[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 165 (Friday, August 25, 1995)] [Notices] [Pages 44307-44308] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-21144] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Notice of Area To Be Temporarily Avoided by the Public During Coral Rubble and Ship Debris Removal Activities in the Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary, Now Part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary AGENCY: Sanctuaries and Reserves Division (SRD), Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM), National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC). ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE), and authorized contractors will be conducting coral rubble and ship debris removal activities to prevent and minimize the destruction, or loss of, or injury to Sanctuary resources. The coral rubble and ship debris were generated as a result of the August 10 to 12, 1994, R/V Columbus Iselin grounding incident within the Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary (Looe Key NMS), now part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (Florida Keys NMS). To ensure the protection of life and property during these complex activities the public is advised to avoid the area due to the presence of heavy equipment (i.e., barge and crane) and increased localized boat traffic. NOAA requests that Sanctuary users temporarily avoid an area approximately 900 square feet marked by visible construction buoys from on or about August 23 and August 31, 1995. The area is in the vicinity of 24 deg.37'30'' N, 81 deg.24'23'' W, a bank reef located 7 nautical miles (12.9 km) off the southwest tip of Big Pine Key, Florida. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any comments on the establishment of the area to be temporarily avoided may be sent at any time during or after the effective dates specified below, to Dr. Charles M. Wahle, Chief, Technical Projects Branch, Sanctuaries and Reserves Division, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1305 East West Highway, SSMC4, 12th Floor, Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910. Telephone number: 301-713-3145 ext. 156. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA), Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act (FKNMSPA), and the Looe Key NMS regulations at 15 CFR Part 937, NOAA will be conducting restoration activities within a specified area within the Looe Key NMS on or about August 23 to August 31, 1995. Background On August 10 to 12, 1994, the R/V Columbus Iselin, a 155-foot oceanographic research vessel, ran aground on the western portion of Looe Key reef within the Looe Key NMS, now part of the FKNMS. The grounding site is a bank reef located 7 nautical miles (12.9 km) off the southwest tip of Big Pine Key, Florida (24 deg.37' N, 81 deg.24' W). The impact of the grounding and the shifting of the vessel over the two day period created larger scars on four of the Looe Key coral spurs. Significant injuries were inflicted to the coral reef colonies, substrate, and other resident marine organisms such as sponges and sea fans. Considerable amounts of unconsolidated coral rubble were generated by the impact and now rest in the channels (grooves) between and on top of the coral spurs. In addition to the debris, large sections of metal instrumentation shielding from the ship's hull (ship debris) was left behind on the seabed. The rubble and ship debris continue to threaten living resources in the vicinity of the grounding site, and pose safety risks to Sanctuary users. Section 312(b)(1) of the NMSA authorizes NOAA to undertake all necessary actions to prevent or minimize the destruction or loss of, or injury to, Sanctuary resources. NOAA has determined that coral reef rubble and ship debris generated by this grounding continues to threaten living corals in the area and must be extracted safely from the site this summer. NOAA, COE and authorized contractors will implement rubble and ship debris removal work at the grounding site within the Looe Key NMS. [[Page 44308]] During the conduct of such activities, NOAA has deemed it necessary to request the public to temporarily avoid the 900 square foot area around the grounding site (24 deg.37' N, 81 deg.24' W) for the following reasons, to: protect the life and property of construction crew and Sanctuary users while heavy construction materials and equipment (e.g., barges and cranes) are in the area; protect moorings which will be used at the site to stabilize the barge; and protect the surface air supply hoses of the divers and SCUBA crew who will be conducting the rubble and ship debris removal activities; and to ensure timely and successful completion of rubble and ship debris removal. This area to be temporarily avoided will be in effect no longer than necessary to complete the rubble and ship debris removal activities. It is the minimum area necessary to moor the barge and includes buffer zones to moor support vessels and provide an extra margin for public safety while completing these rubble and ship debris removal activities. Locations and Boundaries of Temporary Avoidance Area The temporary avoidance area is located approximately 7 nautical miles (12.9 kilometers) offshore the southwest tip of Big Pine Key, Florida (24 deg.37' N, 81 deg.24' W). The total area to be temporarily avoided is approximately 900 square feet, and is less than one percent of the total area of the Looe Key NMS. The boundary of this area will be marked by visible construction buoys. The area to be temporarily avoided is bounded by the following coordinates: Latitude Longitude A. 24 deg.32'49.5'' N 81 deg.24'25.6'' W B. 24 deg.32'49.5'' N 81 deg.24'22.4'' W C. 24 deg.32'25.3'' N 81 deg.24'22.4'' W D. 24 deg.32'25.3'' N 81 deg.24'25.6'' W Dates The area to be temporarily avoided will be in effect from on or about August 23 to August 31, 1995, or until the construction marker buoys are removed at NOAA's direction if the work is completed prior to August 31, 1995. Public notice of the area to be temporarily avoided will be provided through the Federal Register, local news media, and posting of placards on bulletin boards in public areas in Big Pine Key and at Bahia Honda State Park. Notice of the removal of the area to be temporarily avoided will be issued by NOAA once the rubble and ship debris removal activities are completed. Dated: August 21, 1995. W. Stanley Wilson, Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management. [FR Doc. 95-21144 Filed 8-24-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-08-M