Pat McCrory, Governor
Donald R. van der Vaart, Secretary
N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Release: Immediate Contact: Patricia Smith
Date: July 28, 2015 Phone: 252-726-7021\
Joint state coastal meeting to be held Aug. 12 in Washington
MOREHEAD CITY – A joint meeting of the Habitat and Water Quality Advisory Committee and the Coastal Habitat Protection Plan Steering Committee will be held at 1 p.m. Aug. 12 at the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Washington Regional Office, 943 Washington Square Mall, Washington.
The committees will review sections of the Coastal Habitat Protection Plan, including chapters on Priority Habitat Issues, Existing Protection, Restoration and Enhancement Efforts. The committees will also provide input on draft recommendations of the Coastal Habitat Protection Plan.
A full agenda is attached.
For more information, contact Anne Deaton with the N.C. Division of Marine fisheries at 910-796-7311 orAnne.deaton@ncdenr.gov. You may also contact Jimmy Johnson with the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership at 252-948-3952 or Jimmy.Johnson@ncdenr.gov.
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Joint Meeting of the Coastal Habitat Protection Plan Steering Committee and Habitat and Water Quality Advisory Committee
Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Office
943 Washington Square Mall, Washington
Aug. 12, 2015
1 p.m. Call to Order*
Vote on the Approval of the Agenda**
Vote on Approval of Meeting Minutes from previous meetings (Habitat and Water Quality Advisory Committee and CHPP Steering Committee) **
1:15 p.m. Public Comment
Receive public comment on fisheries management issues under the scope of the committee.
1:30 p.m. Overview of revised CHPP chapters
2 p.m. Review of CHPP priority habitat issues chapter and draft options
3:30 p.m. Review of draft CHPP recommendations
5:00 p.m. Next Steps
5:10 p.m. Additional Business
Discuss any additional business involving management issues under the scope of the committee.
5:20 p.m. Adjourn
* Times indicated are merely for guidance. The committee will proceed through the agenda until completed.
**Action Items
***Applies only to Marine Fisheries Commission members
N.C.G.S. 138A-15(e) mandates at the beginning of any meeting of a board, the chair shall remind all members of their duty to avoid conflicts of interest under Chapter 138. The chair also shall inquire as to whether there is any known conflict of interest with respect to any matters coming before the board at that time.
N.C.G.S. 143B-289.54(g)(2) states a member of the Marine Fisheries Commission shall not vote on any issue before the Commission that would have a "significant and predictable effect" on the member's financial interest. For purposes of this subdivision, "significant and predictable effect" means there is or may be a close causal link between the decision of the Commission and an expected disproportionate financial benefit to the member that is shared only by a minority of persons within the same industry sector or gear group. A member of the Commission shall also abstain from voting on any petition submitted by an advocacy group of which the member is an officer or sits as a member of the advocacy group's board of directors. A member of the Commission shall not use the member's official position as a member of the Commission to secure any special privilege or exemption of substantial value for any person. No member of the Commission shall, by the member's conduct, create an appearance that any person could improperly influence the member in the performance of the member's official duties.
Commissioners having questions about a conflict of interest or appearance of conflict should consult with counsel to the Marine Fisheries Commission or the secretary’s ethics liaison. Upon discovering a conflict, the commissioner should inform the chair of the commission in accordance with N.C.G.S. 138A-15(e).***
