Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council to meet in Duck Key

February 5, 2013

NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary will hold a public meeting of the Sanctuary Advisory Council in Duck Key, Fla., on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013.

This meeting features presentations related to the sanctuary’s marine zoning and regulatory review, including a 9:15 a.m. presentation on potential technical changes to sanctuary regulations, adaptive management measures, and permit procedures by Sanctuary Permit Coordinator Joanne Delaney, and a 3 p.m. update from two advisory council working groups.

At 11:15 a.m., Bill Cox of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Jon Iglehart of Florida Department of Environmental Protection present on the Sanctuary’s Water Quality Protection Program accomplishments and future actions.  Representatives from the Village of Islamorada will provide a 1:30 p.m. presentation on the proposed infrastructure changes connecting Islamorada to the Key Largo wastewater treatment system.  Water quality improvements were identified as a high priority for advisory council discussion following the public scoping period in 2012.

The public comment periods are 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

WHAT: Sanctuary Advisory Council meeting
WHEN: Feb. 19, 2013, 9:00 a.m.
WHERE: Hawks Cay Resort Conference Center, 61 Hawks Cay Boulevard, Duck Key, FL 33050
WHO: NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

To receive more information, or to request a meeting agenda, please contact Beth Dieveney at 305-809-4700 x228 or Beth.Dieveney@noaa.gov.

Authorized in 1990 and established in 1992, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council provides advice and recommendations on managing and protecting the sanctuary. The council has 20 representatives and alternates from community constituent groups, and 10 government agencies have non-voting representatives on the council. Serving in a voluntary capacity, the council members represent a variety of local user groups, as well as the general public.

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary protects 2,900 square nautical miles of critical marine habitat, including coral reef, hard bottom, sea grass meadows, mangrove communities and sand flats. NOAA and the state of Florida manage the sanctuary. Visit us online at http://floridakeys.noaa.gov or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/floridakeysnoaagov.

NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Join NOAA on Facebook, Twitter and our other social media.