|
U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 1455a. Coastal resource improvement program
(a) Definitions
For purposes of this section -
(1) The term "eligible coastal state" means a coastal state
that for any fiscal year for which a grant is applied for under
this section -
(A) has a management program approved under section 1455 of
this title; and
(B) in the judgment of the Secretary, is making satisfactory
progress in activities designed to result in significant
improvement in achieving the coastal management objectives
specified in section 1452(2)(A) through (K) of this title.
(2) The term "urban waterfront and port" means any developed
area that is densely populated and is being used for, or has been
used for, urban residential recreational, commercial, shipping or
industrial purposes.
(b) Resource management improvement grants
The Secretary may make grants to any eligible coastal state to
assist that state in meeting one or more of the following
objectives:
(1) The preservation or restoration of specific areas of the
state that (A) are designated under the management program
procedures required by section 1455(d)(9) of this title because
of their conservation recreational, ecological, or esthetic
values, or (B) contain one or more coastal resources of national
significance, or for the purpose of restoring and enhancing
shellfish production by the purchase and distribution of clutch
material on publicly owned reef tracts.
(2) The redevelopment of deteriorating and underutilized urban
waterfronts and ports that are designated in the state's
management program pursuant to section 1455(d)(2)(C) of this
title as areas of particular concern.
(3) The provision of access to public beaches and other public
coastal areas and to coastal waters in accordance with the
planning process required under section 1455(d)(2)(G) of this
title.
(4) The development of a coordinated process among State
agencies to regulate and issue permits for aquaculture facilities
in the coastal zone.
(c) Uses, terms and conditions of grants
(1) Each grant made by the Secretary under this section shall be
subject to such terms and conditions as may be appropriate to
ensure that the grant is used for purposes consistent with this
section.
(2) Grants made under this section may be used for -
(A) the acquisition of fee simple and other interests in land;
(B) low-cost construction projects determined by the Secretary
to be consistent with the purposes of this section, including but
not limited to, paths, walkways, fences, parks, and the
rehabilitation of historic buildings and structures; except that
not more than 50 per centum of any grant made under this section
may be used for such construction projects;
(C) in the case of grants made for objectives described in
subsection (b)(2) of this section -
(i) the rehabilitation or acquisition of piers to provide
increased public use, including compatible commercial activity.
(ii) the establishment of shoreline stabilization measures
including the installation or rehabilitation of bulkheads for
the purpose of public safety or increasing public access and
use, and
(iii) the removal or replacement of pilings where such action
will provide increased recreational use of urban waterfront
areas,
but activities provided for under this paragraph shall not be
treated as construction projects subject to the limitations in
paragraph (B);
(D) engineering designs, specifications, and other appropriate
reports; and
(E) educational, interpretive, and management costs and such
other related costs as the Secretary determines to be consistent
with the purposes of this section.
(d) State matching contributions; ratio; maximum amount of grants
(1) The Secretary may make grants to any coastal state for the
purpose of carrying out the project or purpose for which such
grants are awarded, if the state matches any such grant according
to the following ratios of Federal to state contributions for the
applicable fiscal year: 4 to 1 for fiscal year 1986; 2.3 to 1 for
fiscal year 1987; 1.5 to 1 for fiscal year 1988; and 1 to 1 for
each fiscal year after fiscal year 1988.
(2) Grants provided under this section may be used to pay a
coastal state's share of costs required under any other Federal
program that is consistent with the purposes of this section.
(3) The total amount of grants made under this section to any
eligible coastal state for any fiscal year may not exceed an amount
equal to 10 per centum of the total amount appropriated to carry
out this section for such fiscal year.
(e) Allocation of grants to local governments and other agencies
With the approval of the Secretary, an eligible coastal state may
allocate to a local government, an areawide agency designated under
section 3334 of title 42, a regional agency, or an interstate
agency, a portion of any grant made under this section for the
purpose of carrying out this section; except that such an
allocation shall not relieve that state of the responsibility for
ensuring that any funds so allocated are applied in furtherance of
the state's approved management program.
(f) Other technical and financial assistance
In addition to providing grants under this section, the Secretary
shall assist eligible coastal states and their local governments in
identifying and obtaining other sources of available Federal
technical and financial assistance regarding the objectives of this
section.
|
|