Agenda for May 23, 2019 Ocean Protection Council Workshop and Meeting
On May 23, 2019, the Ocean Protection Council held a workshop and panel discussion on relevant science and ongoing management of California’s globally significant marine protected areas network. The workshop was held at the CalEPA Building, 1001 I Street, Room 550 and the Coastal Hearing Room (Second Floor) from 8:30am to 12:30pm. Details on the workshop can be found here. The Ocean Protection Council meeting followed at 1pm in the CalEPA Building’s Coastal Hearing Room; see the agenda.
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Join the Ocean Protection Council in celebrating California’s marine protected areas (MPAs) as we reflect on the establishment of the state’s MPA network, learn about compelling ocean science, and explore innovative ways to support MPA effectiveness into the future.
When:
May 23, 2019
8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Where:
California EPA Building
1001 I Street, Room 550
Sacramento, CA 95812
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The Ocean Protection Council (OPC) is pleased to announce the release of the Proposed Final Proposition 68 Grant Guidelines (Grant Guidelines). The Grant Guidelines were revised based on the comments received during the January-February public comment period. The Grant Guidelines will be considered for adoption by OPC at their May 23, 2019 meeting as Item 5. The staff recommendation and exhibits, including comments received on the draft grant guidelines, are available on the OPC meeting page. Please submit any comments on Item 5 to COPCPublic@resources.ca.gov. Written public comment must be received by 5 pm on May 21, 2019.
Funds from Prop 68 will be used to support the priorities of all of the OPC’s program areas for the next several years. The Grant Guidelines provide an overview of the purpose of Prop 68 funds, which projects and applicants will be eligible to receive funds, the OPC’s competitive and discretionary grant programs, proposed scoring criteria to assess projects, and requirements for future grantees. The comment period closed on February 28, 2019. More information on the Prop 68 Grant Guidelines, including resources for applicants, is available on the Prop 68 webpage.
Questions about the Prop 68 Grant Guidelines may be submitted to Prop68@resources.ca.gov.
California recently co-authored a letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross opposing proposed Federal rulemaking to streamline the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) consistency review process.
The CZMA is our country’s foundational coastal and marine management legislation. The proposed rulemaking appears to undermine the State’s role in coastal management by shortening the time for review and limiting the scope of continued State objection to outer continental oil and gas exploration and development.
California, alongside Oregon and Washington, maintains that a “balance between national priorities and healthy coastal communities … exists because of the federal consistency process.”
OPC is pleased to release its draft Strategic Priorities to Protect California’s Coast and Ocean, which will guide OPC’s priorities and investments over the next five years.
We welcome feedback on this draft plan. Public comments should be submitted to COPCpublic@resources.ca.gov by 5 pm on April 19, 2019.
A revised draft, based on public comment, will be released on May 3, 2019 for consideration by the Ocean Protection Council at its May 15, 2019 meeting. Questions can be directed to OPC’s Deputy Director, Jenn Eckerle, at jenn.eckerle@resources.ca.gov.
*Please note that this draft has not yet been formatted by a designer. The final document will include photographs and graphics.
At its October 25, 2018 meeting, the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) unanimously approved 24 research projects totaling $6 million in funding through the Proposition 84 Competitive Grants Program. The projects support state priorities focused on stewardship and management of California’s ocean and coastal resources in the areas of: ocean acidification and hypoxia; sustainable fisheries and aquaculture; sea-level rise adaptation and coastal resilience; coastal sediment management; marine pollution; and marine renewable energy.
The research projects were selected through a competitive process based on criteria developed by OPC in alignment with its mission and priorities. California Sea Grant and the University of Southern California Sea Grant facilitated the review panel process and will administer project grants on behalf of OPC. California Sea Grant is administering 12 of the 24 projects in the areas of ocean acidification and hypoxia, and sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. University of Southern California Sea Grant is administering the remaining 12 projects in the areas of sea-level rise adaptation and coastal resilience, coastal sediment management, marine pollution, and marine renewable energy. Details and links to project descriptions can be viewed HERE.
