In furtherance of efforts to identify “Aquaculture Opportunity Areas” as directed under the 2020 Executive Order on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth, NOAA today announced the release of two Atlases developed by the agency’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science using over 200 data layers that identify nine areas in the Gulf of Mexico and ten areas in [...]
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Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Signed Into Law, Includes Ocean Provisions
Following passage in the U.S. House of Representatives on Nov. 5 in a 228-206 vote, President Biden today signed H.R. 3684 (“Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act”) into law. Among other things, between FY 2022 and 2026, the bill provides $492 million for National Oceans and Coastal Security Fund grants, $284 million for habitat restoration projects, $56 million for regional [...]
WH Issues Memo on Traditional Knowledge into Decision-Making
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and Council on Environmental Quality today announced the release of a memorandum for federal departments and agencies on incorporating indigenous traditional ecological knowledge (ITEK) into federal decision-making. The memorandum itself notes that the document is the first step in a process being initiated by OSTP and CEQ to develop government-wide [...]
BOEM Designates Wind Energy Area off Central California Coast
The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today announced its decision to designate the ~476 sq. mile Morro Bay Wind Energy Area off Central California and that it is seeking comments by Tuesday, Jan. 11 on the development of an Environmental Assessment to consider potential impacts from site characterization and assessment activities within the area. The area is [...]
Nominees Sought for National Park System Advisory Board
The National Park Service today announced that nominations are being sought by Monday, Jan. 24 for individuals interested in being considered for appointment to the National Park System Advisory Board. The Board advises the Interior Secretary and National Park Service Director on matters relating to the National Park Service, National Pary System, National Historic and National Natural Landmark [...]
Comments Sought on Proposed National Marine Sanctuary off California
NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries today announced that it is seeking comments by Monday, Jan. 10 on its intent to initiate a process to consider whether to designate ~7,000 sq. miles of waters along and offshore of Central California as a national marine sanctuary. The area under consideration was nominated for consideration in 2015, and excludes areas of [...]
U.S. Signs on to Joint Statement on Protected and Conserved Areas
The U.S. Interior Dept. today announced that it was joining land managers from other nations in signing the Protected and Conserved Areas Joint Statement on Climate Change and Biodiversity Crises, which was submitted to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change COP26 and the Convention on Biological Diversity. U.S. signatories include NOAA, the Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of [...]
Comments Sought on Alaska Coastal Mapping Draft Implementation Plan
NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey today announced on behalf of the Alaska Mapping Executive Committee that comments are being sought by Monday, Jan 31 on a draft Alaska Coastal Mapping Strategy Implementation Plan. The draft Implementation Plan, an outgrowth of the 2019 Presidential Memorandum on Ocean Mapping of the United States Exclusive Economic Zone and the Shoreline and Nearshore of Alaska, provides [...]
U.S. Commits to Ocean Plan within 5 Years
During the World Leaders Summit at COP26, the United States today announced its decision to join the High-Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (“Panel”), a group of 15 nations committed to protecting at least 30% of the global ocean by 2030 and developing a “sustainable ocean plan” for all waters under national jurisdiction within 5 years of joining [...]
BOEM Seeks Comments on Preparation of EIS for MA Wind Lease Sale
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today announced that it is seeking comments by Wednesday, Dec. 1 on its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the review of a construction and operations plan submitted by Mayflower Wind Energy, LLC for a wind energy facility off Massachusetts with proposed interconnection locations at Falmouth and Brayton Point. In conjunction [...]
