[Federal Register: April 11, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 70)]
[Notices]               
[Page 17673]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11ap02-31]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

 
Extension of Public Scoping Period for the Proposed Designation 
of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Marine Sanctuary

AGENCY: National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP), National Ocean 
Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: On December 4, 2000, Executive Order 13178 established the 
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve, pursuant to 
the National Marine Sanctuaries Amendments Act of 2000. The Reserve 
extends approximately 1200 nautical miles long and 100 nautical miles 
wide. Pursuant to this Act and the Executive Order, NOAA initiated the 
process to designate the Reserve as a national marine sanctuary by 
issuing a notice of intent on January 19, 2001 (66 FR 5509). The public 
scoping period was announced on March 18, 2002 (67 FR 11996), with an 
closing date of May 3, 2002. In order to provide additional time for 
the public to provide written comments and to better coincide with the 
comment period on the Draft Reserve Operations Plan that was released 
on March 18, 2002 (67 FR 11997), the close of the public scoping 
meeting is extended to May 17, 2002.

DATES AND ADDRESSES: The public scoping process began on March 18, 
2002, and ends on Friday, May 17, 2002. Written comments may be sent to 
NWHI Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve, 6700 Kalanianaole Highway, #215, 
Honolulu, Hawaii 96825; faxed to (808) 397-2662; or emailed to 
nwhi@noaa.gov. Comments will be available for public review at the 
office address above. Summaries of public comments from initial scoping 
meetings will be available at hawaiireef.noaa.gov. Scoping meetings 
will be held in April.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aulani Wilhelm, (808) 397-2657, 
nwhi@noaa.gov.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. Section 1431 et seq., Pub. L. 106-513,

(Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog Number 11.429 Marine Sanctuary 
Program)


    Dated: April 4, 2002.
Margaret A. Davidson,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone 
Management.
[FR Doc. 02-8654 Filed 4-10-02; 8:45 am]
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