NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that the Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Ad Hoc Marine Planning Committee will hold a virtual public meeting on Tuesday, June 6. Agenda items include consideration of draft Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) off Oregon that are expected to be released for public review and comment, a NOAA briefing on the spatial suitability modeling and [...]
Archive | May, 2023
NMFS Seeks Comments on Proposed Wind-related MMPA Authorizations
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that it is seeking comments by Wednesday, June 21 on its proposal to authorize Invenergy Wind Offshore, LLC to take marine mammals incidental to marine site characterization surveys in the New York Bight off New Jersey and New York. The high-resolution geophysical and geotechnical surveys would involve the use of a multibeam echosounder, [...]
NMFS Announces Final Equity and Environmental Justice Strategy
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced the release of its final “Equity and Environmental Justice Strategy that it said will guide the agency in “serving all communities more equitably and effectively.” The strategy includes goals for prioritizing the identification, equitable treatment, and meaningful involvement of underserved communities, providing equitable delivery of services, and prioritizing equity and environmental [...]
EPA to Hold Public Meetings on Great Lakes Priorities
As part of its effort to develop an updated action plan for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the Environmental Protection Agency today announced that it will hold a series of public input sessions on Great Lakes restoration and protection priorities, with meetings set for Cleveland, OH (Wed., June 7), Superior, WI (Wed., July 12), Rochester, NY (Wed., July 19), and Detroit, MI [...]
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Mgmt. Council Meeting to Address Offshore Energy
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold public meetings in Virginia Beach, VA on June 6-8. Agenda items include an update from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and a state working group update on compensation.
Comments Sought on Draft EIS for Offshore Wind Project Off New Jersey
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today announced that it is seeking comments by Monday, July 3 on a draft environmental impact statement for the construction and operations plan for the proposed Atlantic Shores South Wind Project offshore New Jersey. In conjunction with the comment period, BOEM will hold public hearings in Manahawkin, NJ (Wednesday, June 21), Atlantic City, NJ (Thursday, June [...]
NOAA Initiates Scoping Process for Potential Great Lakes Marine Sanctuary
NOAA today announced the initiation of a process to potentially designate a ~740-square mile national marine sanctuary in Lake Erie, calling the effort “part of the action that NOAA is taking to support President Biden’s America the Beautiful initiative.” Comments are sought by Tuesday, July 18 on the scope and significance of issues to be addressed in preparing [...]
Mid-Atlantic Committee On the Ocean Holds Annual Forum
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Ocean Council’s (MARCO) Mid-Atlantic Committee on the Ocean (MACO) held its 5th annual Mid-Atlantic Ocean Forum in New York, NY on May 17-18. This year’s event included a focus on climate-ocean action, offshore wind transmission planning, Mid-Atlantic biodiversity conservation, planning for sustainable ocean economies, the incorporation of tribal elements and knowledge in data tools, [...]
Comments Sought on U.S. Ocean Acidification Action Plan
The State Department today announced that it is seeking comments by Friday, June 16 on the proposed scope for the upcoming United States Ocean Acidification Action Plan (“Action Plan”), which it says will highlight U.S. leadership in reducing carbon emissions, strengthening monitoring, research, and coordination efforts, and investing in adaptive measures. Public comments are also sought on suggestions [...]
Gulf Fishery Mgmt. Council Meeting to Address Wind Energy, Vessel Speed Limit
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will hold a public meeting in Mobile, AL on June 5-8. The agenda includes an update from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on wind energy development in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as public comments on the petition for a NMFS rulemaking to establish vessel [...]
