"The Obama administration today released a new draft 'action plan' that directs agencies across the federal government to work together on ocean planning and conservation."
"The 118-page report instructs federal agencies to post all nonconfidential maps and research on oceans to a new central ocean data website over the next three years. It directs federal agencies to streamline ocean and coastal permitting processes, beginning with aquaculture. It calls on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to initiate plans this year for better sea ice mapping. And it sketches a process for regional councils to develop comprehensive ocean plans by 2019.
The draft plan from the interagency National Ocean Council is the next step in the administration's ambitious efforts to create a wide-ranging national ocean policy and comprehensive planning for projects and development at sea. It is open for public comment through the end of February."
Allison Winter reports for Greenwire January 12, 2012.
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