On Sept. 17 the White House released the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force Interim Report for comments.  The report is in direct response to President Obama’s request for recommendations that will augment national policy on the management of oceans, coasts and the Great Lakes.  The Report proposes a National Policy for the stewardship of oceans and outlines governance modifications that would place the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the Office of Science and Technology Policy in charge of an interagency National Ocean Council charged with implementing the National Ocean Policy.  In addition, the Report outlines nine National Priority Objectives, including the implementation of comprehensive coastal and marine spatial planning and management and better coordination of federal, state, tribal, local,  and regional management of the oceans.

Along with accepting comments, the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force has two upcoming public hearings on the issue.