Program Update – July 2011
The following NOPP-hosted federal groups met in July at the Consortium for Ocean Leadership:
- Interagency Working Group on Facilities and Infrastructure (IWG-FI)
- IWG-FI Task Force on Unmanned Systems (TFUS)
- Interagency Working Group on Ocean Partnerships (IWG-OP)
- IWG-OP Biodiversity Ad Hoc Group
- IWG-OP Federal Renewable Ocean Energy Working Group (FROEWG)
The IWG-FI received a briefing from the National Science Foundation (NSF) on the efficacy of leasing versus buying ice-capable vessels. The IWG-FI also discussed their role in implementing Strategic Action Plan #9 on Ocean Infrastructure.
The TFUS discussed a framework for a strategic plan for cooperation regarding unmanned systems and highlighted the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) conference that will be held in Washington, D.C. on August 16-19.
The IWG-OP discussed a potential Link II Symposium, focused on challenges to ocean exploration and ways to address top science questions. A briefing was also given on the Offshore Renewable Energy Resource Assessment and Design Conditions Public Meeting that was held July 23-24 and hosted by the Department of Energy and Department of Interior.
The Biodiversity Ad Hoc Group received briefings on a National Fish, Wildlife and Plants Climate Adaption Strategy and on the NSF Biological and Chemical Data Management Office.
The FROEWG received briefings on hydrodynamic modeling tools to look at the environmental impacts of renewable energy as well as at models for assessing the cost of renewable energy.
The next Ocean Resources Advisory Panel (ORAP) meeting is scheduled for November 9-10, 2011 at the Consortium for Ocean Leadership in Washington, D.C. The meeting agenda and materials will be available before the meeting at http://www.nopp.org/committees/orap/orap_meetings/.
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