[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 21, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72214-72216]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27535]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[RTID 0648-XB606]
Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument; Monument
Management Plan
AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce;
Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), as co-leads, announce their
intention to prepare a Monument Management Plan (MMP) for the Pacific
Remote Islands Marine National Monument (Monument). NOAA and USFWS are
updating their original notice of intent to draft the MMP to include
information about the expansion of the Monument in 2014, and to
announce that NOAA and USFWS are co-leads in drafting the MMP. NOAA and
USFWS are seeking input on issues, concerns, ideas, and suggestions for
the future management of the Monument. NOAA and USFWS will also prepare
a draft environmental assessment, concurrent with the management plan,
to evaluate potential effects of implementing the proposed management
alternatives for the Monument. Following the completion of the MMP,
USFWS will prepare new individual Comprehensive Conservation Plans
(CCPs) and revise existing CCPs for National Wildlife Refuges within
the Monument, as appropriate.
DATES: We must receive comments by January 20, 2022.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
NOAA-NMFS-2021-0122, by either of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and enter NOAA-NMFS-2021-0122 in the Search box.
Click on the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
Mail: Send written comments to Dr. Malia Chow, Branch
Chief, Habitat Conservation Division, Pacific Islands Regional Office,
National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA Inouye Regional Center, 1845
Wasp Blvd., Bldg. 176, Honolulu, HI 96818.
Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received or uploaded after the end of the
comment period, may not be considered by NOAA and USFWS. All comments
received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted
for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal
identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential
business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted
voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. We will accept
anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to
remain anonymous).
Additional information about the Monument and the seven refuge
units is available at http://www.fws.gov/refuge/pacific_remote_islands_marine_national_monument and https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/habitat-conservation/pacific-remote-islands-marine-national-monument.
[[Page 72215]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Malia Chow, NOAA, (808) 725-5015,
or malia.chow@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NOAA and USFWS are co-leads in the
preparation of the MMP for the Monument, which was established by
Presidential Proclamation 8336 and expanded by Presidential
Proclamation 9173. With this notice, NOAA and USFWS update their
original 2011 notice of intent (April 5, 2011, 76 FR 18775). NOAA and
USFWS are making the updates to include the 2014 expansion of the
Monument and to identify NOAA and USFWS as co-leads in drafting the MMP
(previously, USFWS was the lead agency). A draft environmental
assessment (EA) to evaluate the potential effects of implementing the
proposed management alternatives will also be prepared. When the draft
MMP and EA are complete, NOAA and USFWS will publish a notice of
availability to obtain comments and input from the public and other
Federal agencies on the draft documents.
We invite the public and Federal, Tribal, State, and local
governments to submit input on issues, concerns, ideas, and suggestions
for the future management of the Monument.
Monument Establishment
On January 6, 2009, President George W. Bush issued Presidential
Proclamation No. 8336, establishing the Monument under the authority of
the Antiquities Act of 1906 (16 U.S.C. 431-433). Upon establishment,
the Monument incorporated approximately 495,189 square nautical miles
(nm\2\), or 1,282,534 square kilometers (km\2\), within its boundaries,
which extended 50 nm (93 km) out from the mean low water lines of
Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands; Johnston, Palmyra, and Wake Atolls;
and Kingman Reef. On September 25, 2014, President Barack Obama issued
Presidential Proclamation No. 9173, which expanded the Monument by
expanding the area around Jarvis Island and Johnston and Wake Atolls to
include the waters and submerged lands to the extent of the seaward
limit of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, generally to 200 nm (370 km)
offshore.
Monument Natural Resources
The Monument contains significant objects of scientific interest
and is home to one of the most widespread assemblages of marine and
terrestrial protected areas in the Pacific Ocean. It is designated to
protect and sustain many endemic (not found elsewhere) species,
including corals, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, seabirds, water
birds, land birds, insects, and vegetation. The 2014 expansion areas
provide habitat and forage for tuna, turtles, manta rays, sharks,
cetaceans, and seabirds. These areas also contain pristine deep sea and
open ocean ecosystems with unique biodiversity, and approximately 165
seamounts (undersea mountains) that provide habitat for colonies of
deepwater corals that are many thousands of years old.
Agency Responsibilities
The Proclamations require the Secretaries of the Interior and
Commerce, who delegated management responsibilities to USFWS and NOAA
to prepare an MMP within their respective authorities for the Monument,
and to promulgate implementing regulations that address specific
actions necessary for the proper care and management of the Monument.
With this notice, the Department of the Interior and Department of
Commerce commit to working cooperatively together and with partners and
stakeholders in the development of the MMP.
Military Role in Management
In accordance with the Proclamation, USFWS Director will not
commence management of emergent lands at Wake Atoll unless and until a
use agreement between the Secretary of the Air Force and the Secretary
of the Interior is terminated. The Secretary of Defense also continues
to manage those portions of the emergent lands of Johnston Atoll under
the administrative jurisdiction of the Defense Department until such
administrative jurisdiction is terminated, at which time those emergent
lands shall be administered as part of the Monument and the Johnston
Atoll National Wildlife Refuge (NWR; Refuge). However, the MMP will
recommend management actions for marine areas surrounding both Johnston
and Wake Atolls.
Fishing
The Proclamations prohibit commercial fishing within the Monument.
Consistent with this requirement, the MMP will not consider management
alternatives to allow commercial fishing. The Proclamations do allow
the Secretaries of Interior and Commerce to permit fishing for
scientific exploration and research purposes. Noncommercial fishing may
also be permitted, as long as it is managed as a sustainable activity.
The noncommercial fishing permit process is established; information is
available at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/marine-national-monument-fishing-permit.
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-
Stevens Act)
NOAA is responsible for the stewardship of the Nation's ocean
resources and their habitats, or ``trust resources,'' primarily through
the Magnuson-Stevens Act. The trust resources are living marine
resources and their habitats, including but not limited to commercial
and recreational fishery resources, endangered and threatened marine
species and their designated critical habitats, marine mammals, marine
turtles, marshes, mangroves, seagrass beds, coral reefs, other coastal
habits, and areas identified as essential fish habitat (EFH), in
accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Act. EFH is made up of those
waters and substrate necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding,
or growth to maturity. Using the EFH, Endangered Species Act, and
Marine Mammal Protection Act consultation processes, NOAA will work in
collaboration and coordination with USFWS, partner agencies, project
proponents, and stakeholders to conserve these trust resources.
Overview of Refuges and Previous Planning Efforts
Within the boundaries of the Monument, USFWS continues to
administer pre-existing national wildlife refuges at Baker, Howland,
and Jarvis Islands; Wake, Johnston, and Palmyra Atolls; and Kingman
Reef, in accordance with the National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee; Refuge System
Administration Act, as amended). USFWS manages these individual
refuges, and the Monument as a whole, as part of the National Wildlife
Refuge System (NWRS).
Howland Island, Baker Island, and Jarvis Island
Howland Island, Baker Island, and Jarvis Island are unique places
for climate change research and other research conducted at the
Equator. These areas have deepwater corals, coral reefs, and corals in
near-pristine condition, as well as predator-dominated marine
ecosystems with a biomass of top predators. CCPs were completed for the
Baker Island, Howland Island, and Jarvis Island NWRs on September 24,
2008 (73 FR 76678; December 17, 2008). CCPs are required for each
refuge in accordance with the National Wildlife Refuge System
Improvement Act.
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Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll
Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll have relatively undisturbed coral
reefs, with high levels of coral diversity, fish biomass, and large
proportions of apex predators relative to other areas in the central
Pacific Ocean.
Johnston Atoll
Johnston Atoll's coral reefs help connect the Hawaiian Archipelago
reef communities to others in the Pacific. This reef community is the
originating source for much of the larvae for the Hawaiian Islands'
corals, invertebrates, and other reef fauna. The atoll's reefs have the
deepest reef-building corals on record.
Wake Atoll
Wake Atoll encompasses possibly the oldest living coral atoll in
the world and has healthy and abundant coral and fish populations. CCPs
have not been completed for Palmyra, Kingman, Wake, and Johnston Atoll
NWRs. For the current MMP planning process, USFWS will focus on
appropriate conservation and management recommendations for all
refuges. Following the completion of the MMP, USFWS will prepare new
CCPs and revise existing CCPs, as appropriate.
Monument Management Plan Development Process
The purpose for developing an MMP is to provide monument managers
with a 15-year direction for the proper care and management of the
significant objects of scientific interest that are within the
boundaries of the Monument. The MMP will be consistent with Refuge
purposes and will contribute toward the mission of the NWRS. The MMP
will be consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Act and sound principles
of marine protected area planning and fish and wildlife management,
conservation, legal mandates, and applicable policies. The EA will
evaluate the impacts of implementing the proposed draft management
plan, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (42
U.S.C. 4321, as amended).
Public Involvement
NOAA and USFWS will conduct the planning process in a manner that
will provide participation opportunities for the public and Federal,
Tribal, State, and local governments. At this time, NOAA and USFWS
encourage comments in the form of issues, concerns, ideas, and
suggestions for the future management of the Monument.
Preliminary Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities
Below, we have identified the following preliminary issues,
concerns, and opportunities that may be addressed in the MMP.
Additional issues may be identified during public scoping.
Climate impacts and management approach
Invasive species prevention and control
Management access, maintenance, and island infrastructure
Seabird protection and management
Scientific exploration and research opportunities
Marine debris and abandoned floating fishing aggregation
device removal
Cultural, historic, and maritime resources protection
Past and current military use
Legacy contaminants management and cleanup
Potential threats (e.g., trespass; illegal fishing; and
shipwrecks, groundings, and spills)
Public awareness, education, and support
Emergency response to natural and manmade disasters and
assessments
Inventory and monitoring of biological organisms and abiotic
(nonliving) factors
Surveillance and enforcement regarding illegal fishing
Permit system for allowable public activities (special uses,
recreational fishing)
Methods and best management practices for habitat conservation
and restoration actions
International programs and collaboration
Opportunities for sustainable practices in management
operations
Next Steps
USFWS and NOAA will consider all the public comments received from
this NOI in developing the draft MMP. The draft MMP and EA will be made
available for public comment once they are completed.
Ngagne Jafnar Gueye,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
Robyn Thorson,
Regional Director, Columbia-Pacific Northwest and Pacific Islands
Regions, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-27535 Filed 12-20-21; 8:45 am]
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