Massachusetts environmental officials are vetting their draft Ocean Management Plan with a series of five public hearings to be held in coastal communities across the state.
Local residents are invited to share their comments during a hearing at 7 tonight at the New Bedford Public Library. The hearing will take place in the main meeting room of the library at 613 Pleasant St.
The plan, which was released in draft form on July 1, regulates the siting of ocean activities in state waters out to three miles from the coast. Certain activities are restricted in environmentally sensitive waters, such as the upper portion of Buzzards Bay, which is a popular nesting ground for endangered roseate terns.