Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as he believes it should, is because the sea park/monument has been nominated under a different U.S. law. NOAA does administer sanctuaries, and will have a hand in administering the one in the CNMI’s northern waters — should the sea park/monument become a reality.
But what is being proposed here is different. It is being proposed under what is known as the Antiquities Act of 1906, which gives the U.S. president the authority to declare areas on federal property as “monuments” without having to seek approval from the U.S. Congress. In this case, it is the White House Council on Environmental Quality that is leading the search for an appropriate monument. However, the council has not yet reached a decision, nor has it even come out to evaluate the CNMI’s eligibility. Until that happens, there is no official federal government involvement at all. NOAA’s role comes into play only later.
It should also be noted that it took Hawaii seven years to overcome political pressures exerted by fishing interests. The indigenous population of Hawaii supported the idea from the beginning.
RUTH TIGHE
Tanapag, Saipan
