Huffman, NOAA Meet About Gulf of Farallones and Cordell Bank Sanctuaries Expansion

June 19, 2014

WASHINGTON­—Today, Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) and Dan Basta, Director of the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries for NOAA, met to discuss the boundary expansion of the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank Sanctuaries. Currently, NOAA is proposing to expand the boundaries of Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (GFNMS) and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary (CBNMS), as well as make changes to existing sanctuary regulations and add new regulations.

“I am encouraged that NOAA is carefully listening to the concerns expressed by my constituents. I strongly believe that NOAA respects community input and will not delay the long awaited and widely popular Gulf of Farallones and Cordell Bank Sanctuaries boundary expansion with controversial new regulations,” Huffman said. “I believe that NOAA’s final proposal for managing the new expanded sanctuary will reflect the community’s position and the concerns that I and several neighboring members of congress have expressed.”  

Yesterday, Huffman led 16 other congressional members in sending a letter voicing their strong support for the proposed 2,771 square mile boundary expansion of the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries. In the letter, submitted as part of the official public comment period, the members also stated their support for a permanent ban on offshore drilling and seabed mining throughout the expanded Sanctuaries.

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