                   documentation or
                                   State registration
                                   number if applicable
                                   //.
B               Date, time        A 6-digit group        B/271107Z DEC//
                 (UTC), and        giving day of month    .
                 month of entry.   (first two digits),
                                   hours and minutes
                                   (last four digits)
                                   in coordinated
                                   universal time,
                                   suffixed by the
                                   letter Z (indicating
                                   time in UTC), and
                                   three letters
                                   indicating month //.
C               Position........  A 4-digit group        C/2728N/17356W//
                                   giving latitude in     .
                                   degrees and minutes,
                                   suffixed with the
                                   letter N (indicating
                                   north), followed by
                                   a single /, and a
                                   five-digit group
                                   giving longitude in
                                   degrees and minutes,
                                   suffixed with the
                                   letter W (indicating
                                   west) // [Report in
                                   the World Geodetic
                                   System 1984 Datum
                                   (WGS-84)].
E               True course.....  3-digit number         E/180//.
                                   indicating true
                                   course //.
F               Speed in knots    3-digit group          F/20.5//.
                 and tenths.       indicating knots
                                   decimal tenths //.
I               Destination and   Name of port city/     I/SEATTLE/USA/
                 estimated time    country/estimated      311230Z DEC//.
                 of arrival.       arrival date and
                                   time group expressed
                                   as in (B) //.
L               Intended route    Route information      L/RL/215/20.5//
                 through the re-   should be reported    -OR-
                 porting area.     as a direct           L/WP/2734N/
                                   rhumbline (RL)         17352W/20.5//
                                   course through the    L/WP/2641N/
                                   reporting area and     17413W/20.5//
                                   intended speed        L/WP/2605N/
                                   (expressed as in E     17530W/20.5//.
                                   and F) or a series
                                   of waypoints (WP).
                                   Each waypoint entry
                                   should be reported
                                   as latitude and
                                   longitude, expressed
                                   as in (C), and
                                   intended speed be-
                                   tween waypoints (as
                                   in F) // (Note: As
                                   many ``L'' lines as
                                   needed may be used
                                   to describe the
                                   vessel's intended
                                   route.).
O               Vessel draft in   Maximum present        O/11.50//.
                 meters.           static draft
                                   reported in meters
                                   decimal centimeters /
                                   /.
P               Categories of     Classification Code    P/IMDG/
                 Hazardous         (e.g., IMDG, IBC,      1.4G,2.1,2.2,2
                 Cargoes *.        IGC, INF) / and all    .3,
                                   corresponding          3,4.1,6.1,8,9//
                                   Categories of          .
                                   Hazardous Cargoes
                                   (delimited by
                                   commas) // Note: If
                                   necessary, use a
                                   separate ``P'' line
                                   for each type of
                                   Classification Code.
Q               Defects or        Brief details of       Q/Include
                 deficiencies **.  defects, damage,       details as
                                   deficiencies or        required//.
                                   limitations that
                                   restrict
                                   maneuverability or
                                   impair normal
                                   navigation // (If
                                   none, enter the
                                   number zero.).
R               Pollution         Description of         R/0//.
                 incident or       pollution incident
                 goods lost        or goods lost
                 overboard **.     overboard with- in
                                   the Monument, the
                                   Reporting Area, or
                                   the U.S. Exclusive
                                   Economic Zone// (If
                                   none, enter the
                                   number zero.).
T               Contact           Name/address/and       T/JOHN DOE/
                 information of    phone number of        GENERIC
                 ship's agent or   ship's agent or        SHIPPING
                 owner.            owner //.              COMPANY INC,
                                                          6101 ACME
                                                          ROAD, ROOM
                                                          123, CITY,
                                                          STATE, COUNTRY
                                                          12345/123-123-
                                                          1234//.

[[Page 4913]]

 
U               Ship size         Length overall         U/294.14/54592/
                 (length overall   reported in meters     CONTAINER SHIP/
                 and gross         decimal centimeters/   /.
                 tonnage) and      number of gross tons/
                 type.             type of ship (e.g.,
                                   bulk carrier,
                                   chemical tanker, oil
                                   tanker, gas tanker,
                                   container, general
                                   cargo, fishing
                                   vessel, research,
                                   passenger, OBO,
                                   RORO) //.
W               Persons.........  Total number of        W/15//.
                                   persons on board //.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table Notes:
* Categories of hazardous cargoes means goods classified in the
  International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code; substances
  classified in chapter 17 of the International Code for the
  Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in
  Bulk (IBC Code) and chapter 19 of the International Code for the
  Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk
  (IGC Code); oils as defined in MARPOL Annex I; noxious liquid
  substances as defined in MARPOL Annex II; harmful substances as
  defined in MARPOL Annex III; and radioactive materials specified in
  the Code for the Safe Carriage of the Irradiated Nuclear Fuel,
  Plutonium and High-Level Radioactive Wastes in Flasks on Board Ships
  (INF Code).
** In accordance with the provisions of the MARPOL Convention, ships
  must report information relating to defects, damage, deficiencies or
  other limitations as well as, if necessary, information relating to
  pollution incidents or loss of cargo. Safety related reports must be
  provided to CORAL SHIPREP without delay should a ship suffer damage,
  failure or breakdown affecting the safety of the ship (Item Q), or if
  a ship makes a marked deviation from a route, course or speed
  previously advised (Item L). Pollution or cargo lost overboard must be
  reported without delay (Item R).


[FR Doc. 2024-30576 Filed 1-15-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-NK-P


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