Report from U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy Out!

[archman]

It's been over thirty years in the making, and is very much expected to bring some serious butt-whoop back into the game. NOAA was created as a result of the first report back in the '60's... wonder what this one will shake up. This preliminary report goes to the governors and interested parties first for a deliberation period. Later this year it gets sent to Congress to raise cain.

Official Press Release Here:
http://www.oceancommission.gov/newsnotices/apr20_04.html

Main website HERE:
http://www.oceancommission.gov/

 

[Brian Gilpin]

You sound optimistic. Any reason to be so? Or will this just be an interesting report?

 

[CBulla]

intersting read - I will keep tabs on this to see what sort of effect it really has and what the ripple out effect regarding the regional waterfront that I live in.

 

[archman]

This will be the new policy standard for government agencies working in marine environs (NOAA, NASA, MMS, NMFS, USFWS, USGS, EPA, Coast Guard, etc.). You may not expect a lot of immediate activity with the current political climate, but rest assured of at least a steady stream of updated policymaking for the next couple of decades. Nobody is expected to really argue this report (it goes to the governors more as a formality than for actual critique) during the review period. It's just thrown out there for minor tweaking and fact-checking. Personally I've gone over Chapter 16 (vessel pollution and safety) with a fine-toothed comb, and it's extremely solid. People who've looked at the education chapter find the recommendations highly impractical... the wetlands chapter is a bit optimistic too.

Already I'm seeing comments to the Report's recommendations from NASA scientists. Everyone else should be chiming in shortly. Government processes tend to be SLOW.