Get Involved!

• Public Involvement
• How Do I Get Involved?
• Workshop & Public Hearing Schedule
• Your Comments
• Get More Information

How will the public be involved?

Active and informed public participation is a key element of sanctuary management, particularly during management plan review. The National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP) recognizes the public as a key resource management partner and values their input in helping shape and manage marine sanctuaries. For almost 30 years, the NMSP has engaged the public in helping create new sanctuaries, develop resource protection strategies, resolve multi-stakeholder issues (i.e., water quality, vessel traffic, and marine reserves), and more recently to review existing management plans. Using the lessons learned from these experiences, the NMSP has worked to build community awareness of key issues affecting these sanctuaries and actively engage user and interest groups, agencies, and the public in an open dialogue about how to best shape the future direction and management of these three contiguous sites.

The NMSP strongly encourages the public to provide comments on the Draft Management Plans, Proposed Rules and Draft Environmental Impact Statement and participate in the public hearings. Following the public comment period, the program will prepare Final Management Plans and a Final Environmental Impact Statement and publish the final rules in the Federal Register.

How can I be involved?

This is an important time for you to participate in the management plan review. You can get involved in the process by attending upcoming public information workshops, by reviewing the Draft Management Plans, Proposed Rules and Draft Environmental Impact Statement, and providing comments in writing (via email or regular mail). Members of the public may also provide oral comments at public hearings.

You may also wish to contact Sactuary Advisory Council members or attend Advisory Council meetings and express your views. Advisory Council meeting agendas are posted on the individual sanctuary websites, and all meetings are open to the public.

Workshop & Public Hearing Schedule

The NMSP is holding both public information workshops and formal public hearings. The purpose of the information workshops is to help the public learn about the management plan review process, and better understand what is in the draft plans of the three sanctuaries and what the proposed rules are. It is an opportunity to ask questions and gather information. The sole purpose of the formal public hearings is to take public comment on the draft plans. These comments will be recorded by a court reporter and become part of the public record.

Your Comments

The NMSP will accept public comments until January 5, 2007.

• JMPR E-Mail: jointplancomments@noaa.gov
• Public Comment Form to fax or mail to the Sanctuary (pdf 100K)

Brady Phillips
JMPR Coordinator
NOAA-National Marine Sanctuary Program
1305 East-West Hwy, N/ORM-6
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Ph: (301) 713-3125, ext 264
Fax: (301) 713-0404
Email: brady.phillips@noaa.gov

Where can I get more information?

Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary

Dan Howard
PH:(415) 663-0314 x 102
FAX: (415) 663-0315
Email: dan.howard@noaa.gov

Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary

Maria Brown
PH: (415) 561 6622 x 301
FAX:(415) 561 6616
Email: maria.brown@noaa.gov

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Rachel Saunders
Ph: (831) 647-4237
Fax: (831) 647-4250
Email: rachel.saunders@noaa.gov