NOPC in the News

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that it is seeking comments by Friday, Oct. 30 on a proposed rule providing guidance for safely deterring marine mammals, including prohibitions on certain deterrent methods that NMFS has deemed would have a significant adverse effect on them. NMFS notes the Marine Mammal Protection Act provides protection from liability under the […]

The State Department today announced that it will hold a teleconference meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 23 ahead of the 44th session of the International Maritime Organization’s Facilitation Committee, to be held virtually from Sept. 28-Oct. 2.  Agenda items include consideration of descriptions of maritime services in the context of e-navigation, unsafe mixed migration by sea, guidance to address maritime corruption,

The U.S. Coast Guard today announced that the National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee will hold a public teleconference meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 30 rather than Wednesday, Aug. 26 as originally scheduled. The Committee will review and discuss the progress of the Lifeboats and Rescue Craft Safety on the Outer Continental Shelf Subcommittee, the Coast Guard’s investigation into the lifeboat accident

NOAA today announced its accession as a principal member of the Maritime Domain Awareness Executive Steering Committee, which it tasked with implementing the National Strategy for Maritime Security and Presidential Policy Directive 13: Maritime Security. Along with NOAA, the State Department joined as well, marking the Committee’s first expansion since its establishment in 2010.  Other members include representatives of the Defense, Transportation, and Homeland

NOAA today announced the Hydrographic Services Review Panel will hold a virtual public meeting on Sept. 23-24. Agenda items include a NOAA request to the Panel to provide recommendations for the future development of implementation plans for the two ocean and coastal mapping strategies, discussion of a draft issue paper on “Alaska Coastal Mapping Strategy—Gaps and Priorities,” “Mapping

NOAA today announced the award of $2.7 million in grants for 23 projects in 18 states and territories to support marine debris prevention ($1.4 million for 13 projects) and removal ($1.3 million for 10 projects) efforts.  The total investment will exceed $5.9 million when accounting for non-federal matching contributions. Assistant Sec. of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and

The Maritime Administration today announced that the U.S. Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 29.  Agenda items include subcommittee presentations of final recommendations followed by member’s questions and answers, consensus-driven decisions on the recommendations, and discussion about next steps for the Committee under the current charter.

The Northeast Regional Ocean Council today announced that it will hold a virtual public meeting on Thursday, Nov. 12.  The meeting will include discussion about current budget and programmatic challenges and opportunities associated with the pandemic and results of the upcoming election, general updates, special topics such as coastal resilience, ocean planning, or others, and NROC Committee updates.

In a visit to Portland, ME today, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler met with local lobstermen and announced amendments to the national marine diesel program “to provide much needed regulatory relief that will benefit America’s hardworking lobsterm[e]n and pilot boat captains.” To address concerns associated with obtaining and installing certified Tier 4 marine diesel engines in certain

The Interior Department today announced that it is seeking comments by Tuesday, Sept. 22 on the Draft 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 proposal includes ~$234 million to help restore bird habitat and marshes in Louisiana. NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries