Stellwagen Bank Final EIS and Management Plan 



Page 88 



organizations, and interest groups are already 

 involved with resources and qualities within the area 

 of the Sanctuary. A mechanism will be established 

 to facilitate the participation of interested and 

 appropriate individuals and groups in providing to 

 the SanctUcuy Manager recommendations on poUcy 

 related to management of the Sanctuary. In 

 accordance with the provisions of Title III of the 

 Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act 

 (MPRSA), as amended, a Sanctuary Advisory 

 Committee (SAC) will be established to provide this 

 means of participation. Section 315 of Title III (as 

 amended at P.L. 102-587, §2112) provides that the 

 Secretary of Commerce may appoint up to 15 

 individuals who are: employed by Federal or State 

 agencies with expertise in management of natural 

 resources; members of relevant Regional Fishery 

 Management Councils estabUshed under section 302 

 of the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and 

 Management Act; or representatives of local user 

 groups, conservation and other pubhc interest 

 organizations, scientific organizations, educational 

 organizations, or others interested in the protection 

 and multiple use management of Sanctuary 

 resources. 



Groups, individuals and agencies will be 

 consulted to ensure that all interests are taken into 

 account, and that the SAC is representative of a 

 broad-based constituency. For example, interests 

 represented on the SAC should include commercial 

 and recreational fishing, commercial whalewatching, 

 commercial and recreational boating, environmental, 

 research, and education groups, and regional 

 ocean/coastal management initiatives. Final 

 selection of SAC members is the responsibility of 

 the Secretary of Commerce, as parent agency to 

 NOAA. 



A SAC with a broad representation will help 

 ensure that the Sanctuary Manager has an expanded 

 information base upon which to make management 

 decisions. The experience and expertise of the SAC 

 will be available to the Manager on an ad hoc basis, 

 as well as at regularly scheduled meetings. In order 

 for the SAC to function efficiently, it may be 

 beneficial to divide the SAC into subcommittees 

 that deal directly with resource protection, research, 

 education/interpretation, and general administration 

 issues. Responsibilities of the SAC are detailed in 



the resource protection, research, 

 education/interpretation, andgeneral administration 

 sections which follow. 



5. Other Federal Agencies 



The Environmental Protection Agency, Region 

 I office (EPA) in Boston, has regulatory 

 responsibilities related to sewage outfalls and ocean 

 disposal activities. Certain ocean disposal activities 

 are also permitted and monitored by the U.S. Corps 

 of Engineers, New England Division, located in 

 Waltham, MA. The Corps is also responsible for 

 certain activities in navigable waters. 



The Minerals Management Service (MMS), 

 within the U. S. Department of the Interior, is 

 responsible for activities conducted pursuant to the 

 Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OSCLA). 

 (Further discussion of other Federal agency 

 responsibilities is provided at Part Three, Section I: 

 Status Quo Alternative.) 



6. State. Regional and Local Agencies 



NOAA will work closely within the existing 

 administrative framework of Commonwealth 

 agencies, such as the Massachusetts Coastal Zone 

 Management Office and the Division of Marine 

 Fisheries, to ensure a coordinated approach to the 

 ocean and ocean resource management 

 responsibUities of all agencies. 



It is NOAA's intention to work to ensure full 

 cooperation and coordination with other State and 

 State/Federal programs, such as the Massachusetts 

 Bays Program. This cooperation may involve 

 formalization of Cooperative Agreements and/or 

 Memoranda of Understanding. 



To facUitate the administrative procedures 

 regarding certification and notification of leases, 

 hcenses, permits, approvals, rights or other 

 authorizations (as described above in Part Two, 

 Section III, Designation Document and 

 Regulations), NOAA intends to work closely with 

 the owners or holders of, or applicants for, leases, 

 Hcenses, permits, approvals, rights or other 

 authorizations as well as with the appropriate 

 issuing agencies. 



