81 FR 26825 - Marianas Trench Marine National Monument, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; Northern Islands Submerged Lands Transfer to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Draft Environmental Assessment

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 86 (May 4, 2016)

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a draft environmental assessment (Draft EA) for the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument (Monument) Northern Islands Submerged Lands (submerged lands) Transfer to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), for public review and comment. The Draft EA describes our proposal for the Secretary of the Interior to convey specific submerged lands within the Monument from the United States to the CNMI Government under the authority of the Territorial Submerged Lands Act (TSLA), 48 U.S.C. 1705, et seq.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 86 (Wednesday, May 4, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26825-26826]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09955]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R1-R-2015-N020; FF01R05000-FVRS8451-0100000]


Marianas Trench Marine National Monument, Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands; Northern Islands Submerged Lands Transfer to 
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Draft Environmental 
Assessment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of a draft environmental assessment (Draft EA) for the 
Marianas Trench Marine National Monument (Monument) Northern Islands 
Submerged Lands (submerged lands) Transfer to the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), for public review and comment. The 
Draft EA describes our proposal for the Secretary of the Interior to 
convey specific submerged lands within the Monument from the United 
States to the CNMI Government under the authority of the Territorial 
Submerged Lands Act (TSLA), 48 U.S.C. 1705, et seq.

DATES: To ensure consideration of your comments, please send your 
written comments by June 6, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You can download the Draft EA from our Web site: 
www.fws.gov/marianastrenchmarinemonument/, and review printed copies of 
it at the locations listed under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. Submit 
comments on the Draft EA and requests for more information by any of 
the following methods.
    Email: [email protected]. Include ``Submerged Lands 
Transfer'' in the subject line of the message.
    Fax: Attn: Charles Houghten, (503) 231-6161.
    U.S. Mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Region, Attn: 
Charles Houghten, Chief, Lands Division, 911 NE 11th Ave., Portland, OR 
97232.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Houghten, (503) 231-6207 
(phone).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    With this notice, we are announcing the availability of our Draft 
EA developed in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA) and the CNMI Government, and in compliance with 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); NEPA Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); other 
Federal laws and regulations; and our policies and procedures for 
compliance with those laws and regulations. We are also requesting 
public comments on the Draft EA, and will review and consider all 
comments as part of our NEPA process.

Background

    The subject of our EA is the Northern Islands submerged lands 
surrounding the islands of Farallon de Pajaros (Uracas), Maug, and 
Asuncion in the CNMI, which include lands permanently or periodically 
covered by tidal waters up to the mean low water line, and extending 
three miles seaward from the mean high tide line of each of these 
islands.
    The submerged lands are among some of the most biologically diverse 
in the Western Pacific Ocean, with relatively pristine coral reef 
ecosystems that have been proclaimed objects of scientific interest and 
reserved for protection as part of the Monument's Islands Unit, by 
Presidential Proclamation 8335 of January 6, 2009.
    The submerged lands and associated waters were excepted from 
transfer to the CNMI Government by operation of the TSLA in 
Presidential Proclamation 9077 of January 15, 2014. Proclamation 9077 
also provided that it did not affect the authority of the Secretary of 
the Interior granted under the TSLA, to convey the submerged lands 
after an agreement has been entered for coordination of management that 
ensures the protection of the Monument.

The Draft EA

    The purpose of the Draft EA is to analyze alternatives for the 
proposed conveyance of the Northern Islands submerged lands and 
associated waters to the CNMI Government. We identify two alternatives 
in the Draft EA.
    Alternative 1 is our Current Land Status Alternative (No Action); 
under it, the Department of the Interior (DOI) would not convey the 
submerged lands, including mineral rights, to CNMI. The Service and 
NOAA would continue to coordinate management of the submerged lands and 
associated waters, including fishery-related activities of the Islands 
Unit, in consultation with the CNMI Government. We would manage the 
Monument in accordance with the directives of Presidential Proclamation 
8335, and implement activities to address priority management needs 
based on agency-specific authorities and an integrated management plan.
    Under our preferred alternative, Alternative 2 (or Northern Islands 
Submerged Lands Conveyance alternative), DOI would convey the submerged 
lands, including mineral rights, to the CNMI Government through a 
patent with a reserved easement. Consistent with the requirements of 
Proclamation 9077, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) would also be 
implemented to outline the roles and responsibilities of the CNMI 
Government, the Service, and NOAA, for ensuring protection of the 
Monument, and managing and conducting activities within the submerged 
lands and associated waters.
    Upon the conveyance of the NISL to CNMI and pursuant to the MOA, 
the Service and NOAA would, at no additional cost to the CNMI, continue 
managing the conveyed submerged lands, for the benefit of and in 
consultation with the CNMI Government, until such time that the CNMI 
Government notifies the Secretaries of Interior and Commerce of its 
intent to assume either all or a portion of the management 
responsibilities of the conveyed submerged lands.
    Alternative 2 would allow the CNMI Government to assume primary 
responsibility for managing and protecting the Northern Islands 
submerged lands and associated waters consistent with the purposes and 
requirements of Proclamations 8335 and 9077, and in coordination with 
the Service and NOAA, at such time as the CNMI Government notifies the 
Secretaries of Interior and Commerce of its desire to do so. Consistent 
with the Proclamations 8335 and 9077, this management would include the 
benthic and living marine resources of the associated water column, and 
subterranean of the submerged lands, and the associated mineral rights 
within.

[[Page 26826]]

Public Availability of the Draft EA

    Printed copies of the Draft EA are available for review at the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Bureau of Environmental 
and Coastal Quality, Gualo Rai Center, Chalan Pale Arnold-Middle Road, 
Saipan, MP 96950, and the following libraries.
     Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, Beach Road and Insatto St., 
Saipan, MP 96950.
     Tinian Public Library, San Jose Village, Tinian, MP 96952.
     Antonio Camacho Atalig Memorial Library, Tatachog Village, 
Rota, MP 96951.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

Robyn Thorson,
Regional Director, Pacific Region, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2016-09955 Filed 5-3-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P