A federal task force has released its initial recommendations on "coastal and marine spatial planning," the process for deciding what activities are suitable for specific areas along the nation's oceans, coasts, and the Great Lakes. The interim framework on spatial planning, released Dec. 14, 2009, by the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force, seeks to coordinate federal, state, and local policy for managing U.S. waters, which are used for commercial ventures such as ship transport, mining, and oil and gas exploration, but can also be designated as marine sanctuaries and wildlife refuges.
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