News Archives: July - September 2006

Commerce’s NOAA and Interior Department Release Draft Framework for Developing System of Marine Protected Areas (Official NOAA Press Release)

The U.S. is developing a national system of marine protected areas (MPAs) to support the efficient, effective use of MPAs to conserve and sustain the nation’s marine resources.  To guide this effort, the National MPA Center, a division of NOAA’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, and the Department of Interior have released the Draft Framework for Developing the National System of MPAs.  The draft framework provides flexible, common-sense guidance for federal, state, tribal, territorial, and local governments and stakeholders to work together to enhance the effectiveness of existing U.S. MPAs and improve integrated, science-based decisions about their future use.  Learn more about the framework and how to submit public comments, or to download copies of the document and supporting materials. (Sept 2006)

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Volunteer for the International Coastal Cleanup, September 16, 2006

coastal cleanup

The International Coastal Cleanup could not be made possible without dedicated volunteers.

On September 16th, hundreds of thousands of people will descend on beaches, lakes, and streams all over the world to remove trash and debris—on land and under the water.  Volunteers of all ages from every continent will form the largest one-day volunteer event on behalf of clean oceans and waterways—the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC). (Aug 2006)

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NOAA and EPA Fully Approve Minnesota's Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program

NOAA and EPA review and approve state Coastal Nonpoint Programs. All states' Coastal Nonpoint Programs were initially approved with specific conditions (Conditional Approval Findings): most states in 1997-1998 but several states were later entrants to the coastal zone management program so their conditional approval was more recent. The conditions called for states to enhance their management programs and/or develop new implementation mechanisms.

States receive full approval for their Coastal Nonpoint Programs once they have satisfied all their conditions. Minnesota received full approval of their Coastal Nonpoint Program on July 27, 2006. (July 2006)

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New Shoreline Management Technical Assistance Toolbox Launched

NOAA’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, Coastal Programs Division launched a new a website: The Shoreline Management Technical Assistance Toolbox. The website, developed in response to requests from state coastal managers, provides coastal resource managers with centralized access to information, resources, and tools to address shoreline erosion and management, focusing on alternatives to traditional shoreline hardening. The Toolbox includes information on planning and policy tools, alternative stabilization techniques such as “soft” or hybrid methods (e.g., marsh restoration with breakwater sill), and the economics of shoreline management. For each technique, the site provides case studies describing how the techniques have been applied. The Toolbox also includes a “resources” page that provides links to a variety websites, reports and management tools related to shoreline management.

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