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 [...]
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Comments Sought on Proposed Changes to Arctic Drilling Regulations
The Interior Department’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today announced the release of a proposed rule for public comment on revisions to regulations governing exploration drilling in U.S. Arctic waters. The proposed rule, which was formally published on Dec. 9 for comments due by Monday, Feb. 8, would revise 21 existing provisions and add [...]
Ocean Policy Committee Holds Meeting
The Council on Environmental Quality today published a summary of a Sept. 29 meeting held by the Ocean Policy Committee, facilitated by Committee Co-Chairs Mary Neumayr (Council on Environmental Quality Chairman) and Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier (Office of Science and Technology Policy Director). The meeting included updates on implementation of the November 2019 Presidential Memorandum on Ocean Mapping of the United [...]
CEQ Releases Implementation Plan for Efficient Ocean Exploration Permitting
The Council on Environmental Quality today published the Implementation Plan for Recommendations for Increasing the Efficiency of Permitting for Ocean Exploration, Mapping, and Research Activities, which were previously released in June. The effort is an outgrowth of the November 2019 Presidential Memorandum on Ocean Mapping of the United States Exclusive Economic Zone and the Shoreline and Nearshore of Alaska. Implementation [...]
Northeast Regional Ocean Council Holds Public Meeting
The Northeast Regional Ocean Council today held a virtual meeting to discuss budget and programmatic challenges and opportunities associated with the pandemic and recent election, general updates, special topics including coastal resilience and ocean planning, and NROC Committee updates. During the meeting, it was noted that federal legislation to authorize and fund regional ocean partnerships passed the Senate [...]
Applicants Sought for Ocean Exploration Advisory Board
NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research today announced that it is seeking applications by Wednesday, Dec. 9 from individuals interested in filling up to four vacancies on the Ocean Exploration Advisory Board. Individuals are sought who have demonstrated expertise in areas of scientific research relevant to ocean exploration, including marine archaeology, or ocean-science education and communication, and representatives [...]
Comments Sought on Proposed Deepwater Port
The Maritime Administration today announced that comments are being sought by Thursday, Dec. 3 on the Coast Guard’s preparation of an environmental impact statement for the proposed ownership, construction, operation, and decommissioning of an offshore oil export deepwater port ~99 miles off the coast of Cameron Parish, LA at a water depth of 162 feet. The proposed Blue Marlin Offshore [...]
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 virtual public meeting Dec. 8-10. The meeting agenda includes updates on new species occurrences in the United States, updates from interagency invasive species organizations, presentations on horizon scanning and risk assessment as tools for invasive species management, presentations on ballast water and [...]
Ocean Exploration Advisory Board to Hold Public Meeting
NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research today announced that the Ocean Exploration Advisory Board (Board) will hold a virtual public meeting on Thursday, Dec. 10. The meeting agenda includes discussion of topics including an Office of Ocean Exploration and Research program review and NOAA’s response to Board’s October 2020 letter. The Board, which was established pursuant to the [...]
Methane Hydrate Advisory Committee to Hold Public Meeting
The U.S. Energy Department’s Office of Fossil Energy today announced that the Methane Hydrate Advisory Committee will hold a virtual public meeting on Dec. 1-2. The meeting agenda includes an update on Alaska and Gulf of Mexico projects, discussion of international R&D activities, and Committee discussion regarding Gas Hydrates Scientific Document Recommendations to the Secretary. The Methane Hydrate Advisory [...]
