There were 16 billion-dollar weather and climate disasters during the year, according to the agency, and the $306 billion in losses set a new U.S. record.
Alaska's governor supports the plan, which Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said would open more than 98 percent of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources in federal offshore areas to exploration and development, a reversal from the current program, which he said puts 94 percent of the OCS off limits.
The idea is for "smart floats" that would contain a suite of commercially available sensors to collect environmental data such as ocean temperature, sea state, and location and also data about commercial vessels, aircraft, and even maritime mammals moving through the area.
Chile, Oman, Sri Lanka, and South Africa have joined UN Environment's CleanSeas campaign against marine litter and ocean pollution, announcing measures including new marine reserves, plastic bag bans, and drives to increase recycling.
This will be the agency's first of several iguana technical assistance workshops in the Florida Keys.
The state wants EPA to further evaluate the need for additional removal of contaminated sediment to make sure the targeted PCB reductions in fish are met, and it is also asking EPA to start its investigation of the Lower Hudson River.
This is the eighth year for public voting. According to the department, nominations were based on each waterway's conservation needs and successes, as well as celebration plans should the nominee be voted 2018 River of the Year.
The results of the three-year study will help USFS learn more about how to use fire on the national grasslands.
In May and June 2017, under operation LEAD (Law Enforcement Against Deforestation), Myanmar authorities seized around $2 million worth of illegal timber, according to INTERPOL.
USACE said the tremendous amount of rainfall inundated the three water conservation areas and affected the wildlife that live there.
Participants in the Nov. 8 meeting in Bartow, Fla., will discuss the status of TMDL development for nutrient impaired water bodies in the Upper Peace River basin.
The bill signed into law this week provides flexibility for the state so it can evaluate each instance to ensure it would be feasible and not hinder the necessary travel of petroleum-bearing vessels on the Hudson River and on active ports, some of which have active major oil storage facilities.
The exercise's scenario begins with a fire on BC Ferries' M/V Coastal Renaissance that causes passengers and crew members to evacuate. The two-day exercise simulates both search and rescue and a marine environmental response.
The National Park Service said the proposed new fee structure would boost national park revenue by $70 million per year, a 34 percent increase from the $200 million collected in fiscal year 2016.
Environment and Climate Change Canada's wildlife enforcement officers launched an investigation two years ago and discovered a polar bear skin rug located in Canada that had previously been exported to China. The investigation found the company on three occasions illegally exported polar bear skins to China.
The announcement came Oct. 18 at the Volvo Ocean Race Ocean Summit in Alicante.
Researchers studied more than 600 pieces of debris that washed up on Hawaiian, U.S., and Canadian coasts, and they counted nearly 300 Japanese species on them.
"A Guide to Assessing Coral Reef Resilience for Decision Support" will help environmental planners and managers assess, map, and monitor coral reef resilience and use the results to prioritize management actions that support resilience in the face of climate change.
And Antarctica is heading to its maximum yearly sea ice extent, which typically occurs in September or early October. NASA reported this year's maximum extent is likely to be among the five lowest in the satellite record — a continuation of the low extents in 2015 and 2016.
Landowners will retain ownership of their land and will not be restricted from using it for activities such as timber harvest, hunting, fishing, and hiking; the grants will protect more than 28,285 acres of forests from development.