[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 111 (Thursday, June 9, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33726-33727]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-14056]


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COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY


National Ocean Council; Strategic Action Plan Content Outlines

AGENCY: Council on Environmental Quality.

ACTION: Notice of Availability, Strategic Action Plan Content Outlines; 
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 Ocean Policy''). The National 
Ocean Policy provides an implementation strategy, which describes nine 
priority objectives that seek to address some of the most pressing 
challenges facing the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes. The 
National Ocean Council is responsible for developing strategic action 
plans for each of the nine priority objectives. As a first step, 
Federal interagency writing teams have developed content outlines for 
each draft strategic action plan. The NOC is seeking public review and 
comment of these content outlines.
    The purpose of the draft content outlines (outlines) is to provide 
the public with an initial view of potential actions that could be 
taken to further the national priority objectives. As such, they are an 
interim step toward development of the first full draft of each 
strategic action plan. In developing the outlines, the writing teams 
were informed by the comments received during an initial public scoping 
period that closed on April 29.
    Each outline presents in bulleted form potential actions to further 
the particular priority objective. It describes the reasons for taking 
the action, expected outcomes and milestones, gaps and needs in science 
and technology, and the timeframe for completing the action. The 
outlines also provide an overview of the priority objective, greater 
context for the strategic action plan in implementing the National 
Ocean Policy, and an overview of the preparation of the plan .
    Public comments received on the outlines will be collated and 
posted on the NOC Web site. The comments on the outlines will inform 
the preparation of full draft strategic action plans, which will be 
released for public review in the fall of 2011, allowing additional 
opportunity for the public to provide comments. Final strategic action 
plans are expected to be completed by early 2012.

DATES: Comments should be submitted on or before July 2, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Content outlines can be downloaded here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/oceans. 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. Comments and input may 
also be provided in person by participating in regional listening 
sessions that will be convened throughout the U.S. in the month of 
June. You can learn more about these regional listening sessions by 
visiting http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/oceans.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Weiss, Deputy Associate 
Director for Ocean and Coastal Policy, at (202) 456-3892.

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 
Ocean 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 Ocean 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 
Ocean 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.

[[Page 33727]]

    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 Ocean 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 
Ocean 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 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 Ocean 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.
    Public comments are requested on or before July 1, 2011.

    Dated: June 2, 2011.
Nancy H. Sutley,
Chair.
[FR Doc. 2011-14056 Filed 6-8-11; 8:45 am]
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