Developing a comprehensive Ocean Management Plan

As part of the Patrick Administration's continuing emphasis on renewable energy, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) recently issued a "first-in-the-nation effort" to develop a comprehensive Ocean Management Plan (OMP) for the management of the state's ocean waters that designates areas where commercial wind turbines will be permitted to be sited. With a final OMP to be available no later than the end of the year, the proposal will now be scrutinized by the legislature and the public at a series of hearings and through a comment period. The emphasis, according to EEA, is on "sustainable sources of wind and wave energy," and is part of the 2008 Ocean's Act. The OMP also includes a map of the Massachusetts coastline, which identifies areas suitable for the siting of "appropriate scale" offshore renewable energy facilities in state waters, provided they are consistent with the OMP. The Cape Cod Ocean Sanctuary (from Provincetown to Chatham), is off-limits for any siting. Susan Bernstein, attorney at law, Needham, Mass.