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governments in reducing floatables in coastal recreational 

 waters. The bill would amend Section 306A of the Coastal Zone 

 Management Act of 1972 (CZMA) to make the reduction of floatable 

 materials and the acquisition of beach and coastal recreation 

 water clean-up equipment eligible uses of Federal financial 

 assistance under that section. 



NOAA opposes this amendment. Section 306A should remain focused 

 on providing limited funding for low-cost construction, urban 

 waterfront revitalization, public access projects, and 

 acquisition of natural areas. In addition, the CZMA already 

 provides an important role for state coastal management programs 

 in controlling floatables through the management of adjacent land 

 uses and through their sponsorship of beach clean-up, adopt-a- 

 beach, and public education programs around the country. The 

 Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments of 1990 (CZARA) 

 expand the role of state CZM programs to address both coastal 

 pollution and marine debris. 



First, it recognizes marine debris abatement as one of eight 

 national coastal zone enhancement objectives. States are 

 eligible for competitive coastal zone enhancement grants to 

 "reduce marine debris entering the Nation's coastal and ocean 

 environment by managing uses and activities that contribute to 

 the entry of such debris." NOAA guidance for this new program 

 encourages state CZM programs to: provide technical assistance 



