Geoscience Policy Monthly Review
september 2016
The Monthly Review is part of a continuing effort to improve communications about the role of geoscience in policy.
Current and archived monthly reviews are available online.Subscribe to receive the Monthly Review directly.
environment
California Court Orders Obama Administration to Conduct Fracking Review
September 6, 2016
On September 6, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California issued an order to the Obama Administration calling for further environmental review of the effects of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in California.
The order comes in the wake of a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) resource management plan (RMP) for Bakersfield, California, which does not contain language regarding the potential impacts of fracking. The court found that the RMP had insufficiently examined the potential impacts of fracking in central California, and required BLM to conduct an environmental impact statement (EIS), which would provide further insight into the potential impacts of fracking in the area.
Opponents of fracking have voiced concerns over groundwater contamination that may result from the process, which would diminish California’s water supply. Proponents of fracking argue that the technique provides significant economic benefits. The ruling will ensure that land covered in the RMP is properly assessed to determine whether fracking could be environmentally harmful in the region.
Sources: E&E Energywire, Earthjustice, Bureau of Land Management
President Obama designates the first marine national monument in the Atlantic Ocean
September 15, 2016
President Obama has designated the first marine national monument in the Atlantic Ocean. The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, which covers 4,913 square miles of ocean off the coast of New England, will be jointly managed by the Department of Commerce and the Department of the Interior.
Chosen for its array of sensitive deep-sea ecosystems, the new monument will ban commercial fishing, while recreational fishing will be allowed within the protected region. Red crab and lobster fisheries will also be given a seven-year relocation period.
Environmentalists praised the designation as a win for conservation. Opponents of the monument, however, argued that it would severely impact the historical commercial fisheries that have existed in the region for decades.
Sources: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, White House Press Release
President Obama signs climate change memorandum
September 21, 2016
On September 21, 2016, President Obama signed a memorandum addressing national security concerns posed by variations in Earth’s climate. The memorandum was released alongside a report authored by the National Intelligence Council (NIC), which specifies and goes into greater detail on the largest threats.
Specific topics in the documents include short- and long-term weather and climate anomalies ranging from rising temperatures to increases in natural hazards like flooding. The memorandum calls for the creation of a Federal Climate and National Security Working Group to bring together more than 20 federal agencies to identify future risks associated with climate change-induced hazards and to foster interagency communication and collaboration.
The NIC report projects that enforcement of effective environmental policies would help stabilize global surface temperatures in as soon as two decades.
Sources: Whitehouse.gov, Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Congressional briefing held on ocean acidification
September 23, 2016
The Consortium for Ocean Leadership (COL) held a briefing on the economic impacts of ocean acidification (OA), or the process in which the ocean absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere, making its pH slightly more acidic.
Before the briefing began, Congressman Sam Farr (D-CA) spoke about the importance of his bill, the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act (H.R. 2717), in combating OA. Rep. Farr argued that the lack of attention on OA was a geographical issue, noting “There is no ocean policy in Midwestern states.” However, he emphasized the importance of preserving the ocean for aesthetic and conservation purposes for all.
During the briefing, three panelists presented their research on how OA affects various fisheries across the country. Dr. George G. Waldbusser from the University of Oregon discussed the effects on oyster fisheries in Washington State, Dr. Thomas Miller from the University of Maryland discussed the effects on blue crab populations in Maryland, and Dr. Dwight Glenhill discussed the effects on the commercial fishing and tourism industries in New England. All three panelists noted the detrimental impacts of OA on their respective fisheries, and agreed that unless something is done to combat OA, the fisheries will continue to decline.
Sources: Congress.gov, Consortium for Ocean Leadership