Mike Chrisman News

California Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman and EPA Secretary Terry Tamminen announced the release of the draft plan, California Ocean Resources Management: A Strategy for Action Plan prepared in response to Governor Schwarzenegger's June 4, 2004 directive for California to renew its longstanding commitment to protect and manage its ocean and coastal resources. Both the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the Pew Oceans Commission have identified an emerging national crisis situation regarding this nation’s ocean and coastal resources. “Today we are releasing a draft Action Plan for public review which suggests a bold new approach to protecting and managing California’s ocean and coastal resources,” said Secretary Chrisman.

On August 3, the Subcommittee on National Ocean Policy of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation will conduct a hearing on the State of the Oceans 2006. Subcommittee Chairman John Sununu will preside. Witnesses will include: - Honorable Vice Admiral (Ret) Conrad Lautenbacher, Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Hon. Leon Panetta, Co-Chairman, Joint Ocean Commission Initiative - Mr. Paul Kelly, Commissioner, U.S Commission on Ocean Policy - Mr. Mike Chrisman, Secretary, California Resources Agency - Mr. Michael Orbach, Director, Duke University Marine Laboratory