The Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today announced that it will hold an offshore oil and natural gas lease sale covering ~958,000 acres in Alaska’s Cook Inlet on Friday, Dec. 30. The announcement noted that BOEM is excluding 10 lease blocks that overlap with beluga whale critical habitat areas and 7 lease blocks that overlap with [...]
Archive | November, 2022
Mid-Atl. FMC Meeting to Address Offshore Energy, Proposed Sanctuary
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a public meeting on Dec. 12-15 in Annapolis, MD. Agenda items will include presentations on regional wind and aquaculture projects, an update from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s Office of Renewable Energy Programs Chief Karen Baker, and discussion on the proposed Hudson Canyon National Marine Sanctuary.
Final Restoration Plans Announced for Louisiana, Alabama
The Interior Department today announced the availability of the Final Phase 2 Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment #7.1: Terrebonne HNC Island Restoration Project and Finding of Significant Impact, which was prepared by federal and state natural resource trustee agencies for the Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group. The project will restore and conserve bird nesting and foraging habitat and create, restore, and enhance [...]
NOPC Submits Comments on U.S. Ocean Climate Action Plan
NOPC today submitted comments on the Biden administration’s development of a U.S. Ocean Climate Action Plan. NOPC’s comment letter is accessible here.
Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force to Hold Public Meeting
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced that the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force will hold a public meeting on Jan. 11-12 in Falls Church, VA. The meeting agenda includes reports from Task Force members and subcommittees, discussion on priority outputs to advance Task Force goals included in the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan, presentations on new species occurrences in the [...]
Comments Sought on Wind Project Offshore New York
The Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today announced that it is seeking comments by Tuesday, Jan. 17 on a draft Environmental Impact Statement for the construction and operation of up to 147 wind turbines and up to 2 offshore substations with 2 cable routes ~14 miles offshore Long Island, NY and ~19.5 miles from Long Branch, NJ. Onshore substations [...]
U.S. Officials Highlight Ocean-Climate Actions at COP27
Coinciding with the “Oceans and Coastal Zones” thematic day at COP27, the U.S. State Department highlighted a series of ocean-climate actions the United States is leading, including the Green Shipping Challenge, joining the “Ocean Conservation Pledge” to conserve or protect at least 30% of ocean waters under national jurisdiction by 2030 and recruiting other countries to do the same, NOAA [...]
NOAA Establishes New Area-Based Mgmt. Advisory Cmte., Seeks Nominees
NOAA today announced that it is seeking nominations by Tuesday, Jan. 17 from individuals interested in serving on the newly-established Marine and Coastal Area-based Management Advisory Committee. The Committee will include up to 20 non-federal voting members and advise the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere on science-based approaches to area-based protection, conservation, restoration, and management [...]
NMFS Finds ESA Listings Not Warranted for Two Shark Species
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced its decision that an Endangered Species Act listing of the shortfin mako shark as threatened or endangered is not warranted. The decision was made in response to a petition filed by Defenders of Wildlife. The shortfin mako shark is found in all temperate and tropical ocean waters, including the western Atlantic, Gulf [...]
DOI Announces 30×30 Grants
The Interior Department today announced the award of ~$91 million for 55 grants to support landscape-scale conservation projects in 42 states, 3 territories, and 14 tribal nations. The grants were issued as part of the “America the Beautiful Challenge” and support projects that conserve, restore, and connect habitats for wildlife while improving community resilience and access to nature. Interior [...]
