Dr. Richard W. Spinrad
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere & National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Administrator
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 5128
Washington, DC 20230
May 6, 2024
Re: Group Support for Joint Position of Northern Chumash Tribal Council and Morro Bay Offshore Wind Leaseholders on Proposed Designation of Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA-NOS-2021-0080
Dear Administrator Spinrad,
On behalf of the 52 undersigned groups with ocean conservation, environmental justice, and clean energy interests, we endorse the joint position in support of a phased approach for the proposed designation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (CHNMS) that the Northern Chumash Tribal Council (Nominating Entity of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary) and Equinor Wind US LLC, Golden State Wind LLC, and Invenergy California Offshore LLC (Leaseholders in the Morro Bay Wind Energy Area) released on April 23, 2024. We support the Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC) and Leaseholders joint request that:
NOAA ONMS adopt a phased approach to the Sanctuary designation, in conjunction with regulatory clarifications, to foster this compatibility with environmentally sound offshore wind development and operation. Upon initial designation, the northern boundary of the CHNMS would be located south of Diablo Canyon, but north of Port San Luis and Avila Beach. Following the initial designation, and at an appropriate time, we jointly support expansion of the full boundary of the CHNMS to connect to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. We request that future expansion be reflected in the Sanctuary’s Management Plan through inclusion of a Sanctuary Expansion Action Plan.
The scale and severity of the climate and biodiversity crises demand that US leaders simultaneously advance habitat conservation and responsible offshore wind development. Alongside the NCTC and the Leaseholders, we support the expeditious designation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary.
Thank you, and we look forward to celebrating the designation and implementation of the sanctuary soon.
Sincerely,
| 350 Bay Area Action Azul Brightline Defense Project California Environmental Voters Californians for Western Wilderness Citizens' Climate Lobby Coalition to Protect America's National Parks Conservación ConCiencia Creation Justice Ministries EarthEcho International Endangered Species Coalition Environment America Environment California Research and Policy Center Environmental Defense Center Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC) Friends of the Earth U.S. Friends of the Mariana Trench GreenLatinos Healthy Ocean Coalition Hispanic Access Foundation Inland Ocean Coalition League of Conservation Voters Marine Conservation Institute Maui Nui Makai Network Mission Blue Mystic Aquarium National Audubon Society | National Ocean Protection Coalition National Parks Conservation Association National Wildlife Federation Native Americans in Philanthropy Natural Resources Defense Council Northern Chumash Bear Clan Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project Ocean Conservancy Ocean Defense Initiative Okhtapus Precovery Labs Resources Legacy Fund Sachamama San Luis Obispo Chapter, Surfrider Foundation Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club (San Luis Obispo County) Seattle Aquarium Sierra Club SLO Climate Coalition Surfrider Foundation Sustainable Ocean Alliance The Ocean Project The Wilderness Society Tuleyome USC Schwarzenegger Institute World Ocean Council |