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Interior Offshore Wind Leasing Program Seen as ‘Test Case’ for Marine Spatial Planning (NY TIMES)
From: The New York Times
By Phil Taylor
As the 27-agency National Ocean Council begins the formidable task of mapping out the myriad resources of the nation’s oceans, lakes and coasts, some are looking to the Interior Department’s offshore wind program for hints of how early planning can improve federal decisionmaking.
Interior’s plan to expedite wind leasing and development off the Atlantic Coast is viewed by some as an early glimpse of the potential for coastal and marine spatial planning, or CMSP. The Obama administration initiative seeks to gather scientific data, mapping resources and input from ocean stakeholders to provide a framework for federal officials and investors to make informed decisions.
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Interior to shrink Mid-Atlantic wind areas, begin leasing OCS (Platts Energy Week)
By: Nick Juliano
From: Platts Energy Week
Electric Power Daily (22-Jun-11)
Environmental reviews for leases of Outer Continental Shelf blocks in the Mid-Atlantic for wind farm development should be complete later this year, clearing the way for the leasing process to begin, Deputy Interior Secretary David Hayes said Tuesday.
The reviews will result in Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Regulation and Enforcement reducing the size of eligible lease areas based on input from states and other federal agencies, he said.
Hayes’ comments came at the Department of the Interior’s headquarters during a public workshop on a new coastal and marine spatial planning process.
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Senior NOAA Official to Engage Ocean Business Community on Marine Spatial Planning (Maritime Executive)
From: The Maritime Executive
NOAA Policy Director To Address National Business Forum for Ocean Industries
22 June 2011 –
NOAA Policy Director, Sally Yozell, will participate in the first-ever National Business Forum on Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), on behalf of Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Undersecretary of Commerce and NOAA Administrator.
The National Business Forum on MSP (13-14 July, Washington, D.C.) is for businesses that care about their future use of marine space and resources. The Forum is the only event that brings the ocean business community together to develop a strategy to address common concerns about MSP.
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The National Ocean Council Releases Strategic Actions Plans
CRE Note: The CRE prepared a white paper which it submitted to the National Ocean Council. In the white paper, CRE argued that certain stakeholder’s were being cut out of the process as CMSP moves forward. The white paper can be located here: CRE report on Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning
Source: The National Ocean Council
The National Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, our Coasts, and the Great Lakes prioritizes nine objectives to address some of the most pressing challenges facing these precious resources. The National Ocean Council is overseeing development of strategic action plans for each of the nine objectives. As a first step the National Ocean Council has released nine strategic action plan outlines for public review during National Oceans Month.
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Vitter Calls Out Renegade Federal Agencies to Obtain Congressional Consent (Pelican Post)
Source: The Pelican Post
New legislation would block unilateral implementation of anti-energy policies
Federal agencies that have unilaterally curtailed energy production in the Gulf of Mexico should obtain congressional approval before any new regulations are implemented, Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) has argued on the Senate floor.
Critics counter that “apologists for big oil” have overstated the moratorium’s economic effects and instead blame irresponsible industry practices for any alleged slowdown.
