NOPC in the News

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 […]

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Coast Guard today announced the availability of a Policy Letter effective Oct. 28 that provides guidance on Coast Guard acceptance of certain industry-recognized standards for commercial diving operations as providing a level of safety that is equivalent to the requirements in Coast Guard regulations. The action follows a request from the Association of Diving Contractors International and the International

The Maritime Administration today announced that applications are being sought by Tuesday, Dec. 22 from eligible and qualified training entities interested in being designated as a Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education. Under the National Defense Authorization Act of 2018, the Secretary of Transportation has discretion to designate qualified entities as Centers of Excellence,

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that it is seeking comments by Tuesday, Dec. 22 on the identification of geographic areas containing locations suitable for commercial aquaculture within the Gulf of Mexico and off Southern California, as well as areas that should be considered nationally for future Aquaculture Opportunity Areas. This proceeding is being carried out in