oceanpolicy.com

The Interior Department’s Fish & Wildlife Service today announced that it is seeking comments by Monday, Sept. 13 on its proposal to designate ~649,066 acres of critical habitat for the threatened rufa red knot in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts.  In conjunction with the comment period, USFWS [...]

NOAA today announced the renewal of the Science Advisory Board.  Established in 1997, the Board is the only Federal Advisory Committee with the responsibility to advise the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans, Atmosphere, and NOAA Administrator on long- and short-range strategies for research, education, and application of science to resource management and environmental assessment and prediction.

The State Dept. today announced that it will hold a virtual public meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 10 to share information and obtain input on the possible launch of negotiations to develop a global instrument to address ocean plastic pollution. The announcement notes that the United Nations Environment Assembly has been considering how to combat ocean plastic pollution and [...]

NOAA today announced the appointment of Acting National Ocean Service Director Nicole LeBoeuf to serve as Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management, through which she will serve as National Ocean Service Director. In announcing the appointment, Commerce Sec. Gina Raimondo said that LeBoeuf “is well positioned to lead NOAA’s National Ocean Service and to continue its rich [...]

The Environmental Protection Agency today announced the addition of United Tribes of Michigan Executive Director Frank Ettawageshik and Healing Our Waters/Great Lakes Coalition Director Laura Rubin to serve as members of the Great Lakes Advisory Board.  Ettawageshik will serve as a tribal representative and Rubin will represent environmental NGOs. The Board’s primary objectives are to provide advice and recommendations [...]

The U.S. Coast Guard today announced that it is seeking comments by Wednesday, Oct. 6 on specific Coast Guard programs, regulations, policies, and procedures that the Coast Guard should consider changing to combat and respond to climate change. The Coast Guard notes that this action is being taken in response to the Jan. 2021 Executive Order on “Protecting [...]

NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries today announced that it is seeking comments by Friday, Sept. 10 on a draft environmental impact statement and management plan that considers three alternatives for the proposed designation of a national marine sanctuary in eastern Lake Ontario, NY and the Thousand Islands region of the St. Lawrence River.  In connection with the comment [...]

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced its recommendation for $17.5 million in Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding for three ongoing partnerships that would help implemented twelve projects to restore Great Lakers habitat and improve resilience.  The funding targets projects on Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario, and the Maumee, Niagara, and Detroit Rivers.

The Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on Wednesday announced that it is seeking comments by Friday, July 30 on its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement analyzing the potential impacts of Vineyard Wind’s Construction & Operations Plan (Plan). The Plan involves the construction and operation of up to 130 wind turbines, two to five offshore substations, [...]

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that the Caribbean Fishery Management Council’s Outreach and Education Advisory Panel will hold a public virtual meeting on July 28-29.  Agenda items include marine protected areas in territorial and federal jurisdiction and related recommendations.