[Fwd: FR notice]

[Steve Gittings]

PLEASE do not respond to me!!!  I am merely forwarding this notice. 
Written, verbal and electronic correspondence should be to:

Lisa Symons, NOAA/Marine Sanctuaries Division, 1305 East-West
Highway, #11535, Silver Spring, MD 20910, phone (310) 713-3145, ext:
108, email Lisa.Symons at noaa.gov



[Federal Register: February 17, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 33)]
[Notices]
[Page 8122-8123]
>From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17fe00-63]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


National Marine Sanctuaries System (NMS)

AGENCY: Marine Sanctuaries Division (MSD, Office of Ocean and Coastal
Resource Management (OCRM), National Ocean Service (NOS), National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce
(DOC).

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Marine Sanctuaries Division (MSD) of the Office of Ocean
and Coastal Resource Management intends to prepare a Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS). The PEIS will describe and
address physical injury to, loss of and destruction of coral and biotic
reef communities that result from anthropogenic activities, such as
vessel groundings and anchoring within the National Marine Sanctuaries.
The PEIS will also describe and characterize the different approaches
and methodologies that may be implemented to restore, replace or
acquire the equivalent of such injured, destroyed or lost resources.
    MSD is publishing this notice in the Federal Register in order to
advise other agencies and the public of its intent to prepare a PEIS
and to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to
include in the document.

DATES: Written comments from all interested parties must be received on
or before March 22, 2000. A scoping meeting will be held in the spring
of 2000, and a Draft PEIS is expected by fall/winter of 2000. The Final
PEIS is expected to be completed by the winter of 2001.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and requests for information should be sent
to Lisa Symons, NOAA/Marine Sanctuaries Division, 1305 East-West
Highway, #11535, Silver Spring, MD 20910, phone (310) 713-3145, ext:
108, email Lisa.Symons at noaa.gov.

Comments and materials received in response to this notice will be
available for public inspection, by appointment, at the aforementioned
address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Marine Sanctuary System was
established under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA; also known
as title III of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act),
16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq. The NMSA authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to

[[Page 8123]]

identify and designate certain areas of the marine environment which
are of special national significance as National Marine Sanctuaries,
and provides authority for comprehensive and coordinated conservation
and management of these marine areas, and activities affecting them, in
a manner that complements existing regulatory authorities. Further,
section 312 of the NMSA provides that any person who destroys, causes
the loss of, or injures any sanctuary resource is liable to the United
States for response costs and damages. Monies received are used to
reimburse the Secretary for response actions and damage assessments and
to fund the restoration, replacement, or acquisition of the equivalent
of injured, destroyed, or lost Sanctuary resources.
    As a part of its mission to protect and manage the ecological,
historical, educational, recreational, and aesthetic qualities of the
National Marine Sanctuaries, MSD will prepare a Reef Restoration PEIS.
It is MSD's intent to prepare this PEIS such that a tiered process can
be used in the preparation of future environmental documents concerning
restoration actions within National Marine Sanctuaries. The PEIS, among
other things, will set forth methodologies and guidelines for
restoration actions arising out of injuries to sanctuary resources.
Accordingly, the PEIS will facilitate the development of both
subsequent environmental assessments (EAs) and individual restoration
plans designed to restore sanctuary resources.
    MSD intends to hold a public scoping meeting prior to the
preparation of the Draft PEIS for those persons and/or organizations
interested in the development of the Draft PEIS. MSD will also hold a
public meeting, which will be held concurrent with the public comment
period to accept comments on the Draft PEIS. Notice of these meetings
will be published in the Federal Register. All substantive comments
provided, both written and oral, at the public meeting, will be
considered in the preparation of the Final PEIS and will become part of
the public record (i.e., names, addresses, letters of comment, comment
provided during public meetings).
    Comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties to
ensure that the full range of issues related to this proposed action
and all significant issues are identified. Comments and/or questions
concerning the preparation of this PEIS should be directed to the MSD
at the address or phone listed above.

    Dated: February 11, 2000.
Capt. Ted Lillestolen,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone
Management.
[FR Doc. 00-3771 Filed 2-16-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-M