Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments And Agencies

This memorandum establishes a temporary Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force led by the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality to develop a unified national policy framework for ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes stewardship. The Task Force must deliver recommendations for national policy and coordination within 90 days, and a coastal and marine spatial planning framework within 180 days, before terminating upon completion of its duties.

Federal Register Open PDF 74 FR 28591

Impact dates

Dec 9, 2009
Coastal and marine spatial planning framework due with public input
Sep 10, 2009
National policy recommendations, policy coordination framework, and implementation strategy due

Key directives

Establish Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force led by CEQ Chair
Task Force to develop national policy recommendations within 90 days
Task Force to develop coastal and marine spatial planning framework within 180 days with public input
Task Force to terminate upon completion of duties
CEQ Chair authorized and directed to publish in Federal Register

Who is ordered

Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality · CEQ

Timeline

Immediate

Task Force establishment
Senior policy-level officials from relevant agencies to be designated

Near term (90d)

National policy recommendations due
Policy coordination framework recommendations due
Implementation strategy recommendations due

Long term

Coastal and marine spatial planning framework due at 180 days
Potential lasting changes to federal ocean governance coordination
Task Force termination upon duty completion

Risks & tensions

Task Force explicitly 'not meant to duplicate' existing Committee on Ocean Policy structure—potential jurisdictional tension
Coordination required with NSC and HSC on maritime security may create interagency friction
Ecosystem-based approach may conflict with economic demands from renewable energy, shipping, and aquaculture
Vague 'cost effective' requirement without enforcement mechanism
Explicit disclaimer of enforceable rights limits accountability