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Alaska’s coastal plan wins federal OK National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration gives final approval to ACMP, finalizing legislative changes made in 2003 Kristen Nelson Petroleum News
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has given final approval to Alaska’s revised coastal management plan, Gov. Frank Murkowski said Jan. 5.
“We have been working hard for nearly three years to update and reform our coastal management program into one that works for Alaska,” Murkowski said in a statement. “The process was challenging, but the results were worth it. I’m very pleased that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management have recognized our desire, ability and legal right to manage development on our own shores.”
There are federal standards for states to develop their own coastal zone management programs, balancing ecological, cultural, historic and aesthetic values with economic development. The state has been working with OCRM since 2003 on a revised program that reflects Alaska’s unique conditions and needs, the governor’s office said. ACMP moved to DNR The governor moved the Alaska Coastal Management Program from the governor’s office to the Department of Natural Resources in February 2003 and in May he signed a bill to reform the Alaska Coastal Management Program and amend its regulations.
In January 2005 the OCRM rejected the state’s amendments as not complying with federal approval standards, but later reversed itself, the governor’s office said, “acknowledging the legitimacy of the governor’s legal objections.”
In June 2005 the governor signed another bill which further amended the program’s guiding statutes and allowed coastal resource districts eight additional months to submit revised district plans to the Department of Natural Resources.
OCRM gave preliminary approval to the amended ACMP in June 2005, and NOAA issued its final approval Dec. 29. A letter from Capt. Craig McLean, NOAA’s acting deputy assistant administrator, said Alaska’s amended plan met all federal requirements and standards. NOAA’s approval formally incorporates into the ACMP the state’s statutory revisions. Changes made in 2003 When the Alaska Legislature revised the state’s coastal management plan in 2003 the administration summarized the changes by saying that the coastal management program was an older program which hadn’t adequately responded to change in Alaska statutes. It is unpredictable, overly broad and delays issuance of permits, the administration told the Legislature. Coastal districts retained a voice under the revised program, although the coastal policy council was eliminated and its duties placed with the Department of Natural Resources commissioner.
Murkowski signed the bills changing the program in May 2003: House Bill 191 streamlined the Alaska Coastal Management Program and Senate Bill 142 designated the Department of Natural Resources as the lead agency for natural resource development projects in the state.
Coastal districts and existing coastal resource service areas remain under the changed program, and districts were required to submit new or revised coastal management plans to the department for review and approval.
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