New Sanctuary Designation Milestone
On Sept. 6, 2024, NOAA announced the release of the final environmental impact statement for designation of the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. This is a significant step in the sanctuary designation process, with a final agency decision expected in October 2024.
As required by the National Environmental Policy Act, NOAA must wait 30 days after publication of the final environmental impact statement before making its decision. Following the 30 days, should NOAA decide to designate the sanctuary, the agency will release the final regulations and final management plan.
NOAA’s Final Preferred Alternative in the Final Environmental Impact Statement - September 2024
NOAA’s Final Preferred Alternative boundary covers 4,543 square miles of coastal and ocean waters offshore Central California stretching out to nearly 60 miles from shore and down to a maximum depth of 11,580 feet. The sanctuary would allow for the protection of nationally significant natural, ecological, historical, and cultural resources along 116 miles of coastline from just south of Diablo Canyon Power Plant in San Luis Obispo County to the Gaviota Coast in Santa Barbara County. See the final environmental impact statement Volume I and Volume II for more information.
The Designation Process
Public Scoping
Nov. 10, 2021 - Jan. 31, 2022
- Three virtual public meetings held Dec. 8, 2021, Dec. 13, 2021, Jan. 6, 2022.
- Electronic public comments submitted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal, www.regulations.gov, to docket number NOAA-NOS-2021-0080.
- Written public comments mailed to NOAA Sanctuaries West Coast Regional Office.
Review of Public Comments and Preparation of Draft Documents
February 2022 - Winter 2022/2023
ONMS staff review all public comments submitted during the scoping period and produce a draft management plan, draft environmental impact statement, proposed regulations and proposed boundaries.
Release Draft Designation Documents and Provide for Public Comment
Period
August 2023
Public review and comment on the draft designation documents.
Prepare Final Designation Documents
Winter 2023 - Late-2024
After reviewing public comments on the draft designation documents, ONMS staff make adjustments and produce the final designation documents.
Current Step
Publish Final Environmental Impact Statement
September 2024
Publish Final Rule and Management Plan
Target: October 2024
Sanctuary Designation
Target: December 2024/ January 2025
Background
On behalf of a broad community consortium, the Northern Chumash Tribal Council submitted the sanctuary nomination in July 2015. NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries issued a Notice of Intent to begin the designation process for the proposed sanctuary in November 2021. NOAA's proposed designation would protect the region's important marine ecosystems and maritime heritage resources, support ocean-dependent economies, and highlight the cultural values and connections of Indigenous communities to the area. This proposed designation helps to manifest the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to honor Tribal Nations, respect Indigenous Knowledge, and advance co-stewardship.
NOAA is proposing Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary to manage, interpret, and protect Central California coast’s nationally -significant underwater cultural and natural resources and history. The region’s lands and waters hold cultural, spiritual, and historical significance to the Chumash and Salinan Peoples and has remained home to coastal, ocean-going Indigenous Peoples since time immemorial. Special geologic features likeRodriguez Seamount create unique ecological conditions in the area This, combined with an important biogeographic transition zone and upwelling, supports large populations of marine life and boosts both biodiversity and productivity. Over 200 shipwrecks are documented in the region, including the Gold Rush era steamship Yankee Blade and U.S. Coast Guard Cutter McCulloch, which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Due to threats from human activities, industrial uses, and climate change, additional protections are needed. Rather than focus on a single species, issue, or activity separately, NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries uses an ecosystem-based management approach that considers the interconnections among all of the physical and biological features of the marine environment, as well as human interactions at each individual sanctuary site. The designation of Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary would bring comprehensive community- and ecosystem-based management to the area’s nationally significant natural, historical, archaeological, and cultural resources, while involving local Tribes and Indigenous groups, to help guide sanctuary management and programming.
NOAA aims to enhance conservation and public awareness of this unique area through research, education, and community engagement. By partnering with local communities, NOAA would provide a national platform to promote heritage tourism and recreational opportunities in the sanctuary. Designation of the sanctuary would attract new scientific, technological, and financial resources to identify, understand, conserve, and interpret its natural and cultural resources. Additionally, it would offer a chance to highlight Indigenous cultural heritage and include Indigenous Knowledge in sanctuary decision-making and resource management.
The proposed sanctuary would be the first new sanctuary managed for biodiversity conservation as part of the National Marine Sanctuary System, since Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary was designated in 1994. Other national marine sanctuaries have been designated since Olympic Coast for the purpose of preserving maritime heritage.
See the “Draft Designation Materials” menu for links to the August 2023 draft environmental impact statement, draft management plan, and proposed regulations.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries at chumash.heritage@noaa.gov.
If you would like to stay up-to-date on the proposed designation of Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, consider signing up to receive periodic email updates.
NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary System
The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries serves as the trustee for a network of underwater parks encompassing more than 620,000 square miles of marine and Great Lakes waters from Washington state to the Florida Keys, and from Lake Huron to American Samoa. The network includes a system of 16 national marine sanctuaries and Papahānaumokuākea and Rose Atoll marine national monuments.
Through the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, NOAA can identify, designate, and protect areas of the marine and Great Lakes environment that have special national significance.
