Coastal Issues | Energy and Government | Activities
What Is OCRM Doing Regarding Energy Issues?
Through its ocean and coastal management efforts, the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) is helping to address energy issues in a number of ways.
- Coastal Zone Management Program
- Federal Agency Coordination and Rule Making
- Coastal Impact Assistance Program
Coastal Zone Management Program
The coastal management program seeks to balance often competing coastal uses, including energy facilities (background) and recreational boating (foreground).
One of the main objectives within the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) is to give priority consideration for coastal-dependent uses, including national interests such as siting major energy and government facilities while also preserving coastal resources. OCRM's Coastal Zone Management Program, in partnership with state coastal management programs, provides technical assistance and funding to support projects that address energy and government facility siting.
Through the Coastal Zone Enhancement Program's five-year assessments and strategies, states and territories have incentives to enhance their coastal management programs in a wide array of coastal issues of national significance, including energy and government facility siting. This program provides states with an opportunity to establish new regulations, policies and management plans to address energy and government facility siting.
Federal Agency Coordination and Rulemaking
OCRM coordinates with other federal agencies involved in energy issues to ensure that requirements under the CZMA are considered. For example, OCRM has participated on the Administration's Energy Task Force, providing a federal coastal management perspective. OCRM is also clarifying how the Energy Policy Act of 2005 affects the CZMA and federal consistency, including state policies regarding the siting of liquefied natural gas terminals. In addition, OCRM published a Final Rule revising the federal consistency regulations addressing the recommendations in the vice president's Energy Report and the requirements of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
Coastal Impact Assistance Program
Congress authorized the Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) in fiscal year 2001. The purpose of the program was to assist states in mitigating the impacts from outer continental shelf oil and gas development and production. Congress appropriated $150 million in 2001 to seven coastal states—Alabama, Alaska, California, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas—and "coastal political subdivisions" within those states, to implement this program. OCRM administers more than 150 separate grants to states and localities. The CIAP funded more than 600 projects for data collection, planning and mapping, coastal management, habitat protection and restoration, land acquisition (including wetlands), public access improvements, erosion control and water quality improvement, sewage treatment and stormwater management, and onshore infrastructure enhancements. Congress reauthorized the program for 2007-2010. The new CIAP will be administered by the U.S. Minerals Management Service.