Today, President Obama signed a big omnibus bill that includes big steps forward in protecting and restoring our oceans. Here's what was signed:
Summary of Ocean Bills in the Omnibus Public Land Management Act:
The Ocean and Coastal Exploration and NOAA Act authorizes the National Ocean Exploration Program, National Undersea Research Program, and the Integrated Ocean and Coastal Mapping Program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to increase scientific knowledge for the management, use and preservation of oceanic, coastal and Great Lake resources.
The Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act authorizes the establishment of an integrated system of coastal and ocean observations for the nation's coasts, oceans and Great Lakes.
The Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act authorizes a coordinated federal research program on ocean acidification.
The Coastal and Estuarine Land Protection Act authorizes funding for a program to protect important coastal and estuarine areas that have significant conservation, recreation, ecological, historical, aesthetic, or watershed protection values, and that are threatened by conversion to other uses.