Introduction
The State of Washington, through the Department of Ecology, participates in the federal Coastal Zone Management Program, which encourages states to adopt their own management programs in order to meet the Act's goals of protection, restoration, and appropriate development of coastal zone resources. Washington's Coastal Zone Management Program (WCZMP) was approved in 1976. Washington has delegated as the state's coastal zone the fifteen counties bordering marine waters of the state, including Wahkiakum.
The states receive federal grant moneys to develop and administer their programs. Another benefit of participating in the voluntary federal Coastal Zone Management Act is the "federal consistency" provision. Under the federal consistency provisions, certain federal activities and/or actions undertaken pursuant to a federal permit or license must be consistent with the WCZMP's enforceable policies. Those policies include the Shoreline Management Act, the State Environmental Policy Act, the Ocean Resources Management Act, the Energy Facilities Site Evaluation law, and the Clean Water and Clean Air Acts. Washington uses these laws to ensure that federal actions are held to state and local government environmental standards.
To keep our WCZMP current, Ecology submits changes to the WCZMP to the federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through a formal process called "routine program changes." The changes submitted include changes to the above-mentioned laws and their implementing regulations made from 1990 through 1999. Changes to the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts are automatically incorporated into states' CZMP's when adopted.
These changes are considered routine updates to existing provisions of our coastal zone program, rather than significant amendments that alter the nature or scope of the program (15 CFR s 923.80-.84). Based on these federal criteria, the State of Washington has determined that none of the changes listed in this notice constitutes an amendment to the Washington Coastal Zone Management Program. All of the changes were made following extensive public notice, and hearings, and official enactment or formal adoption proceedings.
Comments
These changes will be submitted to OCRM in summary form, copies of which can be obtained from Linda Rankin, Federal
Consistency Coordinator, Department of Ecology, Post Office Box 47690, Olympia, WA 98504-7690, or by calling 360/407-6527.
If you have special accommodation needs, contact Linda Rankin at 360/407-6527 or TDD# 360/407-6006. The submittal date to OCRM will be August 7, 2000. That office has thirty days from that date for its review. Any comments on whether any change is or is not a routine program change may be submitted to OCRM within three weeks of the date of issuance of this notice, at the following address:
Ms. Masi Okasaki
NOAA/OCRM
1305 East West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 2091 0
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