Federal Environmental Justice Tracker

EJ Tracker Update

NOAA Designated the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary

Last updated:

October 16, 2024

Authority

Other Statute

Agencies

NOAA

Actions

Final Rule

NOAA designated 4,543 square miles of coastal and offshore waters along 116 miles of California’s central coast from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara Counties as the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary in a Final Rule. It was managed by the indigenous community and was the third largest sanctuary in the National Marine Sanctuary System. It was the first Indigenous-led nomination for a national marine sanctuary. This was a part of Biden’s America the Beautiful Initiative.