What are the key steps for management plan review at OCNMS?
This process began with release of the OCNMS Condition Report, which is a review of the condition of sanctuary resources and trends. This report was distributed to the public in mid September 2008, in advance of the public comment period described below. The OCNMS Condition Report is available at http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/science/condition/ or here (7Mb pdf) on our own web site. Also in mid September 2008, the sanctuary published in the Federal Register a Notice of Intent (54k pdf) (NOI) to initiate the management plan review process. The NOI contains information about public scoping meetings, and signaled the opening of a 60-day public comment period. In the months following this public comment period, the sanctuary is working with partners to prioritize management issues, develop action plans, and prepare a draft management plan. Formal public hearings on the draft plan will help staff revise the document into a final management plan, which, once approved, will outline the sanctuar
