Coastal Zone Management Program Regulations and National Estuarine Research Reserve System Regulations

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is amending its ocean and coastal resource management regulations concerning the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, Coastal Zone Management Program, and Secretarial review procedures. The Coastal Zone Protection Act of 1996 amended the Coastal Zone Management Act (the Act) and reauthorized NOAA's Coastal Zone Management Program and National Estuarine Research Reserve System under the Act. Among the amendments to the Act were changes to the use of Coastal zone enhancement grants, the formula for financial assistance to the states for National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) activities, and the timing for the appeals process under the consistency provisions. NOAA issues this final rule to amend the existing regulations to conform with the statutory amendments.