[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 121 (Friday, June 22, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33462-33463]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-15806]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

15 CFR Part 922

[Docket No. 000510129-1157-03]
RIN 0648-A018


Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Regulations; Announcement 
of Effective Date in Florida State Waters

AGENCY: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Ocean 
Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 
Department of Commerce (DOC).

ACTION: Final rule; announcement of effective date.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces that the Revised Designation Document 
and the final regulations that were published in the Federal Register 
on January 17, 2001 (66 FR 4267), and state fishing regulations adopted 
by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for the 
Tortugas Ecological Reserve, will become effective in Florida State 
waters on July 1, 2001. The Revised Designation Document expands the 
boundary of the Sanctuary and the regulations implement the expansion, 
establish and implement the Tortugas Ecological Reserve, and make other 
revisions to the Sanctuary regulations.

DATES: The final regulations published at 66 FR 4267 (January 17, 2001) 
will become effective on July 1, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Billy Causey, (305) 743-2437.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document announces the effective date 
in Florida State waters for the Revised Designation Document expanding 
the boundary of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS or 
Sanctuary) and the final regulations that implement the boundary 
expansion, establish and implement the Tortugas Ecological Reserve, and 
that make certain revisions to the Sanctuary regulations. The expansion 
of the Sanctuary boundary encompasses an area of the State of Florida 
waters and Federal waters at the far western end of the Florida Keys, 
and the submerged lands thereunder. The Federal Register document 
publishing those regulations also contained the Revised Designation 
Document and summarized the final supplemental management plan for the 
Sanctuary. The Revised Designation Document sets forth the geographic 
area included within the Sanctuary, the characteristics of the area 
that give it conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, 
research, educational, or esthetic value, and the type of activities 
subject to regulation. The supplemental management plan details the 
goals and objectives, management responsibilities, research activities, 
interpretive and educational programs, and enforcement activities of 
the area. The Revised Designation Document and the final regulations 
became effective in Federal waters on March 8, 2001 and notice of the 
effective date was published in the Federal Register on March 23, 2001 
(66 FR 16120).
    On March 6, 2001, the Governor of the State of Florida certified to 
the Secretary of Commerce that the revised designation, the 
supplemental management plan, and the regulations implementing the 
Tortugas Ecological Reserve were unacceptable unless and until approved 
by the Governor and Cabinet, acting as the Board of Trustees of the 
Internal Improvement Trust Fund of the State of Florida. On April 24, 
2001, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to approve the boundary 
expansion, the supplemental management plan and the final regulations 
implementing the Tortugas Ecological Reserve in state waters. On May 
14, 2001, the State of Florida notified the Secretary of Commerce of 
the Board's approval. The revised designation, supplemental management 
plan, and the revised regulations, and the fishing regulations approved 
by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission implementing 
the Reserve in state waters will take effect on July 1, 2001.
    This Federal Register document announces that July 1, 2001 is the 
effective date in state waters of the Revised Designation Document, the 
final regulations and state fishing regulations.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. Section 1431 et seq.

(Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog Number 11.429 Marine Sanctuary 
Program)

    Dated: June 19, 2001.
Ted I. Lillestolen,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone 
Management.
[FR Doc. 01-15806 Filed 6-20-01; 10:06 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-U