The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration amends the regulations for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS or Sanctuary) to reinstate and make permanent the temporary prohibition on anchoring by vessels 50 meters or greater in registered length on Tortugas Bank. The preamble to this rule contains an environmental assessment for this action. The intent of this rule is to protect the coral reef at Tortugas Bank. The proposed rule was published on February 11, 1998 and the comment period ended on March 13, 1998.