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JULY 27, 2018
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OC GREEK FESTIVAL Twenty-ninth annual event features three days of food, music, dancing and vendors – Page 26
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Offshore oil gambit cut from bill Senate will now take up funding measure
BRIAN GILLILAND/OCEAN CITY TODAY
According to numbers released by the Ocean City Police Department, accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists in the fenced area of Coastal Highway, between 40th and 62nd streets, are about the same or lower than in previous years.
Median fence safety: so far so good Barrier has done its job to date, with no pedestrian accidents By Brian Gilliland Associate Editor (July 27, 2018) While it’s still early into the useful life of the median fence installed this year between 40th and 62nd Streets, early numbers released by the Ocean City Police Department show the fence is more than a boondoggle or a design faux pas. In the past five years, the numbers show that 2014 was the worst year to walk or ride a bike in the resort, with 33 pedestrians and 31 bicyclists struck during the year. Also during that year up until June 30, the most recent data available, 11 pedestrians and 13 cyclists were involved in vehicle crashes, with three pedestrian crashes in the median fence zone.
For 2014 as a whole, eight pedestrians and three bicyclists were struck in the fence zone. This year, during the same time period, there have been six pedestrian crashes in the resort with zero in the fence zone, and seven bicycle crashes with one in the fence zone.
It should be noted, however, that the lone bicycle crash in the fence area happened in May, before the fence was complete, Lindsay Richard, OCPD public information officer, said. In 2013, there were 13 pedestrian accidents before July 1, with three in the fence zone and by year’s end there
were 26 accidents with five in the fenced area. For bicycles, there was only one up until June 30, but 19 during the year, with one in the fenced area. After 2014, the volume of accidents involving pedestrians and bikers lessened on the pedestrian side. From See HIGHWAY Page 3
By Paige M. Passman Staff Writer (July 27, 2018) The Ocean City Chamber of Commerce and other business interests along the Atlantic seaboard last week got behind legislation introduced by Rep. Mark Sanford (R-SC) that would have protected offRep. Mark shore areas Sanford from oil and gas exploration and drilling. His effort failed, but Sanford’s coastal protection measure was an amendment to the House Interior Appropriations bill that would have tied funding for the Interior Department to a prohibition against these activities. His effort was one of several offered by Republicans See OCEANA Page 66
US Wind says public can still comment Continues its push through hearing phases before feds
By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (July 27, 2018) After commercial seafood industry representatives expressed their concerns about proposed offshore wind turbines last Monday
with the City Council, project developer US Wind fired back this week that the approval process is continuing. Salvo Vitale, US Wind general counsel, said although the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management approved a site assessment plan this March, which was originally submitted in April 2016, eval-
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initiated a leasing process to establish Maryland offshore wind energy areas. In February 2012, the federal agency requested public and stakeholder comments. In December 2013, BOEM published a proposed sale notice and held a 60-day public comment period. In August 2014, BOEM See US WIND Page 72
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uation of the construction and operation phases would provide further opportunity for public comments. “Everyone will be told once again to submit their observations or mitigation measure proposals,” he said. In November 2010, as part of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, BOEM
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