Ocean Policy Roundup
September 30 - October 7, 2024
Our hearts are with all of those affected by the devastation of Hurricane Helene. Here’s how to help.
Team ESP is attending the Restore America’s Estuaries Coastal and Estuarine Summit this week. Emily moderated today’s “Keeping Congress Engaged in Coastal and Estuarine Restoration” panel. And tomorrow (Tuesday), she will be speaking about the importance of engaging with the federal government on the “Policy, Partnerships, and Tools to Support Coastal Management” panel (10:30 a.m. | Room Potomac 3/4). We hope to see you there!
States impacted by Hurricane Helene are still assessing the storm’s astronomical damage and loss of life. The situation is dire, especially in western North Carolina. Now, Hurricane Milton—which is expected to make landfall near Tampa, Florida later this week—has strengthened to a category five storm. The National Weather Service is calling for a storm surge of 8-12 feet and says if Milton stays on its current track, “it will be the worst storm to impact the Tampa area in over 100 years.”
The President and some Members of Congress have called for Congress to return to DC to pass an emergency hurricane supplemental bill. Those calls will likely grow louder once Hurricane Milton hits. As of now, it appears unlikely Congress will return before the election. FEMA says it has enough funding from the recently passed continuing resolution to get to the end of the calendar year.
In other news:
In response to the ongoing strikes occurring at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Sam Graves (R-MO-06) and Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chair Daniel Webster (R-FL-11) sent a letter to President Biden asking him to invoke his authority under the Taft-Hartley Act to open ports and bring parties to the negotiating table.
Congress is out, focusing on the election, and will return on November 11. And FYSA: The Supreme Court is back in action starting today.
News Highlights
NOAA Fisheries released its 2024 National Seafood Strategy Implementation Plan. This plan outlines the agency’s goals for supporting sustainable seafood production in the U.S. over the next five years and was developed with extensive input from fisheries and seafood stakeholders around the country over the past two years.
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) introduced the bipartisan Coastal Restoration Act (H.R. 9912). The bill would create a national map of coastal blue carbon ecosystems and their sequestration potential, coordinate research and data sharing, and establish a Blue Carbon Inventory Program under NOAA to support coastal communities in conservation efforts. The bill is cosponsored by Reps. Bill Posey (R-FL-08) and Donald Beyer (D-VA-08).
Reps. Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01) and Greg Murphy (R-NC-03) introduced the bicameral, bipartisan Working Waterfronts Disaster Mitigation Tax Credit Act (H.R. 9909). The bill would provide working waterfronts with a 30 percent tax credit on up to $1 million of disaster mitigation costs. Sens. Angus King (I-ME) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) led the Senate companion bill (S. 4871).
BOEM announced its approval of the Atlantic Shores South project plan to construct and operate two wind energy facilities offshore New Jersey.
Important Dates and Deadlines
Tuesday, November 5: Election Day
Tuesday, November 12: House and Senate scheduled to return from recess
Friday, December 20: *new* government funding deadline
Check out our public Google calendar and printable PDF to keep track of the 2024 congressional schedule.
No relevant upcoming hearings due to October recess.
Introductions
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) introduced the bipartisan Coastal Restoration Act (H.R. 9912). This bill would create a national map of coastal blue carbon ecosystems and their sequestration potential, coordinate research and data sharing, and establish a Blue Carbon Inventory Program under NOAA to support coastal communities in conservation efforts. The bill is cosponsored by Reps. Bill Posey (R-FL-08) and Donald Beyer (D-VA-08).
Reps. Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01) and Greg Murphy (R-NC-03) introduced the bicameral, bipartisan Working Waterfronts Disaster Mitigation Tax Credit Act (H.R. 9909). This bill would provide working waterfronts with a 30 percent tax credit on up to $1 million of disaster mitigation costs. Sens. Angus King (I-ME) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) lead the Senate companion bill (S. 4871).
Rep. Deborah Ross (D-NC-02) introduced H.Res. 1529, a resolution expressing support for the designation of October 1 as “National Science Day.”
Activity
The Lake Tahoe Restoration Reauthorization Act (S. 612), led by Sens. Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and the late Diane Feinstein (D-CA), was signed into law. This bill extends existing funding authorizations for $300 million to 2034 and continues federal support for Environmental Improvement Program (EIP) projects to protect and restore Lake Tahoe.
Fisheries and Ecosystems
NOAA Fisheries released its 2024 National Seafood Strategy Implementation Plan. This plan outlines the agency’s goals for supporting sustainable seafood production in the U.S. over the next five years and was developed with extensive input from fisheries and seafood stakeholders around the country over the past two years. The document—which addresses climate impacts, market disruptions, and new ocean uses—includes actions to support wild-capture fisheries, increase aquaculture operations, strengthen seafood markets, and promote fair trade practices. Additionally, the plan emphasizes the modernization of seafood-related infrastructure, expanding seafood market access for domestic products, and supporting coastal communities that rely on the seafood industry.
Senior Advisor for International Climate Policy John Podesta and White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory convened the Columbia River Task Force to discuss progress toward fulfilling a 2023 agreement to restore wild fish populations, expand clean energy production, increase resilience, and provide energy stability in the Columbia River Basin.
NOAA announced $22.78 million in funding to NOAA labs, programs, cooperative institutes, and other research partners to advance research on a wide range of water-driven climate impacts.
Heavy equipment removed the final obstacle separating the Klamath River from the Pacific Ocean. Dam removal (four in total) efforts on the river aim, in part, to give salmon access to 400 miles of original habitat.
EPA is proposing to add 15 PFAS categories representing more than 100 individual PFAS to the Toxics Release Inventory.
The 7th International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC7) kicks off next week in South Africa.
Ocean Data and Technology
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), DOE, and the Department of State jointly released the second Mission Innovation National Innovation Pathway 2024 report, which highlights Biden-Harris Administration actions to accelerate clean energy technology innovations.
OSTP released the 2024 Quadrennial Science and Technology Review, which dives into ongoing science and technology efforts across the federal government. The report notes 19 federal agencies have updated or strengthened their scientific integrity plans.
NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, headquartered in Asheville, N.C., has been severely impacted by Hurricane Helene.
NOAA announced a $1.8 million award to support the development, procurement, and deployment of innovative ocean monitoring technologies in NOAA’s Arctic Research Program.
Offshore Wind and Energy
BOEM announced its approval of the Atlantic Shores South project plan to construct and operate two wind energy facilities offshore New Jersey. The agency says it incorporated important feedback from Tribes, government agencies, ocean users, and other interested parties prior to making the decision. This feedback resulted in additional measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate any potential impacts from the project on marine life and other important ocean uses, such as fishing.
Image: New England Aquarium
Hundreds of miles from its Caribbean home, a blue angelfish recently turned up in Massachusetts’ Little Pleasant Bay! The tiny traveler—possibly the northern-most reported blue angelfish—has since been taken into the care of the New England Aquarium.