NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced the availability of new tools established to provide information about the effects of proposed Atlantic offshore wind energy projects on fisheries and fishing communities. NMFS noted that there are currently over 16 wind energy areas stretching from Maine to North Carolina that could ultimately lead to the installation of over 2,100 [...]
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NMFS Seeks Comments on Draft Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that it is seeking public comments by Thursday, March 4 on draft 2020 marine mammal stock assessment reports (SAR’s) for marine mammals in the Atlantic (includes Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and U.S. territories in the Caribbean), Alaska, and Pacific regions. NMFS also seeks new information for strategic stocks that were not [...]
BOEM Announces Record of Decision on Gulf of Mexico G&G Activities
The Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today announced the availability of a Record of Decision for the 2017 Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for proposed geological and geophysical activities in the Gulf of Mexico (the announcement was later published on Dec. 4). The Record of Decision allows geological and geophysical activities to continue to be permitted and authorized, [...]
NMFS Declines to Delist Arctic Ringed Seal
In response to a 2019 petition filed by the State of Alaska, Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, and the North Slope Borough, NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced its decision not to delist the Arctic subspecies of ringed seal. While NMFS found that the petitioned action is currently not warranted, it noted that the agency [...]
NMFS Seeks Comments on ESA 5-Year Review for 4 Ringed Seal Subspecies
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that it is seeking comments by Tuesday, Jan. 26 on the agency’s initiation of a 5-year review for the Arctic, Okhotsk, Baltic, and Ladoga ringed seals. The review will assess the best scientific and commercial data available, including information on the subspecies’ status, threats, and recovery that has become available since their listing [...]
NMFS Seeks Comments on Proposed Critical Habitat for Caribbean Coral
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that it is seeking comments by Tuesday, Jan. 26 on its proposal to designate ~5,900 square miles of critical habitat for the following threatened Caribbean corals: Orbicella annularis, O. faveolata, O. franksi, Dendrogyra cylindrus, and Mycetophyllia ferox. The proposed critical habitat includes areas extending from off Southeast Florida to the [...]
Comments Sought on Offshore Wind Transmission Research Needs
The U.S. Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy today announced that it is seeking comments by Jan. 24 on offshore wind transmission system integration research needs. Comments are specifically being sought on research needs regarding the integration of large-scale offshore wind energy generation into the transmission grid, with focus areas including considerations of [...]
Interior Announces Final Louisiana Bird Habitat/Marsh Restoration Plan
The Interior Department today announced the availability of Final Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment #7: Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats; and Birds, which was prepared by federal natural resource trustee agencies for the Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group. The plan includes ~$234 million to help restore bird habitat and marshes in Louisiana.
BOEM Announces Availability of FY2019 Environmental Studies Reports
The Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has announced the availability of the agency’s FY2019 environmental studies reports. Topics addressed include effects of the Block Island Wind Farm on Rhode Island recreation and tourism activities, the fate and persistence of oil spill response chemicals in Arctic seawater; and the potential impacts to cultural resources at significant sand extraction [...]
DOI Renews Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council
The U.S. Interior Department today announced the 2-year renewal of the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council. Established in 1993, the Council advises the Interior Secretary on aquatic conservation endeavors that benefit recreational fishery resources and recreational boating and that encourage partnerships among industry, the public, and government.
