In 1988 congress re-authorized the Sanctuaries Act and proposed a sanctuary in Monterey Bay . However , public hearings , with the memory of the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill , brought protests demanding a larger size . The first Draft Environmental Impact Statement was released in 1990 , and a final management plan in June 1992 proposing the extended area . On September 20 , 1992 the MBNMS was authorized by legislation proposed by congressman Leon Panetta . It was the largest federal marine sanctuary
1969 Santa Barbara oil spill
1969 Santa Barbara oil spill
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary