Amendment #7, as changed to H4515

Fishing Mitigation 2

Ms. Ferrante of Gloucester moves to amend the bill in section 1, by striking out lines 1 to 15, inclusive, and inserting in place thereof the following:-

SECTION 1. Chapter 21A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4A the following section:-

SECTION 4A½. The office of coastal zone management, in consultation with the division of marine fisheries established in section 1A of chapter 130, shall establish: (1) an environmental working group; and (2) a fisheries working group. Each working group shall be comprised of key experts and stakeholders to provide input on best practices for avoiding, minimizing and mitigating impacts to wildlife, including, but not limited to, threatened or endangered species, such as North Atlantic right whales, coastal and marine habitats, natural resources and ecosystems; traditional or existing water-dependent uses, including, but not limited to, commercial and recreational fishing during the construction and operation of facilities; and job training for opportunities in the offshore wind industry. The environmental and fisheries working groups shall conduct an ongoing review of implemented monitoring and mitigation programs and provide feedback and recommendations on an as-needed basis, to be considered by the office, in consultation with the division of marine fisheries. Pre-construction engagement of the working groups shall correspond with project development, solicitation and permitting and a process to determine federal consistency with approved coastal management programs. The director of marine fisheries shall include in its annual report a report of the fisheries working group.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #7, as changed to H4515

Fishing Mitigation 2