The State Dept. today announced that it will hold a remote public meeting on Tuesday, Apr. 6 in preparation for the 8th session of the International Maritime Organization’s Subcommittee on Navigation, Communication, and Search and Rescue, to be held remotely on Apr. 19-23. Agenda items include routing measures and mandatory ship reporting systems, safety measures for non-Safety of Life at [...]
Marine Mammal Commission to Hold Public Meeting
The Marine Mammal Commission today announced that the Commission and its Committee on Scientific Advisors will hold a virtual public meeting on Tuesday, Mar. 23. The Commission and Committee will consider the effects of low salinity exposure on bottlenose dolphins, including the review of findings of the Northern Gulf of Mexico bottlenose dolphin unusual mortality event, provide information [...]
Comments Sought on Environmental Review for Cook Inlet Survey
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today announced that it is seeking comments by Monday, Mar. 22 on the development of an Environmental Assessment related to Hilcorp Alaska, LLC’s proposed geohazards survey in the Cook Inlet. The survey, which would cover ~138 square km. west to southwest of Homer and be conducted over a 30-day period between Apr. 1 [...]
UN to Host Webinar on Implementing Ocean SDG
The U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) will host a webinar on Tuesday, Mar. 30 on “Implementing SDG 14 with the Communities of Ocean Action.” Sustainable Development Goal 14 is “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. The webinar will provide an update on the status of implementation of voluntary commitments, [...]
National Science Foundation Seeks Comments on Arctic Research Plan
The National Science Foundation today announced that the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee is seeking comments by Friday, June 11 on the draft 2022-2026 Arctic Research Plan. Priority areas address community resilience and health, Arctic systems interactions, sustainable economies and livelihoods, and risk management and hazard mitigation, with the plan building on the following foundational activities: co-production of knowledge and [...]
Comment Period Extended on Proposed Seal Critical Habitat Designations
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service last Tuesday announced that it is extending the comment period through Thursday, Apr. 8 on revisions to its previously proposed designated critical habitat in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort Seas for the threatened Arctic ringed seal subspecies. NMFS on Tuesday separately announced that it is extending the comment period through Thursday, Apr. 8 on its [...]
DOI Announces Next Steps for Federal O&G Leasing Pause
In furtherance of the federal oil and gas leasing pause and related review included in President Biden’s Jan. 2021 Executive Order on “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad,” the Interior Department today announced that it will hold a virtual livestreamed forum on Thursday, Mar. 25 and that “it is time…to take steps to better manage our public lands.” [...]
Great Lakes Advisory Board to Hold Public Meeting
The Environmental Protection Agency today announced that the Great Lakes Advisory Board will hold a virtual public meeting on Mar. 30-31. The Board’s primary objectives are to provide advice and recommendations on Great Lakes protection and restoration activities and long-term goals, objectives, and priorities for Great Lakes protection and restoration, as well as any other issues identified by the [...]
South Atlantic Fishery Mgmt. Council to Hold Public Meeting
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service earlier this month announced that the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a public webinar on Monday, Mar. 29 to receive a presentation and provide input on how to make fisheries and protected resources more resilient to climate change, including changes in management and conservation measures, and improve science, monitoring, and cooperative [...]
DOI Announces Completion of Atlantic Wind Project Review
The Interior Department today announced the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s completion of its environmental review of the Vineyard Wind offshore wind project off Massachusetts, calling the development “major progress in the Biden-Harris administration’s goal to accelerate responsible development of renewable energy…as a key component of tackling the climate crisis and creating jobs.” If approved, it would [...]