Wind Energy Areas, 2015 Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan

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Metadata:


Identification_Information:
Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management
Publication_Date: 20150106
Title: Wind Energy Areas, 2015 Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
Online_Linkage: <http://www.mass.gov/eea/mop>
Online_Linkage: <http://www.mass.gov/czm/mapping/index.htm>
Larger_Work_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator:
Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Publication_Date: 20150106
Title: 2015 Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan
Online_Linkage: <http://www.mass.gov/eea/mop>
Description:
Abstract:
As defined by the Oceans Act, the Massachusetts Ocean Management Planning Area (planning area) is the water and submerged lands of the ocean, including the seabed and the soil, lying between a line designated as the "Nearshore Boundary of the Ocean Management Planning Area" and the seaward boundary of the Commonwealth. Within the planning area, the 2009 Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan established three categories of management areas: Prohibited, Renewable Energy, and Multi-Use. These three management areas are carried forward by the 2015 ocean plan. The 2009 ocean plan designated two Wind Energy Areas—the Gosnold Wind Energy Area and the Martha's Vineyard Wind Energy Area—that are presumptively suitable for commercial-scale or community-scale wind energy projects. Constituting two percent of the planning area's 2,145 square miles, these Wind Energy Areas were designated based on the presence of excellent wind resource, suitable water depth, and the absence of conflict with other uses or sensitive resources, as derived through an environmental analysis and screening process. In 2010, the Oceans Act was amended to provide those regional planning agencies who have statutorily derived regulatory authorities with the legal right to define the appropriate scale of offshore renewable energy facilities. In 2012, the Martha's Vineyard Commission issued its final "Wind Energy Plan for Dukes County," which provides the basis for the commission's determination of appropriate scale for offshore wind development projects in state waters subject to their jurisdiction. The "Wind Energy Plan for Dukes County" defines exclusionary areas for offshore wind projects as "highly critical areas where no turbines or infrastructure shall be located" and delineates large sections of the Martha's Vineyard Wind Energy Area and Gosnold Wind Energy Area as exclusionary areas. Given the restrictions related to the appropriate scale determination of the Martha's Vineyard Commission "Wind Energy Plan for Dukes County," the availability of new data and information on protected resources and uses, and stakeholder concerns expressed during in the ocean plan amendment process, the 2015 ocean plan acknowledges that commercial-scale wind energy projects (i.e., wind energy projects greater than community-scale, which as described in the 2015 ocean plan are capped at 17 turbines) are not suitable for the Martha's Vineyard Wind Energy Area or the Gosnold Wind Energy Area. These constraints, however, may not extend to smaller pilot or community-scale projects that could be sited within the state-designated Wind Energy Areas, subject to appropriate scale determination and necessary federal, state, and local review and approvals. The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs will conduct additional review and evaluation of the designation and status of the state Wind Energy Areas in consultation with the Martha's Vineyard Commission and its member communities, the Town of Gosnold, and other stakeholders. Any recommended revisions to these designated areas would be proposed in the form of an ocean plan amendment through the processes described in Chapter 3 of the 2015 ocean plan and the ocean plan's implementing regulations at 301 CMR 28.07.
Purpose:
These data were used in the development of the 2015 Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan.
Supplemental_Information:
The Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan protects critical marine habitat and important water-dependent uses and sets standards for new ocean-based development. In response to the Oceans Act of 2008, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) issued the original ocean plan in December 2009. The Oceans Act requires EEA to review and update the ocean plan at least once every five years. The 2015 Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan, released on January 6, 2015, is the first formal amendment to the 2009 ocean plan. These data were produced to support the development of the 2015 ocean plan.
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Single_Date/Time:
Calendar_Date: 20150106
Currentness_Reference: publication date
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed
Spatial_Domain:
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -71.034745
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -70.734005
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.432339
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.198437
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Categories
Theme_Keyword: boundaries
Theme_Keyword: oceans
Theme_Keyword: utilitiesCommunication
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: coastal zone management
Theme_Keyword: CZM
Theme_Keyword: EBM
Theme_Keyword: ecosystem-based management
Theme_Keyword: EEA
Theme_Keyword: electricity
Theme_Keyword: EOEEA
Theme_Keyword: Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
Theme_Keyword: marine spatial planning
Theme_Keyword: Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan
Theme_Keyword: Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management
Theme_Keyword: MSP
Theme_Keyword: ocean management
Theme_Keyword: ocean plan
Theme_Keyword: Oceans Act of 2008
Theme_Keyword: renewable energy
Theme_Keyword: wind energy
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus:
NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0
Place_Keyword:
CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > MASSACHUSETTS
Place_Keyword: OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN
Place_Keyword: OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF MAINE
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: U.S. Board on Geographic Names
Place_Keyword: Atlantic Ocean
Place_Keyword: Bigelow Bight
Place_Keyword: Buzzards Bay
Place_Keyword: Cape Cod Bay
Place_Keyword: Gulf of Maine
Place_Keyword: Massachusetts
Place_Keyword: Massachusetts Bay
Place_Keyword: Nantucket Sound
Place_Keyword: North America
Place_Keyword: United States
Place_Keyword: Vineyard Sound
Access_Constraints:
None. These data are in the public domain. GIS files are freely available for download.
Use_Constraints:
Public domain data from the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM), an agency of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. Please recognize the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management as the source of these data. You are not permitted to use CZM's name or to suggest that CZM endorses your project or product, without its express written consent. While efforts have been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the state of the art, CZM cannot assume liability for any damages or misrepresentation caused by any inaccuracies in the data or as a result of changes to the data caused by system transfers. The user must be aware of data conditions and bear responsibility for the appropriate use of these data with respect to possible errors, original map scale, collection methodology, currency of data, and other conditions specific to these data. NOAA mandated language per federal Data Quality Act (DQA): These environmental data and related items of information have not been formally disseminated by NOAA and do not represent and should not be construed to represent any agency determination, view, or policy.
Point_of_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management
Contact_Position: CZM Data Manager
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 251 Causeway Street, Suite 800
City: Boston
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02114-2138
Country: US
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 617-626-1200
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 617-626-1240
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: czm@state.ma.us
Hours_of_Service: 0900 hrs to 1600 hrs EST
Data_Set_Credit:
These spatial data were created by the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA).
Native_Data_Set_Environment:
Microsoft Windows 7 Version 6.1 (Build 7601) Service Pack 1; Esri ArcGIS 10.2.2.3552

Data_Quality_Information:
Attribute_Accuracy:
Attribute_Accuracy_Report: The attribute data were checked for valid values.
Logical_Consistency_Report:
All vector data are presumed to be topologically clean based on a validation of relevant topology rule(s) and visual inspection. No duplicate features exist. The data were visually inspected for missing features and misplaced features.
Completeness_Report:
This dataset contains the entire spatial extent of the Wind Energy Areas.
Positional_Accuracy:
Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:
Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report: A positional accuracy report was not conducted for these data.
Lineage:
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
This data layer was created based on the presence of excellent wind resource, suitable water depth, and the absence of conflict with other uses or sensitive resources, as derived through an environmental analysis and screening process. In the 2009 ocean plan, the planning area was partitioned into 250 x 250-meter grid cells to allow for a consistent comparison of a variety of datasets. The grid cells identified as the Wind Energy Areas were extracted and dissolved into one feature.
Process_Date: 20090101
Process_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management
Contact_Position: CZM Data Manager
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 251 Causeway Street, Suite 800
City: Boston
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02114-2138
Country: US
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 617-626-1200
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 617-626-1240
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: czm@state.ma.us
Hours_of_Service: 0900 hrs to 1600 hrs EST

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:
Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector
Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:
SDTS_Terms_Description:
SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: GT-polygon composed of chains
Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 2

Spatial_Reference_Information:
Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
Planar:
Map_Projection:
Map_Projection_Name: NAD 1983 StatePlane Massachusetts Mainland FIPS 2001
Lambert_Conformal_Conic:
Standard_Parallel: 41.71666666666667
Standard_Parallel: 42.68333333333333
Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -71.5
Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 41.0
False_Easting: 200000.0
False_Northing: 750000.0
Planar_Coordinate_Information:
Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: coordinate pair
Coordinate_Representation:
Abscissa_Resolution: 0.000000008155898179040834
Ordinate_Resolution: 0.000000008155898179040834
Planar_Distance_Units: meter
Geodetic_Model:
Horizontal_Datum_Name: D North American 1983
Ellipsoid_Name: GRS 1980
Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.0
Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257222101

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
Detailed_Description:
Entity_Type:
Entity_Type_Label: Wind Energy Areas
Entity_Type_Definition:
Wind Energy Areas are presumptively suitable for commercial-scale or community-scale wind energy projects/
Entity_Type_Definition_Source: Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: FID
Attribute_Definition: Internal feature number.
Attribute_Definition_Source: Esri
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain:
Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: Shape
Attribute_Definition: Feature geometry.
Attribute_Definition_Source: Esri
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: Coordinates defining the features.
Attribute:
Attribute_Label: NAME
Attribute_Definition: Name of Wind Energy Area.
Attribute_Definition_Source: CZM
Attribute_Domain_Values:
Unrepresentable_Domain: Description of features.

Distribution_Information:
Distributor:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management
Contact_Position: CZM Data Manager
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 251 Causeway Street, Suite 800
City: Boston
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02114-2138
Country: US
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 617-626-1200
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 617-626-1240
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: czm@state.ma.us
Hours_of_Service: 0900 hrs to 1600 hrs EST
Distribution_Liability:
Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of these data, errors and conditions originating from physical sources used to develop these data may be reflected in the data supplied. The client must be aware of data conditions and bear responsibility for the appropriate use of the information with respect to possible errors, original map scale, collection methodology, currency of data, and other conditions specific to certain data. In no event shall CZM be liable for any damages, whether general, special, incidental or consequential damages, arising out of your use of these data. Your sole remedy for damages is to stop using the data. You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless CZM and its employees against any claim, loss, liability or expense, including attorneys' fees, resulting from loss of or damage to property or the injury to or death of any person arising out of the use of the data. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the CZM.
Standard_Order_Process:
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: Esri Shapefile (.shp)
Format_Version_Number: ArcGIS 8.x, 9.x, and 10.x
Digital_Transfer_Option:
Online_Option:
Computer_Contact_Information:
Network_Address:
Network_Resource_Name: <http://www.mass.gov/czm/mapping/index.htm>
Online_Option:
Computer_Contact_Information:
Network_Address:
Network_Resource_Name: <http://maps.massgis.state.ma.us/map_ol/mass_ocean_plan.php>
Fees:
GIS and coordinate files may be downloaded at no charge by following links on the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management website (<http://www.mass.gov/czm/>).

Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date: 20150213
Metadata_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management
Contact_Position: CZM Data Manager
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 251 Causeway Street, Suite 800
City: Boston
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 02114-2138
Country: US
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 617-626-1200
Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 617-626-1240
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: czm@state.ma.us
Hours_of_Service: 0900 hrs to 1600 hrs EST
Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
Metadata_Time_Convention: local time

Generated by mp version 2.9.12 on Fri Feb 13 11:44:12 2015