President Bush's budget for the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration targets over $6 million for coastal management, estuarine and construction projects in South Carolina.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Donald L. Evans said, "These funding requests represent the Bush Administration's commitment to providing upgrades in infrastructure, research and science programs to ensure that they are well-managed for today and for the future."

A sample of these critical budget initiatives and programs are:

$2.7 million in Coastal Zone Management Grants to enable state managers and local communities to better address the significant and costly impacts of rapidly increasing coastal populations, polluted runoff, deteriorating waterfront areas, and loss of coastal habitats.

$2.5 million for the South Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserves including $750,000 for a learning center at North Inlet/Winyah Bay and $660,000 for research and education facilities at ACE Basin.

$1 million for expansion of the Coastal Services Center in Charleston, S.C. including 6,000 square feet of additional office space. Improvements at the CSC will allow the center to meet community needs for coastal hazard and community development outreach and information.

The President's FY 2002 budget request for NOAA is available on the Internet at http://www.noaa.gov