935 

 49 



intends under this subsection to allow states to put into effect some 

 completed portions of a program while the other portions are being 

 brought into final form. 



For example, if a state program requires additional work in one 

 or another aspect of its program, the overall nature of which is found 

 satisfactory, but some portions are ready for the administration stage, 

 the "preliminary approval" phase will permit those completed por- 

 tions to be acted on. This might include carrying out state's proposed 

 method of issuing permits for any developments proposed in areas 

 of particular concern during the ""preliminary approval" phase where 

 necessary legal authority and administrative apparatus exist to carry 

 out this aspect of the overall program. 



The Committee feels the value of this approach is, in the example 

 given above, that controls over particularly valuable coastal areas are 

 effective sooner than they would be otherwise if they could not be 

 implemented until the entire package is brought into final, approvable 

 form. 



Because of this feature, the deadline for completing the entire pro- 

 gram becomes critical. Without a firm deadline, states might be 

 tempted to design a valid comprehensive coastal management program 

 but implement only several portions thereof while continuing indef- 

 initely to work on implementing other portions. 



The Committee holds that the comprehensive nature of this pro- 

 gram must not be diluted and that the new interim or "preliminary ap- 

 proval" phase will not be allowed to do so. That is why, in the Com- 

 mittee's view, the permission for states to begin administering por- 

 tions of their programs during the interim phase does not constitute 

 so-called "functional segmentation." lender this concept, parts of a 

 program would be put into place before the remaining portions of 

 the program were designed. Tender the "preliminary approval" phase 

 approved by the Committee, a state must have satisfactorily developed 

 an entire state program. Section 305 (li) requires, for instance, that 

 the states have complied with all of the rules and regulations issued 

 under the section and that the specific deficiencies making it ineligible 

 for administrative funding under section 306 are specified. 



The specific authorization for states receiving "preliminary ap- 

 proval" to put into effect portions of their program is contained in sub- 

 section 305(h)(2)(d). No new authorization of appropriation is re- 

 quired by this change. 



Subsection 305(h) specifies tlie requirements necessary for receiving 

 preliminary approval status. States failing to meet them will become 

 ineligible for funding under the coastal zone management program 

 after they have received four development grants or fiscal year 1^78, 

 whichever comes first. Also, the Committee notes that the three new 

 requirements under section 305 must be completed by the end of fiscal 

 veai- 1978 in order for a state to be completed bv the end of fiscal year 

 1978 in order for a state to be eligible for continued funding under 

 the "preliminary approval" phase. 



This major addition to the profrram should advance the day when 

 states have in operation completed, comprehensive state management 

 programs which will protect and enhance as well as provide for the 

 sound development of the nation's coastal resources. 



65-319 O - 76 - 60 



