Notice to Extend the Time Period for the Area to be Temporarily Avoided by the Public During Coral Rubble and Ship Debris Removal Activities in the Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary, Now Part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE), and authorized contractors will be conducting coral rubble and ship debris removal activities to prevent and minimize the destruction, or loss of, or injury to Sanctuary resources. The coral rubble and ship debris were generated as a result of the August 10 to 12, 1994, R/V Columbus Iselin grounding incident within the Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary (Looe Key NMS), now part of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (Florida Keys NMS). To ensure the protection of life and property during these complex activities the public is advised to avoid the area due to the presence of heavy equipment (i.e., barge and crane) and increased localized boat traffic. NOAA requested on August 25, 1995 (60 FR 44307) that Sanctuary users temporarily avoid an area approximately 900 square feet marked by visible construction buoys from on or about August 23 and August 31, 1995. The area is in the vicinity of 24 deg.37'30'' N, 81 deg.24'23'' W, a bank reef located 7 nautical miles (12.9 km) off the southwest tip of Big Pine Key, Florida. Due to recent tropical storms and hurricanes in the Greater Ca