President Biden today proclaimed June 2023 as National Ocean Month, calling on Americans to “take action to protect, conserve, and restore our ocean and coasts.” The proclamation highlighted the role of the ocean as a solution to climate challenges, and noted administration efforts including implementation of the Ocean Climate Action Plan, advancement of offshore wind projects, infrastructure modernization [...]
Archive | May, 2023
BOEM Completes Gulf of Mexico Offshore Wind Energy Environmental Review
The Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today announced its completion of a final environmental assessment on potential impacts of offshore wind leasing in federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico, with a finding of no significant impact. BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein called completion of the review “an important step forward to advance clean energy development in a responsible manner [...]
BOEM Announces Final EIS for Wind Project off New Jersey
The Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today announced the availability of a final environmental impact statement for the construction and operation of Ocean Wind LLC’s proposed Ocean Wind 1 Offshore Wind Farm Project off New Jersey. The proposed action is to approve the request to construct, operate, and maintain the project, which would include up to 98 [...]
Shipping Coordinating Committee to Hold Public Meeting
The State Department today announced that the Shipping Coordinating Committee will hold a public meeting in Washington, DC on Thursday, June 29 in preparation for the 80th session of the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee, to be held in London on July 3-7. Meeting topics include harmful aquatic organisms in ballast water, air pollution prevention, reduction of GHG emissions from [...]
Western Pacific Fishery Mgmt. Council to Hold Public Meeting
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Ad Hoc Marine Planning Committee will hold public meetings on June 14-29. Agenda items include updates on proposed sanctuaries in the Pacific Remote Island Areas and Northwest Hawaiian Islands, and the Ocean Climate Action Plan.
U.S. IOOS Advisory Committee to Hold Public Meeting
NOAA today announced that the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting in Moss Landing, CA on June 27-29. The meeting will include discussion on ocean observations and West Coast collaborations, as well as continued work on phase 2 recommendations from the Committee workplan. The Committee is tasked with advising the NOAA Administrator [...]
Nominees Sought for Peer Review of Ecosystem Services Valuation Guidance
The Office of Management and Budget today announced that it is seeking nominations by Thursday, June 15 of experts interested in serving on an independent scientific peer review of forthcoming guidance for assessing changes in environmental and ecosystem services in benefit-cost analysis. The forthcoming guidance is being developed pursuant to the Apr. 2022 Executive Order on Strengthening the Nation’s [...]
Navigation Safety Advisory Committee to Hold Public Meeting
The Coast Guard today announced that National Navigation Safety Advisory Committee will hold a virtual public meeting on Friday, June 23. Agenda items include discussion of a final report on recommendations related to navigation safety in and around offshore renewable energy installations. The Committee advises the Homeland Security Secretary on matters related to maritime collisions, rammings, and groundings; Inland [...]
NMFS Seeks Comments on Potential Smalltail Shark ESA Listing
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that it is seeking comments by Monday, July 24 on its 90-day finding that substantial scientific or commercial information indicates that listing the smalltail shark as threatened or endangered may be warranted. The smalltail shark is generally found in nearshore waters of the western Atlantic from Brazil to the northern Gulf [...]
USCG Seeks Comments on Revised Offshore Marine Equipment Regs
The Coast Guard today announced that it is seeking comments by Monday, July 24 on revised regulations associated with the approval, carriage, and maintenance of certain safety equipment required on vessels and offshore units or facilities. The Coast Guard said the regulations are being revised to align with current industry practice and provide more transparent regulations for the [...]
