Sea Turtle NEPA alert

Protect Sea Turtles, Oceans and Marine Fish -

Withdraw Flawed Environmental Review Proposed Rule

Deadline August 12, 2008

When Congress reauthorized the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) in 2006, it directed the National Marine Fisheries Service to update its environmental review procedures for compliance with NEPA and the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). Unfortunately, the proposed regulations NMFS has produced fail to comply with this Congressional directive and would instead seriously weaken environmental review and public participation in fisheries management.

The proposed NEPA rule:

Invents a complicated new processto replace environmental impact statements, effectively discarding thirty years of established case law and practice by managers and the public.

Allows individuals with financial interests to control the environmental review and public participation process. The proposed rule enables the regional fishery management councils - a majority of whose appointed members have financial interests in the fisheries they manage - to control the environmental review and public participation process.

Enables fishery managers to circumvent environmental reviewwith new loopholes.

Permits significant reduction in public inputby allowing mangers to reduce the time periods for public comment well below the current required minimum with no outside oversight.

Please write a letter or send an email below to:

Alan Risenhoover
Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries

National Marine Fisheries Service

1315 East-West Highway

Silver Spring, Maryland 20190

Re: MSA Environmental Review Procedures

NEPAprocedures@noaa.gov

>>Learn More

May 20, 2013

Subject:
MSA Environmental Review Procedures

Dear Mr. Risenhoover,

I am writing to urge that the National Marine Fisheries Service withdraw its proposed rule regarding Magnuson-Stevens Act Environmental Review Procedures and develop a new rule that complies with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. Instead of updating the environmental review process under the Magnuson-Stevens Act and ensuring its consistency with NEPA, the proposed rule complicates the process and violates the most basic NEPA requirements. I am particularly concerned about the negative impacts that this new rule may have on protecting endangered sea turtles. In the past NEPA standards have helped stop the incidental bycatch of engendered sea turtles in fisheries. For example, NEPA provided a means to protect endangered marine turtles from bycatch on swordfish longlines in the West Pacific. Following a full exploration of alternatives to protect sea turtles and albatrosses in a supplemental EIS, changes from “J” to circle hooks and modified bait techniques enabled the resumption of the swordfish fishery that had been closed by court injunction. But when sea turtle catch limits were reached, the fishery was again suspended to protect the species. Your agency’s proposed NEPA rule hands over too much authority to fishery management councils that have a long history of poor management, significantly limits the public’s ability to participate in fishery management decisions, and allows fishery managers to make decisions about fishing without fully considering the impacts on marine ecosystems including sea turtles, seals, corals and other precious ocean life. As an American who cares deeply about sea turtles and our oceans, I respectfully ask you to withdraw this proposed regulation and develop one that complies fully with NEPA and established CEQ regulations, and uses to the fullest, NEPA’s proven methods for assisting fisheries management decision making. Thank you for considering my view.
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