Changes to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Regulations; Technical Corrections and Minor Substantive Changes

AGENCY:

Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION:

Proposed rule; request for public comments.

SUMMARY:

NOAA proposes to amend the regulations implementing the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to make technical corrections and modifications to clarify intent to several areas in the regulations. As part of these modifications, NOAA proposes to amend the definition of coral to specifically include the common sea fan, Gorgonia ventalina and Venus sea fan, Gorgonia flabellum, which are both important sanctuary resources and are currently managed under the category “live rock;” specify that “touching” coral is an injury and therefore, a prohibited activity in the FKNMS; amend the safe distance between vessels and “divers down” flags to be 100 yards instead of 100 feet; clarify that the prohibitions listed for Sanctuary Preservation Areas and Ecological Reserves also apply in Research-only Areas; and Correct several citations that are currently out of date.

DATES:

Comments on this proposed rule may be made until January 20, 2009.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be submitted by any of the following methods:

• Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Submit electronic comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.
• Mail: David A. Score, Superintendent, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 33 East Quay Road, Key West, FL 33040.
• Instructions: All comments received are a part of the public record and will be generally posted to http://www.regulations.gov without change. All Personal Identifying Information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information. NOAA will accept anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, Wordperfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

David A. Score, Superintendent, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 33 East Quay Road, Key West, FL 33040.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

This Federal Register document is also accessible via the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su-docs/aces/aces_1_40.html .

I. Background

In recognition of its important ecological role as a rich and unique marine environment with seagrass meadows, mangrove islands, and extensive living coral reefs, Congress designated the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKINMS or Sanctuary) in 1990 (Pub. L. 101-605). Through this designation, Congress directed NOAA and the State of Florida to jointly develop a comprehensive program to reduce the risk of damage to these living marine resources, reduce the pollution in the waters of the Florida Keys, and to protect and restore the water quality, coral reefs, and other living marine resources of the Florida Keys. As such, NOAA and the State of Florida worked together to create the management plan for the FKNMS. The FKNMS regulations implementing the designation were published on June 12, 1997 (62 FR 32154) and became effective on July 1, 1997.

In the 18 years since designation, several regulatory issues have arisen that were not clearly addressed when the FKNMS regulations were adopted. In addition, there have been several changes to the Florida state laws during the same period and several technical errors identified in the current FKNMS regulations. NOAA is thus proposing to update the FKNMS regulations to make technical corrections, minor substantive clarifications, and codification of existing regulatory interpretation to address these issues and provide consistency with state law.

II. Summary of the Proposed Revisions

A. Changes to Section 922.162 and Section 922.163, Modification of Existing Regulations on Corals and Prohibited Activities

1. Definition of Coral (§ 922.162(a))

The FKNMS regulations to protect corals and live rock include a list of activities that are prohibited, and include a definition of “coral” and “live rock” to which these protections extend. NOAA is concerned that the common sea fan, Gorgonia ventalina, and Venus sea fan, Gorgoniaflabellum, are not currently listed as coral species in the definition of coral. Although these species of Gorgonia are actually coral, to date, they have been managed under the category of live rock because live rock, defined as any living marine organism or an assemblage thereof attached to a hard substrate, including dead coral or rock, is not limited to identified species. NOAA proposes to make a provision to explicitly include Gorgonia ventalina and Gorgoniafiabellum in the list of protected corals in the FKNIMS regulations and to make the list of corals non-exclusive in case additional coral species are identified in the future.

In addition, the subclass for black corals was incorrectly listed in the original regulations as Hexacorallia. The correct subclass designation is Ceriantipatharia. The definition of coral would be corrected to identify black corals as part of the subclass Ceriantipatharia.

2. Touching Coral (§ 922.163(a)(2))

The act of touching coral or live rock is an injury to the resource and has been historically interpreted as such by the FKNMS staff, charter dive and snorkeling operations, and enforcement personnel. When corals are touched or handled, the organisms are injured, and could suffer mortality. However, touching is not specifically listed in the injury prohibition in the FKNMS regulations. NOAA proposes to clarify and codify the interpretation of injury to coral and live rock by adding “touching” to the list of prohibited activities in the FKNMS. NOAA believes that by clarifying that touching coral and live rock causes injury aids in sanctuary education and outreach efforts to inform the public that this activity is harmful to the coral, and will help public compliance with the prohibition.

B. Other Proposed Modifications and Technical Corrections to Section 922.163

1. Permit Live Rock Aquaculture (§ 922.163(a)(2)(i))

Section 922.1 63(a)(2)(i) currently cites 50 CFR part 638 for authority to permit certain types of live rock aquaculture under the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA). However, that part of the CFR no longer exists. The authority to permit certain types of live rock aquaculture under the MSA is now located at 50 CFR part 622. Therefore, we propose to make a correction to our regulatory citations to reflect this change.

2. Dive Areas (§ 922.163(a)(5)(iii)(C))

NOAA regulations regarding dive area restrictions are inconsistent with regulations that both the State of Florida (Chapter 27 of the 2003 Florida Statutes: 327.331 Divers; definitions; divers-down flag required; obstruction to navigation of certain waters; penalty) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG: Rule 27e—Vessel Engaged in Diving Operations) use to specify the safe distance between vessels and “divers down” flags. The State of Florida and the USCG regulations both indicate that the safe distance between vessels and “divers down” flags is 100 yards. In contrast, the FKNMS regulations currently indicate that the safe distance between vessels and “divers down” flags is 100 feet. In order to be consistent with the regulations issued by the State of Florida and the USCG, we propose to change our regulations from “100 feet” in 922.163(a)(5)(iii)(C) to “100 yards.” Improved consistency allows for better public education and compliance. The change to regulations improves safety and reduces conflict between divers and vessel operations.

3. Marine Life Rule (§ 922.163(a)(12))

NOAA proposes a few technical corrections related to Florida's Marine Life Rule (MLR). NOAA proposes to edit the language at § 922.163(a)(12) to update Florida Marine Life Rule citation as 68B-42, F.A.C. NOAA also proposes to delete Appendix VIII to Subpart P of Part 922 to eliminate the excerpts of the MLR from the FKNMS regulations and simply reference the MLR citation in the regulation.

4. Updating CFR References (§ 922.163)

Sections 922.163(c) and 922.168 are no longer applicable because persons conducting any pre-existing otherwise prohibited activities pursuant to a valid authorization in the Sanctuary area were given 90 days from the designation of the Sanctuary (July 1, 1997) to notify the Director and request certification of the activity. Therefore, these provisions are no longer needed because the certification period expired over ten years ago. Therefore, NOAA proposes to delete these sections from the FKNMS regulations, and to renumber the remaining sections accordingly. Because section 922.168 is referenced in other sections of the FKNMS regulations, we also propose to delete the references to that section. Finally, NOAA proposes to amend the language to the newly redesignated section 922.163(c) to reflect the appropriate citation for authorization of current activities which is § 922.49.

C. Special-Use (Research-Only) Areas (§ 922.1 64(e)(1))

Research-only areas are a type of Special-use Area defined in the FKNMS regulations at § 922.1 64(e)(1)(iii). Except for passage without interruption or for law enforcement purposes, access to research-only areas is restricted to scientific research or educational use specifically authorized by and conducted in accordance with the scope, purpose, terms and conditions of a sanctuary permit. In addition, even if access is allowed by permit, only the activities described in the permit may be conducted because all other activities within the research-only area are prohibited. However, the prohibition against conducting activities in research-only areas is not stated clearly in the FKNMS regulations and, therefore, NOAA proposes to amend § 922.164(d) and add a new paragraph (e)(5) to the section to specify that the prohibited activities listed for Sanctuary Preservation Areas (SPAs) and Ecological Reserves (ERs) as listed at § 922.164(d) also apply in Research-only Areas. This change would provide better notice to the public and to permittees who receive access to conduct activities in Research-only Areas, and would facilitate voluntary compliance as well as enforcement of sanctuary regulations.

III. Classification

A. National Environmental Policy Act

The technical corrections and minor substantive changes to the FKNMS regulations do not have significant environmental impacts and are categorically excluded for the need to prepare an environmental assessment pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NAO 2 16-6 Section 6.03c.3(i)).

B. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Impact

This proposed rule has been determined to be not significant within the meaning of Executive Order 12866.

C. Executive Order 13132: Federalism Assessment

NOAA has concluded this regulatory action does not have federalism implications sufficient to warrant preparation of a federalism assessment under Executive Order 13132. The State of Florida was consulted during the promulgation of this rule.

D. Paperwork Reduction Act

This rule does not contain any new or revisions to the existing information collection requirement that was approved by 0MB (0MB Control Number 0648-0141) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the PRA, unless that collection of information displays a currently valid 0MB Control Number.

E. Regulatory Flexibility Act

The Chief Counsel for Regulation of the Department of Commerce certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration (SBA) that this proposed rule, if adopted, would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

The factual basis for this certification is as follows:

• Making the technical corrections to correct citations and obsolete sections of the regulations as proposed by this rule would not substantively change the effect or impact from the current regulations;
• Amending the definition of coral to specifically include the common sea fan and Venus sea fan also do not impact small entities because these species are already currently managed as sanctuary resources under the category “live rock;”
• Clarifying and codifying that “touching” coral is an injury and therefore, a prohibited activity in the FKNMS does not change the practices of small business operators, such as dive or snorkel charter boats, because they already interpret the regulation as such and currently inform tourists that touching coral or live rock while diving or snorkeling injures the organisms;
• Amending the safe distance between vessels and “divers down” flags to be 100 yards instead of 100 feet provides consistency with regulations already in place by the U.S. Coast Guard and the State of Florida and will therefore not change the current operations of small business operators; and
• Specifying that the prohibitions listed for Sanctuary Preservation Areas and Ecological Reserves also apply in Research-only Areas also does not affect small businesses because entering Research-only Areas is already prohibited unless a permit is obtained from the Sanctuary. The amendment is intended to clarify and promote enforcement of specific activity violations.

IV. Request for Comments

NOAA requests comments on this proposed rule to make technical corrections and amendments to the FKNMS regulations.

List of Subjects in 15 CFR Part 922

• Administrative practice and procedure
• Coastal zone
• Fish
• Fisheries
• Historic preservation
• Intergovernmental relations
• Marine resources
• Monuments and memorials
• Natural resources
• Wildlife
• Wildlife refuges
• Wildlife management areas
• Sanctuary preservation areas
• Ecological reserves
• Areas to be avoided
• State of Florida
• US Coast Guard

For the reasons above, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration proposes to amend title 15, part 922 of the Code of Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 922—NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY PROGRAM REGULATIONS

1. The authority citation for part 922 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.

2. Amend § 922.162(a) by revising the definition for “Coral” to read as follows: