The national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing ongoing funding through the national coastal zone management program to the territory of american samoa to help administer the…

The national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing ongoing funding through the national coastal zone management program to the territory of american samoa to help administer the territory's federally approved coastal management program. \ the national coastal zone management program, under the coastal zone management act, is an important voluntary federal-state partnership that protects, restores, and responsibly develops our nation's coastal communities and resources by balancing economic development, coastal uses, and natural resource protection. NOAA is investing $1,108,000 to these efforts and actions in american samoa. These funds will support jobs and provide continued assistance to the american samoa coastal management program to address many important coastal issues in the territory including coastal hazards, habitat protection, water quality, and coastal community development. For example, one project will delineate several of the territorys wetlands and use that information to create educational materials and activities to increase community awareness on the importance and value of those wetlands. Another ongoing effort incorporates coastal hazard considerations into the existing territorial land-use permitting process to ensure sea level rise, wave inundation, and storm surge threats are considered in planning activities. As part of this effort, nature-based solutions continue to be considered for sustainable coastal hazard mitigation efforts. Funding also supports ongoing coastal permitting, planning, public outreach, and assistance to coastal communities of american samoa.