Public Documents Index

03/02/2015
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Regulations: Correction (223k pdf)
AGENCY: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC).
ACTION: Correcting amendment.
SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is reinstating missing paragraphs of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (OCNMS) regulations that pertain to the issuance of permits. NOAA inadvertently excluded the paragraphs in the publication of a November 2011 final rule revising OCNMS permitting regulations. The reinstatement of these paragraphs will ensure continued coordination with the treaty Indian tribes whose cultural and treaty resources may be affected by activities of regulated entities. In addition, these provisions provide notice to the regulated community of NOAA’s responsibilities to treaty Indian tribes whose cultural and treaty resources may be affected by a permittee’s proposed activities. DATES: These regulations are effective on March 2, 2015.

01/26/2012
Overflight Regulations for the Channel Islands, Monterey Bay, Gulf of the Farallones, and Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuaries (link to 160k pdf on national site)
AGENCY: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC).
ACTION: Final rule
SUMMARY: NOAA is amending the regulations for the Channel Islands, Monterey Bay, Gulf of the Farallones, and Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuaries by requiring that motorized aircraft maintain certain minimum altitudes above specified locations within the boundaries of the listed sanctuaries and stating that failure to comply with these altitude limits is presumed to disturb marine mammals and seabirds and is a violation of the sanctuary regulations.
DATES: These regulations are effective on February 27, 2012.

11/01/2011
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Regulations Revisions (198k pdf)
AGENCY: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC).
ACTION: Final rule
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has conducted a review of the management plan and regulations for Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (OCNMS or sanctuary), located off the outer coast of the Olympic Peninsula in the State of Washington. As a result of the review, NOAA determined that it was necessary to revise the sanctuary’s management plan and implementing regulations. NOAA is revising the OCNMS regulations to: Prohibit wastewater discharges from cruise ships; clarify the language referring to consideration of the objectives of the governing bodies of Indian tribes when issuing permits; correct the size of the sanctuary based on new area estimates (without revising the sanctuary’s actual boundaries); update of definitions; and update information such as office location. NOAA also makes additional changes to the grammar and wording of several sections of the regulations to ensure clarity and consistency with the NMSA and other sanctuaries in the National Marine Sanctuary System. DATES: Effective date: December 1, 2011.

01/14/2011
Proposed Rule; Public Availability of Draft Management Plan and Draft Environmental Assessment; Request for public comments. (104k pdf) – announces start of the 60-day public comment period for proposed regulatory changes and the draft management plan/environmental assessment.

01/04/2011
Amendments to National Marine Sanctuary Regulations Regarding Low Overflights in Designated Zones (52k pdf) – announces a 30-day extension of the public comment period, which extends to February 7, 2011

12/08/2010
Amendments to National Marine Sanctuary Regulations Regarding Low Overflights in Designated Zones (56k pdf) – announces intent to amend West Coast sanctuaries overflight regulations (with no changes to existing altitude or area restrictions) to support Federal Aviation Administration inclusion of regulations on aeronautical charts

04/27/2010
Notice of Intent to Initiate NHPA Sec. 106 Consultation Supporting Revision of the OCNMS Management Plan (44k pdf) – announces intent to coordinate National Historic Preservation Act Sec. 106 consultation with National Environmental Policy Act compliance during management plan review

09/15/2008
Notice of Intent for Management Plan Review (54k pdf) – announces start of management plan review; contains preliminary priority issues for consideration during scoping

11/27/2002
Amendments to the Area To Be Avoided Off The Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (45k pdf) – includes boundary modifications and applicability to vessels 1,600 gross tons and above solely in transit

03/29/2001
Amendments to the Area To Be Avoided Off the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (20k pdf) – Notice of Intent to modify ATBA

12/27/1995
National Marine Sanctuary Program Final Rule (118k pdf) – Consolidates all NMSP regulations into 15 CFR part 922. Subpart O specific to OCMNS

02/17/1995
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Regulations (43k pdf)– corrections to boundary coordinates originally published in 1994

10/07/1994
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Regulations; Confirmation of Effective Date (560k pdf) – effective date confirmed as July 22, 1994

05/11/1994
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Regulations; Final Rule (2.5Mb pdf) – official Final Rule for designation of OCNMS. Contains comments and responses associated with proposed regulations, final regulations, and designation document

09/20/1991
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Regulations and Public Hearings on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Management Plan; Proposed Rule & Notice (8.8Mb pdf) – notice of proposed designation, draft management plan, and draft environmental impact statement