Designations

The National Marine Sanctuaries Act allows NOAA to identify, designate, and protectareas of the marine and Great Lakes environment with special national significance due to their conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, scientific, cultural, archaeological, educational, or aesthetic qualities as national marine sanctuaries.

Designation Process Steps

Potential sites for consideration of a national marine sanctuary designation may be identified by NOAA or through a community-based nomination process. NOAA or Congress determines if and when to initiate a designation process for any potential site.

The process for designating a new national marine sanctuary has five steps:

Scoping

NOAA seeks input from public and agency partners, tribes, and other stakeholders on possible boundaries for a new national marine sanctuary, resources that could be protected, issues NOAA should consider, and any information that should be included in the draft sanctuary designation documents.

Draft Documents

NOAA prepares draft designation documents including a draft management plan, proposed regulations, and a draft environmental impact statement that analyzes a range of alternatives, including boundaries and resource protection strategies. NOAA may also form an advisory council to help inform the proposal and focus stakeholder participation.

Public Review and Comment

The public, agency partners, tribes, and other stakeholders provide input on the draft documents. NOAA considers all input and determines appropriate changes.

Preparation of Final Documents

NOAA makes a final decision on whether to designate the site as a national marine sanctuary and, if so, prepares the final sanctuary designation documents, including a final management plan, final rule, and final EIS, which includes a response to public comments.

Sanctuary Designation

If NOAA decides to designate the site as a national marine sanctuary, NOAA publishes the final sanctuary designation documents. The sanctuary designation and regulations take effect after the end of a review period of 45 days of continuous session of Congress.

The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries serves as the trustee for a network of underwater parks encompassing more than 629,000 square miles of marine and Great Lakes waters from Washington state to the Florida Keys, and from Lake Huron to American Samoa. The network includes a system of 17 national marine sanctuaries and Papahānaumokuākea and Rose Atoll marine national monuments.