(d) the term "coastal State" means any of the several States which include coastal or estuarine areas 

 within their boundaries. The District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American 

 Samoa shall be treated as States for the purposes of this title. 



Title I— Coastal Management Authorities 

 Creation of Authorities 



SECTION 101. 



(a) The Secretary of is authorized and directed to cooperate with the coastal States 



for the purpose of encouraging and establishing State Coastal Management Authorities (hereafter 

 referred to as the "Authority"). 



(b) The Governor of a coastal State may propose, estabhsh, create, or designate, through legislative or 

 other processes he may deem proper, new or existing Authorities whose functions are the 

 accomphshment of the policies and objectives of this Act. 



(c) Upon submission to the Secretary of the proposed Authority or Authorities together with the 

 organization functions and powers of the Authority, the Secretary may approve the Authority as 

 consistent with the purposes of the Act. 



Form of Authorities 



SECTION 102. 



(a) The form of the Authority shall be left to the discretion of the participating States. It may range 

 in scope from a Statewide central State agency to a regional commission responsible for a single 

 estuarine system. 



(b) In order to be designated a participating State, a State need not designate Authorities to have 

 responsibility for its entire coastal and estuarine areas. A State may establish or designate additional 

 authorities at any time. Each one so designated must meet with the approval of the Secretary in order to 

 become eligible for Federal Funding Assistance under this Act. 



(c) In designating Authorities the State is encouraged to give precedence to critical areas identified by 

 the National Study authorized by section 5(g) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, 

 and other broad National Inventories as may be authorized. 



(d) The organization and structure of Authorities may vary within a participating State and among 

 States according to the political frameworks within which the authorities have been established. 



(e) Two or more States which in the best interests of coastal or estuarine management may wish to 

 establish or designate existing interstate compacts or River Basin Commissions as Authorities may do so 

 if approved by the Secretary as having adequate powers and funding arrangements to accomplish the 

 purpose of this Act. 



Functions of Authorities 



SECTION 103. The functions of Authorities to meet the objectives of this act are: 



(a) To plan for the accommodation of multiple uses of the coastal and lakeshore waters and lands. 



(b) To resolve conflicting actions through the means of regulation, zoning, and/or acquisition where 

 appropriate. 



(c) To maintain a continuing inventory and studies and to sponsor and otherwise conduct research as 

 a contributing link in decision making processes. 



nil 84 





