123STA T . 1 4 42 PUBLIC LA W 111 – 11 —M A R .3 0, 200 9(4)$15,0 00,000 for f iscalye ar 2 012 .Subti t leE—Coas tal a nd Estua r ine L and Conser v ation P ro g ra mSEC.1250 1.S HORT T I T L E. Th is A c tm ay b e cite d as the ‘ ‘ C oastal a n d E st u arine L and Conser v ation P ro g ram Act ’ ’. SEC. 12502. AU THORI Z ATIO N O F COASTAL AN D ESTUARINE LAND CON - SER V ATION P RO G RA M . The Coastal Z one M anagement Act of 1 97 2(1 6U . S .C. 1451 et se q .) is amended by inserting after section 3 07 the follo w ing new section
‘‘ AUTHORIZ ATIO N O F TH EC OA S TA L AN D ESTUARINE LAND CONSER V ATION P RO G RA M ‘‘SEC. 307A. (a) I N G ENERAL. — The Secretary may conduct a Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program, in coo p eration with appropriate State, regional, and other units of government, for the purposes of protecting important coastal and estuarine areas that have significant conservation, recreation, ecological, historical, or aesthetic values, or that are threatened by conversion from their natural, undeveloped, or recreational state to other uses or could be managed or restored to effectively conserve, enhance, or restore ecological function. The program shall be administered by the N ational O cean Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration through the Office of Ocean and Coastal R esource Management. ‘‘(b) PROPERT Y AC Q UISITION GRANTS.—The Secretary shall ma k e grants under the program to coastal states with approved coastal z one management plans or National Estuarine Research Reserve units for the purpose of acquiring property or interests in property described in subsection (a) that will further the goals of— ‘‘(1) a Coastal Zone Management Plan or Program approved under this title
‘‘(2) a National Estuarine Research Reserve management plan; ‘‘(3) a regional or State watershed protection or manage - ment plan involving coastal states with approved coastal zone management programs; or ‘‘(4) a State coastal land acquisition plan that is consistent with an approved coastal zone management program. ‘‘(c) GRANT PROCESS.—The Secretary shall allocate funds to coastal states or National Estuarine Research Reserves under this section through a competitive grant process in accordance with guidelines that meet the following requirements: ‘‘(1) The Secretary shall consult with the coastal state’s coastal zone management program, any National Estuarine Research Reserve in that State, and the lead agency designated by the Governor for coordinating the implementation of this section (if different from the coastal zone management pro- gram). ‘‘(2) Each participating coastal state, after consultation with local governmental entities and other interested stakeholders, Guidel i n e s.16USC 1 45 6 – 1. 16 USC 1451 n ot e. Co a stal and E stua r ine L and Conser v ation P ro g ra mAc t.
