United States Coral Reef Task Force; Notice of Availability of Documents for Public Review and Comment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Coral Reef Task Force; Notice of Availability of

Documents for Public Review and Comment

AGENCY: United States Coral Reef Task Force.

ACTION: Availability of documents.

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SUMMARY: This notice carries out the November 3, 1999, decision of the

United States Coral Reef Task Force to provide the public an

opportunity to review and comment on three documents: (1) ``Draft

National Action Plan to Conserve Coral Reefs,'' (2) ``Coral Reef

Protected Areas: A Guide for Management,'' and (3) ``Oversight of

Agency Actions Affecting Coral Reef Protection.''

DATES: (1) Comments on the ``Draft National Action Plan to Conserve

Coral Reefs'' are due on or before January 14, 2000. (2) Comments on

``Coral Reef Protected Areas: A Guide for Management'' are due on or

before January 3, 2000. (3) Comments on ``Oversight of Agency Actions

Affecting Coral Reef Protection'' are due on or before January 3, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Document Availability: Documents are on the Internet at

http://coralreef.gov. Alternatively, call or write to Ms. Patricia

Kennedy (telephone number 202-208-5378), Office of the Assistant

Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, U.S. Department of the

Interior, 1849 C Street, N.W., Mail Stop 3156, Washington, D.C. 20240,

to request a copy of any or all of the documents.

Comments: Submit electronic comments on any or all of these

documents to Patricia__K[email protected]. Alternatively, submit

written comments to the United States Coral Reef Task Force, c/o Ms.

Patricia Kennedy, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Fish and

Wildlife and Parks, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street,

N.W., Mail Stop 3156, Washington, D.C. 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Patricia Kennedy, 202-208-5378,

concerning how to submit your comments. Contact Ms. Molly N. Ross, 202-

208-5378, or Mr. Roger B. Griffis, 202-482-5034, concerning all other

matters.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The world's coral reefs are in serious

jeopardy, threatened by a growing barrage of over-exploitation,

pollution, habitat destruction, diseases, invasive species, bleaching

and climate change. The rapid decline of these ancient and productive

marine ecosystems has significant social, economic and environmental

impacts on coastal cultures and on the nation as a whole.

In response to this global environmental crisis, President Clinton

issued Executive Order 13089, 63 FR 32702 (June 16, 1998). The

executive order established the United States Coral Reef Task Force

(CRTF), to be chaired by the Secretary of the Interior and the

Secretary of Commerce, through the Administrator of the National

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The executive order assigned

the CRTF specific duties for coral reef protection, including

coordination of a comprehensive program to map and monitor U.S. coral

reefs; development and implementation of research aimed at identifying

the major causes and consequences of degradation of coral reef

ecosystems; development, recommendation, and implementation of measures

necessary to reduce and mitigate coral reef ecosystem degradation and

to restore damaged coral reefs; and assessment of the U.S. role in

international trade and protection of coral reef species and

implementation of appropriate strategies and actions to promote

conservation and sustainable use of coral reef resources worldwide.

At its third meeting on November 2-3, 1999, in St. Croix, U.S.

Virgin Islands, the CRTF endorsed or adopted three documents in

furtherance of its duties under Executive Order 13089. The CRTF decided

to provide an opportunity for public comment on each of these

documents, as follows:

(1) The CRTF endorsed the ``Draft National Action Plan to Conserve

Coral Reefs'' for the purpose of securing public comment on the draft

plan and then revising it as necessary before adoption at a future

meeting. This draft plan is a detailed, long-term strategy for

implementing Executive Order 13089. It was prepared through careful

deliberations of a large and diverse group of experts in coral reef

science, management, policy and education, drawn from federal, state

and territorial governments, academia and the private sector. The CRTF

welcomes public review, discussion, and comment on the draft plan.

(2) The CRTF adopted the document entitled ``Coral Reef Protected

Areas: A Guide for Management,'' subject to technical amendments. The

purpose of this document is to assist those involved in planning and

managing programs for coral reef protected areas. It is intended for

use in developing management plans for new protected areas and for

reviewing plans at established areas. The CRTF invites comment on this

document.

(3) The CRTF adopted the document entitled ``Oversight of Agency

Actions Affecting Coral Reef Protection,'' subject to revision in light

of public comment. This document establishes the procedures necessary

to carry out the CRTF's duty under the Executive Order ``to oversee

implementation of the policy and Federal agency responsibilities set

forth in this order. . . '' The oversight procedures require CRTF

members to develop by June 11, 2000, plans for implementing the

executive order, and to provide annual reports summarizing the agency's

implementation each June. The oversight procedures also describe how a

person who believes that an agency has taken action inconsistent with

the Executive Order may register his or her concern and receive a

response from the agency.

[[Page 67929]]

Dated: November 26, 1999.

Stephen C. Saunders,

Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, Department

of the Interior.

Sally Yozell,

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, Department of

Commerce.

[FR Doc. 99-31320 Filed 12-2-99; 8:45 am]

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