OCS Scientific Committee
1999 Meeting Summary - OCEAN Activities Update
Dr. Ken Turgeon, MMS Chief Scientist, briefed the Committee on the recently
released Federal Ocean Report, Turning to the Sea: America’s Ocean Future. This
report stemmed from President Clinton’s June 12, 1999, directive to his cabinet at
the National Ocean Conference to report back to him within one year with recommendations
for a coordinated, disciplined, long-term federal ocean policy. The report was prepared as
part of an interagency effort in which the Department of the Interior (DOI) participated
as one of the key Federal agencies with ocean resource responsibilities. In addition to
Dr. Turgeon, Dr. Tom Kitsos, Deputy Director of MMS and Mr. Bob LaBelle, Chief of
MMS’s Environmental Division, served as DOI principals in the formulation and
preparation of the report. Vice President Gore released the report at a press conference
in Boston, Massachusetts, on September 2, 1999.
At that time, the Vice President announced the formation of an Under Secretary level
Federal Ocean Task Force to implement the recommendations in the report. Dr. Turgeon
presented the salient points of the ocean report and gave an update on the status and
direction of the Ocean Task Force.
For more information, contact Julie Reynolds.
