Executive Order  No. 59: Establishing a Massachusetts Commission on Ocean Management

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with its 1500 miles of tidal shorelines and a history of "sea going men" and enterprise dating from colonial times, is endowed with a rare potential for ocean development in the twentieth century; and

WHEREAS, The resources of the Commonwealth include nationally and internationally recognized leaders and institutions in the fields of science, technology and education who could provide invaluable assistance in such ocean development; and

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth should accelerate the orderly development of its marine environment and encourage private enterprise in the exploration, technological development and economic utilization of our ocean resources; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that the Commonwealth examine and assign priorities for the development of our marine resources, and recognizing that thorough, competent and objective policy planning is the best guardian of the public interest;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOHN A. VOLPE, Governor of the Commonwealth, by virtue of all the authority vested in me, do hereby issue this order.

There is hereby created a commission to be known as the Massachusetts Commission on Ocean Management to consist of not more than fifteen members. The members of the Commission shall be appointed from time to time by the Governor and shall serve at his pleasure. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Commission shall be designated from time to time by the Governor and Chairman, respectively. Each appointee of the Commission shall be a person qualified to make significant contributions to the preparation of a program for the orderly development of our ocean resources.

It shall be the duty of the Commission

1) To develop a comprehensive, long-range plan for the conservation and orderly management of the Commonwealth's resources and assets in coastal, estuarine, and submerged areas, as well as for the protection of the Commonwealth's interests in deep ocean research and related activities.

2) To determine guidelines for state policies respecting relationships with the Federal government and the governments of other States with respect to (a) the desirability and feasibility of entering into agreements concerning the extent of the Commonwealth's offshore jurisdiction, and (b) entry into multi-state compacts for regional marine research and planning.

3) To recommend appropriate methods of state governmental organization to properly deal with marine affairs.

4) To study and suggest optimum means of accommodating the interests of a multiplicity of marine users and resolving conflicts among such users.

5) To recommend regulatory procedures for encouraging orderly private investment in marine enterprises and, where feasible, priorities for the implementation of state marine programs and plans.

The Commission also shall maintain surveillance of extraterritorial activities which may affect the Commonwealth, shall identify and catalog special marine interest groups within the Commonwealth, and shall consider the views of such groups on marine planning.

The Commission from time to time, but at least once in each calendar year, shall report its findings and recommendations to the Commissioner of Natural Resources who shall bring such reports to the attention of the Governor. The Commissioner of Natural Resources shall provide and maintain inter-agency coordination on all matters within the purview of the Commission, and shall provide such other assistance as may be necessary for the Commission to discharge its responsibilities.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this tenth day of May in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and sixty- eight and of the Independence of the United States of America, one hundred and ninety-third.

JOHN A. VOLPE
Governor
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

JOHN F. X. DAVOREN
Secretary of the Commonwealth