oceanpolicy.com

The Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today announced the availability of updated Guidelines for Providing Geophysical, Geotechnical, and Geohazard Information Pursuant to 30 CFR Part 585, saying they provide “crucial information” for companies involved in offshore renewable energy projects. BOEM said the update of the guidelines, which were originally established in 2020 and focused primarily on federal [...]

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced its decision to apply endangered status to the black-capped petrel, citing threats including habitat loss due to deforestation and forest fires and predation by nonnative mammals, and finding that the designation of critical habitat is prudent but not determinable at this time. USFWS added that other factors that currently [...]

NOAA today announced that it is seeking comments by Monday, Feb. 26 on its intention to seek Office of Management and Budget approval to revise an information collection related to public perceptions of offshore wind energy development along the Gulf of Mexico and off Oregon. The revised voluntary information collection would involve an estimated 9,665 respondents and 3,286 [...]

NOAA today announced that it is seeking comments by Monday, Feb. 26 on its intention to seek Office of Management and Budget approval to revise an information collection related to public perceptions of offshore wind energy development along the Gulf of Mexico and off Oregon. The revised voluntary information collection would involve an estimated 9,665 respondents and 3,286 [...]

In a proclamation today, President Biden proclaimed Dec. 28, 2023 as the 50th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and called upon Americans to “honor all the progress we have made toward protecting endangered species and to work together to conserve our Nation’s incredible biodiversity.” In doing so, Biden said that the ESA has prevented 99% [...]

The U.S. State Department today announced that it will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 31 in preparation for the 10th Session of the International Maritime Organization’s Subcommittee on Human Element, Training, and Watchkeeping, to be held in London on Feb. 5-9. Meeting agenda items include validated model training courses, role of the human element, reports on unlawful [...]

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that it will hold 7 public hearings on its proposed designation of 16 island units comprising 97 square miles of critical habitat for five Indo-Pacific coral species. Six in-person meetings will be held in Guam (Jan. 16), the Northern Mariana Islands (Jan. 18, 23, and 25), and American Samoa (Jan. 18 and 23), with [...]

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a public webinar meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 9 for a presentation on wind energy development in the South Atlantic region. NMFS said that the meeting will provide information on three wind energy projects in the South Atlantic region, including potential project impacts, with a [...]

NOAA’s National Ocean Service today announced that applications are being solicited through Wednesday, Jan. 17 for 10 vacancies on the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System Advisory Committee that will occur on Sept. 14, 2024:  Members are appointed as Special Government Employees, and the Committee meets at least once annually. Individuals with expertise in the following areas are [...]

The Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today announced that it is seeking comments by Tuesday, Feb. 20 on its intent to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement analyzing the potential impacts of floating offshore wind energy development offshore Humboldt and Morro Bay, California.  In conjunction with the comment period, BOEM will hold virtual public meetings on Tuesday, [...]