Ocean Zoning Discussion Forum

From: SouthamptonPatch

By Lisa Finn

Southampton Town’s waterfront areas were front and center this week as initiatives were announced that focus on sustainability.

The Southampton Town Coastal Program is aimed at addressing coastal issues including nitrification, natural resources protection, open space preservation, coastal zoning, capital projects, waterfront business revitalization and more.

The first meeting of the project advisory committee took place this week; the project is funded by the state and town.

Coastal planning professionals from the Urban Harbors Institute of the University of Massachusetts were hired to perform a study; town staffers and locals with waterfront concerns and expertise comprise the advisory group.

Multiple public forums will be held; the first is slate for late October, with a website expected to unveil in late August.

Councilwoman Bridget Fleming has long advocated sustainability.

“As a community with around 658 miles of shoreline, bordering two major estuary systems, it is imperative that Southampton Town address key sustainability issues related to our waterways and wastewater planning,”  Fleming said. “The maintenance and balance of these precious resources are not only vital to our ecosystem and quality of life, but are the lifeblood of our local economy.”

From: World Fishing & Aquaculture

A pioneering project that will help shape a sustainable future for the fishing industry and marine wildlife was recently launched.

From: The Maritime Executive

Senior Federal Government Officials To Engage Ocean Industries at Marine Planning Conference

Blank Rome Maritime, the largest maritime and admiralty law practice in the United States, has agreed to become a sponsor of the National Business Forum on Marine Spatial Planning (MSP). Blank Rome is a member of the World Ocean Council, which is organizing the Forum in Washington D.C. on 13-14 July.

There is still time to register for the National Business Forum, where the ocean business community will have a unique opportunity to engage in dialogue directly with key Federal government officials involved in the U.S. National Ocean Council:

·   Kristen Sarri, Deputy Director, Department of Commerce

·   Sally Yozell, Policy Director, NOAA, Department of Commerce

·   Alan Thornhill, Science Advisor to the Director, BOEMRE, Department of Interior

The Forum on MSP is an unprecedented opportunity for businesses that care about their future use of marine space and resources to understand the government plans for managing marine space. The Forum will conclude with a 2-hour session – for business representatives only – to develop the industry strategy and action plan for engaging in CMSP as it moves forward.

From: Platts

Deepwater Wind, one of three developers in the Northeast vying to build the US’ first offshore wind farm, has won a key court ruling for its 28.8-MW project off the coast of Rhode Island.

The Rhode Island Supreme Court on Friday rejected arguments from two manufacturers that National Grid will pay too much for power from the Block Island project.

Toray Plastics and Polytop challenged the state Public Utilities Commission decision approving the utility’s 20-year deal to buy the power at an opening price of 24.4 cents/kWh with a 3.5% annual escalation.

The favorable court decision paves the way for the $250 million Deepwater Wind project to seek state and federal permits.

Jim Lanard, president of the Offshore Wind Development Coalition, said that the other two offshore wind projects closing in on the finish line are Cape Wind’s 420-MW project off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and the Fishermen’s Energy 24-MW wind farm off of Atlantic City, New Jersey.

All three developers are trying to complete a different set of final milestones, according to Lanard.