‘You might be asking yourself, “But how will ocean planning affect recreation?” The decisions made by the Regional Planning Bodies (RPBs) will be implemented by all of the participating state, federal, and tribal agencies—so agencies like the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), which has authority over energy generation in the ocean—could make a change in their management that affects you. This could involve the placing of a wind turbine array near your favorite dive location or running of power cables for that array under your favorite beach.
In order for us recreational users to be taken seriously in the planning process, we need to speak up now and not wait until after decisions are made. Work has already begun to understand exactly how and where we use the ocean, but we need everyone’s help to make sure the RPB makes the right decisions. They need to hear what areas are important to you, your concerns about any proposed changes, and how those changes might affect your enjoyment of our coast.’
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