[Federal Register: October 1, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 190)]
[Notices]
[Page 61598]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01oc02-49]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Notice of Availability and Effective Date of the Final Revised
Management Plan for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine
Sanctuary
AGENCY: National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSO), National Ocean
Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
Department of Commerce (DOC).
ACTION: Notice of Availability and Effective Date of Final Revised
Management Plan.
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SUMMARY: The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary
was Congressionally designated by the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale
National Marine Sanctuary Act (HIHWNMSA) on November 4, 1992 (Subtitle
C of Public Law 102-587, the Oceans Act of 1992). On Friday, March 28
1997, the final regulations were published in the Federal Register (62
FR 14799), and became effective on June 2, 1997.
Section 304(e) of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act requires that
sanctuary management plans be reviewed and potentially revised every
five years. At the time of designation NOAA made a commitment to the
state of Hawaii that five years after the management plan and
regulations became effective, NOAA, in consultation with the State of
Hawaii, would evaluate the progress made toward implementing the
management plan, regulations, and goals for the Sanctuary. NOAA also
agreed that after the evaluation was complete, NOAA would then re-
submit the management plan and regulations in their entirety, as far as
they affect State waters, to the Governor for his concurrence.
The review process was composed of four major stages: information
collection and characterization; preparation and release of a draft
revised management plan; public review and comment; and preparation and
release of a final revised management plan. A draft revised management
plan and draft environmental assessment were made available for public
review on March 19, 2002 (67 FR 12525). Seven public meetings were held
throughout the State of Hawaii to collect information and comments from
individuals, organizations, and government agencies on the scope,
types, and significance of issues related the Sanctuary's draft revised
management plan. Written comments were also received throughout the
public comment period which ended on May 24, 2002.
A final revised management plan and final environmental assessment
were prepared in response to input received from the Sanctuary Advisory
Council and comments received during the public review phase. The final
revised management plan does not contain any regulatory or boundary
changes.
DATES: The final revised management plan was submitted to the Governor
of Hawaii on August 2, 2002. The Governor concurred with the final
revised management plan on September 6, 2002. This notice confirms the
effective date of the new management plan as September 9, 2002.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the final revised management plan and its
supporting environmental assessment may be obtained by contacting Naomi
McIntosh, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary,
6700 Kalanianaole Highway, Suite 104, Honolulu, HI 96825 or on the
Internet at http://www.hihwnms.nos.noaa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anne Reisewitz, MPR Coordinator, by
phone at (808) 397-2651 or via e-mail at Annelore.Reisewitz@noaa.gov.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. Section 1431 et seq.
(Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog Number 11.429 Marine Sanctuary
Program)
Dated: September 25, 2002.
Jamison S. Hawkins,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone
Management.
[FR Doc. 02-24921 Filed 9-30-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-M