Reuters: U.S. proposes new marine sanctuary off California coast

A man walks along the Pacific Ocean at Goleta Beach Park in Goleta, California July 30, 2015. The U.S. Coast Guard was investigating a large, patchy oil sheen that appeared off the Southern California coast west of Santa Barbara on Wednesday, not far from the site of a petroleum pipeline spill in May, officials said. The slick, spanning approximately 3 square miles (8 square km) of the Pacific about 1,000 yards (meters) from shore, was spotted off Goleta State Beach, but the origin of the sheen was unknown, said Coast Guard spokeswoman Petty Officer Sondra-Kay Kneen. REUTERS/Patrick T. Fallon

The Biden administration on Tuesday said it was taking steps to designate a national marine sanctuary off the coast of central California.

President Joe Biden has set a goal of safeguarding 30% of U.S. land and water over the next decade.

The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration said the proposal would protect a 7,000-square-mile area.

The waters are important to the heritage of the Native American Chumash people who once lived in coastal villages that are now submerged. The protected area would be known as the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary.

They are adjacent to San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties and near a 399-square-mile area the administration identified this year for offshore wind development.

NOAA is accepting public comments on the proposal until Jan. 10.

Read Full Article

Northern Chumash Tribal Council:

Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary:

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in our programs and activities (40 C.F.R 5.140 and 7.95).

Website by Sophie Marsh Design Co.