I'm surprised I haven't seen any discussion of this anywhere online.
I looked over a copy from Senator Bruce Tarr's office and it doesn't appear to be materially different than the version that so many in the recreational community fought so hard against last year. Yet it passed unanimously this year in the Senate.
Anyone have any thoughts good, bad, or indifferent, as it heads to the House.
Best,
Mike F.
Wareham, MA
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Ocean management legislation passes Senate
September 28, 2007
BOSTON — The state would create a first-in-the-nation ocean management plan to restrict uses such as wind energy and liquefied natural gas terminals under legislation the Senate passed unanimously Thursday.
The bill, which passed 33-0, now heads to the House of Representatives, where it was not voted on last year after clearing the Senate late in the session.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Robert O'Leary, D-Barnstable, would not affect the Cape Wind project in Nantucket Sound, which is proposed for federal waters. The bill applies to state projects within 3 miles of the coast, so it would affect a Quincy developer's proposal to put as many as 120 wind turbines in Buzzards Bay.
In a speech to the Senate, Sen. O'Leary said the legislation would allow the state to determine where uses are appropriate in state waters before developers apply. The plan would set performance standards, mitigation requirements or limits on uses in different areas of the coast.
"We have proposals right now that call for LNG facilities, offshore wind, deep-water aquaculture, sea mining and, of course, our traditional uses, fishing," Sen. O'Leary said. "All of these are in competition with one another. We need to develop a forward-looking, prospective way of dealing with these issues."
The plan would be overseen by the secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs, currently Ian Bowles. The plan would be completed within two years, with input from a 16-member advisory commission and a separate scientific council.
The advisory commission would include representatives of government, environmental organizations and commercial and sport fishing.
"Massachusetts has an opportunity to be a national leader in supporting our historic fishing communities, while balancing growing interests in our marine resources in a manner that protects our environment," Mr. Bowles said in a statement. "The Senate took an important step in that direction today. I look forward to continuing to work closely with the Legislature as this bill continues through the legislative process."
Sen. O'Leary worked on the bill with Sen. Bruce E. Tarr, R-Gloucester. The legislation was co-sponsored by Sen. Mark C.W. Montigny, D-New Bedford. It was refined last year to clarify that no power would be taken away from the state Division of Marine Fisheries and no new fishing regulations would be imposed.
The plan would be subject to public hearings before it could be adopted. It would be open for review every five years.
Senate President Therese Murray, D-Plymouth, has called passage of the bill one of her priorities this session.
"Our ocean is the last great stretch that has not yet been developed," Sen. Murray said in a statement. "We have well-established laws for planning for how we use our land, but nothing for our ocean. It is essential that we put forth a framework and process that will protect and preserve one of Massachusetts' greatest resources."
The Massachusetts Audubon Society and the Conservation Law Foundation support the proposed law. Cape Wind ended its objection last session after wording in the bill made it clear that it did not affect its Nantucket Sound proposal.
However, the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound, which opposes the wind farm, was concerned that the legislation could weaken existing restrictions on offshore energy development. The alliance is still reviewing the bill, executive director Susan Nickerson said.
"The alliance does support ocean management legislation that increases protection of coastal waters, especially Nantucket Sound, and we are not so sure that this bill does that job in that respect," Ms. Nickerson said. "It could do the opposite, particularly with regard to what at this point looks like uncontrolled opportunity for near-shore development of energy projects."
Source:
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/...NEWS/709280379
The full text of the bill may be found at...
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/sena...02/st02346.htm
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