Overview of the Coastal Zone Management Act

Description

Participants in this workshop will learn the history of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) and how it applies to Federal, State, and local governments, as well as private companies and citizens. Additionally, participants will learn the terminology associated with the Act, the case law that guides implementation, and the relationship between the states and NOAA’s Office of Costal Management (OCM) in the Department of Commerce. The course will also discuss requirements of the Act, and the states’ responsibilities for reviewing Federal consistency determinations and issuing permits for non-point source pollution programs. Since each coastal state has their own Coastal Management Program, we will examine these programs state-by-state.

Objectives

Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to do the following:

  • Recognize important terms and definitions associated with the CZMA.

  • Know how the CZMA is implemented state-by-state.

  • Understand the specific roles and responsibilities of the states, the OCM, other Federal agencies such as the Corp of Engineers, EPA, and BOEM in administering the Act.

  • Know how and when to obtain a federal consistency determination for Federal actions subject to the Act.

  • Know how and when to obtain appropriate state permits for projects subject to the Act.

  • Understand the current issues surrounding implementation of the CZMA.

Content

The basic format of the short workshop includes the following components:

  • Reviewing the history and context for the CZMA.

  • Understanding the jurisdictional boundaries that define coastal zones under the statute.

  • Identifying the differences and similarities between the states’ Coastal Management Programs approved under the CZMA.

  • Examining the federal consistency determination and permitting provisions state-by-state.

  • Considering case studies that explore unique and difficult dilemmas for implementation of CZMA requirements.

Audience

Participants for this training generally include environmental managers, NEPA practitioners, and other subject matter experts that need a general overview and understanding of the Coastal Zone Management Act; and how to integrate compliance with the CZMA and other environmental statutes and regulations.

Process

This workshop is intended to introduce environmental practitioners and managers to the Coastal Zone Management Act requirements.  Exercises using case studies are part of the workshop and will require participants to be able to work through them. However, an in-depth understanding of the CZMA, NEPA, or related environmental statutes is not required. For optimal learning, class size is limited to 30 participants. This 1 to 1 ½ day workshop consists of a carefully designed combination of the following components:

  • 50% Lecture

  • 20% Group Discussion

  • 30% Exercises

Materials

Participants receive the following:

  • Workshop manual of materials presented

  • Case study exercises

  • Workshop resources workbook