Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the "Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act."

SEC. 2. FINDINGS. The Congress finds and declares the following:

(l) The Florida Keys extend approximately 220 miles southwest from the southern tip of the Florida peninsula.

(2) Adjacent to the Florida Keys land mass are located spectacular, unique, and nationally significant marine environments, including seagrass meadows, mangrove islands, and extensive living coral reefs.

(3) These marine environments support rich biological communities possessing extensive conservation, recreational, commercial, ecological, historical, research, educational, and esthetic values which give this area special national significance.

(4) These environments are the marine equivalent of tropical rain forests in that they support high levels of biological diversity, are fragile and easily susceptible to damage from human activities, and possess high value to human beings if properly conserved.

(5) These marine environments are subject to damage and loss of their ecological integrity from a variety of sources of disturbance.

(6) Vessel groundings along the reefs of the Florida Keys represent one of many serious threats to the continued vitality of the marine environments of the Florida Keys which must be addressed in order to protect their values.

(7) Action is necessary to provide comprehensive protection for these marine environments by establishing a Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, by restricting vessel traffic within such Sanctuary, and by requiring promulgation of a management plan and regulations to protect sanctuary resources.

(8) The agencies of the United States must cooperate fully to achieve the necessary protection of sanctuary resources.

(9) The Federal Government and the State of Florida should jointly develop and implement a comprehensive program to reduce pollution in the waters offshore the Florida Keys to protect and restore the water quality, coral reefs, and other living marine resources of the Florida Keys environment.

POLICY AND PURPOSE

SEC. 3.(a) POLICY.—It is the policy of the United States to protect and preserve living and other resources of the Florida Keys marine environment.

(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to protect the resources of the area described in section 5(b), to educate and interpret for the public regarding the Florida Keys marine environment, and to manage such human uses of the Sanctuary consistent with this Act. Nothing in this Act is intended to restrict activities that do not cause an adverse effect to the resources or property of the Sanctuary or that do not pose harm to users of the Sanctuary.

DEFINITION

SEC. 4. As used in this Act, the term “adverse effect” means any factor, force, or action that would independently or cumulatively damage, diminish, degrade, impair, destroy, or otherwise harm—

(l) any sanctuary resource, as defined in section 302(8) of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1432(8)); or

(2) any of those qualities, values, or purposes for which the Sanctuary is designated.

SANCTUARY DESIGNATION

SEC. 5.(a) DESIGNATION.—The area described in subsection (b) is designated as the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (in this Act referred to as the “Sanctuary”) under title III of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.). The Sanctuary shall be managed and regulations enforced under all applicable provisions of such title III as if the Sanctuary had been designated under such title.

(b) AREA INCLUDED.—(1) Subject to subsections (c) and (d), the area referred to in subsection (a) consists of all submerged lands and waters, including living marine and other resources within and on those lands and waters, from the mean high water mark to the boundary described under paragraph (2), with the exception of areas within the Fort Jefferson National Monument. The Sanctuary shall be generally identified and depicted on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration charts FKNMS 1 and 2, which shall be maintained on file and kept available for public examination during regular business hours at the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and which shall be updated to reflect boundary modifications under this section.

(2) The boundary referred to in paragraph (1)—

(A) begins at the northeasternmost point of Biscayne National Park located at approximately 25 degrees 39 minutes north latitude, 80 degrees 5 minutes west longitude, then runs eastward to the 300-foot isobath located at approximately 25 degrees 39 minutes north latitude, 80 degrees 4 minutes west longitude;

(B) then runs southward and connects in succession the points at the following coordinates:

(i) 25 degrees 34 minutes north latitude, 80 degrees 4 minutes west longitude,

(ii) 25 degrees 28 minutes north latitude, 80 degrees 5 minutes west longitude, and

(iii) 25 degrees 21 minutes north latitude, 80 degrees 7 minutes west longitude;

(C) then runs southward to the northeastern corner of the existing Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary located at 25 degrees 16 minutes north latitude, 80 degrees 8 minutes west longitude;

(D) then runs southwesterly approximating the 300-foot isobath and connects in succession the points at the following coordinates:

(i) 25 degrees 7 minutes north latitude, 80 degrees 13 minutes west longitude,

(ii) 24 degrees 57 minutes north latitude, 80 degrees 21 minutes west longitude,

(iii) 24 degrees 39 minutes north latitude, 80 degrees 52 minutes west longitude,

(iv) 24 degrees 30 minutes north latitude, 81 degrees 23 minutes west longitude,

(v) 24 degrees 25 minutes north latitude, 81 degrees 50 minutes west longitude,

(vi) 24 degrees 22 minutes north latitude, 82 degrees 48 minutes west longitude,

(vii) 24 degrees 37 minutes north latitude, 83 degrees 6 minutes west longitude,

(viii) 24 degrees 40 minutes north latitude, 83 degrees 6 minutes west longitude,

(ix) 24 degrees 46 minutes north latitude, 82 degrees 54 minutes west longitude,

(x) 24 degrees 44 minutes north latitude, 81 degrees 55 minutes west longitude,

(xi) 24 degrees 51 minutes north latitude, 81 degrees 26 minutes west longitude, and

(xii) 24 degrees 55 minutes north latitude, 80 degrees 56 minutes west longitude;

(E) then follows the boundary of Everglades National Park in a southerly then northeasterly direction through Florida Bay, Buttonwood Sound, Tarpon Basin, and Blackwater Sound;

(F) after Division Point, then departs from the boundary of Everglades National Park and follows the western shoreline of Manatee Bay, Barnes Sound, and Card Sound;

(G) then follows the southern boundary of Biscayne National Park and the northern boundary of Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary to the southeasternmost point of Biscayne National Park; and

(H) then follows the eastern boundary of the Biscayne National Park to the beginning point specified in subparagraph (A).

(c) AREAS WITHIN STATE OF FLORIDA.—The designation under subsection (a) shall not take effect for any area located within the waters of the State of Florida if, not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Governor of the State of Florida objects in writing to the Secretary of Commerce.

(d) BOUNDARY MODIFICATIONS.—No later than the issuance of the draft environmental impact statement for the Sanctuary under section 304(a) (1) (C) (vii) of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1434(a) (1) (C) (vii)), in consultation with the Governor of the State of Florida, if appropriate, the Secretary of Commerce may make minor modifications to the boundaries of the Sanctuary as necessary to properly protect sanctuary resources. The Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the House of Representatives a written notification of such modifications. Any boundary modification made under this subsection shall be reflected on the charts referred to in subsection (b) (l).

PROHIBITION OF CERTAIN USES

SEC. 6.(a) VESSEL TRAFFIC.—(1) Consistent with generally recognized principles of international law, a person may not operate a tank vessel (as that term is defined in section 2101 of title 46, United States Code) or a vessel greater than 50 meters in length in the Area to Be Avoided described in the Federal Register notice of May 9, 1990 (55 Fed. Reg. 19418-19419).

(2) The prohibition in paragraph (l) shall not apply to necessary operations of public vessels. For the purposes of this paragraph, necessary operations of public vessels shall include operations essential for national defense, law enforcement, and responses to emergencies that threaten life, property, or the environment.

(3) The provisions of paragraphs (l) and (2), including the area in which vessel operations are prohibited under paragraph (1), may be modified by regulations issued jointly by the Secretary of the department in which the Coast guard is operating and the Secretary of Commerce.

(4) This subsection shall be effective on the earliest of the following:

(A) the date that is six months after the date of enactment of this Act,

(B) the date of publication of a notice to mariners consistent with this section, or

(C) the date of publication of new nautical charts consistent with this section.

(b) MINERAL AND HYDROCARBON LEASING, EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND PRODUCTION.—No leasing, exploration, development, or production or minerals or hydrocarbons shall be permitted within the Sanctuary.

COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN

SEC. 7.(a) PREPARATION OF PLAN.—The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with appropriate Federal, State, and local government authorities and with the Advisory Council established under section 208, shall develop a comprehensive management plan and implementing regulations to achieve the policy and purpose of this Act. The Secretary of Commerce shall complete such comprehensive management plan and final regulations for the Sanctuary not later than 30 months after the date of enactment of this Act. In developing the plan and regulations, the Secretary of Commerce shall follow the procedures specified in sections 303 and 304 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1433 and 1434), except those procedures requiring the delineation of Sanctuary boundaries and development of a resource assessment report. Such comprehensive management plan shall—

(l) facilitate all public and private uses of the Sanctuary consistent with the primary objective of Sanctuary resource protection;

(2) consider temporal and geographical zoning, to ensure protection of sanctuary resources;

(3) incorporate regulations necessary to enforce the elements of the comprehensive water quality protection program developed under section 8 unless the Secretary of Commerce determines that such program does not meet the purpose for which the Sanctuary is designated or is otherwise inconsistent or incompatible with the comprehensive management plan developed under this section;

(4) identify priority needs for research and amounts needed to—

(A) improve management of the Sanctuary, and in particular, the coral reef ecosystem within the Sanctuary; and

(B) identify clearly the cause and effect relationships between factors threatening the health of the coral reef ecosystem in the Sanctuary;

(5) establish a long-term ecological monitoring program and database, including methods to disseminate information on the management of the coral reef ecosystem.

(6) identify alternative sources of funding needed to fully implement the plan’s provisions and supplement appropriations under section 9 of this Act and section 313 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1444).

(7) ensure coordination and cooperation between Sanctuary managers and other Federal, State, and local authorities with jurisdiction within or adjacent to the Sanctuary;

(8) promote education, among users of the Sanctuary, about coral reef conservation and navigational safety; and

(9) incorporate the existing Looe Key and Key Largo National Marine Sanctuaries into the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary except that Looe Key and Key Largo Sanctuaries shall continue to be operated until completion of the comprehensive management plan for the Florida Keys Sanctuary.

(b) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.—The Secretary of Commerce shall provide for participation by the general public in development of the comprehensive management plan.

(c) TERMINATION OF STUDIES.—On the date of enactment of this Act, all congressionally mandated studies of existing areas in the Florida Keys for designation as National Marine Sanctuaries shall be terminated.

FLORIDA KEYS WATER QUALITY

SEC. 8.(a) WATER QUALITY PROTECTION PROGRAM.—(1) Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Governor of the State of Florida, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, shall develop a comprehensive water quality protection program for the Sanctuary. If the Secretary of Commerce determines that such comprehensive water quality protection program does not meet the purpose for which the Sanctuary is designated or is otherwise inconsistent or incompatible with the comprehensive management plan prepared under section 7, such water quality program shall not be included in the comprehensive management plan. The purposes of such water quality program shall be to—

(A) recommend priority corrective actions and compliance schedules addressing point and nonpoint sources of pollution to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Sanctuary, including restoration and maintenance of a balanced, indigenous population of corals, shellfish, fish and wildlife, and recreational activities in and on the water; and

(B) assign responsibilities for the implementation of the program among the Governor, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Administrator in accordance with applicable Federal and State laws.

(2) The program required by paragraph (l) shall, under applicable Federal and State laws, provide for measures to achieve the purposes described under paragraph (1), including—

(A) adoption or revision, under applicable Federal and State laws, by the State and the Administrator of applicable water quality standards for the Sanctuary, based on water quality criteria which may utilize biological monitoring or assessment methods, to assure protection and restoration of the water quality, coral reefs, and other living marine resources of the Sanctuary;

(B) adoption under applicable Federal and State laws of enforceable pollution control measures (including water quality-based effluent limitations and best management practices) and methods to eliminate or reduce pollution from point and nonpoint sources;

(C) establishment of a comprehensive water quality monitoring program to (i) determine the sources of pollution causing or contributing to existing or anticipated pollution problems in the Sanctuary, (ii) evaluate the effectiveness of efforts to reduce or eliminate those sources of pollution, and (iii) evaluate progress toward achieving and maintaining water quality standards and toward protecting and restoring the coral reefs and other living marine resources of the Sanctuary;

(D) provision of adequate opportunity for public participation in all aspects of developing and implementing the program; and

(E) identification of funding for implementation of the program, including appropriate Federal and State cost sharing arrangements.

(b) COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT.—The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Governor of the State of Florida shall ensure compliance with the program required by this section, consistent with applicable Federal and State laws.

(c) CONSULTATION.—In the development and implementation of the program required by paragraph (1), appropriate State and local government officials shall be consulted.

(d) IMPLEMENTATION.—

(1) The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Governor of the State of Florida shall implement the program required by this section, in cooperation with the Secretary of Commerce.

(2)(A) The Regional Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall with the Governor of the State of Florida establish a Steering Committee to set guidance and policy for the development and implementation of such program. Membership shall include representatives of the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Park Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Army Corps of Engineers, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Florida Department of Community Affairs, the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation, the South Florida Water Management District, and the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority; three individuals in local government in the Florida Keys; and three citizens knowledgeable about such program.

(B) The Steering Committee shall, on a biennial basis, issue a report to Congress that—

(i) summarizes the progress of the program;

(ii) summarizes any modifications to the program and its recommended actions and plans; and

(iii) incorporates specific recommendations concerning the implementation of the program.

(C) The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall cooperate with the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation to establish a Technical Advisory Committee to advise the Steering Committee and to assist in the design and prioritization of programs for scientific research and monitoring. The Technical Advisory Committee shall be composed of scientists from federal agencies, State agencies, academic institutions, private non-profit organizations, and knowledgeable citizens.

(3)(A) The Regional Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall appoint a Florida Keys Liaison Officer. The Liaison Officer, who shall be located within the State of Florida, shall have the authority and staff to—

(i) assist and support the implementation of the program required by this section, including administrative and technical support for the Steering Committee and Technical Advisory Committee;

(ii) assist and support local, State, and Federal agencies in developing and implementing specific action plans designed to carry out such program;

(iii) coordinate the actions of the Environmental Protection Agency with other Federal agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Park Service, and State and local authorities, in developing strategies to maintain, protect, and improve water quality in the Florida Keys;

(iv) collect and make available to the public publications, and other forms of information that the Steering Committee determines to be appropriate, related to the water quality in the vicinity of the Florida Keys; and

(v) provide for public review and comment on the program and implementing actions.

(4)(A) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency $2,000,000 for fiscal year 1993, $3,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, and $4,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, for the purpose of carrying out this section.

(B) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce $300,000 for fiscal year 1993, $400,000 for fiscal year 1994, and $500,000 for fiscal year 1995, for the purpose of enabling the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out this section.

(C) Amounts appropriated under this paragraph shall remain available until expended.

(D) No more than 15 percent of the amount authorized to be appropriated under subparagraph (A) for any fiscal year may be expended in that fiscal year on administrative expense.

ADVISORY COUNCIL

SEC. 9.(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Governor of the State of Florida and the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida, shall establish an Advisory Council to assist the Secretary in the development and implementation of the comprehensive management plan for the Sanctuary.

(b) MEMBERSHIP.—Members of the Advisory Council may be appointed from among (l) Sanctuary managers, (2) members of other government agencies with overlapping management responsibilities for the Florida Keys marine environment, and (3) representatives of local industries, commercial users, conservation groups, the marine scientific and educational community, recreational user groups, or the general public.

(c) EXPENSES.—Members of the Advisory Council shall not be paid compensation for their service as members and shall not be reimbursed for actual and necessary traveling and subsistence expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties as such members.

(d) ADMINISTRATION.—The Advisory Council shall elect a chairperson and may establish subcommittees, and adopt bylaws, rules, and such other administrative requirements and procedures as are necessary for the administration of its functions.

(e) STAFFING AND OTHER ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary of Commerce shall make available to the Advisory Council such staff, information, and administrative services and assistance as the Secretary of Commerce determines are reasonably required to enable the Advisory Council to carry out its functions.

AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS

SEC. 10.(a) AUTHORIZATION FOR SECRETARY OF COMMERCE.—Section 313(2) (C) of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1444(2) (C)) is amended by striking “$3,000,000” and inserting in lieu thereof “$4,000,000."

(b) AUTHORIZATION FOR EPA ADMINISTRATOR.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency $750,000 for each of the fiscal years 1991 and 1992.

](c) REPORT.—The Secretary of Commerce shall, not later than March 1, 1991, submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the House of Representatives a report on the future requirements for funding the Sanctuary through fiscal year 1999 under title III of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 14321 et seq.).

Approved November 16, 1990.