Marine Resources Development Plan Workshop
When: Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 1:30 p.m.
Where: Narragansett Bay Commission’s conference room; One Service Road, Providence, RI
The development and implementation of the R.I. Coastal Resources Management Council’s MRDP was required by legislation enacted in 2004. Starting in late 2004, the CRMC, along with the University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Center/Rhode Island Sea Grant, the Economic Policy Council and the RI Senate Policy Office have been busy synthesizing data, establishing a working group, and conducting interviews to formulate a draft MRDP.
Now the working group has produced a draft, which was presented to and accepted by the CRMC Planning and Procedures Subcommittee on September 20 to go out to public comment. The working group is holding an informational workshop in November to gather comment and input from all concerned groups and persons, and present the MRDP to the full Council at its December 13 meeting for the Council’s adoption. The public comment phase will end on November 21.
The MRDP is intended to be a strategic document not a regulatory plan. What is needed now is input from you on whether there are any critical issues that need to be addressed through CRMC authority within the next five years, and whether there are any significant omissions. The working group would like feedback as to whether there are inaccuracies within the MRDP, or places where the picture portrayed is not a good representation of reality as we know it. Are there additional ways to make the MRDP more useful, and how can it be used to connect the CRMC to other agencies and communities?
In sum, the Marine Resources Development Plan is now in its formal public feedback/comment period. Those who are interested in providing comments and feedback on the MRDP, please send comments to CRMC Deputy Director Jeff Willis, at jwillis@crmc.ri.gov, or to the CRMC to his attention, at 4808 Tower Hill Road, Wakefield, RI 02879.
Voice 401-783-3370 • Fax 401-783-3767 • E-Mail cstaff1@crmc.ri.gov
