[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 15 (Monday, January 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4139-4141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1316]


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OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY


National Ocean Council; Development of Strategic Action Plans for 
the National Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and 
the Great Lakes

ACTION: Notice of Intent To Prepare Strategic Action Plans for the Nine 
Priority Objectives for Implementation of the National Policy for the 
Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the Great Lakes. Request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: On July 19, 2010, President Obama signed Executive Order 13547 
establishing a National Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, our 
Coasts, and the Great Lakes (``National Policy''). That Executive Order 
adopts the Final Recommendations of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task 
Force (``Final Recommendations'') and directs Federal agencies to take 
the appropriate steps to implement them. The Executive Order creates an 
interagency National Ocean Council (NOC) to strengthen ocean governance 
and coordination, identifies nine priority actions for the NOC to 
pursue, and adopts a flexible framework for effective coastal and 
marine spatial planning to address conservation, economic activity, 
user conflict, and sustainable use of the ocean, our coasts and the 
Great Lakes.
    Purpose: The NOC is announcing its intent to prepare strategic 
action plans for the nine priority objectives identified in the Final 
Recommendations and is requesting input on the development of these 
strategic action plans. (For general information about the NOC and a 
copy of Executive Order 13547 and the Final Recommendations, please 
see: http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/oceans). Public comments will inform the 
preparation of the strategic action plans. All comments will be 
collated and posted on the NOC Web site.
    Public Comment: The NOC is seeking public input as it develops the 
strategic action plans for the priority objectives. To be considered 
during the development of the draft strategic action plans, comments 
should be submitted by April 29, 2011. Draft strategic action plans 
will be released for public review in the summer of 2011, allowing

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additional opportunity for the public to provide comments. Plans are 
expected to be completed by the end of 2011.
    In this public comment period, the NOC is interested in comments 
that address the opportunities, obstacles, and metrics of progress 
relevant to each of the priority objectives. Comments should take into 
account that the strategic action plans should address the key areas 
identified in the Final Recommendations, including, as appropriate, the 
importance of integrating local, regional, and national efforts.
    The NOC is requesting responses to the following questions for each 
of the priority objectives:
     What near-term, mid-term, and long-term actions would most 
effectively help the Nation achieve this policy objective?
     What are some of the major obstacles to achieving this 
objective; are there opportunities this objective can further, 
including transformative changes in how we address the stewardship of 
the oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes?
     What milestones and performance measures would be most 
useful for measuring progress toward achieving this priority objective?
    Comments should be submitted electronically at http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/administration/eop/oceans/comment or can be sent by 
mail to: National Ocean Council, 722 Jackson Place, NW., Washington, DC 
20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information regarding this 
request can be found at http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/oceans. Questions 
about the content of this request may be sent to http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/administration/eop/oceans/contact or by mail (please 
allow additional time for processing) to the address above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 19, 2010, President Obama signed 
Executive Order 13547 establishing a National Policy for the 
Stewardship of the Ocean, our Coasts, and the Great Lakes (``National 
Policy''). That Executive Order adopts the Final Recommendations of the 
Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force and directs Federal agencies to 
take the appropriate steps to implement them. The Executive Order 
creates an interagency National Ocean Council (NOC) to strengthen ocean 
governance and coordination, identifies nine priority actions for the 
NOC to pursue, and adopts a flexible framework for effective coastal 
and marine spatial planning to address conservation, economic activity, 
user conflict, and sustainable use of the ocean, our coasts, and the 
Great Lakes.
    The National Policy provides a comprehensive approach, based on 
science and technology, to uphold our stewardship responsibilities and 
ensure accountability for our actions to present and future 
generations. The Obama Administration intends, through the National 
Policy, to provide a model of balanced, productive, efficient, 
sustainable, and informed ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes use, 
management, and conservation. The Final Recommendations provide an 
implementation strategy that describes a clear set of priority 
objectives that our Nation should pursue to further the National 
Policy.
    The nine priority objectives seek to address some of the most 
pressing challenges facing the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes. 
The nine priority objectives are identified below. Additional 
information about each priority may be found at http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/oceans.
    Objective 1: Ecosystem-Based Management: Adopt ecosystem-based 
management as a foundational principle for the comprehensive management 
of the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes;
    Objective 2: Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning: Implement 
comprehensive, integrated, ecosystem-based coastal and marine spatial 
planning and management in the United States;
    Objective 3: Inform Decisions and Improve Understanding: Increase 
knowledge to continually inform and improve management and policy 
decisions and the capacity to respond to change and challenges. Better 
educate the public through formal and informal programs about the 
ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes;
    Objective 4: Coordinate and Support: Better coordinate and support 
Federal, State, Tribal, local, and regional management of the ocean, 
our coasts, and the Great Lakes. Improve coordination and integration 
across the Federal Government and, as appropriate, engage with the 
international community;
    Objective 5: Resiliency and Adaptation to Climate Change and Ocean 
Acidification: Strengthen resiliency of coastal communities and marine 
and Great Lakes environments and their abilities to adapt to climate 
change impacts and ocean acidification;
    Objective 6: Regional Ecosystem Protection and Restoration: 
Establish and implement an integrated ecosystem protection and 
restoration strategy that is science-based and aligns conservation and 
restoration goals at the Federal, State, Tribal, local, and regional 
levels;
    Objective 7: Water Quality and Sustainable Practices on Land: 
Enhance water quality in the ocean, along our coasts, and in the Great 
Lakes by promoting and implementing sustainable practices on land;
    Objective 8: Changing Conditions in the Arctic: Address 
environmental stewardship needs in the Arctic Ocean and adjacent 
coastal areas in the face of climate-induced and other environmental 
changes; and
    Objective 9: Ocean, Coastal, and Great Lakes Observations, Mapping, 
and Infrastructure: Strengthen and integrate Federal and non-Federal 
ocean observing systems, sensors, data collection platforms, data 
management, and mapping capabilities into a national system and 
integrate that system into international observation efforts.
    These priority objectives are meant to provide a bridge between the 
National Policy and action on the ground and in the water, but they do 
not prescribe specific actions or responsibilities. The NOC is 
responsible for developing strategic action plans to achieve the 
priority objectives. As envisioned, the plans will:
     Identify specific and measurable near-term, mid-term, and 
long-term actions, with appropriate milestones, performance measures, 
and outcomes to fulfill each objective;
     Consider smaller-scale, incremental, and opportunistic 
efforts that could build upon existing activities, as well as more 
complex, larger-scale actions that have the potential to be truly 
transformative;
     Identify key lead and participating agencies;
     Identify gaps and needs in science and technology; and
     Identify potential resource requirements and efficiencies; 
and steps for integrating or coordinating current and out-year budgets.
    The plans will be adaptive to allow for modification and addition 
of new actions based on new information or changing conditions. Their 
effective implementation will also require clear and easily understood 
requirements and regulations, where appropriate, that include 
enforcement as a critical component. Implementation of the National 
Policy for the stewardship of the ocean, our coasts, and the Great 
Lakes will recognize that different legal regimes, with their 
associated freedoms, rights, and duties, apply in different maritime 
zones. The plans will be implemented in a manner consistent

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with applicable international conventions and agreements and with 
customary international law as reflected in the Law of the Sea 
Convention. The plans and their implementation will be assessed and 
reviewed annually by the NOC and modified as needed based on the 
success or failure of the agreed upon actions.
    The NOC is committed to transparency in developing strategic action 
plans and implementing the National Policy. As the NOC develops and 
revises the plans, it will ensure substantial opportunity for public 
participation. The NOC will also actively engage interested parties, 
including, as appropriate, State, Tribal, and local authorities, 
regional governance structures, academic institutions, nongovernmental 
organizations, recreational interests, and private enterprise.

Ted Wackler,
Deputy Chief of Staff, OSTP.
[FR Doc. 2011-1316 Filed 1-21-11; 8:45 am]
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