Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary Final Environmental Impact Statement: Volume I

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is proposing to designate the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary to recognize the national significance of the area’s biological, cultural, and historical resources and to continue to manage this special place as part of the National Marine Sanctuary System. This final environmental impact statement (EIS) provides detailed information and analysis of a range of reasonable alternatives for the designation of marine portions of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and the Monument Expansion Area (collectively called the Monument) as a national marine sanctuary. The State of Hawaiʻi (State) and NOAA prepared this final EIS in accordance with the Hawaiʻi Environmental Policy Act (HEPA, Chapter 343 HRS, HAR Chapter 11-200.1); the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA, 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.), which requires preparation of an environmental impact statement for all sanctuary designations. The EIS is accompanied by a sanctuary management plan that describes the proposed goals, objectives, strategies, and actions for managing the sanctuary.