The Senate passed a national defense bill Thursday that includes several provisions meant to invest in the protection of Puget Sound orcas.
The House of Representatives voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act 350-80 last week.
According to a news release, among the provisions included in the NDAA are:
- The Puget Sound Save Our Sound Act, which would establish a Puget Sound Recovery National Program office within the Environmental Protection Agency;
- The establishment of a “whale desk” within the Coast Guard Puget Sound Vessel Traffic Center, which would improve coordination between NOAA, the Coast Guard and the maritime industry to reduce impacts on Southern resident orcas.
- Provisions enhancing oil spill response operations, including increased vessel response plan evaluations and oil spill response drills
The NDAA also includes a provision from Sen. Maria Cantwell to secure $800 million for NOAA weather research aircraft to collect climate and weather data.
“For the first time, this bill establishes a Puget Sound Office where the EPA, NOAA and other federal partners will have an annual budget for research and recovery efforts to help clean up Puget Sound,” said Sen. Cantwell, the chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. “The new law will also require the Coast Guard to review and improve oil spill response plans to ensure we are ready in the event of an oil spill or other pollution event. Lastly, our bill requires NOAA and the Coast Guard to work together to protect orcas and other marine life from vessel traffic impacts including noise, pollution and ship strikes.”
The bill now heads to President Biden’s desk for his signature.
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