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Malloy Sponsors 'Blue Plan' To Protect Long Island Sound

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. – In a bid to protect Connecticut's coastline, Gov. Dannel Malloy said Monday he will sponsor the Long Island Sound Blue Plan to ensure that the state has a coordinated strategy in regards to any potential future use of the Sound.

Governor Dannel P. Malloy.

Governor Dannel P. Malloy.

Photo Credit: File

The Blue Plan directs the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the University of Connecticut to convene relevant state agencies, academic institutions and stakeholders to compile an inventory of the natural resources and human resources of the Sound, and to use that information to develop a plan to guide future uses of the Sound’s waters and submerged lands.

“The Long Island Sound is critical for Connecticut’s economy and the millions of people who rely on its resources, and yet our state does not have any existing authority to plan for its future use and protection on an overall basis," Malloy said. " We need to act now in order to protect our vital coastline, allow comprehensive and regional planning for use of the Sound.

“The Sound has been the scene of several protracted battles over the past decade, which highlights the pressing need for us to take action now.”

The legislation would enhance and expand the work of a bi-state Connecticut/New York working group that has been preparing for spatial planning in the Sound, and enable the resulting inventory to be incorporated into a plan that could ensure future or new uses of the Sound are compatible with traditional uses, minimize conflicts among users, and balance use with resource protection.

The resulting final plan, developed over a multi-year period, will be submitted to the General Assembly for its final approval. 

“This Blue Plan will quite literally become the blue print that will guide Connecticut’s management of what is arguably one of our most important environmental assets – the Long Island Sound,” said state Sen. Tony Hwang (R-Fairfield).

The legislation will be filed along with the governor’s package of proposals for the 2015 session of the General Assembly.

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