Chairman William Wise opened the meeting at 2:05 p.m. The final version of the 18 April MRAC Minutes and information sheets about the pending federal legislation, the Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA), were distributed. If enacted, CARA would redistribute federal revenues from offshore oil and gas to the states and would provide significantly enhanced funding to DEC’s programs, including those on marine resources.

Mr. Wise welcomed Gerry Barnhart from the DEC’s Albany Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources. Mr. Wise announced that Councilor Nick Castoro, one of the original members of MRAC, had resigned due to health considerations. Mr. Colvin stated that Mr. Castoro had spoken to him of his reluctance to leave the Council but that his health and other considerations made this necessary.