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Union Calendar No. 244
103D CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3886
[Report No. 103–441]
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
MARCH 21, 1994
Additional sponsors: Mr. FIELDS of Texas, Mr. WELDON, and Mr. LAUGHLIN
MARCH 21, 1994
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union
and ordered to be printed
A BILL
To amend the boundaries of the Flower Garden Banks
National Marine Sanctuary.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. FLOWER GARDEN BANKS BOUNDARY MODI-
FICATION.
(a) MODIFICATION.—Notwithstanding section 304 of
the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 1434),
the boundaries of the Flower Garden Banks National Ma-
rine Sanctuary, as designated by Public Law 102–251, are
amended to include the area described in subsection (d),
popularly known as Stetson Bank. This area shall be part
of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary
and shall be managed and regulated as though it had been
designated by the Secretary of Commerce under the Na-
tional Marine Sanctuaries Act.
(b) DEPICTION OF SANCTUARY BOUNDARIES.—The
Secretary of Commerce shall—
(1) prepare a chart depicting the boundaries of
the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanc-
tuary, as modified by this section; and
(2) submit copies of this chart to the Commit-
tee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
(c) APPLICATION OF REGULATIONS.—Regulations is-
sued by the Secretary of Commerce to implement the des-
ignation of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine
Sanctuary shall apply to the area described in subsection
(d), unless modified by the Secretary. This subsection
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shall take effect 45 days after the date of enactment of
this Act.
(d) AREA DESCRIBED.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the area referred to in subsections (a),
(b), and (c) is the area that is—
(A) generally depicted on the Department
of the Interior, Minerals Management Service
map titled ‘‘Western Gulf of Mexico, Lease Sale
143, September 1993, Biologically Sensitive
Areas, Map 3 of 3, Final’’;
(B) labeled ‘‘Stetson’’ on the High Island
Area South Addition diagram on that map; and
(C) within the 52 meter isobath.
(2) MINOR
BOUNDARY
ADJUSTMENTS.—The
Secretary of Commerce may make minor adjust-
ments to the boundaries of the area described in
paragraph (1) as necessary to protect living coral re-
sources or to simplify administration of the Flower
Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.
(e) PUBLICATION OF NOTICE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Commerce
shall, as soon as practicable after the date of the en-
actment of this Act, publish in the Federal Register
a notice describing—
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(A) the boundaries of the Flower Garden
Banks National Marine Sanctuary, as modified
by this section, and
(B) any modification of regulations appli-
cable to that Sanctuary that are necessary to
implement that modification of the boundaries
of the Sanctuary.
(2) TREATMENT AS NOTICE REQUIRED UNDER
NATIONAL
MARINE
SANCTUARIES
ACT.—A notice
published under paragraph (1) shall be considered to
be the notice required to be published under section
304(b)(1) of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act
(16 U.S.C. 1434).