President Obama announced on Monday, July 19th, that his administration will launch a new policy to protect America’s oceans, coasts and Great Lakes. This policy comes at a time when the health of our oceans is in dire need of a check up. According to Nancy Sutley, White House Council on Environmental Quality chair, “The new policy recognizes that use of the ocean is expanding at a rate that challenges the ability to manage competing demands.”
The launch of the new ocean policy, The National Ocean Council, comes as a result of recommendations from several Ocean Policy Task Force senior policy experts. And while the National Ocean Council will not specifically create any new regulations or restrictions, it will relegate certain recreational and commercial activities to designated areas–a process known as marine spatial planning–which will be overseen by appointed regional organizations.
From MSNBC:
“While marine spatial planning could ultimately affect offshore drilling, administration officials said any changes would be in line with the findings of a presidential commission investigating the causes of the Gulf oil spill.
The administration imposed a moratorium on deep-water offshore drilling pending the outcome of the commission. That moratorium was later revised after courts struck down the original as heavy-handed.”
Many environmental advocates see Obama’s introduction of The National Ocean Council as a significant step in the direction of protecting our oceans and, ultimately, our planet. Let’s hope so.
[Via: MSNBC]
[Photo Via: Steve Rhodes]
Sweet!!!!!