Senator Hwang, CT Dept. of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) Announce Draft of Long Island Sound Blue Plan

On March 20th, 21st and 25th State Senator Tony Hwang, fellow legislators, Officials from DEEP, and members of the Long Island Sound Blue Plan Advisory Committee announced the release of the Draft of the Blue Plan and the opening of a 90-day public comment period.

Members of the Blue Plan Advisory Committee who joined Sen. Hwang for the press conference included Nathan Frohling (Director of Coastal and Marine Initiatives for The Nature Conservancy) and Sylvain De Guise (Driector of Connecticut SeaGrant at UConn). They were also joined by DEEP Interim Deputy Director Betsey Wingfield, Environment Committee Co-Chairs State Senator Christine Cohen (D-12) & State Representative Mike Demicco (D-21), Committee members State Representative Mary Mushinsky (D-85), State Representative Geraldo Reyes (D-75), and State Representative Jonathan Steinberg (D-136).

The Blue Plan, legislation created through Public Act 15-66, enables a process by which Connecticut can develop a marine spatial plan to protect Long Island Sound’s natural resources and traditional human uses, while allowing for compatible future use and development. The Blue Plan aims to achieve this goal by creating a series of resources and information that can help planners and applicants, make better coordinated and compatible decisions.

The Blue Plan is not hard and fast regulation, but a guiding document that will help all who utilize the Long Island Sound do so more responsibly. Please see the videos below of the Capitol Press conference on March 21st and the local announcement in Fairfield, CT on March 25th.

Click HERE to watch the Capitol Press conference on CT-N