E.P.A. to Host Public Listening Sessions during National Ocean Month

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 1st 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 twelve public listening sessions across the country. E.P.A. 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 review period for strategic action project outlines. The outlines for the strategic action projects were drafted by federal interagency teams as a 1st step in implementing the president's National Ocean Policy. After the public review period, the outlines will be used to develop strategic action projects 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 projects outlines or to get more information on listening sessions: http://www.whitehouse.gov/oceans

To provide review on the 9 strategic action plans: http://www.whitehouse.gov/oceans

To find a National Ocean Council regional listening session near you: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/05/26/share-your-ideas-national-ocean-council-listening-session-near-you

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