US moves closer to developing national policy on management of ocean resources

In 2009, President Obama launched the Ocean Policy Task Force. The plan is to bring together what is now often conflicting and competing agencies and laws that govern the oceans, coasts and the Great Lakes. The US has 95,000 miles of coastline and over half of the population lives in coastal counties, according to the US Council on Environmental Quality.

The task force is now moving toward finalizing its recommendations to send to the President's desk. Today is the last day for the public to comment on the policy. The recommendations could have wide-ranging impacts on environmental preservation, jobs, transportation and national security. It could also affect oil drilling and climate change policies.

To discuss this, we're joined by Jackie Dragon, Marine Sanctuaries Program Director for Pacific Environment, a San Francisco-based environmental advocacy group.

To submit a public comment on the Ocean Policy Task Force: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/initiatives/oceans/inte...

To read reports from Ocean Policy Task Force: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/initiatives/oceans/inte...

Link to Pacific Environment: http://www.pacificenvironment.org/