Ocean Policy Roundup
April 12-19, 2024
Foreign aid is still top of mind in DC, but the fiscal year 2025 federal funding process marches on. Of note this week, the Senate released guidance and submission deadlines (by which senators need to submit their requests to the Appropriations Committee), and new House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-OK-04) announced changes to Republican subcommittee rosters for the 118th Congress.
News highlights:
The Senate passed the Strengthening Coastal Communities Act (S.2958), which would amend and reauthorize the Coastal Barrier Resources Act and codify maps to update and add units to the Coastal Barrier Resources System. There is not yet a House companion bill.
At this week’s Our Ocean conference in Greece, the administration announced $508 million for ocean-related initiatives. Priorities include marine protected areas, maritime security, the sustainable blue economy and sustainable fisheries, supporting ocean-related climate solutions, and combating marine pollution.
DOI announced the finalization of the Management and Protection rule for the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. Also included in the announcement, the Bureau of Land Management released its final supplemental environmental analysis for the Ambler Road project, which would span over 210 miles of habitat along Alaska’s Brooks Range.
The administration released a progress report outlining updates since last year’s release of the Ocean Climate Action Plan.
Both the House and Senate plan to be out next week for Passover recess.
Important Dates and Deadlines
Check out our public Google calendar and printable PDF to keep track of the 2024 congressional schedule.
April 26-May 10, 2024: written testimony deadlines for fiscal year 2025 (FY25) House appropriations subcommittees announced so far
May 8-15, 2024: FY25 Senate appropriations request submission deadlines (by which senators need to submit their requests to the Appropriations Committee)
September 30, 2024: end of fiscal year 2024
Upcoming Relevant Congressional Hearings
May 1, 2024
10:00 AM — Hearing to Examine the FY25 Budget Request for the Department of the Interior; House Committee on Natural Resources
May 2, 2024
10:00 AM — Hearing to Examine the FY25 Budget Request for the Department of the Interior; Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources
Introductions
Reps. Carlos A. Gimenez (R-FL-28) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25) introduced the Conserving Our Reefs Along Lower (CORAL) Florida Act (H.R.7973), which would create a new $5 million grant program to support coral restoration efforts by states, local municipalities, nonprofits, and non-governmental organizations. There is no Senate companion bill.
Updates
The Senate passed the Strengthening Coastal Communities Act (S.2958), which was introduced in September 2023 by Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Tom Carper (D-DE) and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC). This bill would amend and reauthorize the Coastal Barrier Resources Act and codify maps to update and add units to the Coastal Barrier Resources System. There is not yet a House companion bill.
The administration launched Conservation.gov, a new website that aims to connect people with information, tools, resources, and opportunities to support land and water conservation projects in communities across the country.
The administration released a progress report outlining updates since last year’s release of the Ocean Climate Action Plan.
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced the availability of up to $95 million through the Investing in America agenda for projects to bolster water resources, advance ecosystem health, and support resilience in communities facing drought and other climate impacts.
Ahead of the 14th anniversary of the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster, House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ-07), Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee Ranking Member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14), Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), and Committee Vice Ranking Member Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37) sent a letter to BOEM urging the agency to conduct a full environmental review of offshore oil and gas development.
At this week’s Our Ocean conference in Greece, the administration announced $508 million for ocean-related initiatives. Priorities include marine protected areas, maritime security, the sustainable blue economy and sustainable fisheries, supporting ocean-related climate solutions, and combating marine pollution.
DOI announced the finalization of the Management and Protection rule for the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. Also included in the announcement, the Bureau of Land Management released its final supplemental environmental analysis for the Ambler Road project, which would span over 210 miles of habitat along the Brooks Range in north central Alaska. BLM identified “No Action” as its preferred alternative, finding that other proposed alternatives would “significantly and irrevocably impact resources, including those supporting important subsistence uses, in ways that cannot be adequately mitigated.”
DOI announced the expansion of four existing national wildlife refuges in New Mexico, North Carolina, and Texas. Final updated planning policies for the National Wildlife Refuge System were also announced.
NOAA confirmed the occurrence of a global coral bleaching event, the 4th of its kind on record.
NOAA and the Singapore Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance cooperation on environmental management and climate protection.
Ocean Data and Technology
The administration released the 2023 progress report on implementation of the federal Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Strategic Plan.
DOE named Matthew Grosso as acting Director of the Water Power Technologies Office.
NOAA and the nonprofit Ocean Discovery League signed a formal agreement to work together on the development of low-cost tools and technologies that promote equitable access to deep-ocean exploration.
Offshore Wind and Energy
DOI announced a final rule from BOEM that aims to protect taxpayers from covering offshore platform decommissioning costs, which the agency says should be borne by the oil and gas industry.
DOE released The National Wind Workforce Assessment: Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Needs, a new report that builds on past efforts to evaluate the wind energy workforce gap.
Three offshore wind projects off the coast of New York were reportedly canceled citing supply chain issues and failure to reach power purchase agreements.
Image: Bob Western/Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest
From hungry otters to a dazzling coral reef fish haunt, explore 15 aquatic submissions to the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest!