U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), the ranking member of the Commerce Committee, have welcomed NOAA’s decision to halt the implementation of restrictive permitting requirements for commercial submarine cables in national marine sanctuaries—a move the senators had advocated for in a letter earlier this year.
“Undersea cables are crucial to our telecommunications and data infrastructure,” said Senator Blackburn. “NOAA’s decision to pause efforts that would have made operating and maintaining these cables more difficult is a significant win for promoting technological innovation and protecting American interests.”
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Senator Cruz added, “Blocking the installation, maintenance, and repair of undersea cables threatens both commercial and national security operations. I’m pleased that NOAA recognizes that these cables do not harm national marine sanctuaries and that excessive environmental regulations are unnecessary. I’m proud to have joined Senator Blackburn in this effort to prioritize American interests and technological progress.”
NOAA is currently reviewing the nomination of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, which is part of the National Marine Sanctuary System, encompassing over 620,000 square miles of marine and Great Lakes waters.
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Several existing undersea cables are located in the proposed sanctuary, all of which have minimal environmental impact. In recent years, NOAA had proposed regulations that would complicate the operation and maintenance of these cables, risking communication delays due to maintenance disruptions.
In response, Senators Blackburn and Cruz sent a letter to NOAA in June, underscoring the importance of accommodating the vital global telecommunications infrastructure supported by these undersea cables.
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