November 21, 2019 — The following was released by the Council on Environmental Quality:

Today, President Donald J. Trump issued a Presidential Memorandum on Ocean Mapping of the United States Exclusive Economic Zone and the Shoreline and Nearshore of Alaska. In the Presidential Memorandum, President Trump is directing Federal agencies to develop a National strategy to map the United States Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and a strategy to map the Alaskan coastline to advance our understanding of our oceans and coastlines and to promote efficient permitting related to ocean exploration activities. These actions will benefit the U.S. economy, national security, and our environment.

The Presidential Memorandum was announced following last week’s White House Summit on Partnerships in Ocean Science and Technology which was hosted by the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). The Summit brought together leaders from academia, the private sector, philanthropy, and the Federal government to identify opportunities to build partnerships that advance marine science, promote new technologies, and explore the unknown ocean. 

“With today’s Presidential Memorandum, the United States will accelerate ocean exploration and expand our knowledge of the ocean,” said Council on Environmental Quality Chairman Mary B. Neumayr. “The knowledge gained from mapping and exploring the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone will inform policies and guide actions to promote conservation, management, and balanced use of our ocean.”

“A bold new era of ocean exploration is made possible through President Trump’s actions. We can now learn and discover our oceans and coastlines better through mapping strategies and research activities in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. This step forward through partnerships on innovation and ocean technology will benefit our economy, build on national security priorities, and ensure effective conservation management,” said Dr. Kelvin Droegemeier, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

“President Trump continues to safeguard our future prosperity and national security with his bold, comprehensive oceans policies,” said Joe Grogan, Assistant to the President and Director of the Domestic Policy Council. “Today’s action will improve our understanding of the rich ecological and economic resources off our shores and reduce our reliance on foreign sources for important resources.”

“Mapping U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone and nearshore waters represents a tremendous step towards realizing the full scientific and commercial potential of our oceans and coastlines, and is essential for harnessing American offshore energy resources,” said Department of Energy Under Secretary of Energy Mark W. Menezes. “Not only is more data about our ocean key to responsible offshore energy development, but reliable energy technologies are also needed to power the very instruments that collect this data. This Administration is committed to exploring new technologies that can fully harness the power of the ocean, and DOE is excited to support American innovators driving this mission.”

“In addition to the numerous economic, national security, and environmental benefits that come from a better understanding of our natural resources, exploring the mysteries of the sea can also inspire the next generation of scientists in the fields of physics, biology, geology, chemistry, math and engineering,” said retired Navy Rear Adm. Tim Gallaudet, Ph.D., Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Deputy Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

For a fact sheet on the Presidential Memorandum, click here.