oceanpolicy.com

As part of the review directed by the Jan. 2021 Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, the Interior Dept. today announced the release of a report on federal oil and natural gas leasing and permitting practices. As to offshore oil and gas leasing, the report recommends that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management consider alternatives to [...]

The Interior Dept. today announced the issuance of a joint Record of Decision on the South Fork Wind proposed wind energy project off Rhode Island.  The decision was formally published on Nov. 30. The wind project includes up to 12 wind turbine generators with a nameplate capacity of 6-12 megawatts per turbine, submarine cables between the generators, and an [...]

NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries today announced that it is seeking comments by Monday, Jan. 31 on its consideration of designating marine portions of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument as a national marine sanctuary.  Comments are sought on the scope and significance of issues to be addressed in the environmental impact statement that are related to designating this [...]

NOAA and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation today announced the award of $39.5 million in new National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF) grants for projects in 28 states and U.S. territories.  With an additional $58.3 million in matching funds, funding for the 49 projects will total ~$98 million. Shell Senior Vice President for Gulf of Mexico Colette Hirstius [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]