Below are the nominations NOAA has received from communities. NOAA is not responsible for the content or accuracy of the information included in each nomination. This information has been submitted (in accordance with OMB Control Number 0648-0682) to allow NOAA to evaluate the national significance and management considerations of the area as a potential national marine sanctuary.
Completed Designations
Lake Ontario (New York)
Date Submitted: 1/17/17
Date Added to Inventory: 3/21/17
Date Started Designation: 4/17/19
Date Designated: 6/5/24
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Submitted Documents Response from NOAA
For more information on Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary visit sanctuaries.noaa.gov/lake-ontario/.
Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary
Date Submitted: 9/16/14
Date Added to Inventory: 1/12/15
Date Started Designation: 10/7/15
Date Designated: 9/3/19
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Submitted Documents More Information Response from NOAA
For more information on Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary visit sanctuaries.noaa.gov/mallows-potomac.
Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary
Date Submitted: 12/2/14
Date Added to Inventory: 2/5/15
Date Started Designation: 10/7/15
Date Designated: 8/16/21
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Submitted Documents Response from NOAA
For more information on Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary visit sanctuaries.noaa.gov/wisconsin.
Designations in Progress
Chumash Heritage (California, Central Coast)
Date Submitted: 7/17/15
Date Added to Inventory: 10/5/15
Date Started Designation: 11/9/21
For more information on the national marine sanctuary designation process for this nomination please visit the designation website.
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Chumash Heritage Nomination ONMS Acceptance Letter to the Inventory Map of Proposed Sanctuary
Pacific Remote Islands
Date Submitted: 3/11/23
Date Added to Inventory: Not added. Before ONMS was able to complete its review of the nomination package to determine whether it met the national significance criteria and management considerations described in the sanctuary nomination process, on March 24, 2023, President Biden directed NOAA to consider initiating designation of a national marine sanctuary in the Pacific Remote Islands. NOAA looked to the guidance provided in the Presidential Memorandum when it decided to initiate the national marine sanctuary designation process for the Pacific Remote Islands.
Date Started Designation: 4/17/23
For more information on the national marine sanctuary designation process for this nomination please visit the designation website.
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Hudson Canyon (New York, Atlantic)
Date Submitted: 11/17/16
Date Added to Inventory: 2/23/17
Date Started Designation: 6/8/22
For more information on the national marine sanctuary designation process for this nomination please visit the designation website.
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Lake Erie Quadrangle (Pennsylvania)
Date Submitted: 12/31/15
Date Added to Inventory: 2/22/16
Date Started Designation: 5/19/23
For more information on the national marine sanctuary designation process for this nomination please visit the designation website.
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Submitted Documents Response from NOAA 5-Year ReviewInventory of Successful Nominations
NOAA has determined the following nominations have successfully met the national significance criteria and management considerations described in the sanctuary nomination process. Areas under consideration by NOAA for national marine sanctuary designation will be selected from this inventory
St. George Unangan Heritage (Alaska)
Date Submitted: 10/1/16
Date Added to Inventory: 1/27/17
The ONMS Director has decided to maintain the St. George Unangan Heritage nomination on the inventory for an additional five years, until January 27, 2027. Below are important documents regarding the nomination.
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Submitted Documents Response from NOAA 5-Year ReviewAlaĝum Kanuux̂ (Heart of the Ocean) (Alaska)
Listen to the pronunciation of Alaĝum Kanuux̂
Date Submitted: 12/17/21
Date Added to Inventory: 6/8/22
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Submitted Documents Additional Information Revised Nomination Package- Submitted April 14, 2022
Revised Nomination Addendum- Submitted April 19, 2022 Response from NOAA
Addition to the inventory does not guarantee that a nominated area will become a national marine sanctuary. National marine sanctuary designation is a separate public process that by law, is highly public and participatory, and often takes several years to complete. View the Designation Process Steps Document (PDF)
Nominations Under Review by NOAA
The following nominations have been submitted by communities for NOAA's review. Learn about how the nomination process works.
Cashes Ledge Area (Gulf of Maine)
Date Submitted: 7/29/2024
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Nominations Declined by NOAA
NOAA has determined the following nominations are not eligible for further review. Interested communities may choose to revise and resubmit these nominations at a later time.
Shipwreck Coast (Michigan, Whitefish Point, Lake Superior)
Date Submitted: 12/4/17
Date Declined: 10/12/21
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Submitted Documents Letter to NOAA Letter to NOAA Letter to NOAA
Eubalaena Oculina (Florida, Northeast Atlantic Coast) – First Submission
Date Submitted: 9/2/14
Date Declined: 10/30/14
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Submitted Documents Response from NOAAAleutian Islands (Alaska)
Date Submitted: 12/22/14
Date Declined: 1/23/15
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Submitted Documents Response from NOAAChumash Heritage (California, Central Coast) – First Submission
Date Submitted: 2/2/15
Date Declined: 3/6/15
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Submitted Documents Response from NOAASouthern California Offshore Banks (California)
Date Submitted: 1/9/17
Date Declined: 03/12/18
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Submitted Documents Response from NOAANominations Withdrawn
NOAA has determined the following nominations do not meet the national significance criteria and management considerations described in the sanctuary nomination process. The nominating organization has requested that it be removed from consideration
Eubalaena Oculina (Florida, Northeast Atlantic Coast) – Second Submission
Date Submitted: 4/27/15
Date Withdrawn: 8/26/15
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Submitted Documents Letter from NominatorBaltimore Canyon Urban (Maryland, Atlantic)
Date Submitted: 12/2/16
Date Withdrawn: 1/30/17
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Submitted Documents Letter from NominatorMariana Trench (CNMI, Pacific)
Date Submitted: 12/5/16
Date Added to Inventory: 3/13/17
Date Withdrawn: 9/8/23
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Submitted Documents Additional Information Request from NOAA Response to NOAA
Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
Submittal of the information requested in these procedures is required for NOAA to consider a site for possible designation as a national marine sanctuary. This information is essential to evaluate the national significance of the area, management considerations of the area as a sanctuary, potential benefits of designation, and evaluate any environmental and socioeconomic impacts.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.