U.S. urged to merge land and
oceans agencies into one
Copyright 2008 Environment News Service. All rights reserved.
 WASHINGTON, DC, July 9, 2021 (ENS) - Today's federal
environmental research, development, and monitoring programs are not structured to handle such major problems as global climate change, declines in freshwater, and loss of biodiversity, warns a
group of former senior federal officials who want to form a new agency by merging two existing ones.
In an article published in the journal "Science," the officials propose an independent Earth Systems Science Agency that would be created by merging the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, NOAA, and the U.S. Geological Survey, USGS.
Former NOAA administrator D. James Baker and former USGS director Charles Groat, among the article's seven coauthors, see important synergies in linking the two agencies.
Baker said, "Population pressure, development impact, and resource extraction affect land and sea alike. Just as the science of the Earth is seamless, so should the government responsibility
be merged for these separate Earth agencies."
Groat points to the breadth of capabilities the agency would possess.
"The USGS, in bringing not only its geologic, biologic, hydrologic and geospatial expertise to the understanding of natural systems, but also its research capabilities in energy, mineral,
water, and biologic resources, gives the new organization a comprehensive perspective on both environmental and resource systems. If we effectively link these capabilities with those of
NOAA, we will have a powerful research institution."
The authors recommend that no less than 25 percent of the new agency's budget be devoted to grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements with academic and nonprofit institutions.
"Earth system science merges earth, atmospheric, and ocean science into a panorama of the earth system as it is today and as it will be tomorrow," said Charles Kennel, former associate
administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, and director of Mission to Planet Earth.
Read the rest of this article on the web at
Environment News Service.
Eight new Marine Protected Areas
proposed for Gulf of Mexico
Fishing for snapper-grouper species would be prohibited
Copyright 2008 NOAA Fisheries Service. All rights reserved.
WASHINGTON, DC, June 17, 2021 - The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council has submitted Amendment 14 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery for review, approval, and implementation
by
 NOAA Fisheries Service. The amendment
would establish eight new marine protected areas (MPAs) in which fishing for or possession of snapper-grouper species would be prohibited, but
other types of legal fishing would be allowed.
The MPAs would be located in the following areas: one off southern North Carolina, three off South Carolina, one off Georgia,
and three off Florida, and range from 5 by 10 nautical miles to 22 by 23 nautical miles in area. Amendment 14 also proposes to prohibit the use of shark bottom longlines within the MPAs, however,
NOAA Fisheries Service is proposing to implement the prohibition of shark bottom longlines through separate rulemaking.
If implemented, these measures are expected to enhance the optimum size, age and genetic structure of slow growing long-lived deepwater grouper species.
Written comments will be accepted through August 5, 2021 and can be submitted, identified by 0648-AU28, via the Federal eRulemaking Portal
http://www.regulations.gov,
by fax to: (727) 824-5308, Attn: Kate Michie, or by mail to Kate Michie, NOAA Fisheries Service Southeast Regional Office, Sustainable Fisheries Division, 263 13th
Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
For additional information, please contact Kim Iverson, Public Information Officer, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; toll free 1-866-SAFMC-10 or 843-571-4366.
What the Oil Industry expects in 2008
Law of the Sea Convention membership vital to US energy market
Copyright 2008 World Oil magazine. All rights reserved.
by Paul Kelly, Consultant, World Oil Senior Editorial Advisor, Houston
Last month, the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted
17-4 in favor of US ratification of the Law of the Sea
Convention. Next, the matter goes to the full Senate for
approval. The convention lays out a comprehensive
international framework to govern the world’s ungoverned
spaces: the deep and vast oceans. This is a critical
opportunity which must not be missed, especially from the
viewpoint of future potential oil and natural gas supply in
America, and globally.
The United States has taken a long and winding road to this
moment of decision. The Law of the Sea Convention was
negotiated for decades and agreed to in 1982. President Reagan
directed the country to follow the Convention, with the
exception of some rules on mining. After these rules were
amended to meet US demands, President Clinton agreed to sign
the Convention, but it stalled in the Senate due largely to
the opposition of Senator Jesse Helms, while he chaired the
Foreign Relations Committee. Now, the Convention has the
support of President Bush and a strong majority of that
Committee. More than 150 nations are members, including every
major power except the US.
Trading route rights. Oil is traded in a global market with US
companies as leading participants. The Convention’s protection
of navigational rights and freedoms advances the interests of
energy security in the US, particularly in view of the
dangerous world conditions we have faced since the tragic
events of September 11, 2001. About 44% of US maritime
commerce consists of petroleum and petroleum products. Trading
routes are secured by provisions in the Convention combining
customary rules of international law, such as the right of
innocent passage through territorial seas, with new rights of
passage through straits and archipelagoes. US accession to the
Convention would put us in a much better position to invoke
such rules and rights.
Continental shelf ownership. The Convention is also important
with regard to our efforts to develop domestic offshore oil
and natural gas resources. The Convention secures each coastal
nation’s exclusive rights to the living and non-living
resources of the 200-mile exclusive economic zone. This rule
puts 4.1-million square miles of ocean under US jurisdiction,
a total area that is larger than the US land area. The
petroleum industry has been in favor of the Convention since
1973, when US negotiators consulted with industry leaders
through the National Petroleum Council about the Treaty
provisions and, in particular, those provisions that enable
nations to extend the definition of their continental shelves
beyond the 200-mile zone, thereby claiming living and
non-living resources in and below an extended seabed.
Determination of continental shelf resources is accomplished
by a nation filing a submission supported by seismic,
bathymetric and sediment data for review by an International
Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. Russia’s
recent symbolic planting of their flag in deep waters below
the North Pole is a reflection of a submission it has made
claiming a vast stretch of the Lomonosov Ridge, which Denmark
also claims as part of Greenland. Russia, Norway, Britain,
Ireland, Brazil and Australia are a handful of the countries
that have already made submissions, and many more are
preparing their own submissions. Meanwhile, the United States’
hands are tied because it is not a member of the Convention.
Until we sign, we cannot make a submission, nor can we appoint
an American scientist to the Commission that reviews all the
submissions.
Some of the most recent deepwater discoveries in the Gulf of
Mexico are relatively close to the 200-mile limit, and the US
should be prepared to take advantage of prospects beyond that
limit. Also, we need to protect our interests in the Arctic
where, according to geoscientists, the US case for proving an
extended continental shelf off Alaska to 350 miles or more
looks very good.
From a global perspective, far-from-shore deepwater
discoveries have ignited interest in the Convention’s
provisions all across the world. The United States Geological
Survey estimates that about one quarter of the world’s
undiscovered oil and natural gas lies below Arctic waters,
which explains competitive actions by countries bordering on
that region.
Urgency to join. The Continental Shelf Commission is expected
to have a very heavy workload reviewing coastal state
submissions in the coming months. Looking ahead, there could
be an historic dividing up of many millions of square miles of
offshore territory, with management rights to all its living
and non-living resources on or under the seabed. This will
have important economic impacts on coastal nations, including
enhanced energy supplies and revenues.
An advisor who is working with developing nations preparing
their submissions said recently, “This will probably be the
last big shift in ownership of territory in the history of the
Earth. Many countries don’t realize how serious it is.”
How much longer can the US afford to be a laggard in this
process? Let’s hope the US Senate finally realizes how serious
it is and approves the Law of the Sea Convention without
further delay.
THE AUTHOR
Paul L. Kelly is a consultant on energy and ocean policy, and
a retired senior vice president of Rowan Companies, Inc.,
where he had responsibility for special projects, and
government and industry affairs. He was a member of the US
Secretary of Interior’s Outer Continental Shelf Policy
Committee, serving as chairman of the Committee from 1994 to
1996, and he is a member of the Joint Ocean Commission
Initiative. Mr. Kelly holds BA and JD degrees from Yale
University.
Paul Kelly is also GMF's
President of the Board of Directors.
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http://jointoceancommission.org/
The Gulf of Mexico Foundation's President of the Board,
Paul Kelly,
was appointed by President Bush to serve on the U.S. Commission on Ocean
Policy established to examine the major issues affecting America’s coasts and
oceans. Currently he serves as a member of the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative
and on the Ocean Research and Resources Advisory Panel providing independent advice under the Bush Administration’s Ocean Action Plan.
About JOCI: Oceans and coasts are severely threatened, domestically and around the world. The Joint Initiative’s primary goal is to accelerate the pace of change
that results in meaningful ocean policy reform. Led by Admiral James D. Watkins (U.S. Navy, Ret.) and The Honorable Leon E. Panetta, the Joint
Initiative brings extraordinary expertise, perspective, and diversity of interests to the ocean policy dialogue. The Joint Initiative works with
people and organizations at the national, regional, state, and local levels to build durable support for ocean policy reform at all levels of
decision making. Through its work the Joint Initiative seeks to expand our collective understanding of the threats facing our oceans and to
enable actions that address them so that our oceans remain vibrant and healthy for current and future generations.
Links to JOCI information:
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Gulf of Mexico Foundation - PMB 51, 5403 Everhart - Corpus Christi, TX 78411
(800) 884-4175 toll free - (361) 882-3939 phone - (361) 882-1262 fax
e-mail: info@gulfmex.org
website: gulfmex.org
webmaster: Carrie Robertson
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LEGISLATION SOURCES
SeaWeb Ocean Update
Environment News Service
Environmental News Network
Grist Magazine - Environmental News and Humor
The Ocean - Ocean News and Guide
National Wildlife Foundation - enature.com
Shifting Baselines - Common Sense for the Oceans
MSNBC Environment
Underwater Times - Ocean News
Capitol Reports - Environmental News Link
National Geographic News - Oceans
Coastal States Organization Weekly Report
NOAA Media Center
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