CRE Comments on BOEMRE’s ICR for Geological & Geophysical Explorations of the OCS

The Center for Regulatory Effectiveness (CRE) submitted comments to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement (BOEMRE) on an ICR for Geological & Geophysical Exploration of the Outer Continental Shelf.  In the comments the CRE recommended that:

1. BOEMRE should clearly state that it is not submitting any ICRs for seismic regulation that is more stringent than current regulation, including NTL 2007-G02.
2. BOEMRE should defer submitting this ICR to OMB until a reasonable time after the end of the settlement stay in the New Orleans litigation. If there is any settlement, then BOEMRE should prepare a new ICR/burden estimates that addresses the settlement, and allow public comment on them, before sending the ICR to OMB.

Coastal Planning Conference Announced

from: PRNEWSIRE

NANTUCKET, Mass., Aug. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — New uses like wind and tidal energy facilities and aquaculture projects need to co-exist with recreational boaters and transportation networks in our ecologically-sensitive coastal waterways.  How do communities balance competing demands in their coastal waters?  How should we decide what uses go where?  Regional management plans to ensure that our waters are sustainably used and protected, mandated by the Obama administration, are now being developed.  How can stakeholders have a say in that process?

CRE COMMENTS ON DRAFT NOAA SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY POLICY AND HANDBOOK FOR PUBLIC REVIEW

The Center for Regulatory Effectiveness (CRE) is pleased to submit these comments to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on its draft Scientific Integrity Policy and Handbook. To ensure a culture of scientific integrity, NOAA must require that its scientific policies are transparent, include the public, and adhere to the Data Quality Act (DQA) and NOAA’s DQA guidelines.

See complete comments attached.

US Looks to East Coast for Wind Energy (UPI)

From: United Press International

WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (UPI) — U.S. regulators said they started the steps needed to advance offshore wind energy off the coasts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar joined Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement Director Michael Bromwich to announce from Washington that the government had taken preliminary steps to develop commercial wind energy off the U.S. coast.

The agency directors invited developers to look at areas off the U.S. East Coast that would be good for commercial wind energy projects. The BOEMRE is asking for public comments on potential environmental issues.

Obama Proposal for Collaborative Ocean Policy Draws Skepticism, Support (Truthout)

From: Truth Out

By: Alissa Bohling

One of the great threats facing our oceans is overfishing, which may deplete the world’s oceans of edible fish in the next few decades. Learn more about this looming ecological and food disaster by watching the Truthout Progressive Pick of the Week, “The End of the Line.”

Aquarium of the Pacific Leads 1st Attempt to Apply Obama Administration’s Ocean Planning to Southern California (Business Wire)

From: Business Wire

LONG BEACH, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Aquarium of the Pacific and USC Sea Grant gathered leading national experts in the first attempt to apply coastal and marine spatial planning (CMSP) to the waters off Southern California. The Obama Administration interagency Ocean Policy Task Force recommends planning the allocation of the ocean through this process. Other countries have adopted CMSP, but in the U.S. only Massachusetts and Rhode Island have implemented it.