Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020 07 21 NPC MRC FINAL Meeting Summary.docx NPC MRC 7/21/2020 FINAL Meeting Summary 1 July 21, 2020 NPC MRC FINAL Meeting Summary The Tuesday, July 21, 2020 NPC MRC meeting took place by Zoom connection from 4:00 to 5:31 PM (from [00:00:01] to [01:30:33] on the audio recording). Appointed committee members present at the meeting were Helle Anderson (Clallam County Rep.), Rod Fleck (City of Forks Rep.), Jennifer Hagen (Quileute Tribe Rep.), John Hunter (Citizen Rep., Clallam County – Education/Environmental Groups), Julie Ann Kohlinger (Hoh Tribe Rep.), Katie Krueger (Citizen Rep., Clallam County – Scientific Community), Tami Pokorny (Jefferson County Rep., Coordinator/Facilitator), Alice Ryan (Citizen Rep., Clallam County – Recreational Groups), and Jill Silver (Citizen Rep., Jefferson County – Conservation/Environmental Groups). A quorum was present at the meeting. Also present were Chris Butler-Minor (Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary [OCNMS]), Frank Hanson (Olympic Natural Resources Center [ONRC]), Ian Miller (UW Sea Grant), James Roubal (Washington CoastSavers) and Julie Tennis (Pacific Education Institute). Introductions A quorum was established at the beginning of the meeting. Public Comments There were no public comments. Additions to and Approval of the Agenda Jennifer Hagen moved to accept the agenda; Jill Silver seconded. The agenda was approved by consensus. Approval of the June 2nd Special Meeting and the June NPC MRC Meeting Summaries Jill Silver moved to approve the June 2nd Special Meeting Summary; Jennifer Hagen seconded. Jennifer Hagen moved to approve the June NPC MRC Meeting Summary; Jill Silver seconded. The meeting summaries were approved by consensus without changes. Announcements Jill Silver announced that the Pleistocene wood study students would be coming back out with Kathy Troost. Julie Tennis announced that the Ocean Science Workshop will be online this year on 8/4, 8/5, and 8/6. Old Business Project Updates or Amendment Requests Jennifer Hagen mentioned that a film was submitted to the Film Festival by the four coastal tribes on the impacts of climate change on resources. Julie Ann Kohlinger confirmed that the review panel had accepted the film for the Film Festival. James Roubal would give his CoastSavers update under New Business. River and Ocean Film Festival Planning NPC MRC 7/21/2020 FINAL Meeting Summary 2 Ian Miller was not present at this point in the agenda. After he arrived, the group circled back to this item. Ian updated the group on Film Festival plans. The first social media save-the-date event occurred a couple of weeks ago to promote the Film Festival. Ian encouraged the group to share the promotions as much as possible. He is organizing the first episode for review. Three episodes will be released in subsequent weeks in September. SeaGrant is also setting up an event registration, which will give people a direct email for the episode releases. Those contacts will be surveyed after the event. MRC Resolution Amendment Update Tami Pokorny announced that the amendment is all ready to go, but she was having trouble getting it approved by Jefferson County prior to Clallam County review. *Helle Anderson will submit the finished version to the Clallam County legal department for a final review so that Jefferson County can sign it. Newsletter Tami Pokorny reported five articles submitted for the West End Natural Resources Newsletter. The group discussed other article ideas and potential contacts, and went over multiple local COVID-19 challenges. New Business Coastal Update The two items under New Business were switched, to the agreement of all. Jennifer Hagen presented on the study conducted by the Pacific Northwest Crab Research Group, which is made up of State, federal and Tribal members. The group was designed to figure out how to better understand Dungeness crab. The study used a crab light trap to collect samples, and looked at the impacts of ocean acidification on larvae development. Jennifer also updated the group on concerns with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit that was issued to the Pacific whiting offshore processing fleet. The Quileute Tribe objects to this type of discharge occurring at all, and has formed a working group with Oregon and Washington states to help the EPA conduct the permit and get back on track. They are trying to improve monitoring and data collection for better compliance. ICC Planning and July 5th Cleanup Outcomes James Roubal went over the results of the Washington coast beach cleanup. The report was encouraging in that the collected debris was less than the last time that July 4th occurred on a Saturday. Safety protocol was followed with the use of masks and sanitizers, and James said that it was a successful cleanup, especially to be back out actively collecting debris, as opposed to holding another virtual event. He also addressed the new working group called Stop the Inflow, which is being led by Roy Morris and Heather Trim. Good conversations are coming out of the working group, focusing on more robust data collection methods in order to inform policy decisions. They are trying to follow EPA protocol. Volunteer trainings will be starting in August, with pilot data collections to follow. James is working on the new Stop the Inflow page on the CoastSavers website. He also offered to help promote the Film Festival. Updates Washington Coastal Marine Advisory Council (WCMAC) The last meeting was held remotely on 6/1/20. No new meeting has been scheduled yet, but may be held in September. Rod Fleck discussed progress that is being made for the Economic Resiliency Workshop as an online event. Meeting materials can be found at the Ecology website: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Our- role-in-the-community/Partnerships-committees/Marine-Resources-Advisory-Council. Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council NPC MRC 7/21/2020 FINAL Meeting Summary 3 Tami Pokorny displayed the agenda for the 7/24/20 meeting. Chris Butler-Minor went over the agenda items, which will include presentations on European green crab, cruise ships in the Sanctuary, and the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory five-year strategic plan. West Coast Ocean Alliance Jennifer Hagen gave an update. The Tribal Caucus Consultation Guidance Document had its first release to the Ocean Alliance members. In the future it will be available on the Alliance website. The next conference call is scheduled for August. Invasive European Green Crab There was nothing new to report. Marine Debris This item was addressed under the CoastSavers update. Climate/Fossil Fuels Related (All) There was nothing new to report. Administration and Fiscal Agent Update Tami Pokorny asked sponsors to prepare any scope of work changes to their projects. She also mentioned that there may be some returned project funds due to project changes as a result of COVID-19, so there will likely be some additional funds to spend out in a small grant round. Next Agenda (August 18, 2020): The next NPC MRC Meeting will be held over Zoom connection on 8/18/20. The agenda will include the West End Natural Resources Newsletter, the River and Ocean Film Festival, and the upcoming MRC Summit, which is scheduled for 10/15/20-10/17/20. Jennifer Hagen suggested inviting Janet Coles with the Olympic National Park to present at the meeting. Public Comments/General Adjourn at 5:31 PM [01:30:33] Draft summary compiled by Rebekah Brooks. Action Item: *Helle Anderson will submit the finished version of the NPC MRC Resolution Amendment to the Clallam County legal department for a final review so that Jefferson County can sign it.