Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Management Plan Review

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Management Plan Review

Overview

The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (NMS) was designated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on October 7, 2000. It is jointly managed by the State of Michigan to protect and interpret a nationally significant collection of shipwrecks and other maritime heritage resources. While most other national marine sanctuaries regulate natural resources, the Thunder Bay NMS solely manages maritime heritage resources. As outlined in the sanctuary’s designation document and reinforced in a Memorandum of Agreement between NOAA and the State of Michigan, the Sanctuary does not regulate fishing and other natural resources.

In late 2006, the sanctuary began reviewing its management plan which was written as part of the sanctuary designation process and published in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (1999). Management plans are sanctuary-specific planning and management documents required by law for all national marine sanctuaries. These plans summarize existing sanctuary regulations and programs, and guide future management activities. Using a community-based process that will provide numerous opportunities for public input, the sanctuary will evaluate and update current sanctuary management strategies and programs. The purpose of the review is to ensure that the sanctuary will better protect, conserve, and enhance its maritime heritage resources for current and future generations.

The management plan review began with a series of public scoping meeting in late-September (see dates below). The sanctuary also welcomed written comments via mail, fax, and email. Comments from the scoping meetings and written public comments were used to identify issues to address in the updated management plan. The following six working groups were identified to address the issues: boundaries, education and outreach, funding, resource protection, research and monitoring, and sanctuary operations. Based on the work of these groups, a Draft Management Plan will be developed. The Draft Plan will be circulated to the public and Draft Management Plan hearings will be held to gather further public comments and suggestions. After considering public comments, the sanctuary will complete the Final Management Plan, and that plan will be approved by both NOAA and the State of Michigan.

Download the State of the Sanctuary Report (.pdf)

Frequently Asked Questions

Schedule

September 18, 2006	Public comment period begins
September 24, 2006	Association for Great Lakes Maritime History Meeting (Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, 500 W. Fletcher Street, Alpena, 11:00 a.m.)
September 25, 2006	Presque Isle Scoping Meeting (Presque Isle District Library, 181 E. Erie Street, Rogers City, 6:30 p.m.)
September 26, 2006	Alpena Scoping Meeting (Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, 500 W. Fletcher Street, Alpena, 6:30 p.m.)
September 28, 2006	Alcona Scoping Meeting (Harrisville Courthouse, 106 N. 5th Street, Harrisville, 6:30 p.m.)
September 29, 2006	Lansing Scoping Meeting (Michigan Historical Center, Lake Ontario Room, 702 W. Kalamazoo Street, Lansing, 1:00 p.m.)
October 13, 2006	Deadline for public comments

A State of the Sanctuary (SOS) Report will be used as a basis for revising the original management plan. This document discusses management activities of the sanctuary and its accomplishments since its designation in 2000.


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Revised April 23, 2007 by Sanctuaries Web Group National Ocean Service \| National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration \| U.S. Department of Commerce \| NOAA Library http://thunderbay.noaa.gov/


Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Official Site			October 13, 2008