Marine Sanctuary Program Update

Late on November 18, 1983, as Congress rushed to adjournment, the Senate passed S. 1102, the Marine Sanctuaries Amendments of 1983. The Senate bill was passed based largely on its House counterpart, H.R. 2062, passed on June 14 by a vote of 379-38. Since the House adjourned before the Senate vote, resolution of the differences between the two bills will have to await the return of Congress. Although S. 1102 appears to be acceptable to the House, objections may be raised to several unrelated bills attached by the Senate. Both the House and Senate bills would reauthorize the National Marine Sanctuary Program under Title III of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA) for three years at levels of $2.264 million in fiscal year (FY) 1984, $2.5 million in FY 1985, and $2.75 million in FY 1986. At the same time, the Sanctuary Programs Division in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been moving ahead with the consideration of a number of sanctuary proposals.