Over the last several years Congress has passed several landmark government spending bills, most notably the Investment Infrastructure and Jobs Act (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors Act (also known as the CHIPS Act), and the Inflation Reduction Act.
About forty percent of the continental United States’ wetlands lie within the boundaries of Louisiana. Since the 1930’s, the state has lost over 2,000 square miles of its total wetlands. This staggering land loss data demands attention, and the Louisiana government chose to respond in a big way— by devoting $61 million to rebuild crucial marsh habitat in St. Bernard Parish.
Winemakers around the world have tried unique fermentation processes, but a California company might just take the (crab) cake for its efforts to cellar wine at the bottom of the sea. Co-founders of Ocean Fathoms posited that fermenting wine in the ocean’s cold temperatures and currents would enhance the flavor of the wine. Unfortunately, the company didn’t get the necessary permits before testing the waters. Now, California Coastal Commission staff has recommended denial of their after-the-fact permit application, and the winemakers’ plans might be sunk.
Earlier this year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) rejected a federal agency’s petition to overturn a state coastal management program consistency objection. The objection in question was to the Jordan Cove LNG project (Project). This proposal called for the construction of a Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) terminal and 229-mile natural gas pipeline.
Many beach renourishment projects rely on sand mined from other beaches and inland dunes. The practice of sand mining, however, is controversial, as it can lead to erosion and other negative habitat impacts at the mined beaches. In February, a federal district court stayed a case challenging a Trump-era rule that would allow sand mining within the Coastal Barrier Resource System (System). The case is on hold for 60 days while the Department of Interior (DOI) reviews the rule.
On January 13, 2021, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) published a Final Rule for modified and new Nationwide Permits (NWPs). Among the new NWPs were three relevant to mariculture operations: NWP 48 for shellfish, NWP 55 for seaweed, and NWP 56 for finfish. The new NWPs will become effective on March 15, 2021.
North Carolina has objected to a federal permit granting WesternGeco, LLC authorization to conduct seismic airgun surveys in federal waters off the Atlantic Coast of North Carolina. In making its decision, the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management reviewed input from subject matter experts, state agencies, and the public. North Carolina deemed WesternGeco’s proposal inconsistent with the relevant enforceable policies in the North Carolina Coastal Zone Management Program.
