U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration solicited comments last month about the plan in managing the Marianas Monument which covers 61 million acres of submerged lands —the whole Marianas Trench, 21 underwater volcanoes within the CNMI, and the waters around the northernmost uninhabited islands of Maug, Asuncion and Uracas where about 300 species of stony corals and other precious marine resources are aimed to be preserved.
The Marianas Trench measures 50.5 million acres of submerged lands while the volcanic unit covers 55,912 acres.
The comment period ended on May 5 and the two agencies said an environmental assessment will follow.
“An environmental assessment to evaluate the potential effects of various management alternatives will also be prepared. The EA will provide resource manager with the information needed to determine if the potential effects may be significant and warrant preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement, or if the potential impacts lead to a Finding of No Significant Impact,” the agencies said in their announcement published in the Federal Register.
According to the proclamation that Bush signed on Jan. 6, 2009, the secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior has the responsibility to manage the monument.
The secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Interior secretary, has primary responsibility for management with respect to fishery-related activities regulated pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery and Management Act.
According to the notice, public comments will be considered in drafting the MMP, in consultation with the Marianas Monument Advisory Council and the government of the CNMI.
The MMP will be updated every 15 years.
