Get Involved
On November 15, 2024, NOAA Fisheries filed its Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (DPEIS) for the Identification of Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in U.S. Federal Waters of the Gulf of Mexico and made the draft available for public review:
Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Identification of Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in U.S. Federal Waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Happening Now: Opportunity to Comment on the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
On November 22, 2024, a Notice of Availability was published for the DPEIS, initiating a 90-day public review and comment period which will conclude on Thursday, February 20, 2025. During this time, the public will have the opportunity to provide written comments. Stakeholders and the public will also have opportunities to join three virtual public meetings to provide verbal comments. To register to participate in these virtual public meetings, click the links below:
- Tuesday, December 17, 2024, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. CST/7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. EST
- Wednesday January 15, 2025, 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. CST/4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. EST
- Thursday, February 13, 2025, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. CST/7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. EST
How to provide comments
From November 22, 2024 through February 20, 2025 the public may submit written comments on this PEIS identified by “NOAA-NMFS-2024-0135” by any of the following methods:
Electronic submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to: http://www.regulations.gov and enter “NOAA-NMFS-2024-0135” in the Search box. Click on the “Comment” icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments by mail to Andrew Richard, Regional Aquaculture Coordinator, NMFS, Southeast Regional Office, 263 13th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Please include “Gulf AOA PEIS” on the envelope.
Instructions: Oral comments will be accepted during the three virtual public scoping meetings. The links to register for those meetings can be found above. Instructions on how to provide verbal comments during those meetings will be provided at the onset of those meetings.
Comments sent or provided by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the public record and may be posted for public viewing on http://www.regulations.gov without change.
All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter “N/A” in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous).
For More Information
Contact Andrew Richard, Southeast Regional Aquaculture Coordinator
Telephone: (727) 551-5709; or
Email: nmfs.ser.aquaculture@noaa.gov.
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
Past Meetings and Comment Opportunities
NOAA Fisheries held a 60-day public comment period from Wednesday, June 1, 2022 to Monday, August 1, 2022 to gather feedback from the public on the scope of the programmatic environmental impact statement.
Written comments were accepted electronically via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal and by mail. Verbal comments were accepted at three virtual public scoping meetings. To view the recordings or transcripts from those virtual scoping meetings click the links below:
Wednesday, June 8, 2022, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. CDT/7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. EDT
- Read Transcript (PDF)
- Listen to Recorded Meeting (MP4)
Thursday, June 16, 2022, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. CDT/6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. EDT
- Read Transcript (PDF)
- Listen to Recorded Meeting (MP4)
Tuesday, July 12, 2022, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. CDT/7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. EDT
- Read Transcript (PDF)
- Listen to Recorded Meeting (MP4)
Cooperating Agencies
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Air Force are cooperating agencies on this DPEIS.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and U.S. Coast Guard are providing expertise and technical assistance in support of this DPEIS.
For More Information
Contact Andrew Richard, Southeast Regional Aquaculture Coordinator at nmfs.ser.aquaculture@noaa.gov or (727) 551-5709.
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
Federal Register Notices
Notice of Intent to Prepare PEIS (87 FR 33124, 2022)
