Frequently Asked Questions about the Management Plan Revision

What is a sanctuary management plan?

The management plan is a road map that:

1. Guides site priorities and strategies toward achievement of the sanctuary's goals in the next ten years
2. Informs sanctuary constituents, including the general public, about programs and management actions by NOAA and its partners; and
3. Helps to coordinate management authorities with other state and federal agencies.

The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries has administered Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries as a single unit since 2021 to realize efficiencies in managing their complementary program activities, regulatory regimes, and overlapping pressures. As such, while they remain separate sanctuaries, NOAA is developing a unified management plan for both sanctuaries.

Why review the sanctuary management plan?

The National Marine Sanctuaries Act requires NOAA to review sanctuary management plans every five years. The purpose of management plan review is to evaluate progress toward implementing sanctuary management and goals, especially the effectiveness of management measures, and to revise the management plan and regulations as necessary. Since the adoption of the current management plan in 2014, new partners, technologies, and opportunities have emerged, as have new resource management challenges. New Condition Reports, published in 2023 (Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary) and 2024 (Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary), shed light on the status and trends of sanctuary resources, and reveal emerging issues of concern that can be evaluated for potential management attention.

What are the steps for updating the management plan for Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries?

Pre-scoping. The sanctuary staff worked to analyze relevant information, including condition reports, internal program reviews, and consultations with stakeholders and partners to develop a list of preliminary management priorities for public comment.

Request for Information. Publication in the Federal Register of this Request for Information (RFI) marks the beginning of the process for this management plan review. The Request for Information provides information about the management plan review process, public meetings, and ways to comment.

Public Input. Public meetings will provide the public an opportunity to comment on the preliminary management priorities to be included in the new management plan. Comments will be recorded at the public comment meeting, and may also be submitted in writing and electronically on the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.

Draft Management Plan Development. After the public input period, sanctuary staff will review all comments and will identify and prioritize input related to the preliminary management priorities.

Draft Environmental Review and Draft Management Plan. The draft management plan will address resource protection and management of the sanctuaries. Accompanying the Draft Management Plan will be an environmental analysis of the activities proposed with the plan. This will be guided by the National Environmental Policy Act and take the form of a Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA).

Public Review and Comment. The draft management plan and draft environmental analysis will then be released for public review and comment, and public hearings will be held to invite input. After the close of the public comment period, sanctuary staff will review comments and make any necessary changes to the plan and environmental analyses.

Final Environmental Review and Final Management Plan. A Final Management Plan and final environmental analysis will be published in the Federal Register.

How do condition reports inform management plan reviews, and how often are they conducted?

Management plan reviews are conducted at five-year intervals, as directed by the National Marine Sanctuaries Act. NOAA works toward fulfilling this requirement through alternating comprehensive management plan reviews and rapid management plan reviews. Condition reports are designed to precede comprehensive management plan reviews, such as this review, which include extensive public engagement. Rapid management plan reviews, which occur in the interim time between condition reports and comprehensive management plan reviews, are internal assessments that rely on other science products, which can include site accomplishments reports, technical memoranda, and other scientific products and information.

What is the expected timeline for the management plan review process?

We expect the process to take one to two years from the date of the RFI.

How can I provide input during this process?

Members of the public may submit comments during the comment period by any of the following methods:

• Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. (docket number NOAA-NOS-2025-0023), click the "Comment Now!" icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.

• Mail: Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries (Attn: Management Plan Review), 991 Marine Dr., San Francisco, CA, 94129

Attend a public meeting held on July 31, 2026. Visit farallones.noaa.gov/manage/management-plan-review.html for up to date information on the public meeting.

Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NOAA. All comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NOAA will accept anonymous comments (enter "N/A" in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).

Is NOAA planning to change sanctuary regulations or boundaries?

NOAA does not anticipate pursuing regulatory or boundary changes for GFNMS or CBNMS during management plan review. Needs for regulatory or boundary changes that are identified in this process may be included in the management plan for future assessment.

How did NOAA identify the list of preliminary management priorities in the notice?

These priorities were reached by assessing, analyzing, and sorting the findings in the Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries Condition Reports, scientific assessments, recommendations from Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries Advisory Councils, and the management unit's ability to influence the resources' condition based on authorities, regulations, and current activities. The assessment also considered the potential for the resource condition to degrade if it is not addressed and the capacity of current programs and staffing. Based on all these considerations, Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries identified a preliminary list of preliminary management priorities for this notice.

How can I get updates about the process?

To stay updated on ways the public can get involved in the management plan and other sanctuary public events, you can sign up for the Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries Community News E-News to receive email updates highlighting ways to get involved and when.