[Federal Register: September 10, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 175)]
[Notices]               
[Page 47014]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10se01-34]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

 
Availability of Great Lakes Coastal Restoration Grants 
Implementation Plan

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of availability of Great Lakes Coastal Restoration 
Grants Implementation Plan.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the availability of the Great Lakes 
Coastal Restoration Grants Implementation Plan. The Commerce, State, 
Justice Appropriations Act for 2001 created the Great Lakes Coastal 
Restoration Grants program. This program provides funding for 
competitive matching grants to state and local governments for 
community based coastal restoration activities in the Great Lakes 
region. As required, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration (NOAA) developed an implementation plan for this 
program, and submitted it to Congress on May 31, 2001.
    The Great Lakes Coastal Restoration Grants Implementation Program 
will direct approximately $30 million for matching grants to be awarded 
competitively to state agencies and local governments to undertake 
coastal and water quality restoration projects in the Great Lakes 
region. Other entities such as regional organizations and nonprofit 
groups are not eligible to receive funds directly, but are eligible to 
receive pass through funding from state agencies or local governments. 
The eligible states are Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New 
York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. These states will each receive 
a portion of the funds to support a competitive funding program. The 
funding levels are based on the Coastal Zone Management Act allocation 
formula, and are as follows: Illinois ($1,750,000); Indiana 
($1,750,000); Michigan ($7,000,000); Minnesota ($1,938,000); New York 
($4,727,000); Ohio ($4,489,000); Pennsylvania ($1,846,000); Wisconsin 
($5,686,000). The statute requires matching grants but does not specify 
an amount. For this year, the match ratio is 4:1.
    Each state will run a public competitive process to select eligible 
projects. At least fifty percent of a state's allocation should be 
directed to local government projects. The other specifics of the 
process, including timing and final project selection, are left up to 
individual states. States are encouraged to utilize these funds to 
address restoration priorities identified in existing plans such as 
Coastal Management Plans and Remedial Action Plans. Proposals funded 
under this program should be consistent with a Great Lakes State's 
approved coastal management program under section 306 of the Coastal 
Zone Management Act (CZMA). Absent an approved program, projects must 
be consistent with the CZMA. Restoration projects eligible for funding 
include contaminated site cleanup, stormwater controls, wetland 
restoration, acquisition of greenways and buffers, and other projects 
designed to control polluted runoff and protect and restore coastal 
resources. States may use up to five percent of their allotments to 
cover the administrative expenses of implementing the program.
    Copies of the Great Lakes Coastal Restoration Grants Implementation 
Plan can be found on the NOAA website at http://www.ocrm.nos.noaa.gov/
cpd or may be obtained upon request from: Joseph Flanagan, Coastal 
Programs Division (N/ORM3), Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource 
Management, NOS, NOAA, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland, 
20910, tel. 301-713-3155, extension 201, e-mail 
joseph.flanagan@noaa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John King, Acting Chief, Coastal 
Programs Division (N/ORM3), Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource 
Management, NOS, NOAA, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland, 
tel. 301-713-3155 extension 195, e-mail john.king@noaa.gov.

(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers: 11.419 for NOAA 
Coastal Zone Management Program Administration)

    Dated: September 4, 2001.
Jamison S. Hawkins,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Ocean Services and Coastal Zone 
Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department 
of Commerce.
[FR Doc. 01-22587 Filed 9-7-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-M