Re: Notice of preparation of environmental impact report regarding marine protected areas in the north central California region pursuant to the Marine Life Protection Act.

To Interested Parties:

The California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) will be the lead agency reviewing and potentially adopting proposed regulations for marine protected areas (MPAs), marine managed areas (MMAs) and Special Closures in State waters within the north central California coast region. Pursuant to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Department of Fish and Game (Department) will prepare an environmental impact report (EIR) regarding the proposed project.

The proposed project reviewed in this EIR is the north central California coast component of a statewide network of MPAs as required by the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA, Stats. 1999 Ch. 1015) and other MMAs and Special Closures determined appropriate to help fulfill the MLPA mandate. For the purpose of this project, the North central California coast region is defined as State waters between Alder Creek, near Point Arena (Mendocino County) and Pigeon Point (San Mateo County).

The project objectives are to help protect, maintain, restore, enhance, and manage living marine resources by developing this portion of the MLPA required network of MPAs. Take of finfish, marine plants and/or invertebrates and other living and non-living marine resources would be prohibited or restricted in several areas by regulations established by the Commission and implemented by the Department. Alternatives to the proposed project will be evaluated in the document, with corresponding analysis provided for each identified alternative. Additional information on the proposed project and development process is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa.

The Department has taken steps to identify and evaluate any potential negative environmental effects associated with the proposed project. However, in order to assist the Department in identifying the range of potential actions, alternatives, mitigation measures if needed and significant effects to be analyzed in depth in the document, the Department is requesting your views as to the scope and content of the environmental information which you feel is pertinent to the subject project.

Your response relative to the scope of the environmental document must be sent at the earliest possible date, but not later than 30 days after receipt of this notice in order for your comments to be considered.

Public comments provided on the proposed project to date through the MLPA process will be addressed in the document. Three public scoping meetings will also be held on the development of the draft EIR.

Please send responses to this Notice of Preparation to "MLPA North Central Coast CEQA Scoping Comments" c/o California Department of Fish and Game, at the address provided above. Comments may also be submitted electronically by sending them to MLPAComments@dfg.ca.gov. Your comments should include your name, address, and daytime telephone number so a representative of the Department can contact you if clarifications regarding your comments are required. Please include the heading "MLPA CEQA Scoping Comments" in your response.

Sincerely,

Marija Vojkovich Regional Manager Marine Region