Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing
 Regional Association
Weekly News Update    August 9, 2010 
In This Issue: SECOORA News | Oil Spill Updates | NFRA Updates | Coming Events
SECOORA News
Reminder:  LOIs are due to SECOORA by 5:00PM  TODAY, August 9, 2010.  Invitations to participate on the writing team for the full proposal will be sent by August 23, 2010.
 
SECOORA DMCC Meeting
SECOORA's DMCC met August 3-4 in Columbia, SC.  The main goals of the meeting were to review core data management functions/requirements; review RCOOS Year 3 statements of work; determine the status of elements in the IOOS DMAC Guidance document; and to discuss the way forward.  A meeting report will be available in the coming weeks.
 
SECOORA Fall Board Meeting - Members and stakeholders welcome!
The SECOORA Board meeting will be held September 29-30 at the Hilton Garden Inn Tampa Ybor Historic District in Tampa, FL. The group name is SECOORA and the cut-off date for reservations is 8/30/10. Please contact the hotel at 813-769-9267 to make your reservation. We anticipate an 11:30 am start time on Wednesday, September 29 and a meeting conclusion around 12 pm on Thursday, September 30.  Susannah Sheldon will be sending a registration form and details regarding the agenda this week.

Because it is critical that we have a quorum present, Board members should contact Susannah Sheldon (susannah@secoora.org) with any changes in their plans to attend.
 
Article of interest
Oil Spill Updates
Federal Science Report Details Fate of Oil from BP Spill: BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Budget: What Happened To the Oil?  
 
Scientists Confirm Underwater Plumes Are From Spill, New York Times, July 23th (Highlights University of South Florida research)
 
 
Gulf oil unlikely to reach N.C. coast, News & Observer, July 30, 2010 (Ruoying He, North Carolina State University)
 
In Oil Spill, University Scientists' Expertise Was Dumped, The Chronicle of Higher Education, August 1, 2010
 
GCOOS-RA Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Education and Outreach Needs Assessment
GCOOS-RA has preliminary results from the needs assessment conducted to identify Deepwater Horizon oil spill-related informational needs of education and outreach specialists available on their Oil Spill page.  Results have been compiled from more than 200 individuals, representing the GCOOS-RA, SECOORA, COSEE, Sea Grant, NERRS, 4-H Youth Development, Gulf of Mexico Alliance (GOMA), informal learning centers and aquariums, GK-16 educators, academia, industry, small business, NOAA Coastal Services Center, and non-profit response organizations.
NFRA Updates
House Passes HR 3534 The Consolidated Land Energy and Aquatic Resources Act (CLEAR) WITH the Ocean Resources Conservation and Assistance (ORCA) fund
The CLEAR Act passed with the ORCA provision included (subject to appropriations). As a reminder of what the ORCA fund is:  Ten percent of the revenue from the rents and royalties from leasing the outer continental shelf would be dedicated to the ORCA. Of that money, 20 percent would be dedicated to long-term observing through the IOOS program. This money, however, would be subject to appropriations -  meaning that the money for the fund would have to offset by monies elsewhere to ensure a deficit neutral program. 
 
House Sends Letter to Secretary Locke in Support of IOOS Budget
Over 28 House members signed a letter to Secretary Locke in support of an increase in the IOOS funding for FY12.  The letter refers to the prompt response by the IOOS community to the BP Deep Horizon Spill and the value of the coastal and Great Lakes economy.   Five of the co-signers were from the SECOORA region:  Kathy Castor, FL; Ted Deutch, FL; Mike McIntyre, NC; Alcee L. Hastings, FL and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, FL.  Thank you to all of our members who helped to make this happen.
Coming Events 
September 20-23, 2010  OCEANS 2010 MTS/IEEE, Seattle, Washington
 
September 27-October 1, 2010 Ninth Conference on Coastal Atmospheric and Oceanic Prediction and Processes, Annapolis, Maryland
 
September 29-30, 2010 SECOORA Board Meeting, Tampa, FL
 
October 1-2, 2010 South Carolina Marine Educators Association (SCMEA) Annual Conference, Charleston, SC
 
  
November 3-5, 2010 Sustainable Ocean Energy & the Marine Environment, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
 
November 13-17, 2010 Restore America's Estuaries, Galveston Island, TX.  NEW:  Early Bird Registration now available. 
 
November 15, 2010 NFRA Board Meeting, Washington, D.C. 
 
November 16-17, 2010 IOOS Regional Coordination Workshop, Washington, D.C.
 
February 13-18, 2011 ASLO Aquatic Sciences Meeting, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Send us your news!
If you have news to contribute, email communications@secoora.org. Examples of newsworthy items include upcoming meetings, employment opportunity announcements, and major project news.
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Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association
Are you interested in ocean observations, ecosystem management, marine operations, or coastal hazards? Then you should know about SECOORA, the Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association. SECOORA is the regional solution to integrating coastal and ocean observing in the Southeast United States. Commitment to ocean observing technologies in our region is critical. Your input, guidance, support, and membership will insure that SECOORA continues to develop the products and services that you need. Join SECOORA and be a part of the Southeast's future. Contact Executive Director Debra Hernandez (debra@secoora.org) for more information.
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