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Sanctuary Expansion, Volume I: Chapters

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Sanctuary Expansion, Volume I: Chapters Draft Environmental Impact Statement: Sanctuary Expansion Volume I: Chapters 1-6 June 2016 http://flowergarden.noaa.gov National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator Kathryn D. Sullivan, Ph.D. Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management, National Ocean Service Russell Callender, Ph.D. Office of National Marine Sanctuaries John Armor, Acting Director Matt Brookhart, Acting Deputy Director Cover Photo: Manta ray swimming over the reef in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Photo: G.P. Schmahl/FGBNMS Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Boundary Expansion: Draft Environmental Impact Statement Abstract: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA, 16 U.S.C. 1434), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) that considers alternatives for the proposed expansion of boundaries at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS). The proposed action serves NOAA’s mission to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources, and furthers the FGBNMS mission to “identify, protect, conserve, and enhance the natural and cultural resources, values, and qualities of FGBNMS and its regional environment for this and future generations.” ONMS has developed various boundary expansion alternatives, and the DEIS evaluates the environmental consequences of the alternatives under NEPA, applying criteria and evaluation standards under the regulations implementing NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § Parts 1500-1508) and the NOAA implementing procedures for NEPA (NOAA’s Administrative Order 216-6). The DEIS also serves as a resource assessment under the NMSA, documenting (i) present and potential uses of the areas considered in the alternatives; (ii) commercial, governmental, or recreational resource uses in the areas that are subject to the primary jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior; and (iii) any past, present, or proposed future disposal or discharge of materials in the vicinity of the proposed sanctuary. NOAA’s preferred alternative (Alternative 3) is the expansion of the existing boundaries from ~56 square miles to an area that encompasses ~383 square miles of waters in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, including additional important and sensitive marine habitat areas outside the current sanctuary boundary. No significant adverse impacts to resources and the human environment are expected under any alternative. Long-term beneficial impacts are anticipated if the proposed action is implemented. Although an environmental assessment would have sufficed to analyze the impacts of the proposed action under NEPA, a DEIS has been prepared to satisfy the procedural requirements of the NMSA. Lead Agency: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Cooperating Agencies: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management; Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement Fo Further r Information Contact: Kelly Drinnen, Sanctuary Outreach Specialist, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, email: [email protected] Comments Due: We will consider public comments received on or before August 19, 2016. Public Comments May Be Submitted: Via the Web: www.regulations.gov (search for docket # NOAA-NOS-2016-0059) or http://flowergarden.noaa.gov/management/expansiondeis.html Via U.S. Mail: Attn. George Schmahl, Superintendent, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, 4700 Ave. U, Bldg. 216, Galveston, TX 77551 About this Document This Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) provides detailed information and analysis of a range of reasonable alternatives for the expansion of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, including location and regulation of various human uses in that area. This DEIS has been prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), 42 United States Code (U.S.C.) §4321 et seq, its implementing regulations (40 CFR) § Parts 1500-1508), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) implementing procedures for NEPA (NOAA’s Administrative Order 216-6). Accordingly, this document was preceded by a Notice of Intent to prepare a DEIS and carry out a public scoping process (80 FR 5699; February 3, 2015). The public scoping period commenced in February and ended on April 6, 2015, during which time public hearings were held and NOAA received both written and oral comments on the concept of expanding the boundaries of the sanctuary. NOAA received approximately 200 comments during that scoping period, generally supportive of the concept. NOAA is the lead agency for this action. NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) is the implementing office for this action. Cooperating agencies for the development of this DEIS include the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE). Recommended Citation: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. 2016. Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Expansion Draft Environmental Impact Statement. U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, Silver Spring, MD. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE Office of National Marine Sanctuaries 1305 East-West Highway Silver Spring, Maryland 2og10 Dear Reviewer: In accordance with provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) encloses for your review the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS). The DEIS considers five alternatives for the proposed expansion of FGBNMS. In 1992, NOAA designated East and West Flower Garden Banks as Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. In 1996, Stetson Bank was added to the sanctuary through Congressional action. The three banks, encompassing 56 square miles, are part of a larger system ofreefs and banks along the continental shelf in the north central Gulf of Mexico. Located 70 to 115 miles off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana, the three banks current Iy included within the sanctuary contain some of the most spectacular marine resources in the northern Gulf of Mexico, including some of the healthiest coral reef communities in the entire Ca1ibbean and western Atlantic region. The proposed action would serve NOAA 's mission to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources, and furthers the FGBNMS mission to "identify, protect, conserve, and enhance the natural and cultural resources, va lues, and qualities of FGBNMS and its regional environment for this and future generations." FGBNMS has developed five sanctuary expansion alternatives, and the DEIS evaluates the environmental consequences of the alternatives under NEPA. NOAA's preferred alternative (Alternative 3) would expand the existing sanctuary from 56 square miles to 383 square miles, to include additional important and sensitive marine habitat areas. No significant adverse impacts to resources and the human environment are expected under any alternative. Long-term beneficial impacts are anticipated if the proposed action is implemented. Although an environmental assessment would have sufficed to analyze the impacts of the proposed action under NEPA, a DEIS has been prepared to satisfy the procedural requirements of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act. Public Meetings will be held as follows: I) Galveston, Texas Date: July 12, 2016 Location: Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Office Address: 4700 Avenue U, Building 216, Galveston, TX 77551 Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m. 2) Houston, Texas Date: July 13, 2016 Locabon: Trini Mendenhall Community Center Address: 1414 Wirt Rd. , Houston, TX 77055 Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m. 3) New Orleans, Louisiana Date: July 19, 2016 Location: Hilton New Orleans Airport, Segnette Room Address: 901 Airline Drive, Kenner, LA 70062 Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m. 4) Mobile, Alabama Date: July 20, 2016 Location: Five Rivers Delta Center Address: 30945 Five Rivers Blvd., Spanish Fort, AL 36527 Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m. 5) Lafayette, Louisia11a: Date: July 21, 2016 Location: Estuarine Habitats and Coastal Fisheries Center Address: 646 Cajundome Blvd., Lafayette, LA 70506 Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Written com1nents will be accepted until August 19, 2016 and can be submitted online or through the mail to the sanctuary official identified below. Responsible Official: Jolm Armor Acting Director, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Sanctuary Official: George Sch1nal1l, Superinte11dent 011li11e: Visit the federal eRulemaking portal at http://www.regulations.gov. In the search window, type NOAA­ NOS-2016-0059, click the "Com1ne11t Now!" icon. Mail: Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary 4700 Ave. U, Bldg. 216, Galvesto11, TX 77551 ncere!y..__-, Jo r Acting Director Table of Contents Table of Contents .......................................................................................... i List of Tables ................................................................................................ iv List of Figures ............................................................................................... vi List of Acronyms
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