Contact: Elleen Kane FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(301) 713-3086, Ext. 100 6/21/96
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is seeking public input on a Texas coastal management program, designed by the Texas General Land Office to promote economic development and environmental protection. This will be the first time in more than 10 years that the agency has proposed approval for a coastal state to join the National Coastal Management Program.
NOAA, a Commerce Department agency, has reviewed the state's proposed program and made a preliminary determination that the program meets the requirements of the National Coastal Management Program. Before granting final approval, however, NOAA wants to know whether the public agrees with that approval.
"This is an important milestone," said Texas Land Commissioner Gary Mauro, whose agency leads the state in this endeavor. "We are finally taking the last step in joining the rest of the Gulf states in the National Coastal Management Program. "We've worked hard over the years to get to this point."
To obtain residents' feedback, the General Land Office, NOAA's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resources Management and the Texas Coastal Coordination Council will host two public hearings on the draft environmental impact statement and proposed approval, one at 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 31, in the Corpus Christi City Hall and the other at 7 p.m., Thursday, August 1, in the Texas A&M University Auditorium, Galveston.
NOAA's preliminary determination that the Texas program meets approval standards came in a report, known as a draft environmental impact statement, published jointly in the U.S. Federal Register by the Texas General Land Office, NOAA's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, and the Texas Coastal Coordination Council. This publication represents one of the final steps for Texas in receiving federal approval for a coastal management program, and opens the 45-day public comment period on program approval.
With final federal approval of the coastal program, the state can receive roughly $2 million in federal matching funds to improve public access to the coast, minimize shoreline erosion and flood damage, restore and improve waterfronts, improve fishery habitat, and streamline the coastal permitting process. These funds can also be passed on to municipal governments for local coastal improvement projects.
A federally approved coastal management program will also give Texas a voice in federal activities along the state's coastline. Known as federal consistency, this legal provision will require most federal activities to comply with Texas coastal regulations and policies.
In receiving federal approval, Texas joins 29 other states and U.S. territories in this voluntary nationwide program, set up by the 1972 Coastal Zone Management Act. Under the CZMA, the federal government sets national goals to improve the health of the coast nationwide. State governments determine the best way to meet these national goals using state and local authorities and institutions.
"The national program is a unique partnership, with full cooperation between all levels of government," said OCRM Director Jeffrey R. Benoit. "With the balance brought by this upcoming CZM program, I think Texans will see a tremendous improvement in the health of their coast and economy."
The draft environmental impact statement outlines the state's plan to balance the competing needs of critical coastal resources with their use.
In addition to the two hearings on the proposed program approval, NOAA will also accept written comments for the next 45 days. These comments should be sent to Joe Uravitch at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, 1305 East-West Hwy., N/ORM, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Direct any questions to Bill O'Bierne with OCRM at 301-713- 3109.
###NOTE TO EDITORS: Further information about the Texas Coastal Management Program can be found on the Internet at: http://www.nos.noaa.gov/ocrm/cpd/welcome.html All NOAA press releases, and links to other NOAA material, can be found on the NOAA Public Affairs World Wide Web home page, http://www.noaa.gov/public-affairs. If you'd like to receive these releases by electronic mail rather than fax, please send an e-mail to jslaff@hq.noaa.gov