NOPC in the News

At an event at Florida Atlantic University today, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced the federal strategy to address global marine litter.  Wheeler was joined by U.S. Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), Deputy Energy Secretary Mark Menezes, Council on Environmental Quality Chair Mary Neumayr, Asst. Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Deputy Administrator Tim Gallaudet, and EPA Region 4 Administrator Mary […]

The Coast Guard today announced that it is that it is resoliciting applications through Monday, Dec. 14 for individuals interested in serving as a member of the 18-member National Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee. Applicants representing the following interests will be considered: commercial fishing industry, naval architects and marine engineers, vessel equipment manufacturers, vessel underwriters, vessel owners, and

President Trump today announced his intent to appoint Major General Randy “Church” Key, USAF (Ret.) to be a Member of the Arctic Research Commission.  Key, who was appointed last Tuesday, is Executive Director of the Arctic Domain Awareness Center at the University of Alaska. Established in 1985, the Commission is tasked with establishing the national policy, priorities,

In an Executive Order on climate and biodiversity issued today, California Governor Gavin Newsom committed his state to a goal of conserving at least 30% of its land and coastal waters by 2030 (“30×30”).  In making the announcement, California billed itself as the first state in the nation to make the 30×30 pledge. Strategies for achieving the

The Environmental Protection Agency today announced its decision to issue a final rule effective Nov. 2, 2020 amending the national marine diesel program with relief provisions in order to address concerns related to finding and installing Tier 4 marine diesel engines in certain high-speed commercial vessels. The rule specifically provides additional lead time for qualifying engines and vessels,

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced its decision to keep the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary nomination in the inventory until at least Oct. 5, 2025.  The proposed sanctuary would span ~140 square miles of coastline from Cambria to Santa Barbara, CA. In making its decision, among other things NOAA determined that significant threats to the area

The Coast Guard has issued an Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Strategic Outlook which finds that IUU fishing is a “pervasive security threat to U.S. national interests” and commits to the Coast Guard to being a “global leader in the fight” against it. The Coast Guard pledged to work with NOAA, the State Department, and Depart of Defense and

Exercising authority under Section 12(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, President Trump today issued a Presidential Memorandum removing North Carolina from offshore energy leasing in federal waters through June 30, 2032. The Memorandum notes that the withdrawal does not apply to leasing for environmental conservation purposes such as for shore protection, beach nourishment and

NOAA today announced a new pilot program with Vulcan Inc. to use an information tool known as Skylight to help identify Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing activities.  Under the partnership, potential approaches will also be developed to increase the use of maritime domain awareness in support of North Atlantic right whale protection and conservation. Asst. Sec.

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service today announced the availability of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Mississippi Trustee Implementation Group Final Restoration Plan II Environmental Assessment: Wetlands, Coastal, and Nearshore Habitats and Oysters.  The plan includes ~$15 million for projects in the Wolf River and Hancock County Coastal Preserves and efforts involving oyster spawning reefs and an oyster gardening