Department of Ecology News Release - Sept. 7, 2000
00-177
Public meeting Sept. 14 on state's coastal-zone management program
OLYMPIA - The public is invited to participate in an evaluation of how the state Department of Ecology (Ecology) is managing the state's coastal resources through its coastal-zone management program.
The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which is conducting the evaluation, will convene the public meeting at 7 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 14, in the Ecology auditorium at 300 Desmond Dr. in Lacey.
The coastal-zone management program is delegated to coastal states through the federal Coastal Zone Management Act. The program is a federal-state partnership that fosters preservation and appropriate development of coastal areas. States are provided federal grant money through NOAA to develop and administer their programs.
Since 1976, Ecology has used coastal zone money to implement the state's role in the Shoreline Management Act, the State Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Water Act and several other state laws.
Ecology also provides grants directly to local governments to support local shoreline protection and development goals in 15 coastal counties:
Clallam, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, Wahkiakum and Whatcom.
NOAA will be evaluating Ecology's coastal program efforts in education, research, local government relations, wetlands protection, and shoreline and watershed management.
The NOAA evaluation is conducted every three years.
Written and oral comments will be accepted at the meeting. If you cannot attend, comments may be provided through Sept. 29 to Maggie Ernst, NOAA/OCRM, 1305 East-West Hwy., N/ORM, Silver Spring, Md., 20910, or e-mail them to <mailto:Marjorie.Ernst@noaa.gov> Marjorie.Ernst@noaa.gov.
Background materials about how Ecology carries out its responsibilities under the Coastal Zone Management Act are available by calling Therese Swanson at 360-407-6789 or by visiting the Ecology Web site at:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/shorelan.html
To reach the Ecology building in Lacey, take exit 109 off Interstate 5, turn east on Martin Way and turn right on Desmond Dr.
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