[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: 15CFR923.50]

[Page 208-209]
 
                  TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND FOREIGN TRADE
 
CHAPTER IX--NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT 
                               OF COMMERCE
 
PART 923--COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM REGULATIONS--Table of Contents
 
    Subpart F--Coordination, Public Involvement and National Interest
 
Sec. 923.50  General.

    Source: 61 FR 33812, June 28, 1996, unless otherwise noted.


    (a) Coordination with governmental agencies having interests and 
responsibilities affecting the coastal zone, and involvement of interest 
groups as well as the general public is essential to the development and 
administration of State coastal management programs. The coordination 
requirements of this subpart are intended to achieve a proper balancing 
of diverse interests in the coastal zone. The policies of section 303 of 
the Act require that there be a balancing of variety, sometimes 
conflicting, interests, including:
    (1) The preservation, protection, development and, where possible, 
the restoration or enhancement of coastal resources;
    (2) The achievement of wise use of coastal land and water resources 
with full consideration for ecological, cultural, historic, and 
aesthetic values and needs for compatible economic development;
    (3) The involvement of the public, of Federal, state and local 
governments and of regional agencies in the development and 
implementation of coastal management programs;
    (4) The management of coastal development to improve, safeguard, and 
restore coastal water quality; and
    (5) The study and development of plans for addressing the adverse 
effects of coastal hazards, including erosion, flooding, land subsidence 
and sea level rise.
    (b) In order to be meaningful, coordination with and participation 
by various units and levels of government including regional 
commissions, interest groups, and the general public should begin early 
in the process of program development and should continue throughout on 
a timely basis to assure that such efforts will result in substantive 
inputs into a State's management program. State efforts should be 
devoted not only to obtaining information necessary for developing the 
management program but also to obtaining reactions and recommendations 
regarding the content of the management program and to responding to 
concerns by interested parties. The requirements for intergovernmental 
cooperation and public participation continue after program approval.
    (c) This subpart deals with requirements for coordination with 
governmental entities, interest groups and the general public to assure 
that their interests are fully expressed and considered during the 
program development process and that procedures are created to insure 
continued consideration of their views during program implementation. In 
addition, this subpart deals with mediation procedures for serious 
disagreements between States and Federal agencies that occur during 
program development and implementation. This subpart addresses the 
requirements of the following subsections of the Act: 306(d)(1)--
Opportunity for Full Participation; 306(d)(3)(A)--Plan Coordination; 
306(d)(3)(B)--Continued State-Local

[[Page 209]]

Consultation; 306(d)(4)--Public Hearings; 306(d)(8)--Consideration of 
the National Interest in Facilities; 307(b)--Federal Consultation; and 
307(h)--Mediation.