2025-01163Notice

Government Creates Official Ocean Partnership Club With Membership Rules

Published Date: 1/17/2025

Notice

Summary

NOAA just released final rules for new Regional Ocean Partnerships (ROPs), letting coastal states, Tribes, and others team up to better protect oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes. This means new groups can apply to get official status and work together on ocean issues. The guidance kicks in now, helping communities plan smarter and possibly unlock funding for ocean care.

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Coastal States and Tribes Can Form ROPs

Coastal States (including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands, and American Samoa), Indian Tribes (as defined in the guidance), and other entities may form new Regional Ocean Partnerships (ROPs) and apply to NOAA for designation under the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023. Applications must identify the members, the ROP governing body, and the ROP's purposes and functions, and must be formally submitted by all state governors and Tribal government leaders.

Designation Guidance Includes Funding Eligibility

The final NOAA designation guidance explicitly includes provisions on funding eligibility for new ROPs, meaning a newly designated ROP could be eligible to receive federal funding tied to its designation. NOAA posted the final guidance and a summary of public comments on its Office for Coastal Management website.

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Key Dates

Published Date
1/17/2025

Department and Agencies

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