Public Comment Invited at February Meetings Hosted by the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (OCNMS) will host public meetings in Port Angeles (February 23) and Forks (February 24) to hear public comment on its Draft Management Plan (DMP) and Proposed Rule (proposed changes to sanctuary regulations).  The meetings are opportunities for interested people to learn more about the DMP and Proposed Rule, speak directly to sanctuary staff, and most importantly provide sanctuary staff with ideas on how to improve the DMP.  Meetings will begin informally, with an opportunity for attendees to talk with sanctuary staff, followed by a brief introduction by George Galasso, Acting Sanctuary Superintendent.  At approximately 6:30 pm, members of the public will be provided opportunity to provide their comments and recommendations.
 
Port Angeles, February 23 6 pm to 9 pm; Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth Street, Commissioner’s meeting room (#160). (Note: the after-hours entrance to the Courthouse is via Fourth Street, to the left of the flag poles near the main courthouse entrance).
Forks, February 24 6 pm to 9 pm; Washington Department of Natural Resources Community Room, 411 Tillicum Lane. 

On January 14, 2011, OCNMS released a Draft Management Plan (DMP) that is largely based on recommendations developed by its Advisory Council through an intensive working group and workshop process (see http://olympiccoast.noaa.gov/AboutUs/sac/sac_actions.html).   When finalized, this management plan will serve as a guide to OCNMS management on its activities for the next 5 to 10 years.

Proposed revisions to OCNMS regulations (referred to as the Proposed Rule) also were developed while reviewing our existing management plan and regulations.  The DMP and proposed regulatory changes formed a framework around which OCNMS staff wrote a Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) document that accompanies the DMP and Proposed Rule and includes all of the federal compliance documentation to accompany the DMP.  A January 14th Federal Register notice announced availability of the DMP, DEA and Proposed Rule for public comment (Regulation Identification Number RIN 0648-BA20).

This notice marks the end of the development phase of the management plan and the beginning of the public review phase.  These documents provide for the public to review a tangible expression of the Sanctuary’s vision for the next five to ten years.

We encourage interested members of the public to comment on the Proposed Rule and DMP/DEA.  These documents and updated information on the management plan review process is available at our web site http://olympiccoast.noaa.gov/protection/mpr/welcome.html

All comments on the Proposed Rule and DMP/DEA be received or postmarked by March 25, 2011. 

In addition to comment at the public meetings, you may submit comments in the following ways:

Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal http://www.regulations.gov .  Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

Fax: 360-457-8496, Attn:  George Galasso

Mail: George Galasso, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, 115 East Railroad Avenue, Suite 301, Port Angeles, WA 98362

For more information, email us at ocnmsmanagementplan@noaa.gov or call 360-457-6622 ext. 28