Budget and Appropriations

FY24 Appropriations

We will be hosting two FY2024 Appropriations Season Calls on Wednesday, February 15th and Thursday, February 16th at 3:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. CT, 12:00 p.m. PT, 10 a.m. HT). Both calls will cover the same materials so you only need to join one. These calls are an opportunity to get a 101 or refresher on the appropriations process, to go over the CSO appropriations requests, and to learn how to use the CSO request materials to do your own submissions to Congressional Offices. CSO will be submitting directly to Committees and Congressional Member Offices, but we highly recommend that those CZM Programs that are able, also submit requests to their Members of Congress.

CZMA Reauthorization

CSO continues to work with the Senate Commerce Committee and interested Members of Congress to identify routes forward for a full CZMA reauthorization as we move into the 118th Congress.

NOAA's IRA Funding

We expect an announcement on NOAA IRA funding by the first week of March.

Members of Congress continue to introduce legislation, to keep track of new legislation check out the Legislation Tracker.

See here for the February monthly regulatory update. More information on rulemaking developments is available on the Regulatory Resources page.

USACE P.L. 84-99 Proposed Rule - Deadline next week

The public comment period closes next week on USACE's proposed rule revising the regulations implementing its natural disaster preparedness, response, and recovery procedures (the P.L. 84-99 program). Comments can be submitted via Regulations.gov through Feb. 16, 2023. Following up the Feb. 7 CHPA work group call, please send any feedback or concerns on the proposed rule to John Ryan-Henry by COB tomorrow, Feb. 10.

BOEM Publishes Renewable Energy Modernization Proposed Rule

On Jan. 30, 2023, BOEM published its proposed Renewable Energy Modernization Rule in the Federal Register. The proposed rule make significant changes to the federal process for issuing leases and reviewing development plans for offshore wind projects on the Outer Continental Shelf. The deadline for public comment via Regulations.gov is Friday, Mar. 31, 2023. CSO will hold a side call of the Offshore Energy & Infrastructure Work Group on Tuesday Mar. 7 at 3pm ET / 12pm PT to discuss draft comment language. Please submit input on CSO's comment to John Ryan-Henry by Friday, Feb. 24.

USACE WRDA22 Implementation Guidance Listening Sessions

On Jan. 20, 2023, USACE opened public comment on implementation guidance for the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (WRDA22). Feedback at this stage should indicate which provisions to develop implementation guidance as well as recommendations for how to implement each provision. Comments may be submitted via Regulations.gov through Mar. 21, 2023. USACE will hold a series of virtual listening sessions (registration required) on:

• Feb. 15, 2023 - 2:00-4:00 pm ET
• Feb. 22, 2023 - 2:00-4:00 pm ET
• Mar. 1, 2023 - 2:00-4:00 pm ET

CSO Webinar on Blue Flag

CSO is hosting a webinar on February 9, 2023 at 3:30 p.m. ET to introduce the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) Blue Flag eco-award program. The webinar will provide an overview of the program, partners, criteria, and application process. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session with ASBPA/Blue Flag staff. The Blue Flag eco-award is one of five environmental education programs offered by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). The award is offered to beaches, marinas, and tourism boats meeting over 30 criteria for water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, safety and services, sustainable tourism, and social responsibility. It operates in 45+ countries and the U.S. Territories of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, but this is the first time is has come to the States.

ASBPA, SECOORA, and IOOS Association Water Level Observations Survey

The American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA), the Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA), and the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Association are seeking participants to help assess U.S. coastal community interest in expansion of a water level network established in the Southeast. Please take a moment to fill out their short survey by March 17, 2023. Responses are anonymous. The results will help them to advocate for similar water level networks in other coastal regions and on a national scale. Coastal managers, as well as representatives from agencies, industry, NGOs and academia are encouraged to take the survey. If you have any questions about this survey, please contact ASBPA Science Director Nicole Elko. 

OCM Training

OCM is offering an upcoming training on the Seven Best Practices for Risk Communication on March 8, 2023. Register here.