Executive Order 13547 - Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts and the Great Lakes

Presidential Documents

Title 3--
The President


Executive Order 13547 of July 19, 2010


Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the Great Lakes

By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Purpose. The ocean, our coasts, and the
Great Lakes provide jobs, food, energy resources,
ecological services, recreation, and tourism
opportunities, and play critical roles in our Nation's
transportation, economy, and trade, as well as the
global mobility of our Armed Forces and the maintenance
of international peace and security. The Deepwater
Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and resulting
environmental crisis is a stark reminder of how
vulnerable our marine environments are, and how much
communities and the Nation rely on healthy and
resilient ocean and coastal ecosystems. America's
stewardship of the ocean, our coasts, and the Great
Lakes is intrinsically linked to environmental
sustainability, human health and well-being, national
prosperity, adaptation to climate and other
environmental changes, social justice, international
diplomacy, and national and homeland security.

(Blogger's Note: This is only a problem because this administration took so bloody long to deal with the problem of of the Deep Water Horizon Oil Crisis. Had they dealt with it in a timely manner, it would not have been a problem to our coastal areas, or our ecosystems. Remember, never let a good crisis go to waste, you can use it to put out an executive order and demand more control over people.)

This order adopts the recommendations of the
Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force, except where
otherwise provided in this order, and directs executive
agencies to implement those recommendations under the
guidance of a National Ocean Council. Based on those
recommendations, this order establishes a national
policy to ensure the protection, maintenance, and
restoration of the health of ocean, coastal, and Great
Lakes ecosystems and resources, enhance the
sustainability of ocean and coastal economies, preserve
our maritime heritage, support sustainable uses and
access, provide for adaptive management to enhance our
understanding of and capacity to respond to climate
change and ocean acidification, and coordinate with our
national security and foreign policy interests.

(Bloggers note: I thought the oil spill was in the Gulf of Mexico, not the Great Lakes? Is my geography failing me? And what does our maritime heritage got to do with it? And exactly what does acidification have to do with an oil spill or national security or foreign policy interests?)

This order also provides for the development of coastal
and marine spatial plans that build upon and improve
existing Federal, State, tribal, local, and regional
decision making and planning processes. These regional
plans will enable a more integrated, comprehensive,
ecosystem-based, flexible, and proactive approach to
planning and managing sustainable multiple uses across
sectors and improve the conservation of the ocean, our
coasts, and the Great Lakes.

(Blogger's note: Like we need more people involved in decision making in the government? And we need the ecosystem involved in EVERY decision we make...I think we need our ECONOMY to come first, not the tree-huggers....the American wallet is a bit more important than the trees.)

Sec. 2. Policy. (a)To achieve an America whose
stewardship ensures that the ocean, our coasts, and the
Great Lakes are healthy and resilient, safe and
productive, and understood and treasured so as to
promote the well-being, prosperity, and security of
present and future generations, it is the policy of the
United States to:

(i) protect, maintain, and restore the health and biological diversity of
ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems and resources;

(ii) improve the resiliency of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems,
communities, and economies;

(iii) bolster the conservation and sustainable uses of land in ways that
will improve the health of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems;

(iv) use the best available science and knowledge to inform decisions
affecting the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes, and enhance
humanity's capacity to understand, respond, and adapt to a changing global
environment;

(v) support sustainable, safe, secure, and productive access to, and uses
of the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes;

(vi) respect and preserve our Nation's maritime heritage, including our
social, cultural, recreational, and historical values;

(Blogger's Note: Ummmm, excuse me, how can you preserve our maritime heritage if you're constantly talking about global identity? That's an oxymoron....that's erasing our heritage and blending it into a soup of the world identity. duh. They even follow that with perform duties in accordance with international law.....? do they think we're stupid?)

(vii) exercise rights and jurisdiction and perform duties in accordance
with applicable international law, including respect for and preservation
of navigational rights and freedoms, which are essential for the global
economy and international peace and security;

(viii) increase scientific understanding of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes
ecosystems as part of the global interconnected systems of air, land, ice,
and water, including their relationships to humans and their activities;

(Blogger's Note: are they covering all bases here, in case of global cooling and every thing is covered in ICE?)

(ix) improve our understanding and awareness of changing environmental
conditions, trends, and their causes, and of human activities taking place
in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes waters; and

(x) foster a public understanding of the value of the ocean, our coasts,
and the Great Lakes to build a foundation for improved stewardship.

(b) The United States shall promote this policy by:

(i) ensuring a comprehensive and collaborative framework for the
stewardship of the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes that facilitates
cohesive actions across the Federal Government, as well as participation of
State, tribal, and local authorities, regional governance structures,
nongovernmental organizations, the public, and the private sector;

(ii) cooperating and exercising leadership at the international level;

(iii) pursuing the United States' accession to the Law of the Sea
Convention; and

(iv) supporting ocean stewardship in a fiscally responsible manner.

Sec. 3. Definitions. As used in this order:

(a) ``Final Recommendations'' means the Final
Recommendations of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task
Force that shall be made publicly available and for
which a notice of public availability shall be
published in the Federal Register.
(b) The term ``coastal and marine spatial
planning'' means a comprehensive, adaptive, integrated,
ecosystem-based, and transparent spatial planning
process, based on sound science, for analyzing current
and anticipated uses of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes
areas. Coastal and marine spatial planning identifies
areas most suitable for various types or classes of
activities in order to reduce conflicts among uses,
reduce environmental impacts, facilitate compatible
uses, and preserve critical ecosystem services to meet
economic, environmental, security, and social
objectives. In practical terms, coastal and marine
spatial planning provides a public policy process for
society to better determine how the ocean, our coasts,
and Great Lakes are sustainably used and protected--now
and for future generations.

(Blogger's Note: Reduce conflicts among uses, does that mean make sure it's used the way they want to, and not the way the people want to use it? Reduce environmental impact: make sure man doesn't have an impact by taking it away from man....beware they've done it before with imminent domain. That's where social objectives comes in.)

(c) The term ``coastal and marine spatial plans''
means the plans that are certified by the National
Ocean Council as developed in accordance with the
definition, goals, principles, and process described in
the Final Recommendations.

Sec. 4. Establishment of National Ocean Council. (a)
There is hereby established the National Ocean Council
(Council).

(Blogger's Note: Oh, yea, establish another council. Filled with Obama-ites.)

(b) The Council shall consist of the following:

(i) the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality and the Director of
the Office of Science and Technology Policy, who shall be the Co-Chairs of
the Council;

(ii) the Secretaries of State, Defense, the Interior, Agriculture, Health
and Human Services, Commerce, Labor, Transportation, Energy, and Homeland
Security, the Attorney General, the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget,
the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (Administrator of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), the Administrator of
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Director of National
Intelligence, the Director of the National Science Foundation, and the
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff;

(Blogger's Note: Someone tell me how eco-stuff affects our defense...please...they are bringing EVERYTHING under the banner of eco-friendly....THIS IS A RELIGION FOLKS. They are becoming just like a Muslim, but their religion is the environment.)

(iii) the National Security Advisor and the Assistants to the President for
Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, Domestic Policy, Energy and Climate
Change, and Economic Policy;

(iv) an employee of the Federal Government designated by the Vice
President; and

(Blogger's note: The Constitution doesn't give the Vice President this much power.)

(v) such other officers or employees of the Federal Government as the Co-
Chairs of the Council may from time to time designate.

(c) The Co-Chairs shall invite the participation of
the Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, to the extent consistent with the
Commission's statutory authorities and legal
obligations, and may invite the participation of such
other independent agencies as the Council deems
appropriate.

(Blogger's Note: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission? and such other independent agencies as they deem appropriate? I hate blank checks.)

(d) The Co-Chairs of the Council, in consultation
with the National Security Advisor and the Assistant to
the President for Homeland Security and
Counterterrorism, shall regularly convene and preside
at meetings of the Council, determine its agenda,
direct its work, and, as appropriate to address
particular subject matters, establish and direct
committees of the Council that shall consist
exclusively of members of the Council.

(Blogger's Note: Determine it's agenda? So the agenda they just set doesn't mean a bit they can change it. They can decide it means cap and trade.)

(e) A member of the Council may designate, to
perform committee functions of the member, any person
who is within such member's department, agency, or
office and who is (i) an officer of the United States
appointed by the President, (ii) a member of the Senior
Executive Service or the Senior Intelligence Service,
(iii) a general officer or flag officer, or (iv) an
employee of the Vice President.

(Blogger's Note: They can decide to let a secretary that has not been vetted take over the committee functions. They can appoint any Czar, any member of an Intelligence Service, any flag officer or any employee of the Vice president...does that include a pledge?)

(f) Consistent with applicable law and subject to
the availability of appropriations, the Office of
Science and Technology Policy and the Council on
Environmental Quality shall provide the Council with
funding, including through the National Science and
Technology Council or the Office of Environmental
Quality. The Council on Environmental Quality shall, to
the extent permitted by law and subject to the
availability of appropriations, provide administrative
support necessary to implement this order.

(Blogger's Note: A blank check ... subject to availability of appropriations .... support necessary to implement this order. With Democrats that means whatever they need from You. Your pockets are deep they'll just raise your taxes.)

(g) The day-to-day operations of the Council shall
be administered by a Director and a Deputy Director,
who shall supervise a full-time staff to assist the Co-
Chairs in their implementation of this order.

(Blogger's Note: Well, need to hire some more Obama-ites...will we get to vet them? Will the be members of the Weather Underground, or Marxists?)

Sec. 5. Functions of the Council. (a) The Council shall
have the structure and function and operate as defined
in the Final Recommendations. The Council is
authorized, after the Council's first year of
operation, to make modifications to its structure,
function, and operations to improve its effectiveness
and efficiency in furthering the policy set forth in
section 2 of this order.

(Blogger's Note: So, it's only what you want for the first year, then they get to change it into whatever they want ... make modifications and operate as defined below... oh goody can't wait to see how they're going to change it... hope and change.)

(b) To implement the policy set forth in section 2
of this order, the Council shall provide appropriate
direction to ensure that executive departments',
agencies', or offices' decisions and actions affecting
the ocean, our coasts, and the Great Lakes will be
guided by the stewardship principles and national
priority objectives set forth in the Final
Recommendations, to the extent consistent with
applicable law. The Council shall base its decisions on
the consensus of its members. With respect to those
matters in which consensus cannot be reached, the
National Security Advisor shall coordinate with the Co-
Chairs and, as appropriate, the Assistants to the
President for Energy and Climate Change, and Economic
Policy, and the employee of the United States
designated by the Vice President, subject to the
limitations set forth in section 9 of this order, to
present the disputed issue or issues for decision by
the President.

(Blogger's Note...so if they can't come to a consensus, the President gets to decide...how dictatorial of him.)


Sec. 6. Agency Responsibilities. (a) All executive
departments, agencies, and offices that are members of
the Council and any other executive department, agency,
or office whose actions affect the ocean, our coasts,
and the Great Lakes shall, to the fullest extent
consistent with applicable law:

(i) take such action as necessary to implement the policy set forth in
section 2 of this order and the stewardship principles and national
priority objectives as set forth in the Final Recommendations and
subsequent guidance from the Council; and

(ii) participate in the process for coastal and marine spatial planning and
comply with Council certified coastal and marine spatial plans, as
described in the Final Recommendations and subsequent guidance from the
Council.

(b) Each executive department, agency, and office
that is required to take actions under this order shall
prepare and make publicly available an annual report
including a concise description of actions taken by the
agency in the previous calendar year to implement the
order, a description of written comments by persons or
organizations regarding the agency's compliance with
this order, and the agency's response to such comments.
(c) Each executive department, agency, and office
that is required to take actions under this order shall
coordinate and contribute resources, as appropriate, to
assist in establishing a common information management
system as defined in the Final Recommendations and
shall be held accountable for managing its own
information assets by keeping them current, easily
accessible, and consistent with Federal standards.
(d) To the extent permitted by law, executive
departments, agencies, and offices shall provide the
Council such information, support, and assistance as
the Council, through the Co-Chairs, may request.

(Blogger's Note: So, bury them in paper work, make them comply, punish them if they don't do it right. I wonder what the penalties are if they report wrong, or don't give enough of their resources to the religion of eco?)

Sec. 7. Governance Coordinating Committee. The Council
shall establish a Governance Coordinating Committee
that shall consist of 18 officials from State, tribal,
and local governments in accordance with the Final
Recommendations. The Committee may establish
subcommittees chaired by representatives of the
Governance Coordinating Committee. These subcommittees
may include additional representatives from State,
tribal, and local governments, as appropriate to
provide for greater collaboration and diversity of
views.

Sec. 8. Regional Advisory Committees. The lead Federal
department, agency, or office for each regional
planning body established for the development of
regional coastal and marine spatial plans, in
consultation with their nonfederal co-lead agencies and
membership of their regional planning body, shall
establish such advisory committees under the Federal
Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App., as they deem
necessary to provide information and to advise the
regional planning body on the development of regional
coastal and marine spatial plans to promote the policy
established in section 2 of this order.

Sec. 9. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order,
the establishment of the Council, and the Final
Recommendations shall be construed to impair or
otherwise affect:

(i) authority granted by law to an executive department or agency or the
head thereof; or

(ii) functions assigned by the President to the National Security Council
or Homeland Security Council (including subordinate bodies) relating to
matters affecting foreign affairs, national security, homeland security, or
intelligence.

(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to
impair or otherwise affect the functions of the
Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative
proposals.


(c) In carrying out the provisions of this order
and implementing the Final Recommendations, all actions
of the Council and the executive departments, agencies,
and offices that constitute it shall be consistent with
applicable international law, including customary
international law, such as that reflected in the Law of
the Sea Convention.
(d) This order is not intended to, and does not,
create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity by any party against
the United States, its departments, agencies, or
entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any
other person.

Sec. 10. Revocation. Executive Order 13366 of December
17, 2004, is hereby revoked.


(Presidential Sig.)

THE WHITE HOUSE,

July 19, 2010.