| 11 | | - | (b) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in conjunction with the Long Island Sound Resource and Use Inventory and Blue Plan Advisory Committee, established pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, and within available resources, shall: (1) Coordinate the completion of a Long Island Sound Resource and Use Inventory by a Long Island Sound Inventory and Science subcommittee to be convened by The University of Connecticut. Such resource and use inventory shall be comprised of the best available information and data regarding the natural resources within Long Island Sound and the uses of Long Island Sound, including, but not limited to, all: (A) Plants; (B) animals; (C) habitats; (D) ecologically significant areas in nearshore and offshore waters and substrates of such waters; (E) uses of such waters and substrates, including, but not limited to: (i) Recreational and commercial boating, (ii) recreational and commercial fishing, (iii) waterfowl hunting, (iv) shellfish beds, (v) aquaculture facilities, (vi) shipping corridors, (vii) energy facilities, and (viii) electric power line, gas pipeline and telecommunications crossings; and (F) any updates and additions to the comprehensive environmental assessment and plan completed, in accordance with section 25-157a of the general statutes; and (2) develop a Long Island Sound Blue Plan that may include maps, illustrations and other media. Such Long Island Sound Blue Plan shall: (A) Establish the state's goals, siting priorities and standards for ensuring effective stewardship of the waters of Long Island Sound held in trust for the benefit of the public; (B) promote science-based management practices that take into account the existing natural, social, cultural, historic and economic characteristics of planning areas within Long Island Sound; (C) preserve and protect traditional riparian and water-dependent uses and activities; (D) promote maximum public accessibility to Long Island Sound's waters for traditional public trust uses, such as recreational and commercial boating and fishing, except when necessary to protect coastal resources, preserve public health, safety and welfare, or when it is in the interest of national security; (E) reflect the importance of the waters of Long Island Sound to the citizens of this state who derive livelihoods and recreational benefits from boating and fishing; (F) analyze the implications of existing and potential uses and users of Long Island Sound with a focus on avoiding potential use conflicts; (G) be consistent with the Long Island Sound Resources and Uses Inventory, prepared pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, with provision for the ongoing acquisition and application of up-to-date resource and use data, including seafloor mapping; (H) reflect the value of biodiversity and ecosystem health in regard to the interdependence of ecosystems; (I) identify and protect special, sensitive or unique estuarine and marine life and habitats, including, but not limited to, scenic and visual resources; (J) adapt to evolving knowledge and understanding of the marine environment, including adaptation to climate change and rise in sea level; (K) foster sustainable uses that capitalize on economic opportunity without significant detriment to the ecology or natural beauty of Long Island Sound; (L) support the infrastructure necessary to sustain the economy and quality of life for the citizens of this state; (M) be coordinated, to the maximum extent feasible, with local, regional and federal planning entities and agencies, including, but not limited to, the Long Island Sound Study and National Ocean Policy's Northeast Regional Planning Body and the Connecticut-New York Bi-State Marine Spatial Planning Working Group; (N) be coordinated, developed and implemented, to the maximum extent feasible, with the state of New York; (O) be developed through a transparent and inclusive process that seeks widespread participation of the public and stakeholders and encourages public participation in decision making; (P) identify appropriate locations and performance standards for activities, uses and facilities regulated under existing state permit programs, including, but not limited to, measures to guide siting of uses in a manner compatible with said Long Island Sound Blue Plan; (Q) be consistent with the state plan of conservation and development and the goals and policies described in section 22a-92 of the general statutes; and (R) reflect the importance of planning for Long Island Sound as an estuary that crosses state boundaries, including the identification of potential measures that encourage such planning. |
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| 18 | + | (b) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in conjunction with the Long Island Sound Resource and Use Inventory and Blue Plan Advisory Committee, established pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, and within available resources, shall: (1) Coordinate the completion of a Long Island Sound Resource and Use Inventory by a Long Island Sound Inventory and Science subcommittee to be convened by The University of Connecticut. Such resource and use inventory shall be comprised of the best available information and data regarding the natural resources within Long Island Sound and the uses of Long Island Sound, including, but not limited to, all: (A) Plants; (B) animals; (C) habitats; (D) ecologically significant areas in nearshore and offshore waters and substrates of such waters; (E) uses of such waters and substrates, including, but not limited to: (i) Recreational and commercial boating and fishing, (ii) shellfish beds, (iii) aquaculture facilities, (iv) shipping corridors, (v) energy facilities, and (vi) electric power line, gas pipeline and telecommunications crossings; and (F) any updates and additions to the comprehensive environmental assessment and plan completed, in accordance with section 25-157a of the general statutes; and (2) develop a Long Island Sound Blue Plan that may include maps, illustrations and other media. Such Long Island Sound Blue Plan shall: (A) Establish the state's goals, siting priorities and standards for ensuring effective stewardship of the waters of Long Island Sound held in trust for the benefit of the public; (B) promote science-based management practices that take into account the existing natural, social, cultural, historic and economic characteristics of planning areas within Long Island Sound; (C) preserve and protect traditional riparian and water-dependent uses and activities; (D) promote maximum public accessibility to Long Island Sound's waters for traditional public trust uses, such as recreational and commercial boating and fishing, except when necessary to protect coastal resources, preserve public health, safety and welfare, or when it is in the interest of national security; (E) reflect the importance of the waters of Long Island Sound to the citizens of this state who derive livelihoods and recreational benefits from boating and fishing; (F) analyze the implications of existing and potential uses and users of Long Island Sound with a focus on avoiding potential use conflicts; (G) be consistent with the Long Island Sound Resources and Uses Inventory, prepared pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, with provision for the ongoing acquisition and application of up-to-date resource and use data, including seafloor mapping; (H) reflect the value of biodiversity and ecosystem health in regard to the interdependence of ecosystems; (I) identify and protect special, sensitive or unique estuarine and marine life and habitats, including, but not limited to, scenic and visual resources; (J) adapt to evolving knowledge and understanding of the marine environment, including adaptation to climate change and rise in sea level; (K) foster sustainable uses that capitalize on economic opportunity without significant detriment to the ecology or natural beauty of Long Island Sound; (L) support the infrastructure necessary to sustain the economy and quality of life for the citizens of this state; (M) be coordinated, to the maximum extent feasible, with local, regional and federal planning entities and agencies, including, but not limited to, the Long Island Sound Study and National Ocean Policy's Northeast Regional Planning Body and the Connecticut-New York Bi-State Marine Spatial Planning Working Group; (N) be coordinated, developed and implemented, to the maximum extent feasible, with the state of New York; (O) be developed through a transparent and inclusive process that seeks widespread participation of the public and stakeholders and encourages public participation in decision making; (P) identify appropriate locations and performance standards for activities, uses and facilities regulated under existing state permit programs, including, but not limited to, measures to guide siting of uses in a manner compatible with said Long Island Sound Blue Plan; (Q) be consistent with the state plan of conservation and development and the goals and policies described in section 22a-92 of the general statutes; and (R) reflect the importance of planning for Long Island Sound as an estuary that crosses state boundaries, including the identification of potential measures that encourage such planning. The commissioner may accept, on behalf of the state, any gifts, grants, donations or bequests for the purposes of assisting the completion of the Long Island Sound Resources and Use Inventory and the development of a Long Island Sound Blue Plan. |
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