Planning for climate change in the coastal zone

(a)

In General

The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

320.

Climate change adaptation planning

(a)

In General

The Secretary shall establish consistent with the national policies set forth in section 303 a coastal climate change adaptation planning and response program to— (1)provide assistance to coastal states to voluntarily develop coastal climate change adaptation plans pursuant to approved management programs approved under section 306, to minimize contributions to climate change and to prepare for and reduce the negative consequences that may result from climate change in the coastal zone; and (2)provide financial and technical assistance and training to enable coastal states to implement plans developed pursuant to this section through coastal states’ enforceable policies. (b)

Guidelines

Within 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary, in consultation with the coastal states, shall issue guidelines for the implementation of the grant program established under subsection (c). (c)

Climate Change adaptation Planning Grants

(1)

In general

The Secretary, subject to the availability of appropriations, may make a grant to any coastal state for the purpose of developing climate change adaptation plans pursuant to guidelines issued by the Secretary under subsection (b). (2)

Plan content

A plan developed with a grant under this section shall include the following: (A)Identification of public facilities and public services, coastal resources of national significance, coastal waters, energy facilities, or other water uses located in the coastal zone that are likely to be impacted by climate change. (B)Adaptive management strategies for land use to respond or adapt to changing environmental conditions, including strategies to protect biodiversity and establish habitat buffer zones, migration corridors, and climate refugia. (C)Requirements to initiate and maintain long-term monitoring of environmental change to assess coastal zone adaptation and to adjust when necessary adaptive management strategies and new planning guidelines to attain the policies under section 303. (3)

State hazard mitigation plans

Plans developed with a grant under this section shall be consistent with State hazard mitigation plans developed under State or Federal law. (4)

Allocation

Grants under this section shall be available only to coastal states with management programs approved by the Secretary under section 306 and shall be allocated among such coastal states in a manner consistent with regulations promulgated pursuant to section 306(c). (5)

Priority

In the awarding of grants under this subsection the Secretary may give priority to any coastal state that has received grant funding to develop program changes pursuant to paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (5), (6), (7), and (8) of section 309(a). (6)

Technical assistance

The Secretary may provide technical assistance to a coastal state consistent with section 310 to ensure the timely development of plans supported by grants awarded under this subsection. (7)

Federal Approval

In order to be eligible for a grant under subsection (d), a coastal state must have its plan developed under this section approved by the Secretary. (d)

Coastal adaptation Project Grants

(1)

In general

The Secretary, subject to the availability of appropriations, may make grants to any coastal state that has a climate change adaptation plan approved under subsection (c)(7), in order to support projects that implement strategies contained within such plans. (2)

Program requirements

The Secretary within 90 days after approval of the first plan approved under subsection (c)(7), shall publish in the Federal Register requirements regarding applications, allocations, eligible activities, and all terms and conditions for grants awarded under this subsection. No less than 30 percent, and no more than 50 percent, of the funds appropriated in any fiscal year for grants under this subsection shall be awarded through a merit-based competitive process. (3)

Eligible activities

The Secretary may award grants to coastal states to implement projects in the coastal zone to address stress factors in order to improve coastal climate change adaptation, including the following: (A)Activities to address physical disturbances within the coastal zone, especially activities related to public facilities and public services, tourism, sedimentation, and other factors negatively impacting coastal waters, and fisheries-associated habitat destruction or alteration. (B)Monitoring, control, or eradication of disease organisms and invasive species. (C)Activities to address the loss, degradation or fragmentation of wildlife habitat through projects to establish marine and terrestrial habitat buffers, wildlife refugia or networks thereof, and preservation of migratory wildlife corridors and other transition zones. (D)Implementation of projects to reduce, mitigate, or otherwise address likely impacts caused by natural hazards in the coastal zone, including sea level rise, coastal inundation, coastal erosion and subsidence, severe weather events such as cyclonic storms, tsunamis and other seismic threats, and fluctuating Great Lakes water levels. (E)Provide technical training and assistance to local coastal policy makers to increase awareness of science, management, and technology information related to climate change and adaptation strategies.

(b)

Authorization of Appropriations

Section 318(a) of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1464) is further amended by adding at the end the following:

(4)for grants under section 320(c) and (d), such sums as are necessary.

(c)

Intent of Congress

Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any coastal state to amend or modify its approved management program pursuant to section 306(e) of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1455(e)), or to extend the enforceable policies of a coastal state beyond the coastal zone as identified in the coastal state’s approved management program.