Media Coverage

The Interior Department today announced that its Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and the U.S. Department of Energy entered into a cooperative agreement with Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station to manage the Ocean Energy Safety Institute. The Institute was established in 2011 to provide policy advice to the Secretary of the Interior on issues related to ocean energy safety […]

Interior Sec. Deb Haaland and Commerce Sec. Gina Raimondo today announced the approval of the Vineyard Wind offshore wind project off Massachusetts, with the administration touting it as “the first large-scale, offshore wind project in the United States” and a “major milestone” that will “propel America’s drive toward a clean energy future.” A joint Interior-US Army Corps

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that it is seeking comments by Monday, July 26 on the agency’s initiation of a 5-year review for the endangered sperm whale.  The review will assess the best scientific and commercial data available to determine whether the species should be delisted or reclassified.

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that the agency welcomes public comments through Monday, July 12 on its Draft Mitigation Policy for Trust Resources, which aims to improve conservation of NOAA-managed fish, wildlife, and cultural resources through more effective mitigation of impacts to them.  Once adopted, the policy will be reviewed biennially in collaboration with other relevant NOAA offices.

In an Executive Order signed today, President Biden established a Climate Change Support Office within the State Department in order to support bilateral and multilateral engagement “to address the global climate crisis,” including support for Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry.  The Office will terminate on May 7, 2024, unless terminated earlier by the Secretary of State. Among

The U.S. Interior Dept. today published the report on “Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful,” which was transmitted to the White House National Climate Task Force last week as directed by Sec. 216(a) of President Biden’s Jan. 27 Executive Order on “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.” The report recommends 8 key principles to guide the effort

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced that it is seeking comments by Monday, June 7 on its proposal to revoke the Jan. 7 final rule defining the scope of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to clarify that the law’s prohibitions on pursuing, hunting, taking, capturing, killing, or attempting to do the same apply

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Ocean Council’s Committee on the Ocean this week held a virtual Mid-Atlantic Ocean Forum.  Themes addressed during the forum included the importance of offshore wind (including lessons learned and tools for informing siting), the impact of climate change on the ocean (including changes species are experiencing) and ways to address it including proactive planning

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today announced that it is seeking comments by Tuesday, June 1 on its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement on the construction and operations plan submitted by Revolution Wind, LLC for a wind energy facility off Rhode Island, with export cables connecting to the onshore electric grid in North Kingstown, RI.  In

The Interior Department today announced the appointment of new leadership staff, including Lawrence (Larry) Roberts to serve as Chief of Staff, Steve Feldgus to serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, Dr. Eric Werwa to serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget, and Mackenzie Landa to serve as Advisor to the Deputy Secretary. Roberts has been a Professor