Coastal Zone Management Administration Awards

To support projects aimed at developing a science-based, multi-dimensional approach that will allow for the maintenance or improvement of environmental quality while at the same time allowing for economic growth.

The Office for Coastal Management provides competitive and non-competitive grants for community and regional projects that protect habitat, decrease flooding, foster the development of innovative partnerships and products, and support environmental education efforts. These projects focus on understanding and adapting to coastal hazards and enhancing community and ecosystem resilience.

Any coastal State, including those that border the Great Lakes, and including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Freely Associated States of the Pacific whose Coastal Zone Management program has been approved by the Secretary of Commerce. The Governor shall designate the State agency or entity that is to be the applicant.

Private nonprofit institution/organization, Quasi-public nonprofit organization, State, Local, Public nonprofit institution/organization, Other public institution/organization, Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments

Cooperative Agreements may be used only to implement and enhance the States' approved Coastal Zone Management programs. This includes personnel salaries, travel and other related costs required to support the administration of the program. Ten to twenty percent of Section 306 of the CZMA funds are available annually to develop new program requirements under Section 309 of the CZMA (16 U.S.C. 1456b) in the areas of coastal wetlands management and protection; natural hazards management (including potential sea and Great Lakes level rise); public access improvements; reduction of marine debris; assessment of cumulative and secondary impacts of coastal growth and development; special area management planning; impacts of coastal growth and development; special area management planning; ocean resource planning; and citing of coastal energy and Government facilities; and program development grants as authorized by section.

Assistance is typically available to formula recipients for 12 to 18 months with a possible extension not to exceed a project period of 3 total years. Extension requests will be considered by the federal program office only if the recipient has submitted all required performance reports. At least sixty days prior to the end of the award, recipients must discuss with their federal program officer expected reprogramming and extension requests. After preliminary negotiation on proposed projects and extensions, formal written reprogramming and extension requests must be submitted to the NOAA at least 30 days prior to end date. Recipients should make every effort to submit one extension request for all projects needing an extension (when possible, multiple extension requests should be avoided). With sufficient justification, the federal program office will recommend approval of an extension up to 1 year for the first extension request. First time or cumulative extension requests for more than six months but less than 12 months, will need more compelling justification as to why the project was not completed on time or could not be completed within the first six-month extension. Although the federal program office discourages extensions of more than 12 months, the federal program office will recommend approval in cases where the funds are already obligated. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of the Department.

This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review."

While 80 to 90 percent of the appropriated funds are allocated to States through a formula based on coastal population and shoreline mileage, the tasks in the State application are reviewed for relevance to program objectives and cost effectiveness. The remainder of the funds are allocated according to criteria published by the Office for Coastal Management. Coastal Estuarine and Land Conservation Program and Coral Reef funds are distributed through a competitive process, subject to availability of funds for competitive awards. Proposals are subject to office evaluations, technical reviews, administrative reviews, and external reviews, if applicable, taking into consideration primarily scientific merit and application to the goals of NOAA and the relevant federal program office.

Awards are made on the basis of proposal evaluations, technical reviews and administrative reviews, if applicable.

Continuation grants on an annual basis are available. Individual grants may be extended, however, all funds must be obligated within the fiscal year following the fiscal year of the original award.

No formal procedure.