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Feds to create monument council, with 3 from NMI
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Posted on Jan 08 2009
The federal government will be creating a five-man Advisory Council for the newly designated Marianas Trench Marine National Monument within three months after President George W. Bush’s proclamation on Jan. 6.
This Advisory Council will consist of three officials from the CNMI government and one representative from the Department of Defense and the U.S. Coast Guard.
They would be appointed for a three-year term by the Secretaries of the Interior and Commerce.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial will nominate the three CNMI members to the council while the head of the pertinent U.S. executive branch agency will nominate the other two.
The Mariana Monument Advisory Council will provide advice and recommendations on the development of management plans and management of the monument.
Based on the official proclamation document, the council will adopt procedures to govern its activities.
The proclamation states that “each participating agency shall be responsible for the expenses of its representative and the departments of the Interior and Commerce shall be equally responsible for the costs of the Advisory Council.”
Bush also directed the Secretaries of the Interior and Commerce to prepare in the next two years management plans within their respective authorities and promulgate implementing regulations that address any further actions necessary for the proper care and management of the monument.
Both Secretaries will also designate and involve as cooperating agencies the agencies with jurisdiction or special expertise, including the Department of Defense, the Department of State.
