NOAA Office of Program Planning and Integration

This early restoration agreement, the largest of its kind ever reached, represents a first step toward fulfilling BP's obligation to fund the complete restoration of injured public resources, including the loss of use of those resources by the people living, working and visiting the area. [Link]

Aerial photography taken by NOAA the week of April 11 shows massive flooding of the Red River Valley along the Minnesota-North Dakota border compared with images taken more than a year ago by Google Earth. [Link]

Six nations are participating in a study that looks at the potential role of black carbon, or soot, on the rapidly changing Arctic climate [Link]

When the new fishing year kicks off on May 1, groundfish fishermen will have more opportunity to fish in Northeast waters, small-vessel owners will get a boost through permit banks, and stocks will continue on the path to rebuilding. [Link]

NOAA, the Ecosphere Restoration Institute, state and local partners celebrated the restoration of nearly 70 acres of wetlands that feed into Tampa Bay today in Ruskin, Fla. [Link]

NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco today spotlighted NOAA’s Cooperative Remote Sensing Science and Technology Center CREST for its efforts to prepare students for careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. [Link]

NOAA officials today announced that ASRC Aerospace Corp., of Greenbelt, Md., has been awarded a contract to operate and maintain the agency's Fairbanks Satellite Operations Facility FSOF located in Fairbanks, Alaska. [Link]

NOAA's Fisheries Service issued new rules today on vessel traffic, aimed at protecting Southern Resident killer whales in Washington’s Puget Sound. These charismatic marine mammals, popular with tourists, whale-watch operators and the general public, were added to the Endangered Species list in late 2005. [Link]

Strong tornadoes and large hail may develop in parts of Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas later today. Powerful winds from this storm system will contribute to dangerous fire weather conditions across eastern New Mexico, west Texas and western Oklahoma this afternoon. Widespread severe weather is likely to move east into the Middle and Lower Mississippi River Valley on Friday. Stay up to date. [Link]

Strong tornadoes and large hail may develop in parts of Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas later today. Powerful winds from this storm system will contribute to dangerous fire weather conditions across eastern New Mexico, west Texas and western Oklahoma this afternoon. Widespread severe weather is likely to move east into the Middle and Lower Mississippi River Valley on Friday. [Link]