What's New

CZ-Tip - Trivial Pursuit, Coastal Massachusetts Edition - Did you know that the first-ever, flash-frozen fish came out of Gloucester? Or that lobster was at one time used as fertilizer? How about that Charlestown is home to Old Ironsides, the oldest warship still afloat? And America's first public beach is still alive and well in Revere, while Cape Cod boasts America's first National Seashore in the Northeast? For more fascinating facts, and links to museums and coastal trails you can explore on your own, see CZ-Tip - Firsts and Fun Facts from Coastal Massachusetts.

Designated Port Areas - To promote and protect marine industrial activities, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has established 11 Designated Port Areas (DPAs), which include: Gloucester Inner Harbor, Beverly Harbor, Salem Harbor, Lynn, Mystic River, Chelsea Creek, East Boston, South Boston, Weymouth Fore River, New Bedford-Fairhaven, and Mount Hope Bay. These DPAs have particular physical and operational features important for commercial fishing, shipping, and other vessel-related marine commercial activities, and/or for manufacturing, processing, and production activities that require marine transportation or need large volumes of water for withdrawal or discharge. The new DPA website provides official boundary maps for these 11 DPAs, CZM contact information, and other DPA information.

CZ-Tip - When the Weather Outside Is Frightful, Here's Where to Track the Storm - More than a foot of snow in Massachusetts in October? This year's October 29 storm was a stark reminder of the power of northeasters (often spelled "nor'easters")-storms named for their predominant winds, which come from the northeast. Although they can occur all year long, October through April is prime northeaster season, when cold arctic air from the north combines with warm, moist air from the south and forms strong areas of low pressure. The resulting storms can pack a real punch to the shoreline, with battering waves, storm surges, and winds that sometimes reach hurricane force. And don't forget the precipitation-rain, sleet, freezing rain, snow, or, sometimes, all of it together! Track these storms and stay safe this winter with the CZ-Tip - Tracking Northeasters and Staying Safe in the Storm.

Even Newer and More Improved! Massachusetts Ocean Resource Information System - In January 2012, CZM released a new-and-improved version of the Massachusetts Ocean Resource Information System, or MORIS. This web-based coastal mapping tool provides detailed geographic data used for ocean planning, coastal development, public safety, tourism, transportation planning, and marine environmental protection. Users can interactively view various data layers, create and share maps, and download the data for use in a Geographic Information System (GIS). While designed for coastal management professionals, MORIS can be easily used by anyone interested in these data and maps. With the faster, modernized MORIS, users can display new basemaps (such as Google and Bing), easily search available data layers, print and save maps, change map symbols, directly access select federal and other external data sources, and readily share and modify the 100% open source code.

Updated! Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management Policy Guide - On September 23, 2011, NOAA's Office of Coastal and Ocean Management (OCRM) approved a routine program change to the Massachusetts Coastal Management Program, which went into effect when the approval was noticed in the October 4 Environmental Monitor. The approval included the formal adoption of the Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan and the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management Policy Guide - October 2011. For the purposes of federal consistency review, the new Policy Guide includes the enforceable policies of the Ocean Plan, updates to underlying legal authorities, and reinstating certain Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authorizations on the list of federal license or permit activities reviewed without prior approval.

Improved! Coastal Landscaping - Landscaping with native plants can help coastal property owners prevent storm damage and erosion, provide wildlife habitat, and reduce coastal water pollution—all while improving a property's visual appeal and natural character. CZM's Coastal Landscaping website presents detailed information on the benefits of these landscaping techniques, step-by-step instructions on landscaping coastal areas, plant lists and photos, sample landscape plans, permitting information, and more.

Jobs

• There are currently no employment opportunities at CZM. Please check back later or see the Commonwealth Employment Opportunities website for additional state opportunities.

Grants/RFRs

• FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grants - The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) are inviting communities, state agencies, and tribal governments and territories to submit applications for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. This post-disaster funding is available as a result of the federal disaster declarations for the June 2011 Tornadoes and Tropical Storm Irene, but any community can apply, not just those affected by these disasters. Grants will assist applicants with hazard mitigation planning and the implementation of hazard mitigation projects to reduce or eliminate the loss of life and property due to natural hazards. Also, in January and February, MEMA has scheduled several grant briefings and technical assistance meetings across the state. These will provide applicants an opportunity to ask questions of the State Hazard Mitigation Team. CZM strongly encourages all potential applicants to attend one of these sessions. For complete grant details, see the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Memo (PDF, 87 KB). For more information, contact Scott MacLeod at scott.macleod@state.ma.us. Full applications are due by April 2.

Publications

• CZ-Mail - February 2012
• Massachusetts Climate Change Adaptation Report
• Updated! - Monitoring Marine Invasive Species: Guidance and Protocols for Volunteer Monitoring Groups

Project Review/Public Comment

• Offshore Energy Public Information Meetings - On February 13 and 14, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will hold two public meetings to get public input regarding the recently issued Call for Information and Nominations and Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the potential development of offshore wind energy projects in an area of federal waters on the Outer Continental Shelf south of Massachusetts. The sessions will include presentations from BOEM followed by a public comment period. The meeting times and locations are:
  • February 13, 5:00-7:00 p.m., Katharine Cornell Theater, 54 Spring Street, Vineyard Haven.
  • February 14, 3:00-5:00 p.m., Conference Room "B", 2nd Floor, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, 100 Cambridge Street, Boston.
  For additional details and a map of the project area, see the BOEM website.
  
  
• Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds NDA - CZM and EEA are seeking public comments on a draft application to EPA to designate the coastal waters of the Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds as a vessel No Discharge Area (NDA). Within the NDA, the dumping of all boat sewage, both treated and untreated, will be prohibited. The NDA will encompass all navigable marine waters in the communities of Chilmark, West Tisbury, Tisbury, Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, Gosnold, Falmouth, Mashpee, Barnstable, Yarmouth, Dennis, Harwich, Chatham, and Nantucket. To obtain a copy of the draft application, contact CZM's Todd Callaghan at Todd.Callaghan@state.ma.us or (617) 626-1233. Submit written comments by February 29 to Todd Callaghan, Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, 251 Causeway Street, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02114, or by email to Todd.Callaghan@state.ma.us.

Calendar

• There are currently no upcoming CZM events. Please check back later.
  
  
• Check out the CZM Calendar for more CZM related events.