The gist of the Management Plan is this:

Zoning for projects undergoing EIR review:

One Prohibited Area off the coast of the Cape Cod National Seashore. Use limitations should be self evident.

Renewable Energy Areas, where wind and wave energy projects have been found to be appropriate. These areas currently constitute approximately 2% of the the 2,144.5 square miles of the planning area. Projects may be of commercial or community level scale.

Multi-Use Areas, where projects will be permitted if they comply with stringent standards for protecting marine resources. The multi use areas are approximately 2/3 of the entire planning area. Project types cited include: Wind and Wave, Beach Nourishment (sand/gravel extraction), Cables and Pipeline, Fishing and Aquaculture.

Alternatives and rebuttal

Where projects are proposed, it is presumed that an alternative location would be less damaging to the environment. To rebut this presumption, the applicant will need to demonstrate and  that the project provides an overriding public benefit.

The Next Round

The associated Acts and regulations, such as the Wetlands Protection Act, Chapter 91 and 401 Water Quality Certification will initiate rule making changes in 2010 to be brought in line with the Oceans Management Act and plan.  It is expected that one of the main changes to these regulations will be the inclusion of climate change, likely in the form of more stringent performance standards and/or increased setbacks.  Look for wildlife habitat, coastal resources and vernal pools to receive more attention.

It will be interesting to see how the plan plays out on the ground in the course of project review. As for the regulators, having a plan with performance standards where there was none before should assist in creating some uniformity in the investigation and decision process.

One of the most impressive components of the plan isn’t a chapter or standard. It is what is found in the references. The amount of inter-agency coordination and research brought under the roof of a  single document indicates long days and a frequent weekend duty. Here’s hoping all involved have been awarded some much needed time off!

Earlier this month, Caspian received official certification as a WBE (Woman Business Enterprise).  Caspian recieved certification as: Environmental Consulting Services and Permitting. WBE certfication provides an edge for survey, engineering or construction firms that seek advantage in the highly competitive bidding process.