sign in sign up
<<
Home , Johnston Atoll

Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 65 / Tuesday, April 5, 2011 / Notices 18773

management template that public Administration (NOAA), intend to out approximately 50 nautical miles housing agencies (PHAs) use to prepare the monument management (nmi); the Volcanic Unit encompasses annually submit electronically financial plan (MMP) for the Marianas Trench each designated volcanic feature and the information to HUD. HUD uses the Marine National Monument surrounding submerged lands out to 1 financial information it collects from (Monument) established by Presidential nmi; and the Trench Unit encompasses each PHA to assist in the evaluation and Proclamation 8335. The MMP will the submerged lands within the Mariana assessment of the PHAs’ overall satisfy FWS comprehensive Trench. condition. Requiring PHAs to report conservation plan (CCP) requirements The Monument encompasses electronically has enabled HUD to for two units of the National Wildlife approximately 61 million acres of provide a comprehensive financial Refuge System (NWRS) contained submerged lands and certain waters of assessment of the PHAs receiving therein. When the draft MMP is the Mariana Archipelago. The Trench federal funds from HUD. complete, we will advertise its Unit contains approximately 50.5 Agency form number, if applicable: availability and again seek public million acres of submerged lands, the N/A. comment. Volcanic Unit includes approximately Members of affected public: Public We furnish this notice to advise the 55,912 acres of submerged lands, and housing agencies. public and other Federal and local the Islands Unit encompasses Estimation of the total number of agencies of our intentions, and to obtain approximately 10.5 million acres of hours needed to prepare the information suggestions and information on the submerged lands and waters. collection including number of scope of issues to consider during the The Secretary of the Interior, in respondents: The estimated number of planning process. consultation with the Secretary of respondents is 4,106 PHAs that submit An environmental assessment (EA) to Commerce, has responsibility for one unaudited financial management evaluate the potential effects of various management of the Monument; except template annually and 3,657 PHAs that management alternatives will also be that the Secretary of Commerce, in submit one audited financial prepared. The EA will provide resource consultation with the Secretary of the management template annually; for a managers with the information needed Interior, has primary responsibility for total of 7,763 respondents. The average to determine if the potential effects may management with respect to fishery- number of hours for each PHA response be significant and warrant preparation related activities regulated pursuant to is 5.5 hours, for a total reporting burden of an Environmental Impact Statement the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery of 42,620 hours. (EIS), or if the potential impacts lead to Conservation and Management Act Status of the proposed information a Finding of No Significant Impact (Magnuson-Stevens Act) (16 U.S.C. 1801 collection: Extension, without change, (FONSI). et seq.), the Proclamation, and other of a currently approved collection. applicable legal authorities. DATES: To ensure consideration, we The Proclamation requires the Authority: Section 3506 of the Paperwork must receive your written comments by Secretaries of the Interior and Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, May 5, 2011. Commerce to prepare management as amended. ADDRESSES: Additional information plans within their respective authorities Dated: March 24, 2011. about the Monument and its two refuge for the Monument, and promulgate Merrie Nichols-Dixon, units is available at http://www.fws.gov/ implementing regulations that address Deputy Director for Office of Policy, Program marianastrenchmarinemonument/ and specific actions necessary for the proper and Legislative Initiatives. http://www.fpir.noaa.gov/MNM/ care and management of the Monument. [FR Doc. 2011–8036 Filed 4–4–11; 8:45 am] mnm_index.html. Please send your With this notice, the Department of the BILLING CODE 4210–67–P written comments or requests for more Interior and the Department of information by any of the following Commerce (Departments) are methods. commencing development of the MMP. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE E-mail: [email protected]. The Departments will work Fax: (808) 973–2941. cooperatively under and Wildlife DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S. Mail: Heidi Hirsh, Natural Service’s lead in this process. The Resource Management Specialist, Commerce Department, in consultation Fish and Wildlife Service NOAA, National Marine Fisheries with the Secretary of the Interior, is Service, 1601 Kapiolani Blvd #1110, working with the Western Pacific [FWS–R1–R–2010–N009; 1265–000–10137– Fishery Management Council pursuant S3] Honolulu, HI 96814. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Marianas Trench Marine National Heidi Hirsh, Natural Resource Conservation and Management Act and Monument, Commonwealth of the Management Specialist, (808) 944–2223. the Proclamation to develop a fisheries ecosystem plan amendment and related Northern , et al.; SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Monument Management Plan, regulations. To the extent they relate to Comprehensive Conservation Plans, Background waters within the Monument, the plan amendment and implementing and Environmental Assessment Monument Establishment and regulations will be one component of Management Responsibilities AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, the MMP. The Departments intend to Interior; National Oceanic and On January 6, 2009, President George cooperate and coordinate in the Atmospheric Administration, W. Bush issued Proclamation No. 8335 development and timing of these Commerce. (Proclamation), establishing the planning and management processes. ACTION: Notice of intent; request for Monument under the authority of the To carry out his responsibilities from comments. of 1906. The Monument the President under the Proclamation, consists of three units: The Islands Unit by Secretary’s Order 3284 (Order) dated SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and encompasses the waters and submerged January 16, 2009, the Secretary of the Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National lands of the three northernmost Mariana Interior delegated all of his management Atmospheric and Oceanic Islands from the mean low water line responsibility for the Monument to the

VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:18 Apr 04, 2011 Jkt 223001 PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\05APN1.SGM 05APN1 srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES 18774 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 65 / Tuesday, April 5, 2011 / Notices

FWS Director. The Order directs the opportunities for hunting, fishing, diminish the Monument’s natural FWS to manage the Volcanic Unit and wildlife observation and photography, character. the Trench Unit as units of the NWRS. and environmental education and Public Involvement The Order also directs the FWS to interpretation. exercise all management responsibility We will conduct environmental The FWS and NOAA will conduct the given to the Secretary for the Islands reviews of various management planning process in a manner that will Unit, but specifies that no part of it is alternatives and develop an EA in provide participation opportunities for included as a unit of the NWRS. In accordance with the National the public, Federal and local carrying out this delegation with respect Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of government agencies, and other to the two units added to the NWRS, 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et interested parties. At this time, we and to facilitate public awareness that seq.); NEPA Regulations (40 CFR parts encourage input in the form of issues, their status is slightly different than that 1500–1508); other Federal laws and concerns, ideas, and suggestions for the of the Islands Unit, the FWS named the regulations; and our policies and future management of the Monument. Trench Unit the Mariana Trench procedures for compliance with those Opportunities for additional public , and the laws and regulations. input will be announced throughout the Volcanic Unit the Mariana Arc of Fire The Fish and Wildlife Service, as lead planning process. We may hold public National Wildlife Refuge. agency for NEPA purposes, will also meetings to help share information and designate and involve as cooperating obtain comments. The Monument’s Natural Resources agencies the Department of Commerce, The Volcanic Unit contains unique through NOAA; the Department of Preliminary Issues, Concerns, and geological features found nowhere else Defense; the Department of State; and Opportunities in the world, including the largest active the Government of the Commonwealth We identified the following mud volcanoes, vents expelling almost of the (CNMI), preliminary issues and opportunities pure liquid carbon dioxide, a pool of in accordance with NEPA and Executive that we may address in the MMP. We liquid sulfur, and one of only a few Order 13352 of August 26, 2004, titled expect to identify additional issues places in the world where Facilitation of Cooperative during public scoping. photosynthetic and chemosynthetic Conservation. • Climate change impacts and communities of life coexist. The Trench The MMP is to provide for the adaptation. Unit, where the Pacific Plate plunges following activities, to the extent • Marine debris impacts and removal. into the Earth’s mantle, contains the appropriate to Department of the • Invasive species prevention and deepest point on Earth. The Islands Unit Interior and Department of Commerce control. encompasses the waters of the authorities and the Proclamation: • Other potential threats to the archipelago’s three northern islands, • Management of the Islands Unit, in ecosystem (e.g., trespass; illegal fishing; which are among the most biologically consultation with the Government of the and shipwrecks, groundings, and spills). diverse in the western , CNMI, including designating specific • Emergency response to natural and and includes the greatest diversity of roles and responsibilities, and manmade disasters and natural seamount and hydrothermal vent life identifying the means of consultation on resources damage assessments. yet discovered. management decisions as appropriate • Operational capabilities for The MMP Planning Process and consistent with the respective effective ecosystem monitoring, authorities and jurisdictions of the surveillance, and enforcement. The MMP’s format will include CNMI and the Secretaries of the Interior • Habitat conservation and elements similar to a NWRS CCP, and and Commerce. restoration. the planning process for those elements • Public education programs and • Biological and abiotic inventory will be conducted in a manner similar public outreach regarding the and monitoring. to the CCP planning and public Monument’s ecosystem, • Protected resources and their involvement process. The MMP will be related marine resources and species, habitats, including coral reefs, marine updated every 15 years. and conservation efforts. clams, apex predators, marine The National Wildlife Refuge System • Traditional access to the Monument mammals, sea turtles, , and Administration Act of 1966, as amended by indigenous persons, as identified by . by the National Wildlife Refuge System the Secretaries of the Interior and • Historic and cultural resources, Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. Commerce in consultation with the including maritime heritage. 668dd–668ee) (Refuge System Government of the CNMI, for culturally • Public education and outreach. Administration Act), requires FWS to significant subsistence and other • International programs and develop a CCP for each national wildlife cultural and religious uses. collaboration. refuge or planning unit. The purpose for • A program to assess and promote • Scientific exploration and research developing a CCP is to provide refuge Monument-related scientific exploration opportunities. managers with a 15-year plan for and research, tourism, and recreational • Developing an appropriate achieving refuge purposes and and economic activities and permitting regime for activities within contributing toward the mission of the opportunities in the CNMI. the Monument. NWRS, consistent with sound • A process to consider requests for • Determining if bioprospecting is principles of fish and wildlife recreational fishing permits in certain appropriate and compatible. management and natural resource areas of the Islands Unit. conservation, legal mandates, and • Programs for monitoring and Next Steps applicable policies. In addition to enforcement necessary to ensure that The FWS and NOAA, in consultation outlining broad management direction scientific exploration and research, with the Mariana Monument Advisory for conserving wildlife and their tourism, and recreational and Council, and the Government of the habitats, CCPs identify wildlife- commercial activities do not degrade the CNMI, will be considering your dependent recreational opportunities Monument’s coral reef ecosystem or comments during development of the available to the public, including related marine resources or species, or Draft MMP/CCPs/EA.

VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:18 Apr 04, 2011 Jkt 223001 PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\05APN1.SGM 05APN1 srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 65 / Tuesday, April 5, 2011 / Notices 18775

Public Availability of Comments management alternatives will also be The Proclamation requires the Before including your address, phone prepared. The EA will provide resource Secretaries of the Interior and number, or other personal identifying managers with the information needed Commerce to prepare management information in your comment, you to determine if the potential effects may plans within their respective authorities should be aware that your entire be significant and warrant preparation for the Monument, and promulgate comment—including your personal of an Environmental Impact Statement implementing regulations that address identifying information—may be made (EIS), or if the potential impacts lead to specific actions necessary for the proper publicly available at any time. While a Finding of No Significant Impact care and management of the Monument. you can ask us in your comments to (FONSI). With this notice, the Department of the withhold your personal identifying DATES: To ensure consideration, we Interior and Department of Commerce information from public review, we must receive your comments by May 5, (Departments) are commencing cannot guarantee that we will be to 2011. development of the MMP. The Departments will work cooperatively do so. ADDRESSES: Additional information under the Fish and Wildlife Service’s about the Monument and its seven Robyn Thorson, lead in this process. The Commerce Refuge units is available at http:// Department, in consultation with the Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, . www.fws.gov/ Secretary of the Interior, is working with Emily H. Menashes, pacificremoteislandsmarinemonument/ the Western Pacific Fishery Acting Director, Office of Sustainable and http://www.fpir.noaa.gov/MNM/ Management Council pursuant to the Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. mnm_index.html. Please send your Magnuson-Stevens Fishery [FR Doc. 2011–7960 Filed 4–4–11; 8:45 am] written comments or requests for more Conservation and Management Act and BILLING CODE 4310–55–P information by any of the following Proclamation to develop a fisheries methods: E-mail: [email protected]. ecosystem plan amendment and related DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Fax: (808) 792–9586. regulations. To the extent they relate to U.S. Mail: Susan White, Project waters within the Monument, the plan DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Leader, Pacific Reefs National Wildlife amendment and implementing Refuge Complex, 300 Ala Moana Blvd. regulations will be one component of Fish and Wildlife Service Room 5–231, Honolulu, HI 96850. the MMP. The Departments intend to FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: cooperate and coordinate in the [FWS–R1–R–2009–N265; 1265–0000–10137– development and timing of these S3] Susan White, Project Leader, (808) 792– 9550. planning and management processes. To carry out his responsibilities from Pacific Remote Islands Marine National SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Monument; Monument Management the President under the Proclamation, Plan, Comprehensive Conservation Background on January 16, 2009, the Secretary of the Plans, and Environmental Assessment Interior delegated his authority for Monument Establishment and Monument management to the FWS AGENCIES: Fish and Wildlife Service, Management Responsibilities Director, and extended the boundaries Interior; National Oceanic and On January 6, 2009, President George of the , , Atmospheric Administration, W. Bush issued Proclamation No. 8336 and Refuges from 3 nmi to Commerce. (Proclamation), establishing the 12 nmi from the mean low water lines ACTION: Notice of intent; request for Monument under the authority of the of the emergent land. The Secretary also comments. Antiquities Act of 1906. The Monument extended the Johnston Refuge incorporates approximately 86,888 boundary to 12 nmi from the mean low SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and square miles within its boundaries, water line of the emergent land, and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National which extend 50 nautical miles (nmi) added the emergent and submerged Oceanic and Atmospheric from the mean low water lines of Baker, lands and waters of out to Administration (NOAA), intend to Howland, and Jarvis Islands; Johnston, 12 nmi as a unit of the National Wildlife prepare the monument management Palmyra, and Wake ; and Kingman Refuge System (NWRS). In accordance plan (MMP) for the Pacific Remote Reef. The Secretary of the Interior, in with the Proclamation, the Director will Islands Marine National Monument consultation with the Secretary of not commence management of emergent (Monument), established by Presidential Commerce, has responsibility for lands at Wake Island unless and until a Proclamation 8336. Additionally, the management of the Monument, use agreement between the Secretary of FWS also intends to prepare new or including out to 12 nmi from the mean the Air Force and the Secretary of the revised comprehensive conservation low water lines of Baker, Howland, and Interior is terminated. The Secretary of plans (CCPs) for the following national Jarvis Islands; Johnston, Palmyra, and Defense also continues to manage those wildlife refuges (Refuges) contained Wake Atolls; and , portions of the emergent lands of therein: Baker Island, Howland Island, pursuant to applicable legal authorities. under the administrative Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman The Secretary of Commerce, through jurisdiction of the Defense Department Reef, , and Wake Atoll. NOAA, and in consultation with the until such administrative jurisdiction is When the draft MMP is complete, we Secretary of the Interior, has primary terminated, at which time those will advertise its availability and again responsibility for management of the emergent lands shall be administered as seek public comment. We furnish this Monument seaward from 12 to 50 nmi part of the Johnston Atoll Refuge. notice to advise the public and other with respect to fishery-related activities Within the boundaries of the Federal agencies of our intentions, and regulated pursuant to the Magnuson- Monument, the FWS also continues to to obtain suggestions and information Stevens Fishery Conservation and administer pre-existing refuges at Baker, on the scope of issues to consider Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Howland, and Jarvis Islands; Johnston during the planning process. Act) (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), the and Palmyra Atolls; and Kingman Reef, An environmental assessment (EA) to Proclamation, and other applicable legal in accordance with the National evaluate the potential effects of various authorities. Wildlife Refuge System Administration

VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:18 Apr 04, 2011 Jkt 223001 PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\05APN1.SGM 05APN1 srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES