PSA: Help Shape the Florida Keys Marine Conservation

The Florida Keys are a boatie’s paradise.  It’s a guaranteed “place to go boating” on every boater’s bucket list.  From Key Largo to, the former Conch Republic, Key West, they Keys offer more access to canals, waterways, and open ocean than they do roads.  In order to keep and maintain all that access to water, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is currently soliciting comments from the public to help them “scope out” the direction they should take to best protect the natural marine resources.  “This is an early and open process for determining the scope of issues to be addressed and for identifying the significant issues related to a proposed action,” in accordance with the National Environmental Protection Act.

This is your chance to help shape the Keys and keep them accessible and beautiful for future generations of boaters.   There are three ways to make your comments heard before the June 29^th deadline.

1.       Submit your comments by mail postmarked before June 29^th to:

Sean Morton

Sanctuary Superintendent

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

33 East Quay Rd.

Key West, FL 33040

Or,

Anne Morkill

Refuge Manager

US Fish and Wildlife Service

28950 Watson Blvd.

Big Pine Key, FL 33043 

2.       Submit your comments electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal www.regulations.gov, under docket number NOAA-NOS-2012-0061

3.       In person at one of five meetings.  Click this link for the meeting details.

June 19: Marathon, FL; Monroe County Government Center; Emergency Operations Center

June 20: Key Largo, FL; Key Largo Library

June 21: Key West, FL; Doubletree Grand Key Resort; Tortuga Ballroom

June 26: Miami, FL; Florida International University; Graham University Center; Room GC243

June 27: Fort Myers, FL; Joseph P. Alessandro Office Complex; Rooms 165 C and D

Source: NOAA