You may have heard about a new coastal and ocean management body forming in the Mid-Atlantic called the RPB, or Regional Planning Body. The name itself doesn’t tell you much, but this new entity is worth understanding as their mission is revolutionary when it comes to what happens to our beloved beaches and oceans!

In 2010, President Obama signed an executive order calling for the formation of nine Regional Planning Bodies (RPBs) along the U.S. coastline. The idea was that each of these RPBs would bring to one table the many state and federal agencies that manage our coasts and oceans. These various agencies have overlapping and complimentary authorities, but rarely communicate effectively with each other. Each RPB is tasked with comprehensively managing and protecting our ocean resources, while providing for the development of new ocean uses like offshore wind power.

The Mid-Atlantic RPB (M-A RPB) formed in 2013 and is working on a founding document that will set out a work plan for the body over the coming years. It is an important time to make sure the voice of surfers and other recreational users is heard by the M-A RPB. The public has until April 15^th to comment on this document. The next public meeting of this body will be May 21^st and 22^nd at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland—stay tuned for more details on this important governing body!