In a speech to the Alaska Forum on the Environment today, Department of the Interior Deputy Secretary David J. Hayes and Deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Policy Heather Zichal outlined a series of new initiatives aimed at bringing the best available science to energy-related decisions in the Arctic.

[ March 7, 2012; ] On Wednesday, March 7, the Public Policy Forum will be held in the Capitol Hill Visitors Center (Room SVC 210/212) on Capitol Hill. This year’s theme is the science of ocean and coastal restoration.

[ March 5, 2012; 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. ] 2012 John A. Knauss Sea Grant Fellowship Welcome Reception – Rayburn House Office Building – Rooms B338/B339 Monday, March 5, 2012 – 6 to 8 PM

Today, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar will attend the 7th Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting. Clinton will be the first secretary of state to ever attend an Arctic Council meeting, underscoring its importance for achieving substantive agreements on the myriad challenges facing the region.

Making Sure NOAA Stays Strong During Federal Reorganization

Today, the Obama Administration released a National Ocean Policy action plan to address the most pressing challenges facing ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources.

A draft plan of proposed early restoration projects is available for public review and comment. The Draft Phase I Early Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment describes eight projects, two each in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

When a disaster occurs and the NRDA process starts, early restoration is a method to get natural resources back to normal faster.

The Consortium for Ocean Leadership is pleased to announce the search for a Policy Specialist to work with the Senior Policy Manager to conduct public policy activities.

Strengthening NOAA’s Science with a Continuing Commitment to Honesty, Transparency, and Credibility

The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force today released its final strategy for long term ecosystem restoration for the Gulf Coast, following extensive feedback from citizens throughout the region.

Budget negotiations continued on Capitol Hill throughout the month of November with mixed success. Although the Deficit Reduction Supercommittee halted work on November 21 after failing to reach an agreement identifying the required $1.2 trillion in budgetary savings, an appropriations measure to fund major science agencies for Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 was passed by Congress and signed into law by the President this month.