Officials from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs will join members of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council at public meetings on Sept. 15 and Sept. 16 to discuss Rhode Island's ocean-mapping project.
The project, formally called the R.I. Special Area Management Plan (SAMP), is evaluating environmental resources and human uses of Rhode Island and federal waters adjacent to southeastern Massachusetts, and will be used to help identify potentially appropriate areas for offshore wind energy development.
Govs. Deval Patrick, D-Mass., and Donald Carcieri, R-R.I., signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last month committing both states to collaborate in permitting and developing offshore wind energy projects. As a result, Patrick requested that Rhode Island conduct two public meetings on the SAMP process.
The meetings will provide information on how the SAMP will be used to assist in planning for offshore development and how it relates to the MOU signed by both states. There will be a question-and-answer period during the meetings. Written comments will be accepted through Sept. 24.
SOURCE: Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
