Viewing page 11 of 133

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

-ix-

VOTED that in accordance with Public Law 95-414 the Board of Regents appoints to the Commission of the National Museum of African Art, effective January 1, 1984 and for a term of three years, Mr. Michael Sonnenreich, Mr. John A. Friede, Mrs. Milton F. Rosenthal, and Mr. Gustave Schindler. The Board of Regents further wishes to thank Mr. Franklin Williams, Mr. Lee Bronson, Ms. Sylvia Boone, and Mr. John Duncan for their past services to the National Museum of African Art.

[[underlined]] Designation of Smithsonian Environmental Research Center as a National Estuarine Sanctuary [[/underlined]]

As a result of discussions with the Smithsonian dating back to 1980, a large portion of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center properties near Edgewater, Maryland, was proposed by the State of Maryland for designations a National Estuarine Sanctuary under provisions of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972. A number of areas in the coastal United States and the Great Lakes already have been set aside as estuarine sanctuaries to be used for research and public education. The Smithsonian's is one of the first the first sites of possibly five or six areas proposed to be eventually included in a Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Sanctuary system in Maryland.

The process of sanctuary designation includes preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement and holding public hearings. In addition a Memorandum of Understanding would be signed by the State of Maryland and the Smithsonian, and ratified by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This is a legally binding document which outlines responsibilities for the development and operation of sanctuary facilities and programs. A more detailed Sanctuary Management plan is being developed between the State of Maryland and the Smithsonian Institution to serve as an implementing document for the Memorandum of Understanding. The Memorandum will not be singed until both parties are satisfied with the Management Plan.

The final Environmental Impact Statement for the Chesapeake Bay Estuarine Sanctuary has been completed and distributed to federal and state agencies and the general public. Preliminary and final public hearings have been held. Signature of the Memorandum and acceptance of the Management Plan will allow NOAA to make a grant to the State of Maryland for $600,000 which would establish the Chesapeake Bay Estuarine Sanctuary. It is anticipated that a large portion of these funds would be used for construction of a better main entrance road at the Center and for needed improvements to the Schmidt Building. For several years the State would also receive small annual Sanctuary operational grants from NOAA. These monies would be supplemented with other State funds to initiate and conduct research projects and public education activities at the Sanctuary. It was