Washington Waves: Waterway News From D.C.

A key Senate committee easily advanced a comprehensive bill that includes 17 bipartisan measures to strengthen the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasting, warning and hazard communication capabilities.

Passed by a voice vote by the Senate Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee, S. 3923, the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026, now heads to the Senate floor for a vote.

In addition to modernizing its programs, the bill, referred to as the Weather Act, also ensures NOAA will remain focused on its core public-safety mission of protecting lives, property and the economy.

The legislation would reauthorize multiple weather forecasting programs from the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017, while advancing next-generation forecasting technologies and improving research-to-operations transition efforts. It would also modernize NOAA’s aging radar network through planning and deployment of next-generation weather radar and targeted efforts to close radar coverage gaps; improve forecasting for hurricanes, tornadoes, atmospheric rivers, extreme rainfall, flash flooding, drought and wildfires; enhance public communication of weather risks to ensure warnings — including through NOAA weather radios — are clear, timely and actionable; and advance sub-seasonal to seasonal forecasting to support farmers, ranchers and water managers by improving weather outlooks weeks to months in advance.

DHS Shutdown

A funding lapse at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continued toward its fourth week with no obvious off ramp in sight.

On a party-line vote of 211 to 209, the Republican-controlled House narrowly advanced a bill to a floor vote to end the partial government shutdown by funding DHS through September 30.

H.R. 7744 is expected to be dead on arrival in the Senate, though, given the status of negotiations between Democrats and the White House over proposed changes for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Custom and Border Protection (CBP), which are part of DHS.

Senate Democrats appeared committed to their effort to force key changes to ICE and CBP.

House Republicans oppose an effort to fund other parts of DHS such as the Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Transportation Security Administration while negotiations continue on ICE and CBP.

Meanwhile, frustration over Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s handling of ICE operations in Minnesota and her recent appearances before Senate and House committees led to her ouster by the president. News of her firing broke March 5, with its impact on DHS funding negotiations yet to be seen, as of press time. Trump announced he will appoint Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) to succeed Noem.

Great Lakes Meeting

The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation is scheduled to meet virtually at 10 a.m. EDT March 26. Requests to participate in the public meeting must be received by March 12, the same date for requests on accommodations due to a disability.

Written matters to be reviewed during the meeting and a written copy of remarks for those who wish to speak during the meeting must be submitted by March 5.

Details on how to participate will be forwarded to those who RSVP.

For additional information, contact Sylvonica Madlock at 202-870-6335 or Sylvonica Madlock, executive officer, Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Suite W74-302, Washington, DC 20590.

Whale Regulations

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is requesting comments on its consideration of possible deregulatory action to modify and modernize the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Speed Rule.

“The goal of this initiative is to reduce unnecessary regulatory and economic burdens on the regulated community by replacing current seasonal speed restrictions with alternative management areas and advanced, technology-based, strike-avoidance measures that maintain or enhance conservation efficacy for the endangered North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis),” NMFS stated in its advance notice of proposed rulemaking.

Comments must be received by June 2. Identified under Docket No. NOAA-NMFS-2026-0364, comments may be submitted via www.regulations.gov.

For additional information, contact Kimberly Damon-Randall at 301-427-8400 or narw.vesselstrike@noaa.gov.

In a statement, Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, thanked President Donald Trump and his administration for what he termed “the return to commonsense and supporting anglers and coastal economies.”

“By taking public input on the economic impacts of the existing speed restriction rule, its efficacy and how emerging technologies can reduce vessel strikes, this proposal will better conserve species while enhancing public access to our marine resources,” Westerman said.

EPA Emission Standards

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting comments on its proposed amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for marine tank vessel loading operations (MTVLO) source category under Clean Air Act (CAA) Section 112. In its Federal Register posting on March 4, EPA said it specifically is proposing enhanced flare monitoring requirements, requirements to perform periodic performance testing, electronic reporting provisions and removal of startup, shutdown and malfunction (SSM) exemptions.

Comments must be received by April 20, but the agency added that comments on the information collection provisions are best assured of consideration if the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) receives a copy of submitted comments by April 3.

Identified by Docket No. EPA-HQ- OAR-2025-0207, comments may submitted via www.regulations.gov (the preferred method), by email at a-and-r-docket@epa.gov with the docket number in the subject line, by mail at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center, Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0207, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460 or by hand/courier delivery at EPA Docket Center, WJC West Building, Room 3334,1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20004.

“If anyone contacts us requesting a public hearing on or before March 8, 2026, we will hold a virtual public hearing,” EPA stated, adding that such requests should go to the public hearing team at 888-372-8699 or IPPDpublichearing@epa.gov.

For additional information, contact Michael Cantoni III at 919-541-5593 or Cantoni.Michael@epa.gov.