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Abstract
The
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration proposes to
implement the Congressional designation of a marine area encompassing
Stellwagen Bank, and situated approximately 3.5 miles northwest
of Provincetown, Massachusetts as a national marine sanctuary.
The
sanctuary is comprised of Federal waters and the underlying
lands within a 638-square-nautical-mile area surrounding the
Bank, which measures approximately 19 miles by 6.25 miles at
its widest point. Water depths around the Bank range from 65
feet to over 300 feet.
The
designation of Stellwagen Bank as a national marine sanctuary
will provide a long-term integrated program of resource protection,
research, and interpretation/education to assure comprehensive
management and protection of the Stellwagen Bank system. Resource
protection will involve cooperation with other agencies and
organizations in formulating resource protection policies and
procedures, including the enforcement of regulations affecting
uses of the Bank's resources.
Cooperating
agencies in the development of this final environmental impact
statement/management plan document have included the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (New England Division), U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (Region I), and the Massachusetts Coastal
Zone Management Office.
Nine
Sanctuary regulations are proposed for implementation. The first
regulation prohibits the discharge or deposit of materials or
other matter from within the Sanctuary boundary. The second
regulation prohibits the discharge or deposit of materials or
other matter from outside the Sanctuary boundary, that subsequently
enter the Sanctuary and injure a Sanctuary resource or quality.
The third regulation prohibits exploration, development, and
production of "industrial materials" (e.g., sand and gravel)
within the Sanctuary. The fourth regulation prohibits any construction,
placement, or abandonment on the seabed of any structure or
material, and prohibits any alteration of the seabed within
the Sanctuary. The fifth regulation prohibits the movement,
removal, or injury (or the attempt to move, remove, or injure)
of any historical resource within the Sanctuary. The sixth regulation
prohibits the taking of any marine reptile, marine mammal, or
seabird within the Sanctuary (except as permitted by the Endangered
Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, or Migratory Bird
Treaty Act). The seventh regulation prohibits "lightering" within
the Sanctuary. The eighth regulation prohibits possession within
the Sanctuary of any historical resource, or of any marine reptile,
marine mammal, or seabird taken in violation of the Endangered
Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, or Migratory Bird
Treaty Act. The ninth regulation prohibits interference with,
obstruction, delay or prevention of investigations, searches,
seizure or dispositions of seized property in connection with
enforcement of Title III of the Marine Protection, Research
and Sanctuaries Act or any regulation or permit issued under
that Act.
Additionally,
certain activities not currently proposed for regulation are
identified in the Designation Document as subject to Sanctuary
regulation if, in the future, the need to regulate is demonstrated
as necessary for the protection of Sanctuary resources and qualities.
Activities identified as subject to Sanctuary regulation are:
• exploration,
development, or production of oil and gas resources within the
Sanctuary;
• operation
of vessels within the Sanctuary; and
• mariculture
activities within the Sanctuary.
Alternatives
to the proposed action include regulatory and non-regulatory
management alternatives.
Research
will include baseline studies, monitoring, and analysis and
prediction projects to provide information needed in resolving
management issues. Interpretive/education programs will be directed
at improving public awareness of the Sanctuary's resources and
the need to manage them wisely to ensure their continued viability
and abundance.
Lead
Agency:
U.S.
Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Ocean Service
Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management
Sanctuaries and Reserves Division
Cooperating Agencies:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
New England Division
Waltham, Massachusetts 02254
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region I
Boston, Massachusetts 02201
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Environmental Affairs
Coastal Zone Management Office
Boston, Massachusetts 02202
Contact:
Mr. R. Randall Schneider, Regional Manager
Atlantic & Great Lakes
Sanctuaries and Reserves Division
Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management
National Ocean Service/NOAA
1305 East-West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 713-3132
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