Ian Brickey, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA -- Today, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. It is the final administrative stage required before the official designation of the site as a marine sanctuary.
In August 2023, NOAA released a proposal to designate a 5,617-square-mile area offshore of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties in Central California as the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. A public comment period that same year was overwhelmingly in favor of the proposal, with over 110,000 comments and 99% in support.
The release of the FEIS (Volume I, Volume II) kicks off a 30-day waiting period before the final management plan and regulations will be released by NOAA. An official designation could occur as soon as December.
In response, Gianna Patchen, Sierra Club’s Santa Lucia Chapter Coordinator, released the following statement:
“For nearly four decades, Tribes and communities have led the effort to protect these precious coastlines, habitat, and sacred sites on the Central California Coast. Today’s announcement gets us one step closer to achieving that goal. We will continue to support our Tribal partners as we work to secure protections for the full area of the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.