NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that it is extending the comment period on the agency’s initiation of a 5-year review for the threatened Beringia and Okhotsk distinct population segments of the Pacific bearded seal subspecies through Tuesday, May 25. Originally due to expire on March 26, NMFS said it is extending the comment period in response [...]
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NMFS Extends Comment Period on Beluga Whale Review
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that it is extending the comment period on the agency’s initiation of a 5-year review for the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale through Friday, June 25. Originally due to expire on April 26, NMFS said it is extending the comment period following a request seeking an extension in order to provide [...]
Biden Administration Holds 30×30 Meeting with Outdoor Business Leaders
The White House Council on Environmental Quality, Interior Department, U.S. Agriculture Department, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration today held a meeting with representatives of outdoor recreational businesses and other organizations to discuss the administration’s efforts to conserve 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. Administration officials who participated in the meeting said that a report being developed for [...]
Former NOAA Administrator Appointed to WH OSTP Position
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy today announced the appointment of former NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco to serve as OSTP Deputy Director of Climate & Environment, a new role that OSTP said “will bring science-based solutions to tackle climate change & help our economy Build Back Better.” In an interview with The Washington Post following [...]
National Sea Grant Advisory Board to Hold Public Meeting
NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research today announced that the National Sea Grant Advisory Board will hold a public virtual meeting on Apr. 13-15. In addition to a 15-minute public comment session, the agenda includes discussion and votes on findings and recommendations from the Information Services and Publication Review Subcommittee, Committee membership for Guam Sea Grant Institutional [...]
Mid-Atlantic Fishery Mgmt. Council to Hold Public Meeting
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a public virtual meeting on Apr. 6-8. Agenda items include a presentation and discussion on President Biden’s Jan. 2021 Executive Order on “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad” and an East Coast climate change scenario planning initiative.
U.S. National Climate Task Force Holds Second Meeting
The National Climate Task Force led by Assistant to the President and National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy held its second meeting today. The Task Force was created by the Jan. 2021 Executive Order on “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.” According to a White House summary, Task Force members discussed plans for integrating climate change action [...]
NMFS Keeps National Marine Sanctuary Proposal in Inventory
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced its decision to keep the Lake Erie Quadrangle National Marine Sanctuary nomination in the inventory for an additional five years. The proposed sanctuary would span ~759 of Pennsylvania’s Lake Erie waters up to the low water mark. In making its decision, among other things NOAA determined that significant threats to the area remain, that it [...]
U.S. Senate Confirms Interior, Commerce Secretary Nominees
The U.S. Senate on Monday voted 51-40 to confirm Debra Haaland as Secretary of the Interior. Haaland most recently served as U.S. Representative for New Mexico’s 1st congressional district, with previous experience including service as Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico, tribal administrator at San Felipe Pueblo, and small business owner. Upon confirmation, Haaland said that “[t]ogether, we will work to [...]
Members of Congress, Study Weigh in on 30×30
In a letter sent to President Biden today, 64 Republican members of the U.S. House (51) and Senate (13) expressed concern and called for more clarity on the administration’s efforts to conserve at least 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030 (30×30), an “equitable and meaningful voice in the process” for state and local governments and key stakeholders, [...]
