Management Plan Review

An aerial view of the Olympic Coast, including undeveloped coastal forests, sandy beaches, rocky offshore islands and seastacks, and vast ocean views.

NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is revising the management plan for Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. The present plan was issued in 2011.

Over the last decade, the sanctuary's natural and cultural resources and environmental conditions have changed, creating new challenges for protecting resources and facilitating compatible use. At the same time, new tools for effective management have emerged, driven by scientific advances, technological innovation, and new partnerships. An evaluation of requirements and approaches, both current and future, ensure that we and our partners are making the most effective use of programmatic resources.

Public engagement is central to NOAA's community-based approach to managing sanctuaries. NOAA solicits public input at multiple stages throughout the revision process.

Current status

In May 2026, NOAA published the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Draft Management Plan and Environmental Assessment. NOAA is soliciting public input on these documents, to help inform the future management of the sanctuary. Please see below for two ways to submit your comments.

How to get involved and stay informed

To keep up to date on the management plan revision process, ask questions, and receive notifications when there are opportunities for public comment, and be notified when the final management plan is published, send a note to olympiccoast.mpr@noaa.gov.

Submit online comments at www.regulations.gov, using docket number NOAA-NOS-2023-0003

Written public comments may be mailed to:

Attn: Management Plan Review NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary
115 East Railroad Ave, Suite #301
Port Angeles, WA 98362

You may also attend public meetings of the Sanctuary Advisory Council, at which updating the management plan will be a regular topic of discussion throughout the revision process. Request to be notified about advisory council meetings by emailing Chris.ButlerMinor@noaa.gov.

Reports and Documents

Supporting Documents

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary has a trust responsibility with four sovereign tribal governments, the Hoh, Makah, and Quileute tribes and Quinault Indian Nation, and will be engaging with each of these Coastal Treaty Tribes throughout the Management Plan Review process either through government-to-government consultation or the Intergovernmental Policy Council, or both.

Management Plan Review Process

1

Sanctuary condition report released
March 2022

2

Public scoping period and scoping meetings
January 30 - April 3, 2023

Megaphone

Public comment

3

Develop draft management plan and environmental review documents

4

Release draft management plan and environmental assessment

5

Current Step

Public review and comment on draft documents

Megaphone

Public comment period May 12 - July 13, 2026

6

Prepare final management plan and environmental review documents

7

Publish final management plan and environmental review documents