Public Meetings Set for Draft Ocean Policy Report

N.C. COASTAL MANAGEMENT AND N.C. SEA GRANT TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETINGS ON DRAFT OCEAN POLICY REPORT

RALEIGH — The N.C. Division of Coastal Management and N.C. Coastal Resources Law, Planning and Policy Center will hold four public hearings in February and March to gain public input on a draft report from the organizations’ Ocean Policy Steering Committee.

Meetings will be held at the following locations and times:

• March 9, 5-7 p.m.  – 2728 Capital Blvd. (formerly known as Parker Lincoln Building), Conference Room 1H 120, 2728 Capital Blvd., Raleigh.
• March 10, 5:30-7:30 p.m.  – Nags Head Beach Fire Station 16, South Wing, 5314 South Croatan Hwy., Nags Head.

The committee was formed in 2008 to identify emerging environmental, legal and policy issues associated with the use and development of ocean resources in North Carolina’s coastal ocean waters and in adjacent federal waters.

The emerging issue areas identified by the committee are sand resource management, alternative energy development, ocean outfalls, marine aquaculture and comprehensive ocean management. Since 2008, the 14-member committee has taken a comprehensive look at these emerging issues and has just released a draft of recommendations for managing North Carolina’s coastal waters. This effort is a partnership between the Division of Coastal Management, N.C. Sea Grant and the N.C. Coastal Resources Law, Planning and Policy Center.

The report’s recommendations include development of a comprehensive plan to protect beaches and inlets, identification of available sand resources, creation of a coastal vulnerability index, and mapping of ocean resources. The report is available on DCM’s Web site, www.nccoastalmanagement.net/opscreport.pdf, and the center’s Web site, www.nccoastallaw.org.