Monument Management Plan

September 12, 2023: The Draft Management Plan for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument is now available for review and comment. The deadline to submit public comments is Thursday, October 26, 2023. Comments can be submitted in writing or verbally (more details below). 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration jointly developed the Monument Management Plan to guide the work of the Monument for the next 15 years and provide a framework for stewardship and management of this special place.  

This Plan establishes the long-term vision and framework needed to provide proper care for the Monument’s unique ecosystem, marine life, and natural and historical resources, as well as set priorities and goals for managing the Monument into the future.   

We want to hear from you! Your comments are important! 

We are interested in feedback about the Draft Management Plan and Environmental Assessment, as well as additional information, data and analyses that might help to inform the final management plan and environmental assessment. 

How to submit comments in writing:  

Written comments may be submitted electronically or by mail and must be received by Thursday, October 26, 2023. We cannot guarantee that written comments received after this date will be considered in developing the final management plan. 

Mail: Send written comments to Superintendent, Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, MA, 01035. 

Electronically: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to  https://www.regulations.gov/document/FWS-R5-NWRS-2023-0154-0001. Click the “Comment Now!” icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.  

How to submit verbal comments: 

Verbal comments can be submitted verbally at three virtual and three in-person public meetings in September and October 2023.  

Post meeting schedule from below up here. 

Public Meetings 

In-Person Meetings 

• Plymouth, Massachusetts  
  Meeting Location: Plymouth Public Library – Fehlow Meeting Room 
  132 South St, Plymouth, MA 02360 
  Date: Wednesday September 27th, 2023 
  Time: 5:30 – 7:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time 
   
• Providence, Rhode Island 
  Meeting Location: Rochambeau Library Meeting Room 
  708 Hope St., Providence, RI 02906 
  Date: Tuesday October 10th, 2023 
  Time: 5:30 – 7:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time 
   
• Portsmouth, New Hampshire 
  Meeting Location: Portsmouth Public Library – Levenson Room 
  175 Parrott Ave, Portsmouth, NH 03801 
  Date: Wednesday October 18th, 2023 
  Time: 5:30 – 7:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time 
   

Virtual Meetings   

• Date: Wednesday October 4th, 2023 | Time: 5:30 – 7:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time  
  LINK TO MEETING WILL FOLLOW SOON 
   
• Date: Friday October 13th, 2023| Time: 12:00 – 2:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time 
  LINK TO MEETING WILL FOLLOW SOON 
   
• Date: Monday October 23rd, 2023 | Time: 5:30 – 7:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time 
  LINK TO MEETING WILL FOLLOW SOON 

Why is this Plan needed?  

The Plan is a government mandate for the benefit of the American public. The Plan will guide the Monument’s stewardship to effectively invest resources in protecting, caring for, and sharing the story of this important place.   

Planning Process  

Bold text = The current step in the planning process 

Step 1: Foundation and Problem Analysis – Public Scoping! Bring those ideas; the more brains the better! 

Step 2: Explore Solutions – Stakeholder Focus Groups - taking the public’s ideas to form a foundation and framework to care for the Monument. 

Step 3: Confirm range of options and opportunities and develop draft plan – Double-checking the work and getting the foundation and framework down on paper.  

Step 4: Public review of draft plan and environmental assessment- How does this look? Did we capture things correctly?  

Step 5: Analysis of public comment- Thanks for the feedback! We will go back and take a look at it.  

Step 6: Prepare final Plan and decision document - Making edits based on your comments and suggestions.   

Step 7: Release final Plan and decision document to the public- Thank you for your help guiding the direction for the Monument’s stewardship and thriving future!   
 

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." – Helen Keller 
 

To stay up to date on the Monument Management planning process, sign up for Monument Management Plan updates.  

Navigate back to the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument Main Page

You can download the complete version of the plan (10.1 MB) within the Documents Section: 
Chapter 1: Draft Management Plan 
Chapter 2: Draft Environmental Assessment 
Appendix A: Presidential Proclamation 9496, September 15, 2016 
Appendix B: Presidential Proclamation 10287, October 6, 2021 
Appendix C: Joint Statement of Intent for Management of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument 
Appendix D: Public Scoping Key Takeaways Report 
Appendix E: Focus Group Report