Ocean Policy Comments Sought

Today, the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy announced that the comment period for its Preliminary Report will run from April 20 to May 21, 2004. Comments on the Preliminary Report can be submitted by e-mail, fax, or regular mail. The report and detailed instructions for submitting comments will be available for download from the Commission’s web site, oceancommission.gov, on April 20, when the report is released to the public The comment period on the Commission’s Preliminary Report is the first step in a two-stage process. In this stage, the report will be available for review and comment by the nation’s governors and interested stakeholders. Stage two will begin when the public comment period closes on May 21. At that point, the Commission will take time for a comprehensive review of the comments received from the governors and others. Once all comments are considered, the Commission will prepare and deliver its final report and recommendations on a coordinated and comprehensive national ocean policy to the President and Congress.