[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 190 (Friday, October 1, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58914-58915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-22031]


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COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY


Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force

AGENCY: Council of Environmental Quality.

ACTION: Notice of request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Council on Environmental Quality (``CEQ'') has formed an 
Interagency Ocean Policy Group (``IOPG'') to develop the President's 
response to the recommendations in the U.S. Commission on Ocean 
Policy's Final Report that was released on September 20, 2004. In the 
process of developing the Administration response, the IOPG is 
accepting public comments on the Commission's Final Report. Because the 
IOPG has access to the public comments submitted to the commission on 
its Preliminary Report, which was released on April 20, 2004, the IOPG 
is seeking specific comments on the changes introduced in the Final 
Report.

DATES: Public comments will be accepted beginning on Friday, October 1, 
2004. CEQ requests that comments be delivered to CEQ no later than the 
close of business (5:30 p.m. EST) on Monday, November 1, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Send electronic comments to: [email protected]. 
Comments may be sent by facsimile to: (202) 456-9728. Comments may also 
be mailed to Council on Environmental Quality, 722 Jackson Place, NW., 
Washington, DC 20503 Attention: Interagency Ocean Policy Group.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ``Oceans Act Of 2000'' (Pub. L. 106-256) 
established the U.S. commission on Ocean Policy to make recommendations 
for a coordinated and comprehensive national ocean policy that will 
promote: (1) Protection of life & property, (2) stewardship of ocean & 
coastal resources, (3) protection of marine environment and prevention 
of marine pollution, (4) enhancement of maritime commerce, (5) 
expansion of human knowledge of the marine environment, (6) investments 
in technologies to promote energy and food security, (7) close 
cooperation among government agencies, and (8) U.S. leadership in ocean 
& coastal activities. The law required the Commission to develop, in 
coordination with the States, a scientific advisory panel, and the 
public, a National Oceans Report. This Report makes recommendations to 
the President and Congress on ocean and coastal issues. The U.S. 
Commission on Ocean Policy's Final Report was released on September 20, 
2004, and may be found at http://oceancommission.gov. Section 4 of the 
Oceans Act provides for the President to submit to Congress, within 
ninety (90) days of the receipt of this Report, a statement of 
proposals to implement or respond to the U.S. Ocean Commission's 
recommendations for a coordinated, comprehensive and long-range 
national policy for the responsible use and stewardship of ocean and 
coastal resources for the benefit of the United States. The IOPG will 
assist in the development of the Administration's response to the final 
recommendations. As Chair of the IOPG, and pursuant to

[[Page 58915]]

the requirements of Section 4(b) of the Oceans Act of 2000, CEQ is 
accepting comments on U.S. Ocean Commission's recommendations. Further 
instructions for submitting comments to the IOPG may be found at http://ocean.ceg.gov.

    Dated: September 24, 2004.
Philip Cooney,
Chief of Staff, Council on Environmental Quality.
[FR Doc. 04-22031 Filed 9-30-04; 8:45 am]
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