[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 17, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7759-7760]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3498]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Federal Approval of the Georgia Coastal Management Program

AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) approved the Georgia Coastal 
Management Program (GCMP) on January 26, 1998, pursuant to the 
provisions of section 306 of the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 
1972, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1455 (CZMA). The GCMP is prescribed in the 
Georgia Coastal Management Program and Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (P/FEIS) published on December 5, 1997.
    Georgia is the 32nd state to receive Federal approval of its 
coastal management program. Georgia submitted a proposed coastal 
program to NOAA in April 1997. Upon reaching a preliminary decision 
that the program met the requirements of the CZMA, and

[[Page 7760]]

in order to meet its responsibilities under the National Environmental 
Policy Act, NOAA published the Georgia Coastal Management Program and 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (P/DEIS) for public review on 
September 5, 1997. NOAA published the P/FEIS including public comments 
on the P/DEIS and responses to those comments on December 5, 1997. NOAA 
has also fulfilled the responsibilities under the Endangered Species 
Act through consultations with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and 
the National Marine Fisheries Service.
    The GCMP is the culmination of several years of development by the 
State of Georgia, in consultation with interest groups, the general 
public, Federal agencies, and NOAA. The GCMP consists of numerous state 
policies on diverse coastal management issues which are prescribed by 
statute and other legal mechanisms and made enforceable under state 
law. The GCMP will improve the decision making process for determining 
appropriate coastal land and water uses in light of resource 
consideration and increase public awareness of coastal resources and 
processes. The GCMP will increase long term protection of the state's 
coastal resources, while providing for sustainable economic 
development.
    NOAA approval of the GCMP makes the state eligible for federal 
financial assistance for program administration and enhancement under 
sections 306, 306A, 308 and 309 of the CZMA (16 U.S.C. Secs. 1455, 
1455a, 1456a, and 1456b). Georgia has submitted an application for 
$731,250 in FY 1997 Federal CZMA funds which are available for Georgia. 
These funds will generally be used to assist the state in administering 
the various state authorities included in the GCMP, as well as be used 
to fund local management efforts.
    NOAA approval of the GCMP also makes operational, as of the date of 
this Federal Register Notice, the CZMA federal consistency requirement 
with respect to the GCMP (16 U.S.C. 1456; 15 CFR Part 930). Therefore, 
as of today, direct federal activities occurring within or outside the 
Georgia coastal zone that are reasonably likely to affect any land or 
water use or natural resources of the Georgia coastal zone must be 
consistent to the maximum extent practicable with the enforceable 
policies of the GCMP. In addition, activities within or outside the 
Georgia coastal zone requiring a federal license or permit listed in 
the P/FEIS, and federal financial assistance to state agencies and 
local governments, that are reasonably likely to affect any land or 
water use or natural resource of the Georgia coastal zone must be 
consistent with the enforceable policies of the GCMP.
    Chapter 5 of the P/FEIS identifies the enforceable policies of the 
Georgia program. Chapter 8 of the P/FEIS identifies federally licensed 
or permitted activities subject to the federal consistency 
requirements. Chapters 4 and 8 of the P/FEIS, as well as the CZMA 
regulations at 15 CFR Part 930, provide specific procedures to be used 
in the Federal/State coordination process.

ADDRESSES: For further information please contact Joshua Lott at (301) 
713-3117, ext. 178; or via fax at (301) 713-4367; or via the Internet 
at [email protected].

(Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog 11.419 Coastal Zone Management 
Program Administration)

    Dated: February 6, 1998.
Nancy Foster,
Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-3498 Filed 2-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-12-M