The Coastal Zone Management Act in Its Sixth Decade: An Unsung Cornerstone in the Nation’s Response to Climate and Ocean Change, Part II

Abstract

This essay concludes the examination of the CZMA entitled “The Coastal Zone Management Act in Its Sixth Decade: An Unsung Cornerstone in the Nation’s Response to Climate and Ocean Change” begun in the July issue of this journal. The July installment placed the CZMA in the political context of its origins, reviewed today’s political and legal constraints on environmental laws, and introduced CZMA Section 309 which authorizes grants to states and territories with federally approved Coastal Management Programs (CMPs) to enhance those programs over the coming 5 years to meet specified objectives. The first installment concluded that Section 309 and its explicit reference to climate related impacts provided an important legal framework to address these challenging coastal phenomena. This second installment further deepens the analysis by closely examining 12 state 5-year strategies with particular attention to coastal hazards, including sea level rise and approaches to the challenge of managed retreat. The review reenforces the essay’s conclusion that the CZMA’s Section 309 program provides a well focused weapon in the nation’s arsenal to respond to climate and ocean change and its coastal impacts.