[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 120 (Monday, October 2, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9598-S9599]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2000

  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I rise to make a few remarks on the Coastal 
Zone Management Act of 2000, legislation to reauthorize the Coastal 
Zone Management Act. This bill, S. 1534, was passed last Thursday 
evening by unanimous consent.
  To begin, I want to thank Senator Snowe, our chairman on the Oceans 
and Fisheries Subcommittee on the Commerce Committee, for putting this 
legislation on the Committee agenda this Congress and working for its 
enactment
  When Congress enacted the Coastal Zone Management Act in 1972, it 
made the critical finding that, ``Important ecological, cultural, 
historic, and esthetic values in the coastal zone are being 
irretrievably damaged or lost.'' As we deliberated CZMA's 
reauthorization this session, I measured our progress against that 
almost 30-year-old congressional finding. And, I concluded that while 
we have made tremendous gains in coastal environmental protection, the 
increasing challenges have made this congressional finding is as true 
today as it was then.
  At our oversight hearing on this legislation, Dr. Sylvia Earle 
testified on the current and future state of our coastal areas. Dr. 
Earle has dedicated her career to understanding the coastal and marine 
environment, and knows as much about it as anyone. She warned us that, 
``We are now paying for the loss of wetlands, marshes, mangroves, 
forests barrier beaches, natural dunes and other systems with 
increasing costs of dealing somehow with the services these systems 
once provided--excessive storm damage, benign recycling of wastes, 
natural filtration and cleansing of water, production of oxygen back to 
the atmosphere, natural absorption of carbon dioxide, stabilization of 
soil, and much more. Future generations will continue to pay, and pay 
and pay unless we can take measures now to reverse those costly 
trends.''
  The Coastal States Organization, represented by their chair, Sarah 
Cooksey, told the Committee that, ``In both economic and human terms, 
our coastal challenges were dramatically demonstrated in 1998, by 
numerous fish-kills associated with the outbreaks of harmful algal 
blooms, the expansion of the dead zone of the Gulf coast, and the 
extensive damage resulting from the record number of coastal hurricanes 
and el Nino events. Although there has been significant progress in 
protecting and restoring coastal resources since the CZMA and Clean 
Water Acts were passed in 1972, many shell fish beds remain closed, 
fish advisories continue to be issued, and swimming at bathing beaches 
across the country is too often restricted to protect public health.''
  It is clear from the evidence presented to the Committee in our 
oversight process and from other input that I have received, that a 
great need exists for the federal government to increase its support 
for states and local communities that are working to protect and 
preserve our coastal zone. To accomplish that goal, the Committee has 
reported a bill that substantially increases annual authorizations for 
the CZMA program and targets funding at controlling coastal polluted 
runoff, one the more difficult challenges we face in the coastal 
environment.
  S. 1534 would provide a significant increase to the CZMA Program. 
Total authorization levels would increase to $136.5 million in FY2001. 
For grants under Section 306, 306A, and 309, the bill would authorize 
$70 million beginning in FY00 and increasing to $90.5 million in FY04. 
For grants under section 309A, the bill would authorize $25 million in 
FY00, increasing to $29 million in FY 04; of this amount, $10 million 
or 35 percent, whichever is less, would be dedicated to approved 
coastal nonpoint pollution control strategies and measures. For the 
NERRS, the bill would provide $12 million annually for construction 
projects, and for operation costs, $12 million in FY 2001, increasing 
to $15 million in FY04. Finally, the bill would provide $6.5 million 
for CZMA administration.
  This reauthorization also tackles the problem of coastal runoff 
pollution. This is one of the great environmental and economic 
challenges we face in the coastal zone. At the same time that pollution 
from industrial, commercial and residential sources has increased in 
the coastal zone, the destruction of wetlands, marshes, mangroves and 
other natural systems has reduced the capacity of these systems to 
filter pollution. Together, these two trends have resulted in 
environmental and economic damage to our coastal areas. These effects 
include beach closures around the nation, the discovery of a recurring 
``Dead Zone'' covering more than 6,000 square miles in the Gulf of 
Mexico, the outbreak of Pfiesteria on the Mid-Atlantic, the clogging of 
shipping channels in the Great Lakes, and harm to the Florida Bay and 
Keys ecosystems. In Massachusetts, we've faced a dramatic rise in shell 
fish beds closures, which have put many of our fishermen out of work.
  To tackle this problem, the Coastal Zone Management Act of 2000 
targets up $10 million annually to, ``assist coastal communities to 
coordinate and implement approved coastal nonpoint pollution control 
strategies and measures that reduce the causes and impacts of polluted 
runoff on coastal waters and habitats.'' This is an important 
amendment. For the first time, we have elevated the local management of 
runoff as national priority within the context of the CZMA program. 
Runoff is not a state-by-state problem; the marine environment is far 
too dynamic. States share the same coastlines and border large bodies 
of waters, such as the Gulf of Mexico, the Chesapeake Bay or the Long 
Island Sound, so that pollutants from one state can detrimentally 
affect the quality of the marine environment in other states. We are 
seeing the effects of polluted runoff both in our coastal communities 
and on our nation's living marine resources and habitats. I'm pleased 
that we've included the runoff provision in S. 1534. It's an important 
step forward and I believe we will see the benefits in our coastal 
environment and economy.
  The Coastal Zone Management Act of 2000, Mr. President, has been 
endorsed by the 35 coastal states and territories through the Coastal 
State Organization. It also has the endorsement of the Great Lakes 
Commission, American Oceans Campaign, Coast Alliance, Center for Marine 
Conservation, Sierra Club, Environmental Defense, California 
CoastKeeper and many other groups. It's a long list. I will ask 
unanimous consent to have printed into the Record a letter from support 
organizations. I add that S. 1534 passed the Senate Commerce Committee, 
with its regionally diverse membership, unanimously.
  I want to thank some of those assisted my staff with this 
legislation, and helping us pass it in the Senate. They include the 
Massachusetts Coastal Zone Program office and its Director, Tom 
Skinner, who provided technical assistance on the program, as well as 
the Center for Marine Conservation, Natural Resources Defense Council, 
American Ocean Campaign, the Coastal States Organization and the Coast 
Alliance. And I thank my colleagues on the Commerce Committee.
  I ask unanimous consent that the letter to which I referred be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the letter was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                               September 18, 2000.
     Hon. Trent Lott
     Majority Leader, U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Lott: On behalf of the following 
     organizations, we are writing to urge you to schedule S. 
     1534, the Coastal Zone Management Act of 2000, for floor 
     consideration as soon as possible. Sponsored by Senators 
     Snowe and Kerry, S. 1534 has been reported out of the 
     Commerce Committee with unanimous bipartisan support.
       Since its enactment in 1972, the Coastal Zone Management 
     Act (CZMA) has helped protect and improve the quality of life 
     along the coast by providing incentives to states to develop 
     comprehensive programs to meet the challenges facing coastal 
     communities reducing their vulnerability to storms and 
     erosion, the effects of pollution on shellfish beds and 
     bathing water quality, and loss of habitat, to name a few.
       The CZMA has proven to be a model statute for promoting 
     national, state and local objectives for balancing the many 
     uses along the coasts. There is no better testament to the 
     success of the state/federal partnership forged by the CZMA 
     than the fact that 34 of 35 eligible coastal states, 
     commonwealths and territories have chosen to participate in 
     the program. Federal assistance provided under the Act is 
     matched by states dollar for dollar. Each state can point to 
     significant benefits resulting from the Act, such as improved 
     coastal ecosystem health; revitalized waterfront communities; 
     coastal habitat

[[Page S9599]]

     conservation and restoration; increased maritime trade, 
     recreation, and tourism; and the establishment of estuarine 
     research reserves which serve as living laboratories and 
     classrooms.
       The lands and waters of our coastal zone are subject to 
     increasingly intensive and competing uses. More than half of 
     the Nation's expanding population is located near the coast. 
     S. 1534 will improve the Act by authorizing ``Coastal 
     Community Grants'' to assist states in enabling communities 
     to develop strategies for accommodating growth in a manner 
     which protects the resources and uses which contribute to the 
     quality of life in coastal communities. The bill will help 
     build community capacity for growth management and resource 
     protection; dedicate funding for communities to reduce the 
     causes and impacts of polluted runoff on coastal waters and 
     habitats; and reduce the pressure on natural resources caused 
     by sprawl by targeting areas for revitalization.
       As a measure of the support the CZMA has enjoyed, it is 
     worth noting that in 1996, the CZMA reauthorization bill 
     passed by a unanimous vote in the House, and passed the 
     Senate by voice vote. We hope that passage of S. 1534 will 
     form part of the legacy of significant accomplishments of the 
     106th Congress.
           Sincerely,
       Anthony B. MacDonald, Coastal States Organization.
       Jeanne Christie, Association of State Wetlands managers.
       Barbara Jean Polo, American Oceans Campaign.
       Jacqueline Savitz, Coastal Alliance.
       Dr. Michael Donahue, Great Lakes Commission.
       David Hoskins, Center for Marine Conservation.
       Cyn Sarthou, Gulf Restoration Network.
       Tim Williams, Water Environment Federation.
       Ed Hopkins, Sierra Club.
       Richard Caplan, U.S. Public Interest Research Group.
       Howard Page, Sierra Club--Gulf Coast Group, Mississippi 
     Chapter.
       Cindy Dunn, Salem Sound 2000.
       Diane van DeHei, American Metropolitan Water Agencies.
       Joseph E. Payne, Friends of Casco Bay.
       Gay Gillespie, Westport River Watershed Alliance.
       James Gomes, Environmental League of Massachusetts.
       Judith Pederson, Ph.D., MIT Sea Grant College Program.
       Bill Stanton, North & South Rivers Watershed Association.
       Robert W. Howarth, Ph.D., Environmental Defense.
       Michelle C. Kremer, Surfrider Foundation.
       Enid Siskin, Gulf Coast Environmental Defense.
       Elizabeth Sturcken, Coastal Advocacy Network.
       Polly Bradley, SWIM.
       Ken Kirk, Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies.
       Denise Washko, California CoastKeeper.
       Roger Stern, Marine Studies Consortium.
       Victor D'Amato, North Carolina Chapter Sierra Club.
       Nina Bell, J.D., Northwest Environmental Advocates.
       Donald L. Larson, Kitsap Diving Association.
       Cliff McCreedy, Oceanwatch.
       Richard Delaney, Urban Harbors Institute, Univ. of 
     Massachusetts, Boston.
       Dee Von Quirolo, Executive Director, Reef Relief, Key West, 
     Florida.

                          ____________________