NOAA SEEKING COMMENTS ON DRAFT GUIDELINES
FOR COASTAL CONSERVATION PROGRAM

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Ocean Service (NOAA Ocean Service), is seeking comment on draft guidelines for the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP), which was established to help protect estuaries and coastal lands that are important to our nation’s environment, economy and communities. The program provides coastal states with funding for selected projects that ensure conservation of these areas for the benefit of future generations. NOAA is an agency of the Department of Commerce.

To qualify for CELCP funds, a state must have a federally-approved Coastal Zone Management Plan or National Estuarine Research Reserve. The state must be able to match CELCP funds, one to one, from other funding sources. Participation in the program is voluntary. CELCP funds are intended to complement current federal, state and local coastal and estuarine conservation plans. In Fiscal Year 2002, $15 million was appropriated and directed to 21 specific projects in coastal and estuarine areas.

The draft guidelines establish the eligibility, procedural and programmatic requirements for participation in the program, including criteria for financial assistance awards. The criteria in the guidelines outline a three-stage process including: development of a state coastal and estuarine land conservation plan; a process for identifying and ranking qualified projects within the state and nominating them to a national competitive selection process; and a process for conducting peer review and selection of projects at the national level.

To view the draft guidelines visit: http://www.ocrm.nos.noaa.gov/landconservation.html. Public comments are requested by Nov. 21, 2002. Comments may be submitted to Elaine Vaudreuil by e-mail at Elaine.Vaudreuil@noaa.gov; by fax at (301) 713-4012; or by mail to the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, NOAA Ocean Service, 1305 East-West Hwy (N/ORM), Silver Spring, Md. 20910. For additional information, you may contact Elaine Vaudreuil at (301) 713-3155 extension 103 or via e-mail.

NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS) is dedicated to exploring, understanding, conserving and restoring the nation's coasts and oceans. NOS balances environmental protection with economic prosperity in fulfilling its mission of promoting safe navigation, supporting coastal communities, sustaining coastal habitats and mitigating coastal hazards.

For more information on NOAA Ocean and Coastal Programs, please visit our Web site at:

http://www.ocrm.nos.noaa.gov.