1998 Year of the Ocean Perspectives on Marine Environmental Quality 



State coastal zones include the coastal waters and adjacent shorelands that extend inland to the 

 extent necessary to control activities that have a direct, significant impact on coastal waters. For 

 federal approval, a CZMP must: 1 ) identify the coastal zone boundaries; 2) define the permissible 

 land and water uses within the coastal zone that have a direct and significant impact and identify the 

 state's legal authority to regulate these uses; 3) inventory and designate areas of particular concern; 

 4) provide a planning process for energy facilities; 5) establish a planning process to control and 

 decrease shoreline erosion; and 6) facilitate effective coordination and consultation between 

 regional, state, and local agencies. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration grants 

 the requisite federal approvals for CZMPs and oversees subsequent implementation of the 

 programs. 



A state with a federally approved CZMP is eligible for financial assistance and gains a legal 

 mechanism to control Federal permits and activities that affect the state's coastal zone. Federal 

 agency activities that affect any land or water use or natural resource of the coastal zone must be 

 consistent to the maximum extent practicable with the enforceable policies of the state CZMP. 

 Federally licensed or permitted activities that affect any land or water use or natural resource of the 

 coastal zone must be consistent with the enforceable policies of the CZMP. The Secretary, 

 however, can override a state's determination of inconsistency if the Secretary finds that the 

 federally licensed or permitted activity is consistent with the objecfives of the CZMA or is 

 otherwise necessary in the interest of national security. 



The CZMA establishes the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERR). States may seek 

 Federal approval and designafion of certain areas as NERRs if the areas qualify as biogeographic 

 and typological representations of estuarine ecosystems and are suitable for long-term research and 

 conservation. Once an area is designated as a NERR, federal financial assistance is available for 

 acquisition of property and management, research, and education related to the NERR. 



See also secfion 6217 of the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments of 1990. 



Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 . as 



amended, (CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601 et se^. 



Hazardous substances that are toxic to living organisms result from industrial processes and are 

 released into the environment either intentionally or by accident. CERCLA is designed to respond 

 to these releases and protect public health and environmental quality including natural resources. 



CERCLA provides for the following two possible actions to protect the public and the environment 

 from the harmful effects of a hazardous substance spill. Any combination of these two may be used 

 at a particular spill. 



1) Response — CERCLA authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to clean up the 

 spilled substance either at the expense of the responsible party or with funds from the Superfund. 



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