Presidential Documents

1557 

Federal Register 

Vol. 74, No. 7 

Monday, January 12, 2009 

Title 3— 

The President 

Proclamation 8335 of January 6, 2009 

Establishment of the Marianas Trench Marine National 

Monument 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

Over approximately 480 nautical miles, the Mariana Archipelago encompasses the 14 islands of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands and the United States Territory of Guam that sit atop the 

Mariana Ridge in an area known as the Mariana Volcanic Arc. The Mariana 

Volcanic Arc is part of a subduction system in which the Pacific Plate 

plunges beneath the Philippine Sea Plate and into the Earth’s mantle, creating 

the Mariana Trench. Six of the archipelago’s islands have been volcanically 

active in historic times, and numerous seamounts along the Mariana Ridge 

are volcanically or hydrothermically active. The Mariana Trench is approximately 940 nautical miles long and 38 nautical miles wide within the 

United States Exclusive Economic Zone and contains the deepest known 

points in the global ocean. 

The Mariana Volcanic Arc contains objects of scientific interest, including 

the largest active mud volcanoes on Earth. The Champagne vent, located 

at the Eifuku submarine volcano, produces almost pure liquid carbon dioxide. 

This phenomenon has only been observed at one other site in the world. 

The Sulfur Cauldron, a pool of liquid sulfur, is found at the Daikoku submarine volcano. The only other known location of molten sulfur is on 

Io, a moon of Jupiter. Unlike other reefs across the Pacific, the northernmost 

Mariana reefs provide unique volcanic habitats that support marine biological 

communities requiring basalt. Maug Crater represents one of only a handful 

of places on Earth where photosynthetic and chemosynthetic communities 

of life are known to come together. 

The waters of the archipelago’s northern islands are among the most biologically diverse in the Western Pacific and include the greatest diversity 

of seamount and hydrothermal vent life yet discovered. These volcanic 

islands are ringed by coral ecosystems with very high numbers of apex 

predators, including large numbers of sharks. They also contain one of 

the most diverse collections of stony corals in the Western Pacific. The 

northern islands and shoals in the archipelago have substantially higher 

large fish biomass, including apex predators, than the southern islands and 

Guam. The waters of Farallon de Pajaros (also known as Uracas), Maug, 

and Asuncion support some of the largest biomass of reef fishes in the 

Mariana Archipelago. These relatively pristine coral reef ecosystems are 

objects of scientific interest and essential to the long-term study of tropical 

marine ecosystems. 

WHEREAS the submerged volcanic areas of the Mariana Ridge, the coral 

reef ecosystems of the waters surrounding the islands of Farallon de Pajaros, 

Maug, and Asuncion in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 

and the Mariana Trench contain objects of scientific interest that are situated 

upon lands owned or controlled by the Government of the United States; 

WHEREAS the United States continues to act in accordance with the balance 

of interests relating to traditional uses of the oceans recognizing freedom 


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of navigation and overflight and other internationally recognized lawful 

uses of the sea; 

WHEREAS the islands, waters, and airspace of the Mariana Ridge are of 

particular importance to the national security of the United States; 

WHEREAS section 2 of the Act of June 8, 1906 (34 Stat. 225, 16 U.S.C. 

431) (the ‘‘Antiquities Act’’) authorizes the President, in his discretion, to 

declare by public proclamation historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric 

structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest that are situated 

upon lands owned or controlled by the Government of the United States 

to be national monuments, and to reserve as a part thereof parcels of land, 

the limits of which in all cases shall be confined to the smallest area 

compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected; 

WHEREAS it is in the public interest to preserve the known volcanic areas 

of the Mariana Ridge, the marine environment around the islands of Farallon 

de Pajaros, Maug, and Asuncion in the Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands, and the Mariana Trench for the care and management 

of the scientific objects therein: 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States 

of America, by the authority vested in me by section 2 of the Antiquities 

Act do proclaim that there are hereby set apart and reserved as the Marianas 

Trench Marine National Monument (the ‘‘monument’’ or ‘‘marine national 

monument’’) for the purpose of protecting the objects identified above, all 

lands and interests in lands owned or controlled by the Government of 

the United States within the boundaries described below and depicted on 

the accompanying map entitled ‘‘Marianas Trench Marine National Monument’’ attached to and forming a part of this proclamation. The monument 

includes the waters and submerged lands of the three northernmost Mariana 

Islands (the ‘‘Islands Unit’’) and only the submerged lands of designated 

volcanic sites (the ‘‘Volcanic Unit’’) and the Mariana Trench (the ‘‘Trench 

Unit’’) to the extent described as follows: The seaward boundaries of the 

Islands Unit of the monument extend to the lines of latitude and longitude 

depicted on the accompanying map, which lie approximately 50 nautical 

miles from the mean low water line of Farallon de Pajaros (Uracas), Maug, 

and Asuncion. The inland boundary of the Islands Unit of the monument 

is the mean low water line. The boundary of the Trench Unit of the monument extends from the northern limit of the Exclusive Economic Zone of 

the United States in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands 

to the southern limit of the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States 

in Guam approximately following the points of latitude and longitude identified on the accompanying map. The boundaries of the Volcanic Unit of 

the monument include a circle drawn with a 1 nautical mile radius centered 

on each of the volcanic features identified on the accompanying map and 

its legend. The Federal land and interests in land reserved consists of 

approximately 95,216 square miles of submerged lands and waters of the 

Mariana Archipelago, which is the smallest area compatible with the proper 

care and management of the objects to be protected. 

Submerged lands that by legislation are subsequently granted by the United 

States to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands but remain 

controlled by the United States under the Antiquities Act may remain part 

of the monument, for coordination of management with the Government 

of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Any submerged 

lands and interests in submerged lands within the monument not owned 

or controlled by the United States shall be reserved as a part of the monument 

upon acquisition of title or control by the United States. 

Management of the Marine National Monument 

The Secretaries of Commerce, through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, and the Interior, shall manage the monument pursuant to 

applicable legal authorities and in consultation with the Secretary of Defense. 


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The Secretary of the Interior shall have management responsibility for the 

monument, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, except that 

the Secretary of Commerce shall have the primary management responsibility, 

in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to fisheryrelated activities regulated pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and any other applicable authorities. The Secretaries of the Interior and Commerce shall not 

allow or permit any appropriation, injury, destruction, or removal of any 

feature of this monument except as provided for by this proclamation or 

as otherwise provided for by law. 

The Secretaries of the Interior and Commerce shall take appropriate action 

pursuant to their respective authorities under the Antiquities Act and the 

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and such 

other authorities as may be available to implement this proclamation, to 

regulate fisheries, and to ensure proper care and management of the monument. 

Regulation of Scientific Exploration and Research 

Subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary deems necessary 

for the care and management of the objects of this monument, the Secretary 

of the Interior may permit scientific exploration and research within the 

monument, including incidental appropriation, injury, destruction, or removal of features of this monument for scientific study, and the Secretary 

of Commerce may permit fishing within the monument for scientific exploration and research purposes to the extent authorized by the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The prohibitions required by this proclamation shall not restrict scientific exploration or research 

activities by or for the Secretaries, and nothing in this proclamation shall 

be construed to require a permit or other authorization from the other 

Secretary for their respective scientific activities. 

Regulation of Fishing and Management of Fishery Resources 

Within the Islands Unit of the monument, the Secretary of Commerce shall 

prohibit commercial fishing. Subject to such terms and conditions as the 

Secretary of Commerce deems necessary for the care and management of 

the objects of the Islands Unit, the Secretary, consistent with Executive 

Order 12962 of June 7, 1995, as amended, shall ensure that sustenance, 

recreational, and traditional indigenous fishing shall be managed as a sustainable activity consistent with other applicable law and after due consideration 

with respect to traditional indigenous fishing of any determination by the 

Government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 

Monument Management Planning 

The Secretaries of the Interior and Commerce shall, within 2 years of the 

date of this proclamation, prepare management plans within their respective 

authorities and promulgate implementing regulations that address any further 

specific actions necessary for the proper care and management of the objects 

identified in this proclamation. In developing and implementing any management plans and any management rules and regulations, the Secretaries shall 

designate and involve as cooperating agencies the agencies with jurisdiction 

or special expertise, including the Department of Defense, the Department 

of State, and other agencies through scoping in accordance with the National 

Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), its implementing regulations and with Executive Order 13352 of August 26, 2004, Facilitation of 

Cooperative Conservation, and shall treat as a cooperating agency the Government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, consistent 

with these authorities. The monument management plans shall ensure that 

the monument will be administered in accordance with this proclamation, 

and shall, as appropriate to their respective authorities, provide for: 

1. management of the Islands Unit of the monument, in consultation with 

the Government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 

including designation of specific roles and responsibilities and the means 


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of consultation on management decisions as appropriate, without affecting 

the respective authorities or jurisdictions of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands or the Secretaries of the Interior or of Commerce; 

2. public education programs and public outreach regarding the coral reef 

ecosystem and related marine resources and species of the monument and 

efforts to conserve them; 

3. traditional access by indigenous persons, as identified by the Secretaries 

in consultation with the Government of the Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands, for culturally significant subsistence, cultural and religious 

uses within the monument; 

4. a program to assess and promote monument-related scientific exploration 

and research, tourism, and recreational and economic activities and opportunities in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; 

5. a process to consider requests for recreational fishing permits in certain 

areas of the Islands Unit, based on an analysis of the likely effects of 

such fishing on the marine ecosystems of these areas, sound professional 

judgment that such fishing will not materially interfere with or detract 

from the fulfillment of the purposes of this proclamation, and the extent 

to which such recreational fishing shall be managed as a sustainable activity 

consistent with Executive Order 12962, as amended, and other applicable 

law; and 

6. programs for monitoring and enforcement necessary to ensure that scientific exploration and research, tourism, and recreational and commercial 

activities do not degrade the monument’s coral reef ecosystem or related 

marine resources or species or diminish the monument’s natural character. 

The management plans and their implementing regulations shall impose 

no restrictions on innocent passage in the territorial sea or otherwise restrict 

navigation, overflight, and other internationally recognized lawful uses of 

the sea, and shall incorporate the provisions of this proclamation regarding 

Armed Forces actions and compliance with international law. 

This proclamation shall be applied in accordance with international law. 

No restrictions shall apply to or be enforced against a person who is not 

a citizen, national, or resident alien of the United States (including foreign 

flag vessels) unless in accordance with international law. 

Nothing in this proclamation shall be deemed to diminish or enlarge the 

jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 

Advisory Council 

The Secretaries of the Interior and Commerce, within 3 months of the 

date of this proclamation and after considering recommendations from the 

Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall establish 

the Mariana Monument Advisory Council to provide advice and recommendations on the development of management plans and management 

of the monument. The Advisory Council shall consist of three officials 

of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands 

and one representative each from the Department of Defense and the United 

States Coast Guard. 

Members of the Advisory Council will be appointed for a term of 3 years 

by the Secretaries of the Interior and Commerce after nomination by the 

head of the pertinent executive branch agency or, with respect to the officials 

of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 

by the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 

The Advisory Council will adopt such procedures as it deems necessary 

to govern its activities. Each participating agency shall be responsible for 

the expenses of its representative and the Departments of the Interior and 

Commerce shall be equally responsible for the costs of the Advisory Council. 

Emergencies, National Security, and Law Enforcement Activities 


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1. The prohibitions required by this proclamation shall not apply to activities 

necessary to respond to emergencies threatening life, property, or the environment, or to activities necessary for national security or law enforcement 

purposes. 

2. Nothing in this proclamation shall limit agency actions to respond to 

emergencies posing an unacceptable threat to human health or safety or 

to the marine environment and admitting of no other feasible solution. 

Armed Forces Actions 

1. The prohibitions required by this proclamation shall not apply to activities 

and exercises of the Armed Forces (including those carried out by the 

United States Coast Guard). 

2. The Armed Forces shall ensure, by the adoption of appropriate measures 

not impairing operations or operational capabilities, that its vessels and 

aircraft act in a manner consistent, so far as is reasonable and practicable, 

with this proclamation. 

3. In the event of threatened or actual destruction of, loss of, or injury 

to a monument living marine resource resulting from an incident, including 

but not limited to spills and groundings, caused by a component of the 

Department of Defense or the United States Coast Guard, the cognizant 

component shall promptly coordinate with the Secretary of the Interior 

or Commerce, as appropriate, for the purpose of taking appropriate actions 

to respond to and mitigate any actual harm and, if possible, restore or 

replace the monument resource or quality. 

4. Nothing in this proclamation or any regulation implementing it shall 

limit or otherwise affect the Armed Forces’ discretion to use, maintain, 

improve, manage, or control any property under the administrative control 

of a Military Department or otherwise limit the availability of such property 

for military mission purposes. 

This proclamation is not intended to, and does not, create any right or 

benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, by any 

party against the United States, its agencies, instrumentalities, or entities, 

its officers, employees, agents, or any other person. 

All Federal lands and interests in lands within the boundaries of this monument are hereby withdrawn from all forms of entry, location, selection, 

sale, or leasing or other disposition under the public land laws, to the 

extent that those laws apply. 

The establishment of this monument is subject to valid existing rights. 

Nothing in this proclamation shall be deemed to revoke any existing withdrawal, reservation, or appropriation; however, the national monument shall 

be dominant over any other existing Federal withdrawal, reservation, or 

appropriation. 

Warning is hereby given to all unauthorized persons not to appropriate, 

excavate, injure, destroy, or remove any feature of this monument and not 

to locate or settle upon any lands thereof. 


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of 

January, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence 

of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third. 

Billing code 3195–W9–P 


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[FR Doc. E9–496 

Filed 1–9–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–10–C 


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