The federal Coastal Zone Management Act provides for a unique federal-state partnership that is a proven basis for protecting, restoring, and responsibly developing the nation's important and diverse coastal communities and resources, thus ensuring their protection for future generations while balancing competing national economic, cultural and environmental interests.
The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 is administered at the federal level by the Coastal Programs Division (CPD) within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM). The CPD is responsible for advancing national coastal management objectives and maintaining and strengthening state and territorial coastal management capabilities. It supports states through financial assistance, mediation, technical services and information, and participation in priority state, regional, and local forums.
Thirty-four states and territories have federally approved coastal management programs, including New York State. State and federal coastal zone management efforts are guided by a federal framework, built around the themes of sustaining coastal communities, sustaining coastal ecosystems, and improving government efficiency.
Established in 1994, the Coastal Services Center is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Ocean Service. It is the mission of the Coastal Services Center to support the environmental, social, and economic well being of the coast by linking people, information, and technology.
The NOAA Coastal Services Center works with various branches of NOAA and other federal agencies to bring information, services, and technology to the nation's coastal resource managers. The Center is a partner in over 100 ongoing projects geared to resolve site specific coastal issues.
The Coastal States Organization (CSO) was created in 1970 to represent state governors in oceanic and coastal affairs. The association's membership consists of delegates appointed by the governors from each of the thirty-five states, territories and commonwealths having an ocean, Gulf, or Great Lake boundary.
CSO helps coastal states develop and implement national coastal policy and resolve national coastal issues without interfering in other state objectives. The organization provides a nonpartisan forum for debate, discussion, and resolution of national coastal issues and problems. As an information clearinghouse, it also supplies coastal research and data analysis to Congress, member states, the media, and the general public. |
