The U.S. Coast Guard finalized its 2013 proposal to update the liquid chemical categorization tables, aligning them with the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk and the International Maritime Organization's Marine Environment Protection Committee circulars from December 2012 and 2013; the final rule provides a list of liquid hazardous materials and liquefied and compressed gases approved for international and domestic maritime transportation and indicates how each substance is categorized by its pollution potential, safe carriage requirements, chemical flammability, combustibility, and compatibility with other substances.

The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries announced the new indirect cost rates for the recovery of indirect costs for its component organizations involved in natural resource damage and restoration activities for fiscal year 2010. 

The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries initiated a review of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary management plan to evaluate substantive progress toward implementing the goals of the sanctuary and to make revisions to the management plan as necessary to fulfill the purposes and policies of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act. 

NOAA requested input on the development of a national strategy for mapping, exploring, and characterizing the U.S. exclusive economic zone to inform the Ocean Policy Committee as it works with federal agencies and other stakeholders to develop the strategy. 

NOAA requested input on the permitting process for ocean research, mapping, and characterization activities to inform the Ocean Policy Committee as it works with federal agencies and other stakeholders to increase the efficiency of permitting and authorization processes for these activities. 

The president issued a memorandum on November 19, 2019, directing the Ocean Policy Committee that was established by Exec. Order No. 13840 to develop a strategy to map the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ), identify priority areas within the EEZ, and explore and characterize the priority areas; and directing the administrator of NOAA to develop a strategy to map the shoreline and nearshore of Alaska.

The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries clarified procedures for the sanctuary nomination process established in 2014 concerning nominations accepted to the inventory of sites for potential designation as national marine sanctuaries that have been on the inventory for five years.

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement revised existing regulations for well control and blowout preventer systems that pertain to oil and gas and sulfur operations in the outer continental shelf; the revisions are intended to ensure safety and environmental protection while reducing certain unnecessary regulatory burdens.

NOAA seeks comment on the development of an experimental ocean economy satellite account to define and measure the economic impact of ocean and Great Lakes-related activities; the account is intended to inform decisionmakers and improve governance and long-term management of ocean and coastal areas.