Editor

NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries today announced that the Sanctuary System Business Advisory Committee will hold a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 19. The meeting will include updates from ONMS and all working groups, a presentation from a sanctuary site, and an officer election. The Committee provide advice and recommendations to the ONMS Director regarding the relationship […]

The U.S. Coast Guard today announced that it is seeking applications by Friday, Feb. 11 from individuals interested in filling the offshore operations representative vacancy on the National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee. The Committee provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security regarding matters relating to the safety of the offshore mineral and

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that it is seeking comments by Friday, Jan. 21 on the Mississippi Trustee Implementation Group Draft Restoration Plan 3 and Environmental Assessment: Habitat Projects on Federally Managed Lands; Sea Turtles; Marine Mammals; Birds; and Provide and Enhance Recreational Opportunities. In conjunction with the comment period, a public webinar will be held on Tuesday,

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy today announced that it is seeking comments by Tuesday, Jan. 11 on the draft prospectus of the upcoming 2022-2031 National Global Change Research Plan. OSTP notes that the prospectus captures the U.S. Global Change Research Program’s evolving mission and mission and describes priorities and actions that drive near-term activities while

In connection with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s 5-year Endangered Species Act review for the threatened polar bear to determine whether the species should be delisted or reclassified, 24 U.S. House Democrats today submitted a comment letter in support of “future protections of this iconic species in the face of development and the climate crisis.” The

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