Notice of Availability of Draft Proposed Comprehensive, Long Range Preservation Plan for the MONITOR National Marine Sanctuary

Résumé

In section 4 of Public Law 104-238 (The National Marine Sanctuaries Preservation Act (Act); October 11, 1996), Congress directed the Secretary of Commerce to prepare a long-range, comprehensive plan for the management stabilization, preservation, and recovery of artifacts and materials of the USS MONITOR. NOAA, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce, developed a draft plan, entitled ``Charting a New Course for the MONITOR: Comprehensive, Long Range Preservation Plan with Options for Management, Stabilization, Preservation, Recovery, Conservation and Exhibition of Materials and Artifacts from the MONITOR National Marine Sanctuary.'' The draft plan presents a range of options including a comprehensive management strategy that should ensure that, insofar as possible, the MONITOR will be preserved and protected for future generations. The draft plan recommends the application of state-of-the-art technology in overcoming the present rapid deterioration of the MONITOR through the combined strategies of stabilization and selective recovery.