EPA to Host Public Listening Sessions during National Ocean Month (HQ)
WASHINGTON – The Obama Administration today announced the
launch of a series of listening sessions to gather input from the
communities that depend on and care for our ocean, coasts, and
Great Lakes – continuing work to implement the nation’s
first comprehensive ocean policy. Feedback and comments gathered
through these public engagement opportunities will assist the
National Ocean Council as it continues implementing the new
National Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, our Coasts, and
the Great Lakes.
Starting next week, the National Ocean Council
will host a series of 12 public listening sessions across the
country. EPA will be coordinating efforts with other federal
agencies and partners to host a listening session in the Gulf of
Mexico region and co-host a listening session in the Great Lakes
region alongside the U.S. Coast Guard. Following the executive
order issued by President Obama last July that established the
National Ocean Policy and the National Ocean Council, these public
engagement sessions mark the latest milestone in implementing an
ocean policy that addresses critical issues facing our
oceans.
In addition, the National Ocean Council has launched a month-long public comment period for strategic action plan outlines. The outlines for the strategic action plans were drafted by federal interagency teams as a first step in implementing the president’s National Ocean Policy. After the public comment period, the outlines will be used to develop strategic action plans that will propose attainable goals and specific, measureable actions the federal government can implement to address key challenges facing our ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes.
To participate in providing feedback for the strategic action plans outlines or to get more information on listening sessions: http://www.whitehouse.gov/oceans
To provide comment on the nine strategic action plans: http://www.whitehouse.gov/oceans
To find a National Ocean Council regional listening session near you: https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2011/05/26/share-your-ideas-national-ocean-council-listening-session-near-you
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