Graphic of the Planning Process

The Sanctuary Advisory Council

Working Group & Meeting Summaries

Information Gathering:

The Ecological and Socioeconomic Forums

Coordination Efforts with the National Park Service

As part of the planning process, a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) will be produced. A Working Group, designed to provide for public input in the planning process, will develop DSEIS and alternatives for the boundaries of the new ecological reserve. An information gathering process will be followed to provide the Working Group with necessary information.

The DSEIS will describe the purpose of the reserve, the affected environment, the natural resources at stake, the boundary alternatives, and the potential impacts of each alternative on the environment and human activities. Towards this end, the Working Group will coordinate with Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) and its staff.

Milestones

5/22/99	Working Group Meeting - Consensus agreement reached on recommended preferred alternative
4/22-23/99	Working Group Meeting - Boundary Alternatives drafted.
2/4-5/99	Working Group Meeting - Ecological Reserve alternative evaluation criteria drafted.
10/27/98 - 11/17/98	Tortugas 2000 Scoping meetings.
6/22/98	Socioeconomic Characterization Forum to share knowledge and identify gaps; see summary.
6/22/98	Working Group Meeting.
4/21/98	Subcommittee reports to SAC, SAC comments on web site status report to SAC and public.
4/16/98 - 4/17/98	Ecological Characterization Forum to share knowledge and identify gaps; see summary.
4/17/98	Working Group Meeting.
4/16/98	Working Group Meeting.
3/23/98 - 3/31/98	Crosby Cruise- Continue benthic characterization, side scan data, transect data.
2/17/98	Sanctuary Advisory Council (SAC) input on draft plan, subcommittee established advice on schedule/process.