Massachusetts Ocean Management Task Force
September 15, 2003, Meeting Summary

Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management
251 Causeway Street, Suite 800
Boston, MA

The Ocean Management Task Force met September 15, 2003 at the CZM offices, Boston, MA. Present at this meeting were Task Force members: Tom Skinner, Chris Godfrey, Tim Smith, Tom Cox, Jim McCarthy, Dale Brown, Rich McGuinness, Priscilla Brooks, Greg Watson, Michael Egan, Rip Cunningham, Robbin Peach, Paul Diodati, John Simpson, Tim Timmermann, Bill Adler, Jack Clarke, Larry Wheatley, Jim Hunt, and Sue Tierney.

After a brief welcome to the Task Force, a summary of the September 5th Task Force meeting, and review of the day's agenda, Robbin Peach, Chair, Outreach Working Group, outlined a proposed outreach strategy to the Task Force for consideration.

Outreach Strategy
The Task Force will invite ocean interest group representatives to a meeting on October 17th. Task Force members will prepare the list of invitees that includes representation from key ocean industries, research, educational and advocacy organizations. The purpose of this meeting would be to engage the people that are actively involved in ocean use issues on a daily basis. These perspectives will be valuable as the Task Force begins to frame recommendations.

The proposed meeting is as follows - The Secretary would be asked to welcome the group, explain her charge to the Task Force and introduce Sue Tierney. Sue would then explain the Task Force process to date and what the intent of the day's meeting is. Sue would explain the draft Principles that have been developed and perhaps have some limited time for participant reaction. The Task Force would then breakout into three working groups: Policy, Use Characterization and Data Trends and Needs. Each working group will have already put together a list of questions sent to ocean interest groups with their invitations. These questions will be specific to each working group and be asked by the working group to the ocean interest group representatives at these meetings. Participants will have the opportunity to attend more than one working group meeting to answer the specific questions. After the breakout meetings, the Task Force and all participants will reconvene and summarize the discussions from each breakout group. At that time, depending on time available, Sue might open the floor to issues not addressed during the breakouts. Written comments would be accepted by all participants to ensure that all contributions are received.

The next opportunity for public involvement would be during regional information sessions scheduled for late November/early December once the Task Force has developed draft recommendations. At these meetings, to be chaired by Task Force members, the public would have the opportunity to react to the draft recommendations. It is envisioned that there would be at least four regional meetings.

The final component of the proposed outreach strategy is to provide a public comment period following the Task Force's submission of recommendations to the Secretary in February. Following a one month written comment period, CZM would synthesize the comments for submission to the Secretary as well as posting on the website.

Robbin suggested that Press and the Ocean Management website are most appropriately managed by EOEA and CZM.

The outreach strategy was discussed and agreed to by the Task Force.

Next, Sue Tierney reviewed the working group structure. After some discussion, it was decided that there would be three new working groups (Policy, Use Characterization and Data Trends and Needs) comprised of sub-sets of the Task Force. Members will meet separately on these working groups to draft questions for the ocean interest group meeting, prepare an ocean interest group list, attend to the issue list for the specific working group, and ultimately draft sections of the report and recommendations. A fourth working group, Ocean Management Framework, will involve all Task Force members and ultimately draft a chapter for the Task Force recommendations. It will be the main working group, as other chapters will feed into the framework for the recommendations to the Secretary.

Scheduled meeting times for the Ocean Management Framework working group are: September 26, 2003, 2 PM to 4 PM and October 6, 2003, 9 AM to 12 PM, Both of these meetings will be held at EPA on Congress St. (details forthcoming).

The Task Force broke into working groups: Policy, Use Characterization and Data Trends and Needs. Each working group reviewed their charge (changes to the charges are in italics below), drafted a meeting schedule and listed key ocean interest groups. A draft list of ocean interest groups to be invited is expected to be sent to the members later in the week. The full Task Force reconvened and the information on each working group session was presented to the Task Force.

Policy
The Policy working group changed their name from Policy/Legislation to Policy as legislation may or may not be something they would look to do in the future but that it would be a part of the policy they are currently reviewing. Members present: Jim Hunt (chair), Tim Timmermann, Chris Godfrey, Paul Diodati, Greg Watson, Jack Clarke, John Simpson, Larry Wheatley, Priscilla Brooks, Rich McGuinness and Sue Tierney.

Charge
Determine the existing shortcomings and strengths of our legal/regulatory/policy framework; identify gaps; examine best practices; and craft appropriate policy, regulatory and statutory recommendations. Develop recommendations that improve federal/state/local and interagency and cross-jurisdictional coordination.

Upcoming Meetings
October 2, 2003, 9:30 AM to 1 PM, Secretary's Conference Room, EOEA, 251 Causeway Street, 9th Floor, Boston

October 14, 2003, 1 PM to 4 PM, Legal Conference Room, EOEA, 251 Causeway Street, 9th Floor, Boston

Use Characterization
Members present: Tom Skinner (chair), Bill Adler, Tom Cox, Rip Cunningham, Tim Smith, Tim Timmermann, Robbin Peach, and Dale Brown.

Charge
Characterize what uses/activities are occurring in what areas (including: industrial, commercial, recreational military, preservation, temporary, permanent), what are the areas of highest conflict*, and forecast what areas and uses may be changing. Develop both narrative descriptions and GIS coverages that summarize these uses.
*The working group will change the word "conflict".

Upcoming Meetings
October 6, 2003, 1 PM to 3 PM, EPA

Data Trends and Needs
Members present: Jim McCarthy and Mike Egan. Judy McDowell chairs this working group; in her absence Susan-Snow Cotter, CZM, led the meeting.

Charge
Summarize the data, key trends and gaps in data that is collected on state ocean resources and is relevant to ocean management. Summarize the ecological and economic trends relating to ocean resources. Determine if the relevant data and information is readily available for planning purposes. Determine what data and information is needed to support ocean management decisions.

Upcoming Meetings
September 23, 2003, 10 AM to 12 PM, Conference Call

The Task Force adjourned to meet as working groups over the next month and as the full Task Force on October 17th, 2003.