MMS

SCIENCE

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 5 

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2006

THE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY JOURNAL OF THE MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE

Advancing our

Ocean, Coastal, 

and Great Lakes

Policy

A Presidential

Response – 

The U.S. Ocean

Action Plan

Viewing Ocean

Policy Through

Aqua-Colored

Glasses

Ocean Ed 101

ORRAP

SIMOR 

Work Plan

Regional

Partnerships

Preserve and

Protect 

Resources

JSOST in Time –

Setting Ocean 

Science and

Technology

Priorities

Advancing our

Ocean, Coastal, 

and Great Lakes

Policy

A Presidential

Response – 

The U.S. Ocean

Action Plan

Viewing Ocean

Policy Through

Aqua-Colored

Glasses

Ocean Ed 101

ORRAP

SIMOR 

Work Plan

Regional

Partnerships

Preserve and

Protect 

Resources

JSOST in Time –

Setting Ocean 

Science and

Technology

Priorities

Special Interagency OAP Issue!
2 MMS OCEAN SCIENCE Science & Technology Journal

MMS

SCIENCE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2006 

Volume 3 Issue 5

MMS OCEAN SCIENCE is published 

bi-monthly by the Minerals

Management Service to communicate

recent ocean science and technological

information and issues of interest related

to offshore mineral recovery, ocean

stewardship, and mineral revenues.

Please address all questions,

comments, suggestions, and changes

of address to:

Deborah Epperson

MMS OCEAN SCIENCE Editor

Minerals Management Service

1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard

New Orleans, LA 70123

deborah.epperson@mms.gov

(504) 736-3257

ABOUT THE COVER

Top: From An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century

Final Report of the 

U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy.

Bottom: Hurricane Frances 

regional imagery, 2004.09.03 at 1645Z. 

Centerpoint 25 ̊32'20"N latitude, 76 ̊15'03"W

longitude. Photo courtesy NOAA.

Back: Background platform image by Gregory S. Boland 

All photos courtesy of Minerals Management Service 

unless otherwise noted.

Publication services provided by Schatz Publishing Group

THE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY JOURNAL OF THE MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2006 Volume 3 Issue 5

3 As One Voice

Advancing our Ocean, Coastal, 

and Great Lakes Policy

4 Spelling it out...

Is This the Ocean or Alphabet Soup?

5 A Presidential Response

The U.S. Ocean Action Plan

6 Viewing Ocean Policy Through Aqua-Colored Glasses

8 ORRAP Offers Specialized Expertise and Advice

8 The SIMOR Work Plan

9 Oceans Act in Action

U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy

10 Regional Partnerships Preserve and Protect Resources

11 JSOST in Time

Setting Ocean Science and 

Technology Priorities

12 New Waves

Late-breaking News & Information

For more information about the Minerals Management Service, 

check out our site on the World Wide Web:

www.mms.gov

Subscribe

To receive MMS OCEAN SCIENCE, sign up on the website

www.gomr.mms.gov, click on e-mail subscriptions on the left-hand

column, check the box marked Environmental Studies or e-mail

deborah.epperson@mms.gov or call (504) 736-3257
Over the last several

decades, we have

come to realize and

appreciate the

significance of our

ocean resources to our future as a

Nation. The oceans,

coasts, and Great

Lakes serve as

sources of energy,

food, medicine,

recreation,

transportation, and

security. Ocean

policy over the

years, however, has

been fragmented; it

is spread among

many interests,

jurisdictions, and

agencies. It is clear

to all concerned that

ocean management

benefits from a clear

and consistent voice. In 2004, the

President released his U.S. Ocean Action

Plan (OAP), which provides the foundation to advance the next generation of

ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes policy.

The OAP outlines a framework for

ocean governance that includes participation by a full range of stakeholders

from the Federal and State agencies to

industry and local citizens, and attempts

to bring all concerned to the table. The

Committee on Ocean Policy spearheads

this effort, while the Interagency Committee on Ocean Science and Resource

Management Integration and its subcommittees (the Joint Subcommittee on

Ocean Science and Technology and the

Subcommittee on Integrated Management of Ocean Resources) provide a

working support and advisory system.

As the OAP is implemented, the

objective is to work with Federal, State,

and local agencies and governments;

tribes; academic institutions; industry;

and private citizens to make our oceans,

coasts, and Great Lakes cleaner, healthier,

and more productive.

MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2006 3

Many acronyms are repeatedly used throughout 

this issue of MMS Ocean Science. 

To familiarize readers with the new, developing

ocean governance structure, see our 

Acronym Alphabet Soup guide 

on the next page.

This issue of MMS Ocean

Science is devoted to our

Nation’s new ocean governance

structure evolving under the

U.S. Ocean Action Plan (OAP). 

It was produced with the

assistance of two guest editors,

Dr. Gerhard F. Kuska 

from the Council on

Environmental Quality and a

Co-Chair of SIMOR; and 

Dr. Dan Walker 

from the White House Office of

Science and Technology Policy

and a Co-Chair of the JSOST.

AS ONE

VOICE

ADVANCING OUR 

OCEAN, COASTAL, 

AND GREAT LAKES POLICY

From An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century Final Report of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy.
4 MMS OCEAN SCIENCE Science & Technology Journal

As in many areas of public policy,

our Nation is faced with an

affliction familiar to scientists,

engineers, resource managers, and particularly

government officials. The affliction? Acute

Acronym Anxiety Disorder (AAAD).

For those who suffer from this affliction, the

new, developing structure may provide little

relief. Consider the data: The Plan calls for the

formation of two subcommittees: JSOST (which

will guide the development of ocean sciences and

technologies to meet the Nation’s social, economic,

and security goals) and SIMOR (which will manage

ocean resources to promote the Nation’s social,

economic, and security goals). JSOST is co-chaired by

OSTP, NSF, and NOAA, while SIMOR is co-chaired by

CEQ, EPA, DOI, and NOAA. They all report to the

ICOSRMI and, ultimately, to the COP with its CEQ chair.

CEQ. . . . . . . . . . . Council on Environmental Quality

COP. . . . . . . . . . . Committee on Ocean Policy

DOI . . . . . . . . . . . Department of the Interior (includes 

MMS – Minerals Management Service)

EPA . . . . . . . . . . . Environmental Protection Agency

FACA. . . . . . . . . . Federal Advisory Committee Act

FSTT . . . . . . . . . . Federal/State Task Team

GOM. . . . . . . . . . Gulf of Mexico

ICOSRMI . . . . . Interagency Committee on Ocean Science

and Resource Management Integration

(also known as the “Aqua Box”)

IMDCC. . . . . . . . Interagency Marine Debris 

Coordinating Committee

IOOS. . . . . . . . . . Integrated Ocean Observing System

IWG’s. . . . . . . . . Interagency Working Groups

IWG-4H . . . . . . Interagency Working Group on 

Harmful Algal Blooms, Hypoxia, and

Human Health

IWG-F . . . . . . . . Interagency Working Group on Facilities

IWG-OCM. . . . Interagency Working Group on Ocean and

Coastal Mapping

IWG-OE . . . . . . Interagency Working Group on 

Ocean Education

IWG-OO. . . . . . Interagency Working Group on 

Ocean Observation

IWG-OP . . . . . . Interagency Working Group on 

Ocean Partnering

JSOST . . . . . . . . Joint Subcommittee on 

Ocean Science and Technology

MMS. . . . . . . . . . Minerals Management Service

NOAA . . . . . . . . National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration

NOPP. . . . . . . . . National Oceanographic 

Partnership Program

NORLC . . . . . . . National Ocean Research 

Leadership Council

NROC. . . . . . . . . Northeast Regional Ocean Council

NSF . . . . . . . . . . . National Science Foundation

NSTC . . . . . . . . . National Science and 

Technology Council

OAP. . . . . . . . . . . U.S. Ocean Action Plan

ORRAP . . . . . . . Ocean Research and Resources 

Advisory Panel

OSTP . . . . . . . . . Office of Science and 

Technology Policy

SIMOR . . . . . . . Subcommittee on Integrated Management

of Ocean Resources

USCOP . . . . . . . U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy

IS THIS THE OCEAN OR ALPHABET SOUP?

SPELLING IT OUT...

Here is a guide to help reduce the effects of AAAD.
MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2006 5

THE U.S. OCEAN ACTION PLAN

A PRESIDENTIAL RESPONSE

FOR OR MORE MORE INFORMA INFORMATION:

U.S. Ocean Action Plan

Website: ocean.ceq.gov/actionplan.pdf

USCOP’s Final Report

Website: www.oceancommission.gov/

documents/full_color_rpt/

000_ocean_full_report.pdf

T

he evolving Integrated Ocean Observing System, or IOOS, is a

coordinated national network of observations, data management 

and communications, and analyses that will disseminate

information regarding the status of our oceans, coastal waters, and

Great Lakes. 

Consider IOOS as a 

“Weather Channel” 

for our water world.

On December 17, 2004, President

Bush released the U.S. Ocean

Action Plan (OAP), the Administration’s response to An Ocean Blueprint,

the final report of the U.S. Commission

on Ocean Policy (USCOP). The Commission provided a comprehensive look at

our Nation’s ocean science and policy

framework and made a series of recommendations regarding research and

resource management needs.

Through the OAP, the President

created a cabinet-level voice for the

oceans. As outlined in his plan, the

Committee on Ocean Policy (COP) was

created by Executive Order. This COP,

chaired by the Chairman of the Council

on Environmental Quality, advises the

President and coordinates the executive

branch departments and agencies to

advance the environmental and economic

interests of present and future generations

of Americans. Reporting directly to the

Chair is the Interagency Committee on

Ocean Science and Resource Management

Integration (ICOSRMI) and its

subcommittees, the Subcommittee on

Integrated Management of Ocean

Resources (SIMOR) and the Joint

Subcommittee on Ocean Science and

Technology (JSOST). These

subcommittees, together with a Federal

advisory committee and strong linkages

to other ocean and coastal related groups,

represent the new coordinated ocean

governance structure.

The OAP identifies six key areas and

proposes responsible and aggressive

Notably, on June 15, 2006, President Bush signed a

Proclamation establishing the Northwestern

Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument

covering an area of nearly 140,000 square miles,

which represents the largest protected marine area in

the world and the largest single act of conservation

in our Nation’s history. White House photo by 

Eric Draper

action to bring about positive change. 

The key areas are:

1. Leadership and Coordination

2. Knowledge and Understanding

3. Use and Conservation

4. Coastal and Watershed Management

5. Transportation

6. International Science and Policy

Under these key areas are a number of

action items that represent both those

activities that can be undertaken immediately as well as other, longer term

priorities. For example, pre-existing projects and research, such as the Integrated

Ocean Observing System, commonly

known as IOOS, will receive enhanced

focus. The activities outlined in the OAP

represent a first step in addressing the recommendations of the USCOP. Excellent

progress has been made over the past 18

months in all six key areas.
6 MMS OCEAN SCIENCE Science & Technology Journal

referred to as the “Aqua Box”, based on

its representation in the Ocean Action

Plan. The ICOSRMI is co-chaired by the

Office of Science and Technology Policy

(OSTP) and the Council on Environmental Quality. The ICOSRMI’s membership reflects the same structure as the

Committee on Ocean Policy but at the

Under Secretary/Assistant Secretary level.

One main focus of the ICOSRMI 

is to coordinate and integrate the activities of ocean-related Federal agencies and

to identify statutory and regulatory

redundancies and gaps so that conflicts

can be resolved, gaps can be filled, and

new issues can be addressed quickly and

effectively. It also seeks to develop partnerships at all levels, use and deliver

T

he Interagency Committee on

Ocean Science and Resource

Management Integration

(ICOSRMI) was created in

December 2004 by the

Administration’s U.S. Ocean Action 

Plan. The ICOSRMI reports directly 

to the Chair of the cabinet-level 

Committee on Ocean Policy and is

charged with advising the Committee

and carrying out its ocean policy, both

domestically and internationally. Partly

because of the difficulty in pronouncing

its acronym, the ICOSRMI is sometimes

VIEWING

THROUGH AQUACOLORED GLASSES

Oceans 

Act of 

2000

USCOP Final

Report

September 2004

U.S. Ocean Action Plan &

Executive Order creating the

Committee on Ocean Policy

December 2004

SIMOR

JSOST

2005

Timeline

From An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century Final Report of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy.
scientific information effectively, and

coordinate educational opportunities.

The ICOSRMI has two subcommittees: the Subcommittee on Integrated

Management of Ocean Resources

(SIMOR) and the Joint Subcommittee

on Ocean Science and Technology

(JSOST). These subcommittees are the

“working” arms of the ocean governance structure.

Through the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), an advisory body

ensures that objective and readily accessible advice is rendered to the executive

committees of this new ocean governance structure. The Ocean Research and

Resources Advisory Panel (ORRAP)

provides independent scientific advice

and recommendations to the ICOSRMI.

Simply put, ORRAP provides external

information and advice to the ICOSRMI,

SIMOR, and JSOST which is considered

when formulating policy, setting research

and management priorities, and

developing plans and activities.

MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2006 7

COORDINATED OCEAN GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE

Chair: CEQ

Cabinet Level Membership

Co-Chairs: OSTP & CEQ

Co-Chairs: OSTP, NSF, NOAA Co-Chairs: CEQ, EPA, DOI & NOAA

Ocean Ed 101

F

ollowing the release of the Ocean Action Plan (OAP), the Interagency

Committee on Ocean Science and Resource Management Integration

(ICOSRMI) tasked the Subcommittee on Integrated Management of

Ocean Resources (SIMOR) and the Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science

and Technology (JSOST) with developing recommendations on ocean

education. In July 2005, the SIMOR and JSOST Co-chairs established an adhoc Joint Task Force on Ocean Education. The task force was asked to

develop options for implementing the education-related portions of the

OAP, with a focus on increasing coordination between Federal agencies

involved in ocean education efforts. 

Following task force recommendations and a request by the SIMOR and

JSOST Co-Chairs to the ICOSRMI, the Interagency Working Group on

Ocean Education (IWG-OE) was created. Activities being pursued by the

IWG-OE include enhancing ocean education efforts among public, private,

governmental and academic partners; coordinating education and outreach

messages about oceans and coasts; ensuring that data collected through

ocean and Earth observations are translated into useable forms for

educators and the public; and assessing the current and future ocean

workforce and ocean-related academic programs.

From An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century Final Report of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy.
states through the

Coastal States

Organization and

the Coastal

Coordination

Committee. The

SIMOR has also

engaged the JSOST

in the development of the Ocean

Research Priorities

Plan through

SIMOR’s Federal/State Task Team (FSTT),

which includes State resource managers.

As groups talk, exchange ideas, identify

problem areas, and propose solutions,

the Ocean Action Plan, and activities

that move beyond it, will benefit from

SIMOR’s commitment to the development of dynamic, transparent, and

comprehensive management processes

for our Nation’s marine and coastal

resources.

based on four priority 

areas identified by 

the Subcommittee:

1) Support Regional and

Local Collaboration

2) Facilitate Use of Ocean

Science and 

Technology in Ocean

Resource Management

3) Enhance Ocean, Coastal,

and Great Lakes Resource

Management to Improve Use 

and Conservation

4) Enhance Ocean Education

To coordinate the implementation of

the Work Plan items, SIMOR has formed

work groups of individuals with expertise in management, science, education,

and technology. The SIMOR is reaching

out to stakeholders, including groups

representing environmental, offshore

industry, fishing, and agricultural interests, initially through

listening sessions. The SIMOR is

also engaging with the

T

he Ocean Research and

Resources Advisory Panel

(ORRAP) is an expansion of the

Ocean Research Advisory Panel,

formerly chartered to advise the

governing body of the National

Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP), the National Ocean Research

Leadership Council (NORLC).

The ORRAP is mandated by the U.S. Ocean Action Plan (OAP) and chartered

under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to serve an independent advisory role to

the Interagency Committee on Ocean Science and Resource Management Integration

(ICOSRMI).

The ORRAP membership is composed of non-Federal individuals specializing in

science, marine policy, and resource management. The National Academy of Sciences,

State governments, academia, ocean industries, and other interested parties are represented. Members are appointed for up to four years.

The wealth of knowledge and information residing in the ORRAP is invaluable to

the committees who receive their advice, and represents the primary, though not the

only means of providing external input into the Federal process.

8 MMS OCEAN SCIENCE Science & Technology Journal

ORRAP OFFERS SPECIALIZED

EXPERTISE AND ADVICE

The National Oceanographic

Partnership Program (NOPP) is

a collaboration of 15 Federal

agencies created to provide leadership and coordination of national

oceanographic research and

education initiatives.

The OAP called for ICOSRMI 

to incorporate the activities of

NOPP’s National Ocean Research

Leadership

Council within

its broader

mandate that

includes ocean

resource

management.

T

he Subcommittee on

Integrated Management of

Ocean Resources (SIMOR) is

one of two working subcommittees formed by the U.S. Ocean

Action Plan to operate under the

Interagency Committee on Ocean

Science and Resource Management

Integration (ICOSRMI). The subcommittee is co-chaired by the Council on

Environmental Quality and agency representatives from the Environmental

Protection Agency, the National Oceanic

and Atmospheric Administration, and

the Department of the Interior.

As outlined in its Work Plan,

SIMOR’s primary focus is to “seek to

identify and promote opportunities for

collaboration and cooperation among

federal agencies and to build partnerships among Federal, State, Tribal and

local authorities, the private sector, international partners, and other interested

parties.” The SIMOR developed its Work

Plan with input from the 19 SIMOR

agency members.

The SIMOR Work Plan is meant to be

a framework for additional activities

THE SIMOR WORK PLAN
resources. The commission, which

became known as the Stratton

Commission (after its first chairman, Dr.

Julius Stratton), took a broad and thorough look at the oceans, establishing

national priorities that became the foundation for our ocean policy developments over the last 35 years.

With its study complete and its

obligations to Congress and the

President fulfilled, the U.S. Commission

on Ocean Policy expired in December

2004. The implementation of the

President's Ocean Action Plan addresses

the recommendations of the USCOP

and serve as the basis for scientific

research, environmental safeguards,

legislative programs, and economic

development for years to come.

clear and coordinated solutions to

address our most

important problems and

challenges.

In 2000,

Congress recognized the need for

a comprehensive

national ocean

policy to address

those conflicts and

enacted the

Oceans Act of 2000. The Act created the

U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy

(USCOP), which was mandated to study

current policy on resource protection,

ocean use, security, scientific and educational needs, and transportation uses.

The USCOP, chaired by Admiral James

D. Watkins, USN (Ret), released its final

report, “An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st

Century” in September 2004. A copy of

the report was delivered to each state

governor, in addition to President Bush,

who then developed his response in consultation with representatives of the governors. The President’s response was

released in December 2004. His

“U.S.Ocean Action Plan” created a coordinated voice in the White House for our

oceans, coasts and Great Lakes – a cabinet-level Committee on Ocean Policy.

This advancement of our Nation’s

ocean policy is

the most comprehensive since the

1966 Marine

Resources and

Engineering

Development Act.

That Act called for

a Presidential

commission on

marine science,

engineering, and

MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2006 9

Above: Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, USN (Ret) Ph.D., Undersecretary

of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere; Donald Evans, former Secretary of

Commerce; President George W. Bush; James L. Connaughton, Chairman,

Council on Environmental Quality; Lynn Scarlett, Deputy Secretary, Department

of the Interior; and Admiral James Watkins, USN (Ret), Chairman, U.S.

Commission on Ocean Policy. 

U.S. COMMISSION ON OCEAN POLICY

OCEANS ACT IN ACTION

FOR OR MORE MORE INFORMA INFORMATION:

Public Law 106-256

Website: frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/

cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=

106_cong_public_laws&docid=

f:publ256.106.pdf

Executive Order: Committee on

Ocean Policy

Website: www.whitehouse.gov/

news/releases/2004/12/

20041217-5.html

The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy – (l-r) 

front row: Professor Marc J. Hershman; Dr. Thomas

R. Kitsos (Executive Director); Mr. Ted A. Beattie;

and Dr. Paul A. Sandifer. Second row: Mr. Lawrence

Dickerson; Mrs. Lillian Borrone; Ms. Ann D’Amato;

and Mr. Paul L. Kelly. Back row: Mr. Christopher

Koch; Mr. Edward B. Rasmuson; Dr. James M.

Coleman; Admiral James D. Watkins, USN (Ret)

(Chairman); Mr. William D. Ruckelshaus; 

Dr. Andrew A. Rosenberg; Vice Admiral Paul G.

Gaffney II, USN (Ret); Dr. Robert Ballard; 

and Dr. Frank Muller-Karger.

As a Nation, we have benefited –

and continue to benefit – from

our oceans, coasts, and Great

Lakes. It is expected that by 2025,

approximately 75 percent of Americans

will live in coastal areas. As more of our

population, economic centers, tourist

destinations, and energy production

facilities continue to concentrate near the

ocean coasts, the potential stress of this

population growth on the coast and

ocean ecosystems is a matter of concern

to scientists; local, State, and Federal

public officials; and private citizens. We

see a key challenge in developing management strategies that ensure continued

conservation of coastal and marine habitats, and living resources, while at the

same time ensuring that the American

public enjoys and benefits from those

resources. However, the number of overlapping laws, jurisdictions, and sometimes conflicting interests has made it

difficult to formulate and implement
10 MMS OCEAN SCIENCE Science & Technology Journal

with five Eastern Canadian provinces to

recognize their cumulative alignment

with and dependence on coastal and

marine interests.

The NROC offered the Federal

agencies a seat at the table to communicate regional needs and engage the

Federal agencies as partners.

Regional partnerships, led by the

States and in partnership with the

Federal agencies, have the potential to

make a huge difference compared with

individual State efforts. Key players 

with shared boundaries, waterways, and

common concerns are motivated to seek

multistate solutions for problems

because they are generally more 

familiar with localized issues and can 

be more responsive.

States that join together to form

regional coalitions and move toward an

ecosystem-based approach to

management of the oceans and coasts

strengthen the unified effort to protect

and manage the ocean environment for

current and future generations.

PRESERVE AND PROTECT RESOURCES

REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS

A

s initiatives outlined under the

U.S. Ocean Action Plan

(OAP) begin coming to

fruition, some states are

already forming regional

coalitions and making commitments to

address resource conservation issues.

In 2004, through the leadership of

Florida Governor Jeb Bush, the States of

Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas,

and Florida formed the Gulf of Mexico

Alliance to share expertise and resources

FOR OR MORE MORE INFORMA INFORMATION:

Gulf of Mexico Alliance

Website: www.dep.state.fl.us/gulf/

default.htm

New England Governors Council

Website: www.negc.org/documents/

NEGC_Newsletter_905.pdf

#search=%22northeast

%20regional%20ocean

%20council%22

NOAA Pledges Support to 

New England Governors and

Canadian Premiers

Website: www.oceanservice.noaa.gov/

news/weeklynews/

supp_may06.html

for protecting the Gulf of Mexico (GOM)

ecosystem. The alliance, which has been

recognized by the U.S. Ocean Action

Plan and received pledges of support

from 13 Federal agencies, released a

Governors’ Action Plan for Healthy and

Resilient Coasts that identifies short- and

long-term goals for creating a healthier

GOM ecosystem and economy. Their

approach demonstrates that regional

groups are ideally suited to address the

environmental preservation and

economic health of a particular

geographic location.

In 2005, through the leadership of

Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri,

the States of New Hampshire, Rhode

Island, and Vermont agreed to form the

Northeast Regional Ocean Council

(NORC). As a further development,

these same states formed a partnership

From An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century Final Report of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy.
Decade,” a document that outlines

national ocean research priorities, is

being developed with input from public

workshops and comments. At this

writing, research priorities have been

developed along six societal themes:

stewardship of our natural and cultural

ocean resources; increasing resilience to

natural hazards; enabling marine

operations; the ocean’s role in climate;

improving ecosystem health; and

enhancing human health. The JSOST

will be soliciting public comment on the

research priorities document for a 45-day

period beginning in September 2006.

The final plan is due around the end of

2006 and will guide future budget

decisions for the agencies involved. It

will provide guidance on how the

various ocean science sectors

(government, academia, industry, and

nongovernment entities) can and should

MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2006 11

be engaged, individually or through

partnerships, to address the areas of

greatest research priority and

opportunity.

The JSOST has also established a

number of interagency working groups

(or IWG’s) to advise, assist, and make

recommendations pertaining to policies,

plans, and implementation strategies

where appropriate. The JSOST has

chartered five such IWG’s: the

Interagency Working Group on Harmful

Algal Blooms, Hypoxia, and Human

Health (IWG-4H); Interagency Working

Group on Facilities (IWG-F); the

Interagency Working Group on Ocean

and Coastal Mapping (IWG-OCM); the

Interagency Working Group on Ocean

Observation (IWG-OO); and the

Interagency Working Group on Ocean

Partnering (IWG-OP).

SETTING OCEAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PRIORITIES

JSOST IN TIME

T

he Joint Subcommittee on

Ocean Science and Technology

(JSOST) is one of two working

subcommittees under the

direction of the Interagency

Committee on Ocean Science and

Resource Management Integration

(ICOSRMI or, the “Aqua Box”), as

established by the President’s U.S. Ocean

Action Plan (OAP). The JSOST is an

expansion of the Joint Subcommittee on

Oceans, which was established in 2003

by the National Science and Technology

Council (NSTC). The JSOST will

continue to report to the NSTC

Committee on Science, and the

Committee on Environment and Natural

Resources, in addition to the ICOSRMI.

The members of the committee include

Deputy Assistant Secretaries and

representatives from the Executive

branch agencies and departments

represented on the Committee on Ocean

Policy. The JSOST is co-chaired by

representatives from the Office of

Science and Technology Policy (OSTP),

the National Science Foundation (NSF),

and the National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

One of the key action items for the

JSOST is establishing national ocean

science and technology priorities. To that

end, the JSOST is currently developing

the Ocean Research Priorities Plan and

Implementation Strategy. “Charting the

Course for Ocean Science in the United

States: Research Priorities for the Next
Sidebar Head

Caption

MMS OCEAN SCIENCE

Minerals Management Service

Mail Stop 5431

1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard

New Orleans, LA 70123

FIRST CLASS

POSTAGE

PAID

PERMIT NO. 1

ADDISON, IL

MMS – A Leader in 

Securing the Nation’s

Domestic Energy

Supply

NEW WAVES Late-breaking News & Information

Artificial reef provides habitat 

for a variety of marine life.

Organization of the agencies

under the Committee on

Ocean Policy