Current Projects
The Olympic Coast Alliance has identified it's top priority conservation issues and is working on researching the environmental impacts of these issues.
We are currently participating in updating the Olympic National Marine Sanctuary Management Plan.
Please add your voice to ours!
Olympic National Marine Sanctuary Management Plan comments are due March 25th, 2011.
- Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov
- Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
- Fax: 360-457-8496, Attn:George Galasso
- Mail: George Galasso, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary,
115 East Railroad Avenue, Suite 301
Port Angeles, WA 98362
Suggestions for comments:
“…effective marine resource protection…is the primary goal of the NMS Act.”
(p. 41)
-The National Marine Sanctuary Act states that the primary mission of marine sanctuaries is resource protection – we encourage ONCMS to promote uses that are compatible with this mission. All action plans should be consistent with resource protection mandate and focus on this mandate should prevail in all decisionmaking.
-We strongly support the integrated nature of the 20 actions plans: research to inform ecosystem-based management, education to create and support an ocean literate community, actions to promote coordinate and collaborative management, resource protection, and solidifying the relationship with treaty tribes.
- We strongly support both the acquisition of information to inform ecosystem-based management and the application of that information on resource management issues. We see a lot of opportunities ahead with coastal marine spatial planning, further designation of ecologically important areas within the sanctuary (Essential Fish Habitat), identification of a network of sentinel sites for climate change, etc.
- OCA's (Olympic Coast Alliance) expectations are that OCNMS will not just be an information gathering body but also help in the application of this information in partnership with with tribes, state, federal, and other non-governmental agencies and entities.
- We support the climate change strategy and integrating climate change research and adaptation into management of all areas of the Sanctuary.
- We encourage OCNMS to prioritize an assessment of the status of resources in the sanctuary, develop measureable benchmarks relative to the resources, and connect them to management priorities.
- We encourage more precise application of the definition of Essential Fish Habitat – where is it for each species, and what are the limitations of use within it?
-We support the proposed regulatory changes as moving the sanctuary forward in protecting its outstanding water quality through the focus on restricting wastewater and ballast water discharges.
- We encourage making the Neah Bay dump a top priority in the workplan. OCNMS needs to work with the Makah Tribe and others to develop a plan and timeframe for dump closure and clean up and help identify funding for this work.
- We support the Management Plan Review (MPR) as representing the hard work of many different interests, and urge the sanctuary to move forward with implementation.
Below are links to information about the OCNMS management plan update:
On January 14, 2011, OCNMS released a Draft Management Plan (DMP) that is largely based on recommendations developed by its Advisory Council through an intensive working group and workshop process
(see http://olympiccoast.noaa.gov/AboutUs/sac/sac_actions.html). When finalized, this management plan will serve as a guide to OCNMS management on its activities for the next 5 to 10 years.
Proposed revisions to OCNMS regulations (referred to as the Proposed Rule) also were developed while reviewing our existing management plan and regulations. The DMP and proposed regulatory changes formed a framework around which OCNMS staff wrote a Draft Environmental Assessment (DEA) document that accompanies the DMP and Proposed Rule and includes all of the federal compliance documentation to accompany the DMP. These documents provide for the public to review a tangible expression of the Sanctuary’s vision for the next five to ten years.
We encourage interested members of the public to comment on the Proposed Rule and DMP/DEA. These documents and updated information on the management plan review process is available at our web site:
http://olympiccoast.noaa.gov/protection/mpr/welcome.html
All comments on the Proposed Rule and DMP/DEA be received or postmarked by March 25, 2011.
Olympic Coast Oil Spill Advocacy Network
Background
The pristine environment of the Olympic Coast provides excellent habitats for birds, mammals, fish, and other marine life. Almost 100 bird species and 29 mammal species, some of which are listed as endangered, use these habitats. Olympic Coast near shore habitats are nursery grounds for some of Washington’s most productive salmon runs.
A major oil spill off the coast would contaminate these habitats, likely wipe out at least one year’s offspring for some species, and in a worst-case spill, extirpate multiple species from the Olympic Coast. The fishing industry could be shut down for years, affecting local tribes, as well as other fishermen. Recreation and tourism-based economies could also suffer dramatic losses.
Oil spill prevention and response is very challenging. An oil spill is a catastrophic event when it occurs, but it is difficult for agencies to maintain adequate resources and to remain vigilant over long time periods between spills. Citizen participation is needed to keep the focus on prevention and maintain the resources needed to respond to a spill.
There are many opportunities for protecting the Olympic Coast from a devastating oil spill.
- Promote permanent funding for a year round rescue tugboat stationed at Neah Bay.
- Oppose weakening of federal regulations that currently ban oil exploration within and south of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.
- Support expansion of current regulations to require tugboat escorts for all oil tankers transiting the entire length of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
- Encourage the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary to convert the voluntary “Area-To-Be-Avoided” into regulations that require all ships and barges to transit the coast far off shore.
- Promote adequate funding for oil spill response staffing, equipment, and supplies stationed at Neah Bay and La Push (click here for a map of the coast).
In response to these threats and opportunities, the Olympic Coast Alliance is:
- Creating an Oil Spill Advocacy Network that will enable concerned citizens to respond effectively to policy opportunities for preventing oil spills off the Olympic Coast.
- Coordinating citizen input into the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Management Plan Review that is being initiated during the fall of 2005.
- Helping coordinate citizen input into the Washington State Department of Ecology Oil Spill Contingency Planning process.
You can help prevent oil spills off the Olympic Coast by:
- Learning more about Olympic Coast oil spills by inviting an OCA speaker to make a presentation to your group.
- Commenting on oil spill prevention issues to policy makers through participation on the Oil Spill Advocacy Network.
- Writing a letter-to-the-editor of your local newspaper advocating support for specific oil spill prevention policies.
Click here to contact the OCA and become more involved in oil spill prevention.
Olympic Coast Oil Spill Advocacy Network
Background
The pristine environment of the Olympic Coast provides excellent habitats for birds, mammals, fish, and other marine life. Almost 100 bird species and 29 mammal species, some of which are listed as endangered, use these habitats. Olympic Coast near shore habitats are nursery grounds for some of Washington’s most productive salmon runs.
A major oil spill off the coast would contaminate these habitats, likely wipe out at least one year’s offspring for some species, and in a worst-case spill, extirpate multiple species from the Olympic Coast. The fishing industry could be shut down for years, affecting local tribes, as well as other fishermen. Recreation and tourism-based economies could also suffer dramatic losses.
Oil spill prevention and response is very challenging. An oil spill is a catastrophic event when it occurs, but it is difficult for agencies to maintain adequate resources and to remain vigilant over long time periods between spills. Citizen participation is needed to keep the focus on prevention and maintain the resources needed to respond to a spill.
There are many opportunities for protecting the Olympic Coast from a devastating oil spill.
- Promote permanent funding for a year round rescue tugboat stationed at Neah Bay.
- Oppose weakening of federal regulations that currently ban oil exploration within and south of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.
- Support expansion of current regulations to require tugboat escorts for all oil tankers transiting the entire length of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
- Encourage the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary to convert the voluntary “Area-To-Be-Avoided” into regulations that require all ships and barges to transit the coast far off shore.
- Promote adequate funding for oil spill response staffing, equipment, and supplies stationed at Neah Bay and La Push (click here for a map of the coast).
In response to these threats and opportunities, the Olympic Coast Alliance is:
- Creating an Oil Spill Advocacy Network that will enable concerned citizens to respond effectively to policy opportunities for preventing oil spills off the Olympic Coast.
- Coordinating citizen input into the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Management Plan Review that is being initiated during the fall of 2005.
- Helping coordinate citizen input into the Washington State Department of Ecology Oil Spill Contingency Planning process.
You can help prevent oil spills off the Olympic Coast by:
- Learning more about Olympic Coast oil spills by inviting an OCA speaker to make a presentation to your group.
- Commenting on oil spill prevention issues to policy makers through participation on the Oil Spill Advocacy Network.
- Writing a letter-to-the-editor of your local newspaper advocating support for specific oil spill prevention policies.
Click here to contact the OCA and become more involved in oil spill prevention. |
