NOAA has published a Notice of Intent
in the Federal Register to
conduct a management plan revision process at Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. This action begins an initial process in which NOAA is asking for public scoping comments to help shape development of an updated sanctuary management plan.
Periodic review of the sanctuary’s management plan ensures that management actions effectively address current and emerging issues and protect sanctuary resources. Public engagement is central to NOAA’s community-based approach to managing national marine sanctuaries, and agency partnerships and collaborations are critical to meeting sanctuary goals.
The scoping comment period, through November
15, is the first of several opportunities that the public will have to provide input throughout the management plan revision process.
There are
three ways to submit scoping comments:
Online:
Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal, www.regulations.gov. Use docket number NOAA–NOS–2019-0110.
By mail:
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
NOAA CINMS
UCSB Ocean Science Edu Bldg 514
Mail Code 6155
Santa Barbara, California 93106
Attn: Management Plan Revision
In Person at Public Scoping Meetings:
October 22, 6:00 – 8:00 P.M.
Faulkner Gallery at Santa Barbara Public Library
40 East Anapamu Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
October 23, 6:00 P.M.
Poinsettia Pavilion
3451 Foothill Rd
Ventura, CA 93003
Information is available to help inform scoping comments:
- Management Plan Revision web page: https://channelislands.noaa.gov/manage/plan/revision.html
- New Condition Report for Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/condition/cinms/
- Current management plan for Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary: https://channelislands.noaa.gov/management/manplan/cinms_fmp_2009.pdf
The management
plan revision process, anticipated to take 2-3 years for completion, may result in proposed changes to programs and policies to better address current challenges and to better protect and manage the sanctuary’s resources and qualities. The process will be conducted
in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA). NOAA will also address other statutory and regulatory requirements that may be required pursuant to the Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection
Act, Essential Fish Habitat provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, Coastal Zone Management Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and tribal consultation responsibilities under Executive Order 13175.
During the scoping period, NOAA is soliciting input on:
-
Preliminary priority topics
introduced in the Notice of Intent, which include:
- Partnership-Based Management,
- Climate-Driven Impacts,
- Collaborative Research and Monitoring,
- Protection of Sanctuary Resources, and
- Education, Outreach, and Citizen Science
- Potential impacts of ongoing and proposed activities in the national marine sanctuary;
- The effectiveness of the existing CINMS management plan in meeting the mandates of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/library/national/nmsa.pdf and in supporting the mission and goals expressed in the current strategic plan for the National Marine Sanctuary System. https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/media/docs/onms-strategic-plan-2017-2022.pdf
- Other suggested topics or issues of interest for potential sanctuary management.
NOAA will use the information obtained from scoping to identify priority issues to be included and incorporated into action plans within a Draft Management Plan, and to develop alternatives to be analyzed in an environmental review (Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) or Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). Development of a DEA or DEIS will also inform the initiation of required consultations with federal, state, or local agencies, tribal entities and other interested parties.
Additional information about the management plan revision process can be found online at: https://channelislands.noaa.gov/manage/plan/revision.html
Questions may be directed to cinmsmanagementplan@noaa.gov.
