I

103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 3886

To amend the boundaries of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine

Sanctuary.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 23, 1994

Mr. ORTIZ introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee

on Merchant Marine and Fisheries

A BILL

To amend the boundaries of the Flower Garden Banks

National Marine Sanctuary.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. FLOWER GARDEN BANKS BOUNDARY MODI4 FICATION.

5 (a) MODIFICATION.—Notwithstanding section 304 of

6 the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 1434),

7 the boundaries of the Flower Garden Banks National Ma8 rine Sanctuary, as designated by Public Law 102–251, are

9 amended to include the area described in subsection (d),

10 popularly known as Stetson Bank. This area shall be part
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1 of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

2 and shall be managed and regulated as though it had been

3 designated by the Secretary of Commerce under the Na4 tional Marine Sanctuaries Act.

5 (b) DEPICTION OF SANCTUARY BOUNDARIES.—The

6 Secretary of Commerce shall—

7 (1) prepare a chart depicting the boundaries of

8 the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanc9 tuary, as modified by this section; and

10 (2) submit copies of this chart to the Commit11 tee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the House

12 of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce,

13 Science, and Transportation of the Senate.

14 (c) APPLICATION OF REGULATIONS.—Regulations is15 sued by the Secretary of Commerce to implement the des16 ignation of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine

17 Sanctuary shall apply to the area described in subsection

18 (d), unless modified by the Secretary. This subsection

19 shall take effect 45 days after the date of enactment of

20 this Act.

21 (d) AREA DESCRIBED.—

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para23 graph (2), the area referred to in subsections (a),

24 (b), and (c) is the area that is—
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1 (A) generally depicted on the Department

2 of the Interior, Minerals Management Service

3 map titled ‘‘Western Gulf of Mexico, Lease Sale

4 143, September 1993, Biologically Sensitive

5 Areas, Map 3 of 3, Final’’;

6 (B) labeled ‘‘Stetson’’ on the High Island

7 Area South Addition diagram on that map; and

8 (C) within the 52 meter isobath.

9 (2) MINOR BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENTS.—The

10 Secretary of Commerce may make minor adjust11 ments to the boundaries of the area described in

12 paragraph (1) as necessary to protect living coral re13 sources or to simplify administration of the Flower

14 Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.

15 (e) PUBLICATION OF NOTICE.—

16 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Commerce

17 shall, as soon as practicable after the date of the en18 actment of this Act, publish in the Federal Register

19 a notice describing—

20 (A) the boundaries of the Flower Garden

21 Banks National Marine Sanctuary, as modified

22 by this section, and

23 (B) any modification of regulations appli24 cable to that Sanctuary that are necessary to
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1 implement that modification of the boundaries

2 of the Sanctuary.

3 (2) TREATMENT AS NOTICE REQUIRED UNDER

4 NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES ACT.—A notice

5 published under paragraph (1) shall be considered to

6 be the notice required to be published under section

7 304(b)(1) of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act

8 (16 U.S.C. 1434).

Æ