Coastal and marine spatial planning (CMSP) for Long Island Sound is back on the table.
UPDATE 2/9 – Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced that, as part of the package of legislative proposals he will introduce later this month, he will sponsor the Blue Plan in order to ensure that Connecticut has a coordinated strategy in regards to any potential future use of the Sound. Read more.
UPDATE 1/22 – The Blue Plan bill has been officially introduced as H.B. 6035. Here’s a PDF of the proposed language. There will be a public hearing before the Environment Committee soon. We’ll let you know the details as we get them.
While the details will be discussed in the coming weeks, the Environment Committee co-chairs Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr. (D-S12) and Rep. James Albis (D-H99) moved to raise a concept bill last week, providing hope that the Blue Plan will pass through the legislative gauntlet this year.
Last year, under the name S.B. 312 and with wide bi-partisan support (it garnered 24 co-sponsors), the Blue Plan met an unfortunate end when the clock ran out on the legislative session before the bill received a vote in the House. Prior to that midnight deadline, the Blue Plan was approved by the Environment, Planning & Development, and Government Administration committees and was passed unanimously by the Senate. You can a read a copy of the final version of last year’s bill here; stay tuned to see if this year’s language remains the same or gets a few edits.
Want to know more about the benefits of a Blue Plan and CMSP? Check out our blog from last March (again, this is the 2014 version—dates and schedule are no longer active). If you are interested in supporting the Blue Plan in 2015, let us know and we’ll keep you posted about updates.
Posted by Tyler Archer – Fisheries, Outreach, & Communications for CFE Save the Sound.
Cover photo by Abby Archer Photography.