WH: 118-page draft for over 50 actions to improve the health of oceans, coasts and the Great Lakes
President Barack Obama's administration today released a 118-page draft plan that describes more than 50 actions the federal government plans to take to improve the health of oceans, coasts and the Great Lakes.
The plan includes improved sharing of data and technology, more efficient and coordinated decision-making and outlines key milestones, responsible agencies and expected timeframes.
The president’s National Ocean Council expects to complete and approve the final implementation plan in the spring of 2012.
pdf of the draft plan: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ceq/national_ocean_policy_draft_implementation_plan_01-12-12.pdf
The Federal Government has a critical role to play as a steward, leading the way in sound management of these ecosystems working with States, Tribes, and other partners to find common solutions to key challenges, and ensuring the Nation’s valuable ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources continue to provide us with the wealth of benefits that ensure our well-being and prosperity. Recognizing this, the National Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the Great Lakes (hereinafter “National Ocean Policy”) was established by Executive Order 13547 on July 19, 2010.
The National Ocean Policy provides that Federal agencies will “ensure the protection, maintenance, and restoration of the health of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems and resources, enhance the sustainability of ocean and coastal economies, preserve our maritime heritage, support sustainable uses and access, provide for adaptive management to enhance our understanding of and capacity to respond to climate change and ocean acidification, and coordinate with our national security and foreign policy interests.”
For the first time in our Nation’s history, the National Ocean Policy provides the framework for all Federal agencies to work together to pursue these goals with cohesive actions across the Federal Government, and for engaging State, Tribal, and local authorities, regional governance structures, non-governmental organizations, the public, and the private sector. Fishing, energy, transportation, recreation, security, and other uses will be considered collectively and managed comprehensively and collaboratively.
read the entire 115 page document: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ceq/national_ocean_policy_draft_implementation_plan_01-12-12.pdf
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