{"id":17696,"date":"2021-01-11T21:37:43","date_gmt":"2021-01-11T21:37:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/?p=17696"},"modified":"2021-03-23T18:49:33","modified_gmt":"2021-03-23T18:49:33","slug":"policy-news-january-11-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/2021\/01\/11\/policy-news-january-11-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Policy News: January 11, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>The Katherine S. McCarter<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>Graduate Student Policy Award<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/public-policy\/get-involved\/esa-graduate-student-policy-award\/\">Applications are now being accepted.<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">ESA is now accepting applications for its 2021 Katherine S. McCarter Graduate Student Policy Award. Offered each year, this award gives graduate students science policy training and opportunities to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Visit the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/public-policy\/get-involved\/esa-graduate-student-policy-award\/\">ESA website<\/a>\u00a0for more information and details on application requirements. The deadline to apply is Jan. 15, 2020.<\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>In This Issue:<\/strong><\/h1>\n<p><strong><a href=\"#budget\">Congress Completes FY2021 Appropriations, Provides Increase to the National Science Foundation<\/a><\/strong><br>\nNSF receives $8.48 billion, a 2.5% increase.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"#regulations\">Trump Administration Finalizes Environmental Regulations, Fate of Regulations Unclear in the 117th Congress and Biden Administration<\/a><\/strong><br>\nRules would allow limit the use of science in Environmental Protection Agency decisions and weaken bird protections.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"#transition\">Transition Tracker for President-elect Biden<\/a><\/strong><br>\nBiden nominates Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo (D) to be commerce secretary.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"#congress\">Congress<\/a><\/strong><br>\nHouse Science Committee reintroduce signature bills to increase diversity and rural participation in STEM<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"#executive\">Executive Branch<\/a><\/strong><br>\nAuction for oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge draws limited interest.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"#science\">Scientific Community<\/a><\/strong><br>\nNational Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine seeks experts to serve on a study committee about addressing inaccurate and misleading information about biological threats.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"#international\">International<\/a><\/strong><br>\nThe U.N.\u2019s annual emission gap report warns that the world is heading towards 3\u00b0C of warming.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"#news\">ESA In the News<\/a><\/strong><br>\nView an up-to-date list of ESA\u2019s media coverage.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#correspondence\"><strong>ESA Correspondence to Policymakers<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#opportunities\"><strong>Opportunities to Get Involved<\/strong><\/a><br>\nFederal Register opportunities.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Congress Completes FY2021 Appropriations, Provides Increase to the National Science Foundation<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><a id=\"budget\"><\/a><br>\nA COVID appropriations omnibus bill was enacted Dec. 27, 2020. The over 5,000-page bill consolidated regular annual government spending for fiscal year (FY) 2021 and a COVID relief bill.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The coronavirus relief provisions include $82 billion for education, including $22.7 Billion for a Higher Education Emergency Fund. This falls short of the $120 billion in emergency funding requested by higher education groups to support the nation\u2019s colleges and universities.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund is split into the following categories:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>$20.2 billion for public and private, non-profit institutions of higher education, including those that serve students enrolled exclusively in distance education, to be distributed by a formula taking into account head count and full-time equivalent enrollment.<\/li>\n<li>$1.7 billion for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and certain other institutions.<\/li>\n<li>$113 million for institutions of higher education with unmet need.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Colleges and universities can use this funding to provide emergency grants to students or to purchase personal protective equipment and cover other coronavirus health and safety costs. The bill also limits aid to about 30 private colleges and universities that have over 500 tuition-paying students and assets of over $500,000 per student.<\/p>\n<p>In the regular spending bills, the National Science Foundation receives $8.48 billion, a 2.5% increase from FY 2020. The Research and Related Activities account, which funds most NSF grants, gets a 2.6% increase.<\/p>\n<p>The U.S. Geological Survey receives $1.3 billion, a 3.51% increase. Lawmakers also approved a proposal from the agency to restructure the budget and move the environmental health program and the Climate Adaptation Science Centers into the Ecosystems Mission Area. The cooperative research units receive $25 million, a $1 million increase. The Climate Adaption Science Centers receives $41 million, an around $3 million increase. Lawmakers reiterate their direction to establish a Midwest Climate Adaptation Center.<\/p>\n<p>Other Interior Department agencies receive budget decreases. The National Park Service receives a 7.5% cut; the Bureau of Land Management\u2019s budget is cut by 4.39%; and, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service\u2019s budget is cut by 3.6%.<\/p>\n<p>The U.S. Forest Service receives $7.4 billion, including $285.76 million for the agency\u2019s Research and Development program. This budget represents around a $10 million increase for research, taking into account a plan to centralize Forest Service operations expenses.<\/p>\n<p>The National Institute of Food and Agriculture\u2019s budget increases by 2.8% to $1.57 billion, while the agency\u2019s main competitive grants program, the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, receives a $10 million increase to $435 million. The Agricultural Research Service gets a 5% cut, with cuts mainly from the agency\u2019s buildings and facilities budget line while there is 5.5% increase for salaries and expenses.<\/p>\n<p>After years of record increases, the budget for the Energy Department\u2019s Office of Science remains largely flat at $7.026 billion, a .4% increase, but the Biological and Environmental Research programs receives $753 million, a 4% increase.<\/p>\n<p>The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration receives $5.4 billion overall, a 1.5% increase.<\/p>\n<p>The Environmental Protection Agency receives a 2% increase.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Congressional Review Act May Be Used to Rollback the Trump Administration\u2019s Midnight Environmental Regulations in the 117<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0Congress and Biden Administration<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><a id=\"regulations\"><\/a><br>\nIn two last-minute developments, the Trump administration finalized rules limiting the use of science in Environmental Protection Agency decisions and redefining \u201ctake\u201d under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. These rules follow other recently finalized rules to redefine habitat under the Endangered Species Act, change how the Environmental Protection Agency weighs \u201cco-benefits\u201d in air quality regulations and more (<a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/2021\/01\/08\/policy-news-december-21-2020\/\">see ESA Policy News, Dec. 21, 2020<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>With Democrats holding the White House and slim majorities in the U.S. House and the Senate, Congress could use the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn these rules.\u00a0\u00a0The 1996 Congressional Review Act only requires a simple majority vote in both the House and Senate, with the president\u2019s consent, to cancel a regulation finalized within the final 60 congressional legislative days, which would most likely include any regulation finalized after Aug. 2.\u00a0\u00a0In 2017, Republicans used the CRA to kill the Bureau of Land Management\u2019s revisions to its land management planning regulations among other Obama-era regulations.<\/p>\n<p>The EPA\u2019s \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2021\/01\/06\/2020-29179\/strengthening-transparency-in-pivotal-science-underlying-significant-regulatory-actions-and\">Strengthening Transparency in Pivotal Science Underlying Significant Regulatory Actions and Influential Scientific Information<\/a>\u201d rule limits the EPA\u2019s use of science where the underlying data is not publicly available. The scientific community, including ESA, has opposed this rule since it was first proposed in 2018, as well as its legislative predecessors the HONEST Act and the Secret Science Act. Scientific and public health groups said that it will limit\u00a0the wide swaths of research and data that the EPA could use to make informed policy decisions and fulfill their mission to protect the public health and environment.\u00a0The EPA\u2019s Scientific Advisory has also criticized the rule, writing in a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/yosemite.epa.gov\/sab\/sabproduct.nsf\/0\/44DDFBB49B6E46AD852584430056804E?OpenDocument\">2020 draft commentary<\/a>\u00a0that the rule does not fully identify what problem the rule addresses and \u201cmay not add transparency, and even may make some kinds of research more difficult.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Another newly finalized rule from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service determines that the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) does not apply to the \u201cincidental take\u201d or accidental killing of birds. This rule formalizes\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.doi.gov\/sites\/doi.gov\/files\/uploads\/m-37050.pdf\">a 2017 Interior Department legal opinion<\/a>, which \u2018clarified\u2019 that the law only applies to the intentional killing of birds. Unless Congress overturns this regulation under the Congressional Review Act, the Biden administration will have to undergo the formal rulemaking process to reverse the rule.<\/p>\n<p>Previous administrations have prosecuted and fined companies for violations of the MBTA that harm protected birds.\u00a0Notably, BP paid a $100 million fine under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act after the Deepwater Horizon spill.<\/p>\n<p>In August 2020, a federal judge in New York struck down the 2017 legal opinion, finding the Interior Department\u2019s interpretation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act is \u201ccontrary to law.\u201d Trump\u2019s Justice Department announced in October that it is appealing that decision. Defenders of Wildlife vowed to challenge the rule in the courts.<\/p>\n<p>Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) is expected to reintroduce the Migratory Bird Protection Act (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/116th-congress\/house-bill\/5552\">H.R. 5552<\/a>), which requires USFWS to create a permitting program for the incidental take of migratory birds during commercial activities. Biden\u2019s pick to be Interior secretary, Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM), was an original co-sponsor of Rep. Lowenthal\u2019s bill.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Transition Tracker for President-elect Biden<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><a id=\"transition\"><\/a><br>\nPresident-elect Joe Biden continued to announce his picks for cabinet nominations and top political appointments in the executive branch.<\/p>\n<p>Biden nominated Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo (D) to be the secretary of the Department of Commerce that includes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The President-elect also\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/buildbackbetter.gov\/press-releases\/president-elect-joe-biden-and-vice-president-elect-kamala-harris-announce-additional-members-of-the-national-security-council\/\">announced<\/a>\u00a021 senior appointments to the National Security Council, including Tarun Chhabra who will be senior director for technology and national security and Melanie Nakagawa who will be senior director for climate and energy. Chhabra worked for the National Security Council during the Obama administration and is currently a senior fellow at Georgetown University\u2019s Center for Security and Emerging Technology. Nakagawa is a former climate change advisor to Secretary of State John Kerry. These positions do not require Senate confirmation.<\/p>\n<p>For more information as President-elect Biden names new nominees and the Senate schedules confirmation hearing, see\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/science-policy\/federal-agency-nomination-tracker\/\">ESA\u2019s transition tracker<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Congress<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><a id=\"congress\"><\/a><br>\n<strong>Science Committee<\/strong>: Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Ranking Member Frank Lucas reintroduced the STEM Opportunities Act (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/117th-congress\/house-bill\/204\">H.R. 204<\/a>). This bill requires federal agencies to collect demographic data on grant recipients and STEM faculty, take other steps to implement evidence-based policies to increase the number of women, minorities and other groups underrepresented in STEM and support these groups\u2019 success. Johnson and Lucas introduced similar legislation in 2019 during the 116<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0Congress and the bill passed the full U.S. House in October 2019. A companion bill introduced by Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) did not pass the U.S. Senate. A version of this bill has been introduced to every Congress since 2007.<\/p>\n<p>Lucas and Johnson also reintroduced the Rural STEM Education Act (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/117th-congress\/house-bill\/210\">S. 210<\/a>). This bill directs the National Science Foundation to fund STEM education research focused on rural areas and recommends that NSF dedicate $12 million annually toward efforts to increase rural students\u2019 participation in STEM. A version of this bill passed the U.S. House in September 2020. The U.S. Senate did not consider this bill.<\/p>\n<p>Another newly-reintroduced bll from Lucas and Johnson, the Supporting Early Career Research Act (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/117th-congress\/house-bill\/144\">H.R. 144<\/a>) authorizes $250 million to the National Science Foundation to award two-year postdoctoral fellowships to help keep researchers whose employment opportunities have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the STEM pipeline.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Legislative updates:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The full U.S. Senate approved a bill (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/116th-congress\/house-bill\/4044\">H.R. 4044<\/a>) to reauthorize the National Estuary Program through 2026 and double the authorized funding for this program.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>See ESA\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/legislative-tracker\/\">Legislative Tracker<\/a>\u00a0for more updates on legislation relevant to the ecological community.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Executive Branch<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><a id=\"executivebranch\"><\/a><br>\n<strong>White House:<\/strong>\u00a0President Donald Trump vetoed the Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/116th-congress\/senate-bill\/906\">S. 906<\/a>). This bill phases out large-mesh drift gillnets used in commercial fishing in federal waters off California\u2019s coast. The California State Legislature passed a plan to phase out these nets in state waters in 2018. The bill easily passed both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate with bipartisan support. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) vowed to reintroduce the bill in the 117<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0Congress.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Arctic:<\/strong>\u00a0A Bureau of Land Management lease auction for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2021\/01\/06\/953718234\/major-oil-companies-take-a-pass-on-controversial-lease-sale-in-arctic-refuge\">attracted<\/a>\u00a0limited attention from the oil and gas industry. In total, the state of Alaska and two small oil companies were the only bidders in all of the lease auctions and only 11 out of 22 parcels received any bids. The high cost of building infrastructure for drilling in the area, low oil prices and the potential that the Biden administration could block drilling all deterred potential bidders. All major U.S. banks have pledged not to finance development in the refuge.<\/p>\n<p>In November 2020, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency released a proposed rule, which, if finalized, would prohibit financial institutions from refusing to finance entire business categories, assuming that those business activities are legal. The public comment period for this proposed rule closed Jan. 4, 2021 and the administration has not finalized this rule.<\/p>\n<p><strong>USDA:<\/strong>\u00a0President Donald Trump named Carrie Castille to be director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Castille previously led the USDA\u2019s food production and conservation efforts in the mid-South. Before joining the USDA in 2017, she was an assistant professor at Louisiana State University and Senior Advisor to the Commissioner for the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.\u00a0Castille is expected to serve a six-year term. Trump\u2019s previous NIFA director, Scott Angle, resigned after two years on the job.<\/p>\n<p><strong>NOAA:<\/strong>\u00a0ESA\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/2020_12_18-ESA-NOMAD-letter-FINAL.pdf\">submitted comments<\/a>\u00a0to the National Weather Service (NWS) National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) on the management of user access of the NCEP web services. The National Weather Service proposed limiting the number of users allowed access to NOMAD weather data information to 60 per hour, which would disadvantage ecologists. ESA highlighted the importance of this data for ecological forecasting research and recommended limiting the size of downloads per minute rather than the number of hits per minute so that users who only need small-sized files, such as ecological researchers, will not be impacted.<\/p>\n<p>A\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.noaa.gov\/stories\/record-number-of-billion-dollar-disasters-struck-us-in-2020\">NOAA report<\/a>\u00a0finds that 2020 was the fifth warmest year on record. The United States experienced the a record number of billion dollar climate and weather disasters in 2020, including western wildfires, three major tornado outbreaks and seven tropical cyclones.<\/p>\n<p><strong>NPS:<\/strong>\u00a0A provision in the omnibus appropriations and coronavirus relief bill\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelandleisure.com\/trip-ideas\/national-parks\/new-river-gorge-new-national-park\">designates<\/a>\u00a0West Virginia\u2019s New River Gorge as a national park, making the area the country\u2019s 63rd national park.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Scientific Community<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><a id=\"scientificcommunity\"><\/a><br>\n<strong>NASEM:<\/strong>\u00a0The National Academies is seeking nominations of experts to serve on a study committee dedicated to addressing inaccurate and misleading information about biological threats through scientific collaboration and communication. This committee will analyze how scientists can determine which claims may be addressed by defensible scientific information and how scientists can work together to address those claims. The study will suggest a strategy for developing an international network of scientists to address inaccurate and misleading claims and will engage scientists from various countries. NASEM is seeking scientists with multiple areas of expertise, including ecology. For more information, see the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalacademies.org\/our-work\/addressing-inaccurate-and-misleading-information-about-biological-threats-through-scientific-collaboration-and-communication?mc_cid=6889100f83&amp;mc_eid=5465da1712\">study website<\/a>.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/survey.alchemer.com\/s3\/6081394\/Call-for-Nominations-Addressing-Inaccurate-and-Misleading-Infor?mc_cid=6889100f83&amp;mc_eid=5465da1712\">Nominations<\/a>\u00a0are due by Jan. 16, 2020.<\/p>\n<p><strong>ESA:<\/strong>\u00a0A new report in Issues in Ecology<a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ESA_IssuesInEcology_no.22.pdf\">, Innovative Finance for Conservation: Roles for Ecologists and Practitioners<\/a>,\u00a0offers guidelines for developing standardized, ethical and effective conservation finance projects. ESA will hold a webinar on Jan. 14 that will provide an overview of key highlights from the report. The benefits of private funding sources and examining recommendations from the report for various stakeholders who wish to develop, apply, and evaluate privately financed projects designed to conserve biodiversity improve human livelihoods will be discussed. Register\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/esa.zoom.us\/webinar\/register\/WN_nERTHMDMRoSEHpoZLcuuXA\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>NSF:<\/strong>\u00a0A\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/federalnewsnetwork.com\/big-data\/2021\/01\/nsf-develops-predictive-model-to-flag-improper-payments-in-grants\/\">new model<\/a>\u00a0developed by the National Science Foundation allows the agency to predict and find potentially improper grant payments. The model is open-source and NSF is planning to share it with other grant-making agencies.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>International<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>CBD:<\/strong>\u00a0The Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework will hold a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbd.int\/article\/stakeholder-open-webinar-climate-2021\">webinar<\/a>\u00a0on Jan. 12 to explore the linkages between the issues of climate change and biodiversity, ways to improve synergies between climate change and biodiversity conservation actions, and enhance coordination between the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity. This webinar is the first of of a series of stakeholder webinars.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>What We\u2019re Reading<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/slate.com\/news-and-politics\/2021\/01\/congressional-repeal-act-trump-democrats.html\">Democrats Have a Filibuster-Proof Tool to Erase the Trump Administration\u2019s Final Months<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/01\/01\/climate\/trump-national-climate-assessment.html?campaign_id=54&amp;emc=edit_clim_20210106&amp;instance_id=25710&amp;nl=climate-fwd%3A&amp;regi_id=85981451&amp;segment_id=48528&amp;te=1&amp;user_id=214f7fceffa191c528015bf7cb7c537b\">How Trump Tried, but Largely Failed, to Derail America\u2019s Top Climate Report<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/climate-solutions\/2020\/12\/31\/island-nation-unique-wildlife\/?arc404=true&amp;gsBNFDNDN=undefined&amp;utm_campaign=wp_the_energy_202&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=newsletter&amp;wpisrc=nl_energy202\">An island nation\u2019s audacious effort to save its unique wildlife<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencemag.org\/news\/2021\/01\/power-shift-senate-could-bring-major-changes-us-science-and-climate-policy?utm_campaign=news_daily_2021-01-06&amp;et_rid=397374051&amp;et_cid=3621404\">Power shift in Senate could bring major changes in U.S. science and climate policy<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 18pt\">ESA In the News<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>ESA regularly issues press releases to the media about journal articles and other Society news. Press coverage is kept up-to-date on our \u201cIn the News\u201d page. <a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/newsroom\/esa-in-the-news\/\">Check out news stories here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"correspondence\"><\/a><br>\n<span style=\"font-size: 18pt\"><strong>ESA Correspondence to Policymakers<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/2020_12_18-ESA-NOMAD-letter-FINAL.pdf\">ESA \u2013 Comments to the NWS National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) on the management of user access of the NCEP web services<\/a> (Dec. 18, 2020)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/2020_12_15-ESC-Congratulatory-Statement-to-Rep.-DeLauro-December-2020.pdf\">ESC \u2013 Congratulatory Statement to New Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro<\/a>\u00a0(Dec. 15, 2020)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ESC-DOE-Transition-Team-Statement-December-2020-Final-1.pdf\">ESC \u2013\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/ESC-DOE-Transition-Team-Statement-December-2020-Final-1.pdf\">DOE Transition Team Statement<\/a>\u00a0(Dec. 17, 2020)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/2020_12_8-Community-sign-on-letter-for-FY-21-and-supplemental_-FINAL.pdf\">Multi-organization Scientific Community Letter About Completing 2021 Appropriations and Research Relief<\/a>\u00a0(Dec. 8, 2020)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/2020_12_4-CNSF-Transition-Recommendations-2020.pdf\">CNSF \u2013 Presidential Transition Policy Letter<\/a>\u00a0(Dec. 4, 2020)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/2020_12_1-CNSF-FY2021-CONFERENCE-COMM-LETTER.pdf\">CNSF \u2013 Conference Committee Appropriations Letter<\/a>\u00a0(Nov. 30, 2020)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/2020_11_11-Saving-Civil-Service-Act.pdf\">Multisociety Letter of Support for the Saving Civil Service Act<\/a>\u00a0(Nov. 11, 2020)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/2020-10-26-ESA-DHS-Fed-Reg-comment-FNL.pdf\">ESA \u2013 Public Comments \u2013 Fixed Time Period for Student Visas and Exchange Visitors<\/a>\u00a0(Oct. 26, 2020)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>View more letters and testimony from ESA\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/public-policy\/letters-from-esa-president\/\">here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"opportunities\"><\/a><br>\n<span style=\"font-size: 18pt\"><strong>Opportunities to get involved\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Virtual public meetings and conference calls:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/08\/2020-26894\/notice-of-public-meetings-for-the-southeast-oregon-resource-advisory-council\">BLM \u2013 Notice of Public Meetings for the Southeast Oregon Resource Advisory Council<\/a>\u00a0(Jan. 13 &amp; 14)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/10\/05\/2020-21970\/notice-of-public-meeting-resource-advisory-council-subcommittee-\">BLM \u2013 Resource Advisory Council Subcommittee on Public Lands (Alaska) Meeting<\/a>\u00a0(Feb. 9-10)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/08\/2020-26894\/notice-of-public-meetings-for-the-southeast-oregon-resource-advisory-council\">BLM \u2013 Public Meetings for the Southeast Oregon Resource Advisory Council<\/a>\u00a0(Jan. 13 &amp; 14)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2021\/01\/08\/2021-00100\/notice-of-public-meetings-and-of-availability-of-a-draft-environmental-impact-statement-for\">Bureau of Ocean Energy Management \u2013 Notice of Public Meetings and of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Deepwater South Fork LLC\u2019s Proposed Wind Energy Facility Offshore Rhode Island<\/a>\u00a0(Feb. 9, 11, &amp; 16)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/21\/2020-27998\/public-meeting-of-the-glen-canyon-dam-adaptive-management-work-group\">Bureau of Reclamation \u2013 Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group Meeting<\/a>\u00a0(Feb. 10)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/21\/2020-27988\/tri-county-resource-advisory-committee-meeting\">Forest Service \u2013 Tri-County Resource Advisory Committee Meeting<\/a>\u00a0(Jan. 25)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/11\/2020-26950\/notice-of-virtual-public-meetings-for-the-draft-supplemental-environmental-impact-statementoverseas\">Dept. of the Navy \u2013 Notice of Virtual Public Meetings for the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement\/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement for Gulf of Alaska Navy Training Activities<\/a>\u00a0(Jan. 19 &amp; Feb. 3, 2021, comments due Feb. 16)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/14\/2020-27451\/tri-county-resource-advisory-committee-meeting\">Forest Service \u2013 Tri-County Resource Advisory Committee Meeting (Montana)<\/a>\u00a0(Jan. 12)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/14\/2020-27447\/notice-of-public-meeting-northern-new-mexico-resource-advisory-council-new-mexico\">Forest Service \u2013 Northern New Mexico Resource Advisory Council Meeting<\/a>\u00a0(Jan. 19)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2021\/01\/07\/2021-00024\/black-hills-resource-advisory-committee\">Forest Service \u2013 Black Hills Resource Advisory Committee<\/a>\u00a0(Jan. 28)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/09\/2020-27047\/notice-of-virtual-workshop-on-pioneering-the-future-of-federally-supported-data-repositories\">NSF \u2013 Virtual Workshop on Pioneering the Future of Federally Supported Data Repositories<\/a>\u00a0(Jan. 13-15)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/29\/2020-28630\/sanctuary-system-business-advisory-council-public-meeting\">NOAA \u2013 Sanctuary System Business Advisory Council Meeting<\/a>\u00a0(Jan. 14)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2021\/01\/07\/2021-00049\/western-pacific-fishery-management-council-public-meeting\">NOAA NMFS \u2013 Western Pacific Fishery Management Council Public Meeting<\/a>\u00a0(Jan. 21)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2021\/01\/08\/2021-00160\/new-england-fishery-management-council-public-meeting\">NOAA NMFS \u2013 New England Fishery Management Council Public Meeting<\/a>\u00a0(Jan. 26, 27, &amp; 28)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2021\/01\/08\/2021-00158\/fisheries-of-the-south-atlantic-southeast-data-assessment-and-review-sedar-public-meeting\">NOAA NMFS \u2013 Fisheries of the South Atlantic; Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) Public Meeting<\/a>\u00a0(Jan. 27)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2021\/01\/08\/2021-00159\/fisheries-of-the-south-atlantic-southeast-data-assessment-and-review-sedar-public-meeting\">NOAA NMFS \u2013 Fisheries of the South Atlantic; Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR); Public Meeting<\/a>\u00a0(Jan. 27)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/15\/2020-27568\/alaska-subsistence-regional-advisory-council-meetings-for-2021\">USFWS \u2013 Alaska Subsistence Regional Advisory Council Meetings for 2021<\/a>\u00a0(Feb. 9 \u2013 Mar. 18)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Opportunities for Public Comment and Nominations:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/04\/2020-26671\/notice-of-availability-of-the-draft-environmental-impact-statement-for-the-robinson-mine-plan-of\">BLM \u2013 Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Robinson Mine Plan of Operations Amendment, White Pine County, Nevada<\/a>.\u00a0In order to have comments considered for inclusion in the Final EIS, the BLM must receive comments on the Draft EIS by Jan. 19, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/23\/2020-28242\/notice-of-intent-to-prepare-an-environmental-impact-statement-for-the-husky-1-north-dry-ridge\">BLM and Forest Service \u2013 Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Husky 1 North Dry Ridge Phosphate Mine and Notice of Cancellation of Environmental Impact Statement Preparation for the Nu-West Mining Husky 1-North Dry Ridge Phosphate Mine Project<\/a>.\u00a0All comments must be received by Jan. 22, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/11\/2020-27147\/wildfire-risk-reduction-reliability-and-asset-protection-wrap-project-trinity-county-california\">DOE\/Western Area Power Admin. \u2013 Wildfire Risk Reduction, Reliability, and Asset Protection (WRAP) Project, Trinity County, California (DOE\/EIS-0548)<\/a>.\u00a0WAPA invites public comments on the scope of the WRAP EIS\/EIR by Jan. 25, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/11\/20\/2020-25821\/pesticide-registration-review-draft-human-health-andor-ecological-risk-assessments-for-ethylene\">EPA \u2013 Pesticide Registration Review; Draft Human Health and\/or Ecological Risk Assessments for Ethylene Oxide; Notice of Availability<\/a>.\u00a0Comments must be received on or before Jan. 19, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/11\/27\/2020-26184\/glyphosate-registration-review-draft-endangered-species-act-biological-evaluations-notice-of\">EPA \u2013 Glyphosate Registration Review; Draft Endangered Species Act Biological Evaluations; Notice of Availability<\/a>.\u00a0Comments must be received on or before Jan. 26, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/07\/2020-26386\/pesticide-registration-review-proposed-interim-decision-for-chlorpyrifos-notice-of-availability\">EPA \u2013 Proposed Interim Decision for Chlorpyrifos<\/a>.\u00a0Comments must be received on or before Feb. 5, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/04\/2020-26713\/cornell-university-notice-of-availability-of-environmental-assessment\">FERC \u2013 Cornell University; Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment<\/a>.\u00a0Any comments should be filed within 45 days from the date of this notice (Jan. 18, 2021).<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2021\/01\/08\/2021-00129\/kern-river-gas-transmission-company-notice-of-scoping-period-requesting-comments-on-environmental\">FERC \u2013 Kern River Gas Transmission Company; Notice of Scoping Period Requesting Comments on Environmental Issues for the Planned Delta Lateral Project<\/a>.\u00a0Please submit comments so that the Commission receives them in Washington, DC on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Feb. 3, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/16\/2020-27634\/tongass-national-forest-alaska-mendenhall-glacier-visitor-facility-improvement-project\">Forest Service \u2013 Tongass National Forest; Alaska; Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Facility Improvement Project<\/a>.\u00a0Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by Jan. 15, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/08\/14\/2020-17838\/request-for-applications-the-community-forest-and-open-space-conservation-program\">Forest Service \u2013 Request for Applications: The Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program<\/a>.\u00a0State Foresters or Tribal government officials must forward applications to the appropriate Forest Service Regional office or International Institute of Tropical Forestry by Feb. 8, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/16\/2020-27680\/notice-of-lodging-of-proposed-second-amendment-to-consent-decree-under-the-clean-water-act\">Justice Department \u2013 Notice of Lodging of Proposed Second Amendment to Consent Decree Under the Clean Water Act<\/a>.\u00a0All comments must be submitted no later than thirty (30) days after the publication date of this notice (Jan. 15, 2021).<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/16\/2020-27679\/notice-of-proposed-settlement-agreement-under-the-oil-pollution-act-of-1990\">Justice Department \u2013 Notice of Proposed Settlement Agreement Under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990<\/a>.\u00a0All comments must be submitted no later than thirty (30) days after the publication date of this notice (Jan. 15, 2021).<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/10\/09\/2020-22427\/national-sea-grant-advisory-board-nsgab-public-meeting-and-solicitation-for-nominations-for-the\">NOAA \u2013 National Sea Grant Advisory Board (NSGAB); Public Meeting and Solicitation for Nominations for the National Sea Grant Advisory Board<\/a>.\u00a0Applications will be kept on file for consideration of any Board vacancy for a period of three years from Jan. 31, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/16\/2020-27695\/interagency-working-group-on-illegal-unreported-and-unregulated-fishing-request-for-comments\">NOAA NMFS \u2013 Interagency Working Group on Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing; Request for Comments<\/a>.\u00a0Information should be received on or before Jan. 15, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/17\/2020-27787\/takes-of-marine-mammals-incidental-to-specified-activities-taking-marine-mammals-incidental-to\">NOAA NMFS \u2013 Takes of Marine Mammals Incidental To Specified Activities; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Washington State Department of Transportation Purdy Bridge Rehabilitation Project, Pierce County, WA<\/a>.\u00a0Comments and information must be received no later than Jan. 19, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/11\/27\/2020-21229\/endangered-and-threatened-species-critical-habitat-for-the-threatened-caribbean-corals\">NOAA NMFS \u2013 Endangered and Threatened Species; Critical Habitat for the Threatened Caribbean Corals<\/a>.\u00a0Comments on this proposal must be received by Jan. 26, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/11\/27\/2020-21226\/endangered-and-threatened-species-critical-habitat-for-the-threatened-indo-pacific-corals\">NOAA NMFS \u2013 Critical Habitat for the Threatened Indo-Pacific Corals<\/a>.\u00a0Comments on this proposal must be received by Jan. 26, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/11\/27\/2020-26212\/endangered-and-threatened-species-initiation-of-a-5-year-review-for-the-arctic-okhotsk-baltic-and\">NOAA NMFS \u2013 Initiation of a 5-Year Review for the Arctic, Okhotsk, Baltic, and Ladoga Subspecies of the Ringed Seal<\/a>.\u00a0To allow them adequate time to conduct this review, they must receive information no later than Jan. 26, 2021. However, they will continue to accept new information about any listed species at any time.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2021\/01\/08\/2020-28694\/taking-and-importing-marine-mammals-taking-marine-mammals-incidental-to-training-activities-in-the\">NOAA NMFS \u2013 Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Training Activities in the Gulf of Alaska Temporary Maritime Activities Area<\/a>.\u00a0Comments and information must be received no later than Jan. 29, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2021\/01\/05\/2020-28999\/international-fisheries-pacific-tuna-fisheries-2021-commercial-fishing-restrictions-for-pacific\">NOAA NMFS \u2013 International Fisheries; Pacific Tuna Fisheries; 2021 Commercial Fishing Restrictions for Pacific Bluefin Tuna in the Eastern Pacific Ocean<\/a>.\u00a0Comments on the proposed rule and supporting documents must be submitted in writing by Feb. 4, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2021\/01\/07\/2021-00031\/endangered-and-threatened-species-notice-of-initiation-of-a-5-year-review-of-indo-pacific\">NOAA NMFS \u2013 5-Year Review of Indo-Pacific Reef-building Corals<\/a>.\u00a0To allow NOAA NMFS adequate time to conduct this review, they must receive your information no later than Feb. 8, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2021\/01\/08\/2020-29125\/taking-marine-mammals-incidental-to-the-hampton-roads-bridge-tunnel-expansion-project-in-norfolk\">NOAA NMFS \u2013 Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel Expansion Project in Norfolk, Virginia<\/a>.\u00a0Comments and information must be received no later than Feb. 8, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/22\/2020-28142\/request-for-information-on-potential-concepts-and-approaches-for-a-national-strategic-computing\">NSF \u2013 Request for Information on Potential Concepts and Approaches for a National Strategic Computing Reserve (NSCR)<\/a>.\u00a0Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Jan. 16, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/10\/2020-27120\/request-for-information-strategic-and-performance-plans\">NSF \u2013 Request for Information; Strategic and Performance Plans<\/a>.\u00a0Please send comments on or before Jan. 22, 2021. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/17\/2020-27703\/guidance-for-identification-of-nonindustrial-private-forest-land-nipf\">NRCS \u2013 Guidance for Identification of Nonindustrial Private Forest Land (NIPF)<\/a>.\u00a0They will consider comments received by Jan. 19, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2021\/01\/08\/2021-00063\/notice-of-availability-of-an-environmental-assessment-for-release-of-lilioceris\">USDA \u2013 Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment for Release of Lilioceris<\/a>.\u00a0They will consider all comments that they receive on or before Feb. 8, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/15\/2020-27582\/draft-amendment-to-the-environmental-assessmenthabitat-conservation-plan-previously-associated-with\">USFWS \u2013 Draft Amendment to the Environmental Assessment\/Habitat Conservation Plan Previously Associated With the 440-acre Schlumberger Property for Concordia University, Texas<\/a>.\u00a0To ensure consideration, written comments must be received or postmarked on or before Jan. 14, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/01\/2020-25257\/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-endangered-species-status-for-the-peppered-chub-and\">USFWS \u2013 Endangered Species Status for the Peppered Chub and Designation of Critical Habitat<\/a>.\u00a0They must receive requests for public hearings, in writing, by Jan. 15, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/16\/2020-27667\/draft-environmental-assessment-and-proposed-habitat-conservation-plan-receipt-of-an-application-for\">USFWS \u2013 Draft Environmental Assessment and Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan; Receipt of an Application for an Incidental Take Permit, Bluff Point Wind Energy Center, Jay and Randolph Counties, Indiana<\/a>.\u00a0They will accept comments received or postmarked on or before Jan. 15, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/17\/2020-27752\/notice-of-receipt-of-right-of-way-application-for-natural-gas-pipeline-crossing-san-bernard-national\">USFWS \u2013 Notice of Receipt of Right-of-Way Application for Natural Gas Pipeline Crossing San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge<\/a>.\u00a0They must receive any written comments on or before Jan. 19, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/17\/2020-27705\/receipt-of-incidental-take-permit-application-and-draft-low-effect-habitat-conservation-plan-and\">USFWS \u2013 Receipt of Incidental Take Permit Application and Draft Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan, and Draft NEPA Compliance Documentation, for the Gamebird Substation Expansion in Pahrump, Nye County, Nevada<\/a>.They must receive your written comments on or before Jan. 19, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/11\/19\/2020-24208\/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-threatened-species-status-with-section-4d-rule-for-the\">USFWS \u2013 Threatened Species Status With Section 4(d) Rule for the Upper Coosa River Distinct Population Segment of Frecklebelly Madtom and Designation of Critical Habitat<\/a>.\u00a0They will accept comments received or postmarked on or before Jan. 19, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/02\/2020-25331\/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-threatened-species-status-for-pinus-albicaulis\">USFWS \u2013 Threatened Species Status for Pinus albicaulis (Whitebark Pine) With Section 4(d) Rule<\/a>.\u00a0They must receive requests for public hearings, in writing, by Jan. 19, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/12\/22\/2020-28172\/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-draft-recovery-plan-for-the-ozark-hellbender\">USFWS \u2013 Draft Recovery Plan for the Ozark Hellbender<\/a>.\u00a0USFWS must receive comments by Jan. 21, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2020\/11\/24\/2020-25918\/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-draft-recovery-plan-for-sharpnose-shiner-and-smalleye\">USFWS \u2013 Draft Recovery Plan for Sharpnose Shiner and Smalleye Shiner<\/a>.\u00a0To ensure consideration, USFWS must receive written comments on or before Jan. 25, 2021.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2021\/01\/04\/2020-29043\/john-h-chafee-coastal-barrier-resources-system-okaloosa-and-walton-counties-fl-beaufort-and\">USFWS \u2013 John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System; Okaloosa and Walton Counties, FL; Beaufort and Charleston Counties, SC; Availability of Draft Revised Boundaries and Request for Comments<\/a>.\u00a0Requests for the stakeholder outreach toolkit described under Availability of Proposed Coastal Barrier Resources System Boundaries should be made by Feb. 3, 2021.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/federal-register-opportunities\/\">Visit this page on ESA\u2019s website for updates on opportunities from the Federal Register<\/a>,\u00a0including upcoming meetings and regulations open for public comment.<\/p>\n<p>ESA\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>Send questions or comments to Alison Mize, director of public affairs, <a href=\"mailto:alison@esa.org\">Alison@esa.org<\/a>\u00a0or Nicole Zimmerman, public affairs manager,\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:nicole@esa.org\">Nicole@esa.org<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Visit the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/esa.org\/\">ESA website<\/a>\u00a0to learn more about our activities and membership.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Katherine S. McCarter Graduate Student Policy Award Applications are now being accepted. ESA is now accepting applications for its 2021 Katherine S. McCarter Graduate Student Policy Award. Offered each year, this award gives graduate students science policy training and opportunities to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Visit the\u00a0ESA website\u00a0for more information and details on application requirements. The deadline&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":12399,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[86],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17696","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-homepage-featured"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17696","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17696"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17696\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12399"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17696"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17696"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17696"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}