NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries today announced that it is seeking comments by Friday, Sept. 10 on a draft environmental impact statement and management plan that considers three alternatives for the proposed designation of a national marine sanctuary in eastern Lake Ontario, NY and the Thousand Islands region of the St. Lawrence River. In connection with the comment period, public hearings will take place in Oswego, NY (Aug. 18) and Clayton, NY (Aug. 19), as well as virtually on Aug. 24 and Aug. 26.
The area under consideration includes up to ~1,786 square miles of lake waters and bottomlands adjacent to Jefferson, Wayne, Oswego, Cayuga, and St. Lawrence Counties, NY, and contains 64 known shipwrecks and one aircraft, with an additional 20 shipwrecks and three aircraft also possible located there.
NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad said that the proposal “would continue to expand protections for our nation’s rich maritime heritage resources,” with National Ocean Service Acting Director Nicole LeBoeuf saying that “[a]ny possible new sanctuary is a big deal for NOAA, the surrounding community, and the nation.”
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Director John Armor added that public input “will help us create a national marine sanctuary that will provide a window into the past and become a national stage for heritage tourism and recreation opportunities in the Lake Ontario region.”