NOAA to Conduct Drill in Florida Keys
NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, will conduct an emergency response drill in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary April 19-21, 2005, and is asking for assistance from local residents to help ensure its success. The goal of the drill is to improve the agency’s ability to protect the environment of the Florida Keys and the public in case of a major incident. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The scenario for NOAA’s first “Safe Sanctuaries” drill involves the hypothetical grounding of the M/V Portsmith Trader, an 800-foot cargo vessel carrying 270,000 gallons of fuel, at Elbow Reef off Key Largo. In the scenario, the grounding injures coral reef habitat and submerged historical artifacts, and an oil spill threatens other resources.
NOAA Implements Nationwide Strategic Planning Program
The Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will hold a meeting on September 18, 2002 in Boston, Mass. to gather input for its new strategic plan, which will be a guide for NOAA scientific and research efforts in years to come. The program is open to the public and will be held at the Hilton Logan Airport, 85 Terminal Road, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. This is the third of six public meetings to be conducted nationwide by the federal science agency over the next 60 days. Announcing the commencement of a new strategic planning process, retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. In its final form, expected to be released in March 2003…
