Editor

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that it is seeking public comments by Thursday, March 4 on draft 2020 marine mammal stock assessment reports (SAR’s) for marine mammals in the Atlantic (includes Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and U.S. territories in the Caribbean), Alaska, and Pacific regions.  NMFS also seeks new information for strategic stocks that were not […]

The Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today announced the availability of a Record of Decision for the 2017 Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for proposed geological and geophysical activities in the Gulf of Mexico (the announcement was later published on Dec. 4). The Record of Decision allows geological and geophysical activities to continue to be permitted and authorized,

In response to a 2019 petition filed by the State of Alaska, Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, and the North Slope Borough, NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced its decision not to delist the Arctic subspecies of ringed seal.  While NMFS found that the petitioned action is currently not warranted, it noted that the agency

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that it is seeking comments by Tuesday, Jan. 26 on the agency’s initiation of a 5-year review for the Arctic, Okhotsk, Baltic, and Ladoga ringed seals. The review will assess the best scientific and commercial data available, including information on the subspecies’ status, threats, and recovery that has become available since their listing

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that it is seeking comments by Tuesday, Jan. 26 on its proposal to designate ~5,900 square miles of critical habitat for the following threatened Caribbean corals: Orbicella annularis, O. faveolata, O. franksi, Dendrogyra cylindrus, and Mycetophyllia ferox.  The proposed critical habitat includes areas extending from off Southeast Florida to the

The U.S. Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy today announced that it is seeking comments by Jan. 24 on offshore wind transmission system integration research needs. Comments are specifically being sought on research needs regarding the integration of large-scale offshore wind energy generation into the transmission grid, with focus areas including considerations of

The Interior Department today announced the availability of Final Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment #7: Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats; and Birds, which was prepared by federal natural resource trustee agencies for the Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group.  The plan includes ~$234 million to help restore bird habitat and marshes in Louisiana.

The Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has announced the availability of the agency’s FY2019 environmental studies reports.  Topics addressed include effects of the Block Island Wind Farm on Rhode Island recreation and tourism activities, the fate and persistence of oil spill response chemicals in Arctic seawater; and the potential impacts to cultural resources at significant sand extraction

The U.S. Interior Department today announced the 2-year renewal of the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council. Established in 1993, the Council advises the Interior Secretary on aquatic conservation endeavors that benefit recreational fishery resources and recreational boating and that encourage partnerships among industry, the public, and government.

The Interior Department’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement today announced a joint funding opportunity with the U.S. Department of Energy for up to $40 million over 5 years for the operation and maintenance of the Ocean Energy Safety Institute (OESI) in order to support further improvements in offshore energy safety and environmental sustainability.  “OESI 2.0” will expand