<div dir="ltr"><span id="m_8719923630969468655m_4981310080546600897m_-3176700144285783571gmail-docs-internal-guid-50cdf794-7fff-ad3e-24c4-053141419d69"><p style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">Feb. 13, 2019</p><p style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">Contact: Anne Smrcina (<a href="mailto:anne.smrcina@noaa.gov" target="_blank">anne.smrcina@noaa.gov</a>), 781-738-2242</p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br> <br><b>NOAA seeks public comment on revised management plan for Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary</b><br><i>Three public meetings to be held in Boston, Gloucester, and Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts</i><br><br><br>This week, NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries released the <a href="https://nmssanctuaries.blob.core.windows.net/sanctuaries-prod/media/docs/2020-stellwagen-condition-report.pdf" target="_blank">2020 Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Condition Report</a>. Condition reports summarize resources and ecosystem services within a national marine sanctuary, pressures on those resources, current conditions and trends, and management responses to the pressures.<br><br>The release of the condition report will <a href="https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/news/feb20/stellwagen-bank-national-marine-sanctuary-condition-report-community-input.html">initiate the review and revision</a> of the management plan for Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Public scoping is the first phase in the revision process, and the public can comment through April 10, 2020, on the scope of issues and programs to be considered within an updated plan. Comments may be submitted online, by mail, or in person at the public scoping meetings.<br><br><b>WHAT:</b><br>Public scoping meetings and public comment period through April 10 to solicit input on the scope of issues and programs to be considered within an updated management plan for Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.<br><br><b>WHEN and WHERE:</b> <br><b>March 11</b>, 6:30-8 p.m., New England Aquarium, 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA 02110<br><br></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><b>March 12,</b> 6:30-8p.m., Maritime Gloucester, 23 Harbor Loop, Gloucester, MA 01930</p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br><b>March 18</b>, 6:30-8 p.m., Massachusetts Maritime Academy, 101 Academy Dr, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532<br><br><b>How to comment</b><br><b>Online:</b><br>Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal, <a href="http://www.regulations.gov" target="_blank">www.regulations.gov</a>. Search for docket number <br>NOAA-NOS-2020-0003.<br><br><b>By mail:</b><br>NOAA Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary<br>175 Edward Foster Road<br>Scituate, MA 02066<br>Attn: Management Plan Revision<br><br>For more information, visit <a href="https://stellwagen.noaa.gov/" target="_blank">https://stellwagen.noaa.gov/</a><br></p></span>-- <br><div dir="ltr" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div>_____________________________</div>
<div><font size="1">Vernon Smith</font></div>
<div><font size="1">National Media Coordinator</font></div>
<div><font size="1">Office of National Marine Sanctuaries</font></div>
<div><font size="1">Desk: (240) 533-0662</font></div><div><span style="font-size:x-small">Cell: (240) 638-6447</span></div>
<div><font size="1">E-mail: </font><a href="mailto:vernon.smith@noaa.gov" target="_blank"><font size="1">vernon.smith@noaa.gov</font></a></div>
<div><font size="1">Web: http://</font><font size="1"><a href="http://www.sanctuaries.noaa.gov/" target="_blank">sanctuaries.noaa.gov</a></font></div><div><br></div><div><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"> </p>
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