CEQ Press Releases -- October 9 Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 9, 2009

Obama Administration Officials to Hold Gulf Coast Regional Ocean Policy Task Force Public Meeting on October 19, 2009

New Orleans, LA — Obama Administration officials will hold a Gulf Coast Regional Ocean Policy Task Force Public Meeting in New Orleans on Monday, October 19, 2009. The Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force, led by White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley, consists of senior-level officials from Administration agencies, departments, and offices. 

The Task Force, established by President Obama via presidential memorandum on June 12, is charged with developing a recommendation for a national policy that ensures protection, maintenance, and restoration of oceans, our coasts and the Great Lakes.  It will also recommend a framework for improved stewardship, and effective coastal and marine spatial planning.  The meeting in New Orleans will be the fifth regional public meeting held since the Task Force was created. The public is encouraged to attend and an opportunity for public comment will be provided.

Members of the public can access the meeting in three ways: by attending in person at one of the sites listed below; by calling into the listen-only phone line (800-369-1897; participant code: 2495142); or via live webstream at http://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/oceans.

Who:   Chair Nancy Sutley, White House Council on Environmental Quality
             Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and
             Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
             Peter Silva, Assistant Administrator for Water, Environmental Protection Agency
             Associate Deputy Secretary Laura Davis, Department of Interior
             Admiral Thad Allen, U.S. Coast Guard Commandant

What:    Ocean Policy Task Force Public Meeting

When:   Monday, October 19, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. (CDT)

Where:  Audubon Aquarium of the Americas & Entergy IMAX Theater
             1 Canal Street
             New Orleans, LA 70130

Listen-only phone line: 1-800-369-1897; passcode:249514

Live webstream: http://oceanpolicy.disl.org/

Live video-connections will be used at the following locations:

Texas State Aquarium
2710 North Shoreline Boulevard.
Corpus Christi, TX 78402
RSVP Contact:  Rosanna Gossett
361-881-1204
rgossett@txstateaq.org

Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Wiese Marine Science Hall, Room 102W
101 Bienville Blvd.
Dauphin Island, AL 36528
RSVP Contact: Ms Lori Angelo
251-861-7507
langelo@disl.org

National Marine Fisheries Service (4:30-7:30 p.m. EDT)
Southeast Regional Office
263 13th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
RSVP Contact:  Michael Henderson
727-824-5396
Michael.Henderson@noaa.gov

J. L. Scott Marine Education Center
703 East Beach Drive
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
RSVP Contact:  Johnette Bosarge
228-818-8893
johnette.bosarge@usm.edu

Note: Public comment can also be submitted online at: http://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/oceans.