16 USC 1455b - Protecting coastal waters

U.S Code last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024

§ 1455b.

Protecting coastal waters

(a)

In general

(1)

Program development

(2)

Program coordination

(b)

Program contents

Each State program under this section shall provide for the implementation, at a minimum, of management measures in conformity with the guidance published under subsection (g), to protect coastal waters generally, and shall also contain the following:

(1)

Identifying land uses

The identification of, and a continuing process for identifying, land uses which, individually or cumulatively, may cause or contribute significantly to a degradation of—

(A)

those coastal waters where there is a failure to attain or maintain applicable water quality standards or protect designated uses, as determined by the State pursuant to its water quality planning processes; or

(B)

those coastal waters that are threatened by reasonably foreseeable increases in pollution loadings from new or expanding sources.

(2)

Identifying critical coastal areas

(3)

Management measures

(4)

Technical assistance

(5)

Public participation

(6)

Administrative coordination

(7)

State coastal zone boundary modification

(c)

Program submission, approval, and implementation

(1)

Review and approval

Within 6 months after the date of submission by a State of a program pursuant to this section, the Secretary and the Administrator shall jointly review the program. The program shall be approved if—

(A)

the Secretary determines that the portions of the program under the authority of the Secretary meet the requirements of this section and the Administrator concurs with that determination; and

(B)

the Administrator determines that the portions of the program under the authority of the Administrator meet the requirements of this section and the Secretary concurs with that determination.

(2)

Implementation of approved program

If the program of a State is approved in accordance with paragraph (1), the State shall implement the program, including the management measures included in the program pursuant to subsection (b), through—

(A)

changes to the State plan for control of nonpoint source pollution approved under section 1329 of title 33; and

(B)

changes to the State coastal zone management program developed under section 306 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended by this Act [16 U.S.C. 1455].

(3)

Withholding coastal management assistance

If the Secretary finds that a coastal State has failed to submit an approvable program as required by this section, the Secretary shall withhold for each fiscal year until such a program is submitted a portion of grants otherwise available to the State for the fiscal year under section 306 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 [16 U.S.C. 1455], as follows:

(A)

10 percent for fiscal year 1996.

(B)

15 percent for fiscal year 1997.

(C)

20 percent for fiscal year 1998.

(D)

30 percent for fiscal year 1999 and each fiscal year thereafter.

The Secretary shall make amounts withheld under this paragraph available to coastal States having programs approved under this section.

(4)

Withholding water pollution control assistance

If the Administrator finds that a coastal State has failed to submit an approvable program as required by this section, the Administrator shall withhold from grants available to the State under section 1329 of title 33, for each fiscal year until such a program is submitted, an amount equal to a percentage of the grants awarded to the State for the preceding fiscal year under that section, as follows:

(A)

For fiscal year 1996, 10 percent of the amount awarded for fiscal year 1995.

(B)

For fiscal year 1997, 15 percent of the amount awarded for fiscal year 1996.

(C)

For fiscal year 1998, 20 percent of the amount awarded for fiscal year 1997.

(D)

For fiscal year 1999 and each fiscal year thereafter, 30 percent of the amount awarded for fiscal year 1998 or other preceding fiscal year.

The Administrator shall make amounts withheld under this paragraph available to States having programs approved pursuant to this subsection.

(d)

Technical assistance

The Secretary and the Administrator shall provide technical assistance to coastal States and local governments in developing and implementing programs under this section. Such assistance shall include—

(1)

methods for assessing water quality impacts associated with coastal land uses;

(2)

methods for assessing the cumulative water quality effects of coastal development;

(3)

maintaining and from time to time revising an inventory of model ordinances, and providing other assistance to coastal States and local governments in identifying, developing, and implementing pollution control measures; and

(4)

methods to predict and assess the effects of coastal land use management measures on coastal water quality and designated uses.

(e)

Inland coastal zone boundaries

(1)

Review

(2)

Recommendation

(f)

Financial assistance

(1)

In general

(2)

Amount

(3)

State share

(4)

Allocation

(g)

Guidance for coastal nonpoint source pollution control

(1)

In general

(2)

Content

Guidance under this subsection shall include, at a minimum—

(A)

a description of a range of methods, measures, or practices, including structural and nonstructural controls and operation and maintenance procedures, that constitute each measure;

(B)

a description of the categories and subcategories of activities and locations for which each measure may be suitable;

(C)

an identification of the individual pollutants or categories or classes of pollutants that may be controlled by the measures and the water quality effects of the measures;

(D)

quantitative estimates of the pollution reduction effects and costs of the measures;

(E)

a description of the factors which should be taken into account in adapting the measures to specific sites or locations; and

(F)

any necessary monitoring techniques to accompany the measures to assess over time the success of the measures in reducing pollution loads and improving water quality.

(3)

Publication

The Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary, shall publish—

(A)

proposed guidance pursuant to this subsection not later than 6 months after November 5, 1990; and

(B)

final guidance pursuant to this subsection not later than 18 months after November 5, 1990.

(4)

Notice and comment

(5)

Management measures

(h)

Authorization of appropriations

(1)

Administrator

(2)

Secretary

(A)

Of amounts appropriated to the Secretary for a fiscal year under section 318(a)(4) 1

 See References in Text note below.

of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended by this Act, not more than $1,000,000 shall be available for use by the Secretary for carrying out this section for that fiscal year, other than for providing in the form of grants under subsection (f).

(B)

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for use for providing in the form of grants under subsection (f) not more than—

(i)

$6,000,000 for fiscal year 1992;

(ii)

$12,000,000 for fiscal year 1993;

(iii)

$12,000,000 for fiscal year 1994; and

(iv)

$12,000,000 for fiscal year 1995.

(i)

Definitions

In this section—

(1)

the term “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency;

(2)

the term “coastal State” has the meaning given the term “coastal state” under section 304 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1453);

(3)

each of the terms “coastal waters” and “coastal zone” has the meaning that term has in the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 [16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.];

(4)

the term “coastal management agency” means a State agency designated pursuant to section 306(d)(6) of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 [16 U.S.C. 1455(d)(6)];

(5)

the term “land use” includes a use of waters adjacent to coastal waters; and

(6)

the term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Commerce.

(Pub. L. 101–508, title VI, § 6217, Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–314; Pub. L. 102–587, title II, § 2205(b)(24), Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5052.)

cite as: 16 USC 1455b