THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO COMMENT ON WHAT WILL BE STUDIED DURING ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW OF THE NORTH CENTRAL COAST MARINE PROTECTED AREAS PROJECT! ATTEND A SCOPING MEETING NEAR YOU.

Scoping Period Starts
The California Department of Fish and Game issued a Notice of Preparation (NOP) on June 9, 2008 that marks the first step in the environmental review of the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) North Central Coast Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Project. Release of the Notice of Preparation also initiates the scoping phase, during which interested agencies and the public are invited to help identify the range of issues and type of information to be considered in the Environmental Impact Report being prepared. Scoping comments will be accepted by the California Department of Fish and Game through close of business on July 8, 2008.

MLPA North Central Coast MPA Project
The California Department of Fish and Game's North Central Coast Marine Protected Areas Project proposes establishing or modifying MPAs comprising a portion of the north central California coast region between Alder Creek, near Point Arena (Mendocino County) and Pigeon Point (San Mateo County). The goals of the North Central Coast Region MPA Project are:

?? To protect the natural diversity and abundance of marine life, and the structure, function, and integrity of marine ecosystems.
?? To help sustain, conserve, and protect marine life populations, including those of economic value, and rebuild those that are depleted.
?? To improve recreational, educational, and study opportunities provided by marine ecosystems that are subject to minimal human disturbance, and to manage these uses in a manner consistent with protecting biodiversity.
?? To protect marine natural heritage, including protection of representative and unique marine life habitats in California waters for their intrinsic value.
?? To ensure that California's MPAs have clearly defined objectives, effective management measures, and adequate enforcement, and are based on sound scientific guidelines.
?? To ensure that the state's MPAs are designed and managed, to the extent possible, as a network.

Currently, the north central coast region has thirteen existing MPAs. The proposed project would modify and/or delete these MPAs and establish new MPAs, marine managed areas and special closures to achieve the project goals.

Environmental Review Process
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires that decision-making agencies and the public be informed of any potentially significant environmental and other effects before a proposed project is approved. The California Department of Fish and Game will prepare an Environmental Impact Report on the proposed project that provides information about potentially significant impacts, identifies ways to minimize these impacts, and evaluates feasible alternatives. The California Fish and Game Commission is expected to make a decision regarding a preferred alternative in July 2008, and is expected to review and adopt regulations implementing a new MPA package for the north central coast region in late 2008 or early 2009.

THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO COMMENT ON WHAT WILL BE STUDIED DURING ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW OF THE NORTH CENTRAL COAST MARINE PROTECTED AREAS PROJECT!

How to Comment

To obtain a copy of the NOP:
You may access a copy of the Notice of Preparation online at
www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/ or by calling (831) 649-2885


To comment on the NOP:
You may provide comment on the NORTH CENTRAL COAST MARINE PROTECTED AREAS PROJECT through any of the following means:

4Attend one of the three scoping meetings and provide oral or written comment at the meeting (scoping meeting details below).

By Tuesday, July 8, 2008:
4Mail written comments to:
MLPA North Central Coast Comments
California Department of Fish and Game
20 Lower Ragsdale Drive, Suite 100
Monterey, California 93940
4E Mail written comments to:
MLPAComments@dfg.ca.gov
4Fax written comments to:
(831) 649-2894

Scoping Meeting Information
We encourage you to attend an upcoming scoping meeting on environmental review of the North Central Coast Marine Protected Areas Project. The California Department of Fish and Game is holding three scoping meetings in the north central coast region to solicit public comment on the scope and content of information to be included in the Environmental Impact Report.

Pacifica
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
6:30 ??? 8:30 PM
Best Western Lighthouse Hotel
Seawitch Room
105 Rockaway Beach Avenue
Pacifica, CA 94044

Sausalito
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
6:30 ??? 8:30 PM
USACE Bay Model Visitor Center
Multi-Purpose Room
2100 Bridgeway
Sausalito, CA 94965

Gualala
Thursday, June 19, 2008
6:30 ??? 8:30 PM
Gualala Arts Center
Coleman Auditorium
46501 Gualala Road,
Gualala, CA 95445

For More Information on the NORTH CENTRAL COAST MARINE PROTECTED AREAS PROJECT Visit www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/ or contact Elizabeth Pope-Smith at (707) 445-5301 or by e-mail at epope@dfg.ca.gov