Public Comment Period Open on Draft Coastal Zone Management Act

Olympia, WA - The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is seeking public comment on Washington’s Draft Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) Section 309 Assessment and Strategy 2011-2015.

The public comment period opened September 3, 2010, and closes at 5:00pm on October 7^th.

Every five years, NOAA requires coastal states to conduct an assessment of their coastal resources and management activities within nine enhancement areas

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These enhancement areas are:

• Wetlands
• Coastal hazards
• Public access
• Marine debris
• Cumulative and secondary impacts of growth
• Special area management plans
• Ocean resources
• Energy and government facility citing
• Aquaculture

Each state must then develop strategies to address priorities identified in the assessment. Once approved, NOAA provides funding to implement Section 309 strategies that result in the development and implementation of program changes in one or more priority enhancement areas.

For more information on the public comment period, the Section 309 program, and a link to the draft document, please visit our public comment web page at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/czm/309_public_comment.html

Please direct any questions or comments to:

Carrie Byron
Coastal Zone Management Program Planner
Shorelands & Environmental Assistance Program

Washington State Department of Ecology
PO Box 47600
Olympia, WA 98504-7600
phone: 360-407-7509
fax: 360-407-6902
carrie.byron@ecy.wa.gov