Marine Debris Program Virtually Participates in Territorial Climate and Infrastructure Workshop
APRIL 18, 2022 — From March 28-30, the NOAA Marine Debris Program’s Pacific Island Regional Coordinator, Mark Manuel, participated in the Territorial Climate and Infrastructure Workshop hosted by the Department of Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs (D.O.I.).
The workshop brought together over 300 participants from U.S. Territorial and Federal agencies from Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and U.S. Virgin Islands.
The goal of the workshop was to convene the U.S. Territories, federal agencies, and other important partners to help strategize for the successful implementation of projects that could be supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, P.L. 117-58). It is critical that the U.S. Territories are not overlooked, and D.O.I. leadership wanted to ensure that the Department is responsive to Territorial climate and infrastructure priorities. Topics addressed in the workshop include Water, Energy, Built Infrastructure, Natural (Blue-Green) Infrastructure, Broadband, and Legacy Pollution.
The hybrid (virtual and in-person) event took place on the island of O‘ahu, while Mark participated virtually from Hawai‘i Island. Mark attended the workshop with two other NOAA colleagues, Jean Tanimoto (Office for Coastal Management) and Lani Watson (Office of Habitat Conservation Center, Restoration Center).
For more information, please contact Mark.Manuel@noaa.gov.