[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 15 (Monday, January 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4139-4141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1316]
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OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY
National Ocean Council; Development of Strategic Action Plans for
the National Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and
the Great Lakes
ACTION: Notice of Intent To Prepare Strategic Action Plans for the Nine
Priority Objectives for Implementation of the National Policy for the
Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the Great Lakes. Request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: On July 19, 2010, President Obama signed Executive Order 13547
establishing a National Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, our
Coasts, and the Great Lakes (``National Policy''). That Executive Order
adopts the Final Recommendations of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task
Force (``Final Recommendations'') and directs Federal agencies to take
the appropriate steps to implement them. The Executive Order creates an
interagency National Ocean Council (NOC) to strengthen ocean governance
and coordination, identifies nine priority actions for the NOC to
pursue, and adopts a flexible framework for effective coastal and
marine spatial planning to address conservation, economic activity,
user conflict, and sustainable use of the ocean, our coasts and the
Great Lakes.
Purpose: The NOC is announcing its intent to prepare strategic
action plans for the nine priority objectives identified in the Final
Recommendations and is requesting input on the development of these
strategic action plans. (For general information about the NOC and a
copy of Executive Order 13547 and the Final Recommendations, please
see: http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/oceans). Public comments will inform the
preparation of the strategic action plans. All comments will be
collated and posted on the NOC Web site.
Public Comment: The NOC is seeking public input as it develops the
strategic action plans for the priority objectives. To be considered
during the development of the draft strategic action plans, comments
should be submitted by April 29, 2011. Draft strategic action plans
will be released for public review in the summer of 2011, allowing
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additional opportunity for the public to provide comments. Plans are
expected to be completed by the end of 2011.
In this public comment period, the NOC is interested in comments
that address the opportunities, obstacles, and metrics of progress
relevant to each of the priority objectives. Comments should take into
account that the strategic action plans should address the key areas
identified in the Final Recommendations, including, as appropriate, the
importance of integrating local, regional, and national efforts.
The NOC is requesting responses to the following questions for each
of the priority objectives:
What near-term, mid-term, and long-term actions would most
effectively help the Nation achieve this policy objective?
What are some of the major obstacles to achieving this
objective; are there opportunities this objective can further,
including transformative changes in how we address the stewardship of
the oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes?
What milestones and performance measures would be most
useful for measuring progress toward achieving this priority objective?
Comments should be submitted electronically at http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/administration/eop/oceans/comment or can be sent by
mail to: National Ocean Council, 722 Jackson Place, NW., Washington, DC
20503.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information regarding this
request can be found at http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/oceans. Questions
about the content of this request may be sent to http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/administration/eop/oceans/contact or by mail (please
allow additional time for processing) to the address above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 19, 2010, President Obama signed
Executive Order 13547 establishing a National Policy for the
Stewardship of the Ocean, our Coasts, and the Great Lakes (``National
Policy''). That Executive Order adopts the Final Recommendations of the
Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force and directs Federal agencies to
take the appropriate steps to implement them. The Executive Order
creates an interagency National Ocean Council (NOC) to strengthen ocean
governance and coordination, identifies nine priority actions for the
NOC to pursue, and adopts a flexible framework for effective coastal
and marine spatial planning to address conservation, economic activity,
user conflict, and sustainable use of the ocean, our coasts, and the
Great Lakes.
The National Policy provides a comprehensive approach, based on
science and technology, to uphold our stewardship responsibilities and
ensure accountability for our actions to present and future
generations. The Obama Administration intends, through the National
Policy, to provide a model of balanced, productive, efficient,
sustainable, and informed ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes use,
management, and conservation. The Final Recommendations provide an
implementation strategy that describes a clear set of priority
objectives that our Nation should pursue to further the National
Policy.
The nine priority objectives seek to address some of the most
pressing challenges facing the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes.
The nine priority objectives are identified below. Additional
information about each priority may be found at http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/oceans.
Objective 1: Ecosystem-Based Management: Adopt ecosystem-based
management as a foundational principle for the comprehensive management
of the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes;
Objective 2: Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning: Implement
comprehensive, integrated, ecosystem-based coastal and marine spatial
planning and management in the United States;
Objective 3: Inform Decisions and Improve Understanding: Increase
knowledge to continually inform and improve management and policy
decisions and the capacity to respond to change and challenges. Better
educate the public through formal and informal programs about the
ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes;
Objective 4: Coordinate and Support: Better coordinate and support
Federal, State, Tribal, local, and regional management of the ocean,
our coasts, and the Great Lakes. Improve coordination and integration
across the Federal Government and, as appropriate, engage with the
international community;
Objective 5: Resiliency and Adaptation to Climate Change and Ocean
Acidification: Strengthen resiliency of coastal communities and marine
and Great Lakes environments and their abilities to adapt to climate
change impacts and ocean acidification;
Objective 6: Regional Ecosystem Protection and Restoration:
Establish and implement an integrated ecosystem protection and
restoration strategy that is science-based and aligns conservation and
restoration goals at the Federal, State, Tribal, local, and regional
levels;
Objective 7: Water Quality and Sustainable Practices on Land:
Enhance water quality in the ocean, along our coasts, and in the Great
Lakes by promoting and implementing sustainable practices on land;
Objective 8: Changing Conditions in the Arctic: Address
environmental stewardship needs in the Arctic Ocean and adjacent
coastal areas in the face of climate-induced and other environmental
changes; and
Objective 9: Ocean, Coastal, and Great Lakes Observations, Mapping,
and Infrastructure: Strengthen and integrate Federal and non-Federal
ocean observing systems, sensors, data collection platforms, data
management, and mapping capabilities into a national system and
integrate that system into international observation efforts.
These priority objectives are meant to provide a bridge between the
National Policy and action on the ground and in the water, but they do
not prescribe specific actions or responsibilities. The NOC is
responsible for developing strategic action plans to achieve the
priority objectives. As envisioned, the plans will:
Identify specific and measurable near-term, mid-term, and
long-term actions, with appropriate milestones, performance measures,
and outcomes to fulfill each objective;
Consider smaller-scale, incremental, and opportunistic
efforts that could build upon existing activities, as well as more
complex, larger-scale actions that have the potential to be truly
transformative;
Identify key lead and participating agencies;
Identify gaps and needs in science and technology; and
Identify potential resource requirements and efficiencies;
and steps for integrating or coordinating current and out-year budgets.
The plans will be adaptive to allow for modification and addition
of new actions based on new information or changing conditions. Their
effective implementation will also require clear and easily understood
requirements and regulations, where appropriate, that include
enforcement as a critical component. Implementation of the National
Policy for the stewardship of the ocean, our coasts, and the Great
Lakes will recognize that different legal regimes, with their
associated freedoms, rights, and duties, apply in different maritime
zones. The plans will be implemented in a manner consistent
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with applicable international conventions and agreements and with
customary international law as reflected in the Law of the Sea
Convention. The plans and their implementation will be assessed and
reviewed annually by the NOC and modified as needed based on the
success or failure of the agreed upon actions.
The NOC is committed to transparency in developing strategic action
plans and implementing the National Policy. As the NOC develops and
revises the plans, it will ensure substantial opportunity for public
participation. The NOC will also actively engage interested parties,
including, as appropriate, State, Tribal, and local authorities,
regional governance structures, academic institutions, nongovernmental
organizations, recreational interests, and private enterprise.
Ted Wackler,
Deputy Chief of Staff, OSTP.
[FR Doc. 2011-1316 Filed 1-21-11; 8:45 am]
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