ESA Policy News: May 4, 2023

In this issue:

ESA Graduate Student Policy Award Recipients Visit Capitol Hill
Fifteen ESA members and graduate students visit Congressional offices for the first in-person Graduate Student Policy Award event since 2019.

ESA & ESAL Webinar “Protecting Waterways for Healthy Communities and Ecosystems” – Monday, May 8 at 2:00 pm
Join ESAL and ESA to learn how science and policy intersect to protect waterways, hear from local advocates for ecologically sound practices, and discuss the potential impact of an ongoing Supreme Court Case.

Congress
Bipartisan members of Congress introduce legislation to address harassment in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Executive Branch
President Biden signed environmental justice Executive Order.

Courts
Climate lawsuit filed by Hawai’i teens advances in state courts.

States
State legislatures consider bans on diversity, equity and inclusion programs at colleges.

International
IPBES launches call for Indigenous and local knowledge.

Scientific Community
National Academies to hold webinar series titled “Paving the Way for Continental Scale Biology: Connecting Research Across Scales” starting April 24-25.

Federal Register

ESA Graduate Student Policy Award Recipients Visit Capitol Hill

The 2023 Graduate Student Policy Award (GSPA) Cohort of 15 students flew in from around the country to learn about science policy and meet with lawmakers. Students met with 30 Congressional offices April 25 in Washington, DC. Students asked for increased funding for the National Science Foundation, shared the importance of NSF funding to their own careers and the value of their own research. The visits came as Congressional appropriations committees are starting work on the FY 2024 budget.

Despite talks of potential cuts in the House Republicans’ debt ceiling proposals, ESA members found almost universal support for science funding across the ideological spectrum. This was the first in-person Graduate Student Policy Award event in-person since 2019 and the first GSPA Hill visits since Congress passed the Chips and Science Act with bipartisan support in fall 2022.

Before the Hill visits, students received policy and communications training and developed messages about the value of ecological research with each other and ESA staff. The group also met with US Global Change Research Program Director Michael Kuperberg and newly appointed National Nature Assessment Director Phil Levin. Kuperberg and Levin discussed the National Nature Assessment, the National Climate Assessment and opportunities for ecologists to get involved in both assessment and their own careers at the science-policy interface.

Charlotte Levy (Carbon180), Cleo Chou (USAID), Brittany Marsten (NOAA), Amina Pollard (EPA), Karen Lips (NSF) and Rich Pouyat (US Forest Service emeritus) joined the GSPA cohort in the ESA office to discuss their careers as ecologists working in science and policy. Levy, Chou and Marsten all are GSPA alumni.

ESA selected 15 students to receive the award, the largest in-person cohort so far: Alicia L. Arrington-Thomas (University of Mississippi), Tira L. Beckham (North Carolina State University), Jonathan Behrens (Duke University), Elijah Catalan (University of California, Los Angeles), Scott M. Carpenter (Yale University), Chloe Y. Cho (Cornell University), Gina L. Errico (Oklahoma State University), Vanessa M. Lau (Columbia University), Shalimar G. Moreno (East Carolina University), Maria H. Park (University of Minnesota), Brandon A. Quintana (California State University, Fullerton), Sarah E. Rothman (University of Maryland), Veronica Manka’a Tangiri (Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District, Lund University), Aubrey Tingler (University of Maryland) and Tatjana Washington (University of Chicago).

See an album of the GSPA event here.

ESA & ESAL Webinar “Protecting Waterways for Healthy Communities and Ecosystems” – Monday, May 8 at 2:00 pm

Monday May 8
2:00 – 3:00 pm ET
RSVP here to receive instructions to join

Join Engineers & Scientists Acting Locally and the Ecological Society of America to learn how science and policy intersect to protect waterways, hear from local advocates for ecologically sound practices, and discuss the potential impact of an ongoing Supreme Court Case. 

Rain fills our rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, but how does it get there? Wetlands are vital to managing how water flows after storm events to protect human environments from floods and natural environments from soil erosion and habitat destruction. Sound ecological science data clearly shows the vital role of wetlands for nature and to also protect human health and property. Planning requires the expertise of ecologists, landscape architects, environmental planners, and environmental engineers, and can be incentivized by local regulations.

State and local waterway protections benefit communities by improving flood control, replenishing groundwater reserves, protecting biodiverse habitats, and supporting the maintenance of thriving outdoor spaces that everyone can enjoy. The Clean Water Act is a federal law that gives authority to states to protect the nation’s waters. An ongoing Supreme Court case (Sackett vs. EPA) has the potential to shape the scope of this law. In this panel, co-hosted by Engineers and Scientists Acting Locally and the Ecological Society of America, we will hear from legal experts and implementers who will discuss the role of policy, both federal and local, in effective ecosystem management.

Confirmed panelists:

Erika Harris- Senior Planner, Puget Sound Regional Council
Royal C. Gardner, JD– Professor of Law and Co-Director, Institute for Biodiversity Law and Policy, Stetson University College of Law.

Congress

Legislative updates:

• Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and House Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-MO) reintroduced the Save Our Sequoias Act (R. 2989). Among other provisions, this bill codifies the already existing Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition, provides the National Park Service with authority to expedite projects that make sequoia groves more resilient to wildfire, insects or disease and creates an Interior Department grant program to support sequoia nurseries.
• Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Resident Commissioner Jeniffer Gonzalez-Colon (R-PR) introduced a bill (H.R. 2990) to address sexual harassment and assault in the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The bill expands the coverage of NOAA’s sexual harassment prevention and response policy and directs NOAA to provide a secure reporting structure for survivors and a clean mechanism for anonymous reports of sexual harassment.
• Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced a bill (S. 1380) creating a $2 billion fund for planting trees in urban areas, particularly lower-income areas. Both Brown and Bookers are members of the Senate Agriculture Committee and could work to include this legislation in 2023 Farm Bill.
• Members of the House Science Committee introduced bipartisan bills aimed at increasing collaboration between NASA and the Department of Energy (R. 2988) and the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy (H.R. 2980).

More News:

• Bipartisan lawmakers call for the EPA to move faster on ‘forever chemical’ releases – The Hill
• House passes debt bill with more clean energy cuts – E&E News
• Manchin tries again on permitting overhaul – E&E News
• Case for Making NOAA an Independent Agency Examined by Science Committee – AIP FYI
• Minnesota farmer needs a truck with a cooler; Congress’ farm bill could help – Minneapolis Star Tribune
• House Republicans slam Haaland in tense hearing – E&E News

Executive Branch

White House: President Joe Biden signed an executive order “revitalizing” the country’s commitment to environmental justice. Among other provisions, the executive order creates an Office of Environmental Justice within the White House, directs agencies to identify and address gaps in science, data and research related to environmental justice and establishes a new Environmental Justice Subcommittee within the National Science and Technology Council.

NOAA: The agency is soliciting nominations for members of the NOAA Science Advisory Board. This board advises all of NOAA about long- and short-range strategies for research, education, and application of science to resource management and environmental assessment and prediction. NOAA is seeking individuals with expertise in artificial intelligence and machine learning in the fields of weather and climate; environmental remote sensing; engineering for coastal resilience; social and behavioral sciences; and tropical cyclones. However, individuals with expertise relevant to any NOAA mission areas are also welcome to apply. Nominations must be received by June 15, 2023.

NSF: The agency released a request for information to inform the development of a roadmap for the new Technology and Innovation Partnership (TIP) directorate. The CHIPS and Science Act, passed in fall 2022, tasks the TIP Directorate to develop a roadmap to guide investment decisions in use-inspired and translational research over a 3-year time frame, working towards the goal of advancing U.S. competitiveness in the identified key technology focus areas and addressing the identified societal, national and geostrategic challenges. Responses to the request for information are due July 27, 2023.

EPA: The agency is now seeking public comment regarding its Draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution. The EPA produced this document as a requirement of the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, which is legislation intended to reduce plastic pollution in the oceans. In the report, the EPA identifies three objectives: (A) Reduce pollution during plastic production; (B) Improve post-use materials management; and (C) Prevent trash and microplastics from entering waterways and remove escaped trash from the environment. The request for information closes June 16, 2023.

More News:

• Biden plans protections for old-growth forests – E&E News
• USDA launches $3.1 billion climate-smart initiative – Food and Environment Reporting Network
• Historic investment in urban trees underway across the U.S. – Associated Press
• Corps to reconsider permit rejection for proposed Pebble mine – Alaska Public Radio
• EPA plan would impose drastic cuts on power plant emissions by 2040 – The Washington Post
• Fish and Wildlife Office seeks comment on sage grouse rule – KOLO NewsNow
• NSF Details Plans to Spend $1 Billion Budget Increase – AIP
• How the EPA is bolstering its second try at power plant regulations – The Washington Post
• Another big Alaska fossil fuel project gets Biden team’s blessing – Politico

States

• College DEI Bans Are Showing Up in Republicans’ State Budgets. Not Everyone Is on Board. – The Chronicle of Higher Education
• Will a new national park mend tribal ties? – E&E News
• The very bad math behind the Colorado River crisis – Grist
• Vermont climate bill faces governor’s veto over cost – Associated Press

International

• COP28 negotiating positions emerge during talks in Germany – Axios
• UN’s weather agency: 2022 was nasty, deadly, costly and hot – Associated Press
• Dam fine work: record number of barrier removals helps restore rivers across Europe – The Guardian
• ‘Green colonialism’: Indigenous world leaders warn over west’s climate strategy – The Guardian
• Brazil’s President Lula recognizes six Indigenous lands, and says more to come – MongaBay
• Climate-hit wetlands lay bare Britain’s biodiversity struggle – Context News

Scientific Community

NASEM: The Committee on Independent Scientific Review of Everglades Restoration Progress – 2024 Biennial Review will hold its first virtual meeting May 8, 2023 from 12:30-4:00pm ET to identify priority topics. This meeting is part of a congressionally mandated study to review the progress toward achieving the restoration goals of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. RSVP for the meeting here.

NASEM: The Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate will hold a webinar May 9 to release the proceedings from a September 2022 workshop about integrating public and ecosystems health. The workshop brought together public health, natural resource management and environmental protection experts to discuss what research can bridge the gaps in understanding between public health and ecological health systems. The new proceedings summarizes the workshop, and this webinar will feature members of the workshop planning committee as they share highlights and key takeaways from the event. RSVP here.

Immigration: The American Chemical Society will host a webinar May 11 with immigration lawyer Brian H. Getson aimed at helping foreign scientists maintain their immigration status in the U.S. and qualify for a green card. The webinar will cover what is the appropriate category to apply for a green card and the best time to apply and what evidence is needed to provide the highest possible chance for green card approval. Register here.

More News:

• Chemist Charles Lieber avoids further prison time for lying about China ties – Nature
• Canadian PhD students and postgrads plan mass walkout over low pay – Nature

ESA Correspondence to Policymakers

• Multiorganization Letter in Support of the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program (April 27, 2023)
• Multiorganization Letter in Support of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (April 17, 2023)
• ESA – ESA Response to the Request for Information “Framing to the National Nature Assessment” (March 30, 2023)
• AFRI Coalition – FY 2024 Appropriations Letter (March 24, 2023)
• Friends of ARS – FY 2024 Appropriations Letter (March 17, 2023)
• CNSF – FY2024 letters to the House and Senate (March 15, 2023)
• ESC – FY 2024 Office of Science Statement (March 14, 2023)
• ESA – ESA Urges All Nations to Take Climate Action at COP27 (Nov. 8, 2022)
• CNSF – FY 2024 Letter to White House OMB and OSTP (Oct. 27, 2022)
• CNSF – FY 2023 Conference Committee Appropriations Letter (Oct. 27, 2022)
• Multiorganization Letter of Support for Agricultural Research Appropriations (Oct. 17, 2022)
• ESC – Letter of Support for the DOE Foundation for FY 2024 (Sept. 20, 2022)
• ESC – FY 2024 Funding Request (Aug. 11, 2022)
• CNSF – Statement on Passage of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 (Aug. 2, 2022)

View more letters and testimony from ESA here.

Federal Register Opportunities

Upcoming Public Meetings:

• Bureau of Reclamation – Public Meeting of the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group (May 17)
• BLM – Notice of Southwest District Colorado Resource Advisory Council Sheep Grazing Subcommittee Meetings (May 9)
• BLM – Public Meetings for the John Day-Snake Resource Advisory Council, Oregon (May 10)
• BLM – Utah Resource Advisory Council Meetings (May 17-18)
• BLM – Public Meetings of the Northern California District Resource Advisory Council (May 24-25)
• DOE – Environmental Management Advisory Board Meeting (May 22)
• EPA – Public Environmental Financial Advisory Board Virtual Meeting (May 11)
• EPA – Local Government Advisory Committee and Small Communities Advisory Subcommittee Meeting (May 22-23)
• EPA – Notification of a Public Meeting of the Chartered Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) and CASAC Ozone Review Panel (May 23-24)
• EPA – Public Meeting of the Science Advisory Board CASTNet Review Panel (May 24-26)
• EPA – Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee Meeting (May 31, June 1)
• Forest Service – Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board Meeting (May 17)
• Forest Service – Southern Arizona Resource Advisory Committee Meeting (May 25)
• Forest Service – Flathead Resource Advisory Committee Meeting (May 25, May 31)
• NOAA NMFS – Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Meeting of the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Advisory Panel; Advisory Panel Nominations (May 9-11)
• NOAA NMFS – Permanent Advisory Committee To Advise the U.S. Commissioners to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission Meeting (May 22)
• NOAA – Evaluation of Guam Coastal Management Program; Notice of Public Meeting; Request for Comments (May 10)
• NSF – Advisory Committee for Education and Human Resources Meeting (May 31 – June 1)
• NSF – Advisory Committee for Polar Programs Meeting (May 17)
• White House – President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology Meeting (May 18-19)

Opportunities for Public Comment and Nominations:

• EPA – Request for Nominations to EPA’s National and Governmental Advisory Committees. Please submit nominations by May 19, 2023.
• EPA – Integrated Science Assessment for Lead (Pb) (External Review Draft). Comments must be received on or before May 30, 2023.
• EPA – Request for Nominations to the Good Neighbor Environmental Board . For appointment consideration, nominations should be submitted by May 31, 2023.
• Forest Service – Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committees. Written nominations must be received by June 10, 2023.
• FWS – Marine Mammal Protection Act; Draft Stock Assessment Reports for the Pacific Walrus Stock and Three Northern Sea Otter Stocks in Alaska. FWS must receive comments by May 8, 2023.
• FWS – Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council; Call for Nominations. Email submissions must be received by May 11, 2023.
• FWS – Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-Year Status Reviews for 133 Species in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, California, Nevada, Hawaii, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. To ensure consideration in reviews, the FWS is requesting submission of new information no later than May 22, 2023.
• FWS – Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for 12 Species, and Not Prudent Determination for 2 Species, on Hawai’i Island. FWS will accept comments received or postmarked on or before May 30, 2023.
• FWS – Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for Rufa Red Knot. So that the FWS can fully consider comments in their final determination, submit them on or before May 30, 2023.
• FWS – Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Species Status for Black-Capped Petrel With a Section 4(d) Rule. USFWS will accept comments received or postmarked on or before June 1, 2023.
• Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA – Request for Nominations to the Task Force on Agricultural Air Quality Research. The Secretary of Agriculture will consider nominations that are postmarked by May 8, 2023.
• NOAA NMFS – Proposed Rule To List the Sunflower Sea Star as Threatened Under the Endangered Species Act. Comments on the proposed rule to list the sunflower sea star must be received by May 15, 2023.
• NOAA NMFS – Pacific Halibut Fisheries of the West Coast; Management Measures for the 2023 Area 2A Pacific Halibut Directed Commercial Fishery. Comments must be received by May 15, 2023.
• NOAA – Notice of Intent To Conduct Scoping in Preparation of the National Coral Reef Resilience Strategy for the Coral Reef Conservation Program. NOAA will consider all relevant written comments received by May 8, 2023.
• NOAA  – Notice of Request for Information; U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP). Comments should be submitted via https://contribute.globalchange.gov and must be received by May 31, 2023.
• NOAA  – Request for Public Comment on a Draft Standard Ocean Mapping Protocol. Comments must be received via email by 5 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on June 2, 2023.
• NOAA – Notice of Intent To Conduct Scoping and To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Designation of a National Marine Sanctuary for the Pacific Remote Islands. Comments must be received by NOAA on or before June 2, 2023.
• NRCS – Proposed Revisions to the National Handbook of Conservation Practices for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. NRCS will consider comments received by May 30, 2023.
• OSTP – Request for Information; National Nanotechnology Initiative Environmental, Health, and Safety Research Strategy. Interested persons and organizations are invited to submit comments on or before 5 p.m. ET June 2, 2023.

Visit this page on ESA’s website for updates on opportunities from the Federal Register, including upcoming meetings and regulations open for public comment.

SA’s policy activities work to infuse ecological knowledge into national policy decisions through activities such as policy statements, Capitol Hill briefings, Congressional Visits Days, and coalition involvement. Policy News Updates are bi-monthly summaries of major environmental and science policy news. They are produced by the Public Affairs Office of the Ecological Society of America.

Send questions or comments to Alison Mize, director of public affairs, Alison@nullesa.org or Nicole Zimmerman, public affairs manager, Nicole@nullesa.org

Visit the ESA website to learn more about our activities and membership.