NOAA Administrator Gives Speech on CMSP

Making Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning Work: The Rhode Island Ocean Special Area Management Plan

Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D
Under Secretary of Commerce for the Oceans and Atmosphere
and NOAA Administrator

Opening remarks As prepared for delivery Narragansett, RI

July 22, 2011

Thank you, Dennis.  And THANK YOU RHODE ISLAND!

Governor Chafee; Senator Reed, Senator Whitehouse, who are absent but with us in spirit;  and distinguished guests, thank you for your hard work and steadfast commitment to this project.

R.I.’s ocean-zoning plan first approved in U.S. (Providence Journal)

From: Providence Journal

By: Alex Kuffner

Journal Staff Writer NARRAGANSETT — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has approved a Rhode Island ocean zoning plan that designates waters off the state’s coast for renewable energy development. The Ocean Special Area Management Plan, or SAMP, is the first of its kind in the nation to win federal approval.

NOAA Advisory Committee Meeting to Discuss Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning

The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Protected Areas Federal Advisory Committee is meeting on Tuesday, August 16, 2011, from 1 to 3 p.m. , and on Tuesday, August 23, from 2 to 4 p.m.

The Committee will discuss and vote on recommendations on the linkages between marine protected areas and Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning. The focus of the first meeting will be to discuss the issues in the draft recommendations developed by the Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning Subcommittee for the Committee’s review and action. The focus of the second meeting will be to vote on the same recommendations. Committee materials for the conference call will be posted at http://www.mpa.gov.

CRE Files Comments on BOEMRE’s Revised Take Application for Gulf of Mexico Seismic

CRE Files Comments on BOEMRE’s Revised Take Application for Gulf of Mexico Seismic

On July 13, 2011, CRE filed comments on BOEMRE’s revised application to NMFS for rules under the Marine Mammal Protection Act authorizing Takes of marine mammals from oil and gas seismic operations in the Gulf of Mexico. BOEMRE’s 2011 application revises BOEMRE’s (then MMS) earlier 2004 application, which NMFS has not yet acted on.

CRE’s comments included the following points.

●          NMFS should issue GoM Take regulations based on BOEMRE’s (then MMS) earlier 2004 Take Application to NMFS (“2004 Application”), except that the Southall Criteria should be used for Level A Takes because these criteria are more accurate.

A draft environmental assessment aimed at cutting planning lead times for offshore wind has been published by the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE).

From: Windpower Monthly

by: John McKenna

CRE Comments on Marine Spatial Planning

The Center for Regulatory Effectiveness (CRE) has submitted its comments on Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning (CMSP) to the National Ocean Council (NOC).  The CRE concluded:

Coastal Marine Spatial Planning as proposed, is redundant of existing frameworks (i.e. Outer Continental  Shelf Lands Act) for managing ocean uses, it is operating without the requisite Congressionally approved legal authority, and lacks transparency and involvement from stakeholders.  Accordingly, CRE recommends that NOC use existing legislative and regulatory frameworks to manage the ocean. In the alternative, CRE recommends that NOC implements CMSP in a more transparent manner that includes greater involvement by stakeholders and compliance with the Data Quality Act.