Management Plan Review

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.

How to comment

Members of the public may submit comments during the public scoping period that ends on April 3, 2023, by any of the following methods:

Electronic Submission

Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov and enter the docket number NOAA-NOS-2023-0003, click the "Comment" icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach comments.

Mail

Oral Comments

Present oral comments at the public scoping meetings:

• Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 (5 - 8 p.m. PT)

  Pacific Beach, Wash.
  Pacific Beach Elementary School Gym
  11 4th Street, Pacific Beach, Wash. 98571

• Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 (5 - 8 p.m. PT)

  Forks, Wash.
  Rainforest Art Center
  35 N Forks Avenue, Forks, Wash. 98331

• Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023 (5 - 8 p.m. PT)

  Neah Bay, Wash.
  Makah Community Gym
  1394 Bayview Avenue, Neah Bay, Wash. 98357

• Friday, Feb. 24, 2023 (5 - 8 p.m. PT)

  Port Angeles, Wash.
  Pirate Union Building Cafeteria
  Peninsula College
  1502 E Lauridsen Blvd, Port Angeles, Wash. 98362

• Monday, Feb. 27, 2023 (5 p.m. PT)

  Virtual public scoping meeting
  GoToMeeting - (Pre-registration is not required, please click this link at the start of the meeting.)

  Add to Calendar

Please note that NOAA may be taking audio recordings of the public meetings including the public comment portion of the meetings.

NOAA may end a meeting before the time noted above if all those participating have completed their oral comments.

Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NOAA. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NOAA will accept anonymous comments (enter "N/ A" in the required fields on regulations.gov if you wish to remain anonymous).

How to get involved and stay informed

Keep up to date on the management plan revision process, ask questions, and receive notifications when there are opportunities for public comment by requesting to be on the project's email list. Send a note to olympiccoast.mpr@noaa.gov.

For more information please see our FAQs page.

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

• 2008-2019 Condition Report:
  • Full Report
  • Quick Look
  • Webstory
• Federal Register Notice to initiate public scoping
• Help Shape the Future FAQs - How to get involved in management plan review
• Navigating the Future Quick Look - Our work, accomplishments, and challenges
• Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Overview

Supporting Documents

• Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Governing And Public Documents
• Climate Reports
  • Climate Impacts Profile
  • Ocean Acidification Sentinel Site (OASeS)

Management Plan Review Process

2

Current Step

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

Public comment

5

Public review and comment on draft documents

Public comment