LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS 



This section is an overview of the State's coastal management programs. 

 They are the Environmental Land and Water Management Act, particularly the 

 sections on Developments of Regional Impact, and Areas of Critical State 

 Concern; industrial siting and environmental permit regulations that affect 

 industry, and the Coastal Construction Control Line Program. A more thorough 

 discussion of environmental legislation is in the chapter on "Environmental 

 Issues and Regulations." 



COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM 



The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (PL 92-583) was adopted by the 

 U.S. Congress as a means of protecting and enhancing the Nation's coasts by 

 providing assistance to the States to develop and implement programs for man- 

 aging their coastal areas. Florida has grants for developing its management 

 program and is now at the stage of finalizing its program (Florida Department 

 of Environmental Regulation 1980). 



Florida's coastal zone management program dates back to 1970 when the 

 Coastal Coordinating Council was established. The council members and staff 

 worked with coastal planning until 1976 when the council was abolished by the 

 legislature and its duties and functions were transferred to the Department of 

 Natural Resources. Among the notable works by the council staff was the pre- 

 paration of a massive coastal atlas and the identification of coastal lands 

 suitable for either habitat preservation, fish and wildlife conservation, or 

 residential and urban development (Florida Coastal Coordinating Council 1974). 



In 1977, the legislature transferred the powers and duties of coastal 

 management to the Department of Environmental Regulation. The legislature 

 acted to strengthen coastal management in 1978 with passage of the Florida 

 Coastal Management Act (ch. 380.19 F.S.). The enabling legislation states 

 that "... the environmental aspects of the coastal areas of this state have 

 attracted a high percentage of permanent population and visitors and that this 

 concentration of people and their requirements has had a serious impact on the 

 na tu ral su r rou nd i ng s . " 



The Coastal Zone Management Program developed over the past two years 

 attempts to provide more guidance and predictability to the private sector and 

 emphasizes the strengthening of the enforcement of existing State laws. These 

 laws can be very effective in regulating coastal development. The program 

 also seeks to reduce unnecessary legal and administrative procedures and iden- 

 tify gaps in existing laws and regulations. The program also looks toward 

 obtaining increased control for the State over Federal actions by way of the 

 Federal consistency clause of the Coastal Zone Management Act. 



The final environmental impact statement for the Florida Coastal Manage- 

 ment Program was completed in April 1981. The Program received final approval 

 by the Federal Office of Coastal Zone Management in June 1981. 



Because the Florida legislature has directed that the Coastal Management 

 Program be based on existing laws and regulations, the entire State has been 



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