NOAA Approves Part 5 of Oregon's Territorial Sea Plan for Renewable Ocean Energy

NOAA recently approved the Territorial Sea Plan (TSP) Part Five as a routine program change to the Oregon Coastal Management Program, the enforceable policies of the TSP can now be applied under federal consistency of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA). 

This new chapter includes policies, standards and procedures for how the State will move forward with renewable ocean energy within our Territorial Sea (0-3 nautical miles). The process for developing this plan was the result of years of public engagement by a range of stakeholders, community members, and various interests thru an open and transparent public process, read more on the background here. Check out the clean version of Part 5 of the TSP here.

Read the full letter on the approval from NOAA: OR 2014-1 Part 5 TSP Approval Letter

After many years of working on this, Surfrider Foundation chapters and staff are happy to see this plan approved. Oregon continues to be a national leader in our ocean stewardship efforts and this comprehensive plan was the result of a process informed by the best available science and the participation of many community members. The plan and maps provide necessary protections for the important recreation areas that we all enjoy & the sensitive ecological areas and habitats that our critters need to survive. The plan also provides a significant opportunity for the renewable energy industry to move forward within harnessing clean energy as we seek to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.