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In accordance with section 304(a) of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA), as amended, and based on the area’s qualities described in the community-based nomination submitted to NOAA on January 17, 2017 (https:// nominate.noaa.gov/nominations), NOAA initiated a process to consider designating a portion of eastern Lake Ontario in New York as a national marine sanctuary (April 17, 2019, 84 FR 16005). The designation process, as required by the NMSA, is being conducted concurrently with a public process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NOAA is moving forward with the designation process of the proposed Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary with the release of alternatives for the draft environmental impact statement and proposed regulations. The final rule will be the final stage of the designation process.