98-3498. Federal Approval of the Georgia Coastal Management Program  

  • [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]
    
    
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    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.
    
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    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
    
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    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 josh.lott@noaa.gov.
    
    (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
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
02/17/1998
Department:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice.
Document Number:
98-3498
Pages:
7759-7760 (2 pages)
PDF File:
98-3498.pdf