Monterey
Bay
National
Marine
Sanctuary
|
|
Final
Environmental
Impact Statement/
Management Plan
|
|
Volume
I |
U.S.
Department of Commmerce
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
Sanctuaries and
Reserves Division
|
June
1992
|
|
|
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
AND MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE PROPOSED
MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY
June 1992
Prepared By:
Sanctuaries and Reserves Division
Office of Ocean and Coastal
Resource Management
National Ocean Service
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
1825 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 714
Washington, D.C. 20235
Title
Final Environmental Impact Statement and Management
Plan for the Proposed Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
proposes to designate Monterey Bay and its adjacent waters,
and the submerged lands thereunder, off central California as
a national marine sanctuary. The proposed Sanctuary boundaries
encompass an area of approximately 4,024 square nautical miles
(approximately 13,800 square kilometers) of coastal and ocean
waters. The northern terminus of the boundary is located along
the southern boundary of the Gulf of Farallones National Marine
Sanctuary and runs westward to approximately the 500 fathom
isobath. The boundary then extends southward in an arc following
the 500 fathom isobath to a point due west of Cambria. The boundary
then extends shoreward towards the mean high-water line. The
landward boundary is defined by the mean high-water line between
the Gulf of Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and Cambria,
exclusive of a small area off the north coast of San Mateo County
and the City and County of San Francisco between Point San Pedro
and Point Bonita.
Part I of this Final Environmental Impact Statement/Management
Plan (FEIS/MP) reviews the authority for Sanctuary designation,
the goals of the National Marine Sanctuary Program, the purpose
and need for designating a national marine sanctuary at Monterey
Bay, the socioeconomic consequences of designation, the manageability
of the area and the Sanctuary designation process.
Part II of the FEIS/MP describes the study area
used for determining a final preferred boundary alternative,
including human uses, natural resources, and the existing resource
protection regime. The area recommended for the proposed Sanctuary,
preferred boundary alternative 5 (approximately 4,024 square
nautical miles), provides the habitat and setting for a distinctive
assortment of living and non-living marine resources.
Part III examines the alternatives considered
in developing the proposal to designate a national marine sanctuary
at Monterey Bay. These alternatives were considered in terms
of achieving optimum protection for the ecosystem, improving
scientific knowledge of the area, promoting public understanding
of the value of Bay area resources, minimizing overlap with
existing jurisdictions and minimizing any negative impacts to
the area's income generating activities. Based on these criteria,
preferred boundary, management, and regulatory alternatives
were selected. Part IV of the FEIS/MP describes the environmental
consequences associated with each of these alternatives.
Part V describes the management plan for the proposed
Sanctuary. This plan contains guidelines and goals to ensure
that all management actions undertaken after designation are
directed to resolving important issues as a means of meeting
Sanctuary objectives. Management actions are considered in four
program categories: (1) Resource protection; (2) Research; (3)
Education; and (4) Administration.
Lead Agency: |
U.S. Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management |
Contact: |
Rafael V. Lopez, Pacific Regional Manager
Sanctuaries and Reserves Division
Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management
National Ocean Service/NOAA
1825 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 714
Washington, D.C. 20235
(202) 606-4126 |
Cover Letter