[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 15, Volume 3]
[Revised as of January 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 15CFR921.4]

[Page 92-93]
 
                  TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND FOREIGN TRADE
 
CHAPTER IX--NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT 
                               OF COMMERCE
 
PART 921--NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE SYSTEM REGULATIONS--Table of Contents
 
                           Subpart A--General
 
Sec. 921.4  Relationship to other provisions of the Coastal Zone 
Management Act, and to the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act.

    (a) The National Estuarine Research Reserve System is intended to 
provide information to state agencies and other entities involved in 
addressing coastal management issues. Any coastal state, including those 
that do not have approved coastal management programs under section 306 
of the Act, is eligible for an award under the National Estuarine 
Research Reserve Program (see Sec. 921.2(c)).
    (b) For purposes of consistency review by states with a federally 
approved coastal management program, the designation of a National 
Estuarine Research Reserve is deemed to be a Federal activity, which, if 
directly affecting the state's coastal zone, must be undertaken in a 
manner consistent to the maximum extent practicable with the approved 
state coastal management program as provided by section 1456(c)(1) of 
the Act, and implementing regulations at 15 CFR part 930, subpart C. In 
accordance with section 1456(c)(1) of the Act and the applicable 
regulations NOAA will be responsible for certifying that designation of 
the Reserve is consistent with the state's approved coastal management 
program. The state must concur with or object to the certification. It 
is recommended that the lead state agency for Reserve designation 
consult, at the

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earliest practicable time, with the appropriate state officials 
concerning the consistency of a proposed National Estuarine Research 
Reserve.
    (c) The National Estuarine Research Reserve Program will be 
administered in close coordination with the National Marine Sanctuary 
Program (Title III of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries 
Act, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1431-1445), also administered by NOAA. Title 
III authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to designate discrete areas of 
the marine environment as National Marine Sanctuaries to protect or 
restore such areas for their conservation, recreational, ecological, 
historical, research, educational or esthetic values. National Marine 
Sanctuaries and Estuarine Research Reserves may not overlap, but may be 
adjacent.