775 



49 



lion to $5 million and extending the authorization period by 3 years 

 from fiscal year 1977 through fiscal year 1980, $1.2 million is also pro- 

 vaded for the transitional quarter ending September 30, 1976. The 

 committee believes this increased authorization is a minimum for the 

 additional administrative activities of the Secretary of Commerce — 

 through NO A A — in carrying out the C^oastal Zone Management Act 

 including each of the amendments made by S. 586 for which separate 

 funds are not provided. The connnittee is concerned that by restricting 

 this amount the ability of the Secretary of Connnerce (through 

 XOAA) to respond to the needs of the coastal States and the coastal 

 zone will resuUingly be restricted including giving the States the 

 assistance and support which they need to fully take advantage of the 

 Coastal Zone Management Act. The committee therefore expects the 

 Secretary (through XOAA) to keep it closely advised of the need for 

 additional administrative fund authorizations to properly and fully 

 perform the necessary administi-ative functions. These needs are par- 

 ticularly great when the various coastal States are engaged in devel- 

 oping, and obtaining approval of, their programs. 



(16) This subsection of S. 586 adds two new sections to the act as 

 follows : 



Section 318. 



This new section is entitled "Limitations". The sole intent and pur- 

 pose of subsection (a) of this section is to confirm that except as neces- 

 sary to judge an oxerall coastal State program, plan, or project for 

 which funds ai'e provided, or where otherwise expressly stated in the 

 Coastal Zone Management Act, the Secretary of Conmierce cannot 

 become involved in individual energy facility siting matters within a 

 coastal State, and that in no event shall he use his authority or fimds 

 under tlie act to force an individual State to site a specific energy fa- 

 cility when the coastal State does not wisli to do so. The decisions of 

 the Secretary are to be made based on rules of general applicability. 



Subsection (b) of this section is a declaration tliat no grant or loan 

 made jjursuant to section 308 of the ('oastal Zone Management Act, as 

 amended, is to l:x' deemed a "major Federal action" for the purposes of 

 section 102(2) (C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. 

 The effect of this amendment is that the Secretary of Commerce 

 (NOAA) is not required to tile a so-called "environmental impact 

 statement" with i-espect to the decision to make any loan or grant under 

 the Coastal Enei'gy Facility Fund or the automatic grant piovision of 

 the Coastal ZfHie Management Act as amended by S. 586. 



Section 3J9. 



This section is entitled, "State and Local Bond Guarantees". 



Section 319(a) authorizes the Secretary (through NOAA) to make 

 commitments to guarantee bonds or otlier evidences of indebtedness 

 issued by State or local goveriunents to obtain funds to i-educe, amelio- 

 rate or compensate the adverse impacts in the coastal zone from the 

 exploration foi, or the develo):)ment or production of, energ}' re- 

 sources of the Outer Continental Slielf. AVhere a^ local government 

 issues such l)onfls, the Secretary is hereby directed to first obtain the 

 certification of the Covei'nor of that State or his designated repie- 

 sentative that he approves such action as being consistent with tlie 

 State management program under this act and the Secretary shall 



65-319 O - 76 - 50 



