News and Updates

May 2008

 

Hearing on Climate Modeling

On May 8, the Deputy Assistant Administrator of NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and Director of NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory, Dr. Sandy MacDonald, testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Chairman Daniel Inouye, D-HI) on NOAA's climate modeling activities. Dr. MacDonald's testimony covered why climate models are important; our activities, role, and expertise in climate change computing; applications for improved models of climate change; and computing needs of the future.

Hearing on Atlantic Menhaden

On May 8, the Director of the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, Peyton Robertson, testified before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans (Chairwoman Madeleine Bordallo, D-Guam) on management, conservation, and science related to Atlantic menhaden. The hearing also reviewed two bills that would prohibit commercial harvest of Atlantic menhaden for reduction purposes in the coastal waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone:

NHC Director Visits Members of Congress

On May 6 and 7, the Director of NOAA's National Hurricane Center (NHC), Bill Read, met with a number of Members of Congress, or their staff, including:

Bill Read became Director of the NHC in January, and discussed on-going operations at the NHC and preparations for the 2008 hurricane season, which begins June 1.

Hearing on FY 2009 Budget

On May 6, the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, VADM Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., USN (Ret.), testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard (Chairman Maria Cantwell, D-WA) on the FY 2009 NOAA Budget Request.

The hearing also addressed two bills related to sanctuary expansion that would more than double the size of existing marine sanctuaries off the coast of northern California and in the Great Lakes:

Hearing on Aviation Emissions

On May 6, a research physicist at NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory, Dr. David Fahey, testified before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Aviation (Chairman Jerry Costello, D IL-12) on the affect of aviation emissions on the environment. The goal of the hearing was to educate the Members on the affect of aviation emissions on climate change, which has been heavily discussed in Europe but not yet in the United States.


Maine Delegation Praise NWS Efforts

On May 2, Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Representative Tom Allen
(D ME-1) and Representative Michael Michaud (D ME-2) attended a briefing on the historical flood event on the St. John River in Fort Kent, Maine. The briefing was hosted by emergency managers and law enforcement representatives, who were joined by staff from NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Forecast Office (WFO) in Caribou, Maine. The WFO was praised for the timely and accurate information they provided and the 24/7 support given during the flood.

The Members of the Maine Delegation thanked the NWS staff in attendance for the timely warning information and great teamwork provided.

"The Caribou Weather Station played an integral role in coordinating with emergency responders to obtain and disseminate vital information that I am convinced helped save lives."
- Senator Olympia Snowe

Senator Snowe Representative Michaud
Left to right - WFO Caribou Service Hydrologist Mark Turner, WFO Caribou MIC Hendricus Lulofs, Senator Snowe. Left to right - Representative Michael Michaud, WFO Caribou Service Hydrologist Mark Turner

 

April 2008

Red Snapper Event with Representative Lampson

On April 25, NOAA participated in a town hall meeting in Representative Nick Lampson's (D TX-22) district in the Galveston Bay area to discuss red snapper management. Members of the public, including recreational fishermen and environmental representatives, attended the event. Representative Lampson moderated the event, and an official from NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Region answered questions from the audience.

Representative Lampson
Left to right - Dr. Roy Crabtree, Regional Administrator, NMFS Southeast Region;
John Parker, Commissioner, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department;
Representative Nick Lampson

April 22 - House Passes Resolution for International Year of the Reef

H Res 1112, introduced by Representative Brian Baird (D WA-3), was passed by the House by voice vote. The Resolution recognizes the International Year of the Reef 2008 and the work of NOAA and other federal agencies to preserve coral reefs around the world. To learn more about the International Year of the Reef, please visit our 2008 Congressional Policy Briefs page.


April 19 - Representative Sarbanes Joins NOAA Volunteers

Before the scenic backdrop of the Patapsco River, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, and ten acres of thriving wetland, Representative John Sarbanes (D MD-3) addressed the many volunteers gathered for NOAA Restoration Day at Fort McHenry.  Representative Sarbanes joined Vice Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher, Jr. Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere; Paul Bitzel, Supervisor of Curatorial Services - National Park Service; and Dave Pittinger, Executive Director of the National Aquarium in Baltimore; in expressing his thanks to more than 60 NOAA employees, friends, and family members and the National Aquarium in Baltimore’s Aquarium Conservation Team for the hard day’s work they were about to begin.

Representative Sarbanes
Representative Sarbanes
Left to right - Paul Bitzel, Supervisor of Curatorial Services - National Park Service; Representative John Sarbanes; Vice Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher, Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator. Left to right - Dave Pittinger, Executive Director of the National Aquarium in Baltimore; Representative John Sarbanes; Vice Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher, Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator.


April 19 - Ground Breaking With Representative Mollohan

The Deputy Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, Mary Glackin, joined Representative Alan Mollohan (D WV-1) at the groundbreaking for the Canaan Valley Institute's Research and Education Center. Representative Mollohan was the keynote speaker and there was also a tour of NOAA’s air quality and research station at the Institute.

DUS Mary Glackin and Rep Mollohan
Deputy Under Secretary Mary Glackin and Representative Alan Mollohan.
ground breaking ceremony DUS Glackin and Rep Mollohan
The groundbreaking ceremony of the Canaan Valley Institute’s Research and Education Center.


April 16 - Hearing on Shark Finning and IUU

The Director of International Affairs for NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, Rebecca Lent, testified before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans (Chairwoman Madeleine Bordallo, D-Guam). The hearing focused on the implementation of the 2006 amendments to the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act related to Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported fishing; and HR 5741, an act to amend the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to improve the conservation of sharks — The Shark Conservation Act of 2008.

Rebecca Lent“I consider the United States to be a leader in domestic and international shark conservation. In addition to the ban on shark finning, NOAA has implemented a number of other domestic regulations to conserve shark stocks, such as catch quotas, gear restrictions, and limiting entry into fisheries. Internationally, we have worked hard to end the practice of shark finning, and to reduce shark bycatch,” said Dr. Lent.

There was general agreement at the hearing on the importance of combating illegal fishing and the need to conserve sharks internationally, but there were also some concerns about unintended consequences of the bill. The committee has expressed their desire to work with NOAA and other partners to refine the language to ensure that it is enforceable and that it meets the intent without hampering legal shark fisheries. Representative Henry Brown (R SC-1) also attended the hearing. He wanted to ensure the bill wouldn't negatively affect legal domestic shark fisheries.

April 15 - Representative Capp's Staff Fly Over Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary

Staff from the office of Representative Lois Capps (D CA-23), Co-Chair of the House National Marine Sanctuary Caucus, flew over the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS) aboard the NOAA Twin Otter N56RF. During the flight, NOAA staff conducted a survey to collect vessel and visitor use information, in conjunction with a marine mammal survey. They demonstrated the SAMSAP (Sanctuary Aerial Monitoring and Spatial Analysis Program) data collection software and discussed how the sanctuary program utilizes the data for management purposes. NOAA staff also demonstrated a coastal mapping digital camera system onboard from NOAA’s Remote Sensing Division and discussed potential uses of the camera for sanctuary purposes. Ben Waltenberger and Natalie Senyk of CINMS discussed the ten year aerial sightings distribution and abundance database and the plans for this year’s monitoring effort and inter-agency cooperation. They also discussed the upcoming permanent stationing of a NOAA Twin Otter in Monterey, California and its ability to support regional NOAA programs.

CINMS
 CINMS2 CINMS3
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary - April 2008

 

April 10 - House Appropriations Subcommittee NOAA Budget Hearing

The Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, VADM Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., USN (Ret.), testified before the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (Chairman Alan Mollohan, D WV-1) on the FY2009 NOAA Budget Request.

NOAA Day BannerApril 10 - 2nd Annual NOAA Day on Capitol Hill

NOAA held its
2nd Annual NOAA Day on Capitol Hill in the Rayburn House Office Building foyer, which featured displays of NOAA’s scientific achievements staffed by NOAA professionals.

Over 250 people attended the event throughout the day, including over 200 congressional staffers from the Senate and House. In addition, we were honored by five Members of Congress who joined us and viewed the displays:

The Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, VADM Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., USN (Ret.); the Deputy Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, Mary Glackin; and other members of NOAA’s leadership also attended.

Delegate Madeleine Bordallo
Chairwoman Madeleine Bordallo viewing the exhibits at NOAA Day.
Representative Frelinghuysen Representative Ehlers
On the left - Representative Frelinghuysen at the National Marine Fisheries Service exhibit.
Left to right - Representative Vern Ehlers at NOAA Day with Eric Webster, Director of NOAA's Office of Legislative Affairs.

Randy TeBeest
Commander Randy TeBeest of NOAA Corp explaining some of the instruments used
when obtaining hurricane observations.

 

April 3 - NOAA Testifies Before Senate Hearing on Combating Illegal InternationalJames Balsiger Commercial Fishing

Acting Assistant Administrator for NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, James Balsiger, testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (Chairman Daniel Inouye, D-HI) on the management and enforcement of international fisheries. The hearing focused on international fisheries issues, including Regional Fisheries Management Councils, compliance reporting, and enforcement on the high seas.

There has been growing interest in international fisheries management on the Hill. Both the House Committee on Natural Resources (Majority) and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Minority) are drafting legislation to strengthen NOAA's authority to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and work multilaterally to manage international fisheries.

April 3 - NOAA Testifies at Sea Grant Reauthorization Hearing

Assistant Administrator for NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, Dr. Richard Spinrad, testified before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans (Chairwoman Madeleine Bordallo, D-Guam) on legislation to reauthorize the National Sea Grant College Program (HR 5618).

March 2008

March 31 - House Passes Three NOAA Related Bill

The United States House of Representatives passed HR 1187, the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries Boundary Modification and Protection Act, by voice vote under Suspension of the Rules.  The bill, sponsored by Representative. Lynn Woolsey (D CA-6) was passed out of the House Committee on Natural Humpback whalesResources in mid-March 2008, and has a companion bill, S 2635, awaiting markup by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. 
HR 1187 would more than double the area protected by the two central California sanctuaries by extending their boundaries northward and westward.  NOAA supports the legislation’s overall goal to protect sensitive and nationally significant marine areas along the California coast; and was pleased with the House Committee on Natural Resources' recent changes to the legislation to include an authorization of additional appropriations for the expanded area and remove certain mandated prohibitions, such as aquaculture activities.

The House of Representatives passed two other bills of importance to NOAA under Suspension of the Rules. The two bills were HR 3352, the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act Amendments of 2008 (HSIA), sponsored by Representative Don Young (R-AK); and HR 2342, the National Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observing Systems Act of 2008 (NICOOS), introduced by Representative Tom Allen (D ME-1). Both bills were passed out of the House Committee on Natural Resources earlier in March and have companion bills awaiting floor action in the Senate.

The HSIA, as passed by the House, is similar to the bill submitted by the Administration in the spring of 2007. The most noteworthy difference is the mandate that NOAA use the Brooks Act when contracting for hydrographic data; the Administration bill provided more flexibility for NOAA when it comes to contracting with the private sector. The HSIA companion bill in the Senate is S 1582.

This is the first time the House has passed a NICOOS authorization bill, although the Senate has passed similar legislation during the last three Congresses. NOAA is optimistic that this bill will eventually be passed in the Senate as well and moved forward for the President's signature. The NICOOS companion bill in the Senate is S 950.

March 28 - Congressional Staff Visit NCWCP Building

NCWCP BuildingStaff from the office of Representative Steny Hoyer (D MD-5) and the Senate Committee on Appropriations toured the NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction (NCWCP) will be a “green” crown jewel of a new 50-acre section of the University of Maryland's M-Square Research and Technology Park, in College Park, Md.

 

March 24 - Representative Ros-Lehtinen Visits AOML

Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R FL-18) visited NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory in Miami, Florida. She spent about two hours at the facility and spoke to NOAA scientists in the Oceanography Engineering and Environmental Microbiology labs and received an overview of the Florida Coastal Programs.

AOML Visit
AOML Visit
Bob Atlas and Joe Cione show an example of the unmanned aircraft NOAA is testing for flying at low levels into hurricanes  (as low as 300 ft.) Uli Rivero shows the red “M&M” mini drifter they built for use in FL Bay' shallow waters.
AOML Visit

The Congresswoman with Dr. Bob Atlas (AOML Director) and Dr. Silvia Garzoli's lab shown with an instrument custom built to measure ocean circulation in the Atlantic and describe any changes that might impact climate.

March 19 - NOAA Pacific Service Director Testifies on Climate Change

The Director of the NOAA Pacific Services Center, Bill Thomas, testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation (Chairman Daniel Inouye, D-HI) on rising sea levels unundate coastal palms at unidentified Pacific islandthe Effects of Climate Change on Hawaii and Pacific Islands. He said: “Island communities, such as Hawaii and other Pacific Islands, are particularly susceptible to climate change impacts.”  He cited the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC-AR4) and similar reports which identify small island communities like those in the Pacific as particularly vulnerable to climate variability and change.

These changes, he said, include reducing the value of tourist destinations because of the combined effect of increasing ocean temperatures and ocean acidification on coral reef resources; sea level rise; declining fresh water resources; and the accelerating rate of non-native species because of rising temperatures.  See Sen. Inouye's web link for a full witness list.

March 18 - Senator Murkowski Visits NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Institute

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) visited the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service's Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute (TSMRI) in Juneau.  She was provided a tour of the laboratory by its director Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute set in front of a mountain with blue sky in the background in JuneuaPhil Mundy.  The TSMRI was dedicated in August 2007 and is the headquarters of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center’s Auke Bay Laboratories.  The laboratory provides information on fish stocks, fish habitats and the chemistry of marine environments widely used for commercial and governmental purposes, including fisheries management.  It has 69,000 square feet of offices, sea water and analytical laboratories, and yard storage. 

March 19 - Representative Mario Diaz-Balart Tours National Hurricane Center

Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (R FL-25) visited NOAA's National Weather Service National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami and met the new Director, Bill Read. Representative Diaz-Balart serves on the House Committee on Science and Technology, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, and the NHC borders his district.

March 8 - Representative Boswell Visits Des Moines Weather Forecast Office

Representative Leonard Boswell (D IA–3) visited the National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office (WFO) in Des Moines, Iowa during an open house event. Representative Boswell was particularly interested in hydro/flooding concerns given the substantial snowpack across portions of the state. He also expressed interest in aviation weather services as he is a pilot and flies often. Meteorologist-in-Charge Brenda Brock gave an overview of the aviation program and where information can be found on the internet. The Representative mentioned he was a frequent user of National Weather Service radar information.

Des Moines visit
Left to right - Kenny Podrazik (Meteorologist Intern),
Representative Leonard Boswell,
Brenda Brock (Meteorologist in Charge), Karl Jungbluth (Science Operations Officer)