Ocean-monument plan goes online

A preliminary management document for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument is available online for public review, the three government agencies managing the monument have announced.

The monument, created by President Bush last year, encompasses 140,000 square miles surrounding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. It superseded plans for a national marine sanctuary to be managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Per Bush's proclamation, the monument is managed by NOAA, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the state's Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The proposed sanctuary draft EIS and management plan will be used as a starting point for the interagency management plan, a joint news release from the three agencies said.

A draft plan and associated environmental assessment that includes input from the Fish & Wildlife Service and state will be distributed for public review and comment early in 2008.

Public comments received during the previous Northwestern Hawaiian Islands sanctuary designation planning process and about the draft visitor services plan for Midway Atoll will be considered in the new management plan, the agencies said.

Additional comments that identify new environmental issues resulting from new information or changed circumstances since the previous comment periods can be submitted to Don Palawski, Monument Plan Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: at Box 50167, Honolulu, HI 95850, or PMNM_MMP_Comments@fws.gov. Comments are requested by June 4.