[SEMCO] Public Notice of Availability of the 2014 Draft Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan

[CZ-Mail at state.ma.us]

Public Notice of Availability of the
2014 Draft Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan

The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) hereby provides notice of the issuance of the Draft Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan, September 2014 (2014 draft ocean plan) for public review, hearings, and a 60-day public comment period. The 2014 draft ocean plan is the first formal amendment of the 2009 ocean plan. See the EEA Press Release<http://www.mass.gov/eea/pr-2014/draft-of-ma-ocean-management-plan-update-released.html>.

In December 2009, EEA issued the Commonwealth's first-ever Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan, as required by the Oceans Act of 2008. The 2009 ocean plan established protections for critical marine habitat and important water-dependent uses in the Massachusetts Ocean Planning Area and set siting and performance standards for specific ocean-base development. EEA is required by the Oceans Act to review the ocean plan every five years.

In January 2013, a review and update process for the ocean plan was initiated. As with the development of the first ocean plan, the Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) has led this effort on behalf of EEA and has been working closely with the Ocean Advisory Commission and Ocean Science Advisory Council. Four public hearings were held on the plan update and review process in June 2013. Also in June 2013, six technical work groups were convened to review scientific data and information and identify and characterize important trends in ocean resources and uses. In March 2014, CZM held two public workshops to share information and solicit input and feedback from stakeholders on the findings and recommendations of the work groups. Public meetings with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center on offshore wind and transmission, and workshops convened by the Coastal Erosion Commission in May and June 2014, also served as forums for dialogue and feedback.

The 2014 draft ocean plan is available online at: www.mass.gov/eea/2014-draft-ocean-plan<http://www.mass.gov/eea/2014-draft-ocean-plan>. Additional information on the Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan, including the plan review and update process, technical work group reports, and the 2009 ocean plan, is available at: www.mass.gov/eea/mop<http://www.mass.gov/eea/mop>.

Five regional public hearings will be held to receive comment and input on the 2014 draft ocean plan. The hearings will be:


*         North Shore - October 8, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at the Ipswich Public Library, Collins Room, 25 N. Main Street, Ipswich, MA 01938.

*         Cape Cod - October 14, 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. at the Heritage House Hotel, Chauncy's Room, 259 Main Street, Hyannis, MA 02601.

*         South Coast - October 20, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, Memorial Theater, 18 Johnny Cake Hill, New Bedford, MA 02740.

*         Islands - October 22, 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. at the Katharine Cornell Theater, 54 Spring Street, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.

*         Boston and South Shore - October 27, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at the Executive Office for Energy and Environmental Affairs, 100 Cambridge Street, 2nd Floor Rooms C-D, Boston, MA 02114.

Comments on the 2014 draft ocean plan must be received by: 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 25, 2014.

Written comments on the 2014 draft ocean plan should be sent to:

Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management
ATTN: Ocean Plan
251 Causeway Street, Suite 800
Boston, MA 02114

Comments will also be accepted via email at: oceanplan at state.ma.us<mailto:oceanplan at state.ma.us>.

For more information, please contact CZM at czm at state.ma.us<mailto:czm at state.ma.us> or 617-626-1200.
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