Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 650 - Coastal Resources Management Council › Chapter 20 - Coastal Management Program › Subchapter 05 - Ocean Special Area Management Plan › Part 6 - RICRMP: Ocean SAMP - Chapter 6 - Recreation and Tourism (650-RICR-20-05-6) › Section 650-RICR-20-05-6.3 - Policies and Standards (formerly Section 660)

Current through June 14, 2024
6.3.1
General Policies (formerly §660.1)
A. The Council recognizes the economic,
				  historic, and cultural value of marine recreation and tourism activities in the
				  Ocean SAMP area to the state of Rhode Island. The Council's goal is to promote
				  uses of the Ocean SAMP area that do not significantly interfere with marine
				  recreation and tourism activities or values.
B. When evaluating proposed offshore
				  developments, the Council will carefully consider the potential impacts of such
				  activities on marine recreation and tourism uses. Where it is determined that
				  there is a significant impact, the Council may modify or deny activities that
				  significantly detract from these uses.
C. The Council will encourage and support
				  uses of the Ocean SAMP area that enhance marine recreation and tourism
				  activities.
D. The Council
				  recognizes that the waters south of Brenton Point and within the 3-nautical
				  mile boundary surrounding Block Island are heavily-used recreational areas and
				  are commonly used for organized sailboat races and other marine events. The
				  Council encourages and supports the ongoing coordination of race and marine
				  event organizers with the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy, and the commercial
				  shipping community to facilitate safe recreational boating in and adjacent to
				  these areas, which include charted shipping lanes and Navy restricted areas
				  (see Chapter 7, Marine Transportation, Navigation, and Infrastructure). The
				  Council shall consider these heavily-used recreational areas when evaluating
				  Offshore Developments in this area. Where it is determined that there is a
				  significant impact, the Council may modify or deny activities that
				  significantly detract from these uses. The Council also recognizes that much of
				  this organized recreational activity is concentrated within the circular
				  sailboat racing areas as depicted in Figure 6 in §11.10.2 of this
				  Subchapter, and accordingly has designated these areas as Areas of Particular
				  Concern. See Part 11.10.2 of this Subchapter, The Policies of the Ocean SAMP,
				  for requirements associated with Areas of Particular Concern.
E. The Council shall work together with the
				  U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA,
				  fishermen's organizations, marine pilots, recreational boating organizations,
				  and other marine safety organizations to promote safe navigation, fishing, and
				  recreational boating activity around and through offshore structures and
				  developments and along cable routes during the construction, operation and
				  decommissioning phases of such projects. The Council will promote and support
				  the education of all mariners regarding safe navigation around offshore
				  structures and developments and along cable routes.
F. Discussions with the U.S. Coast Guard, the
				  U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and
				  Enforcement, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have indicated that no vessel
				  access restrictions are planned for the waters around and through offshore
				  structures and developments, or along cable routes, except for those necessary
				  for navigational safety. Commercial and recreational fishing and boating access
				  around and through offshore structures and developments and along cable routes
				  is a critical means of mitigating the potential adverse impacts of offshore
				  structures on commercial and recreational fisheries and recreational boating.
				  The Council endorses this approach and shall work to ensure that the waters
				  surrounding offshore structures, developments, and cable routes remain open to
				  commercial and recreational fishing, marine transportation, and recreational
				  boating, except for navigational safety restrictions. The Council requests that
				  federal agencies notify the Council as soon as is practicable of any federal
				  action that may affect vessel access around and through offshore structures and
				  developments and along cable routes. The Council will continue to monitor
				  changes to navigational activities around and through offshore developments and
				  along cable routes. Any changes affecting existing navigational activities may
				  be subject to CZMA Federal Consistency review if the federal agency determines
				  its activity will have reasonably foreseeable effects on the uses or resources
				  of Rhode Island's coastal zone.
G.
				  The Council recognizes that offshore wildlife viewing activities are reliant on
				  the presence and visibility of marine and avian species which rely on benthic
				  habitat, the availability of food, and other environmental factors. The Council
				  shall consider these environmental factors when evaluating proposed Offshore
				  Developments in these areas. Where it is determined that there is a significant
				  impact, the Council may modify or deny activities that significantly detract
				  from these uses.