HR 5452 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to authorize grants to coastal States to support State efforts to initiate and complete surveys of coastal State waters and Federal waters adjacent to a State's coastal zone to identify potential areas suitable or unsuitable for the exploration, development, and production of renewable energy, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

February 14, 2008

Mrs. CAPPS (for herself, Mr. DELAHUNT, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. INSLEE, Mr. FARR, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, and Ms. MATSUI) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural ResourcesCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to authorize grants to coastal States to support State efforts to initiate and complete surveys of coastal State waters and Federal waters adjacent to a State's coastal zone to identify potential areas suitable or unsuitable for the exploration, development, and production of renewable energy, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Coastal State Renewable Energy Promotion Act of 2008'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. STATE OCEAN AND COASTAL RENEWABLE ENERGY PLANNING.

(a) In General- The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 306A the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

`OCEAN AND COASTAL RENEWABLE ENERGY STATE SURVEYS; RENEWABLE ENERGY SITE IDENTIFICATION AND PLANNING

`Sec. 306B. (a) Grants to States- The Secretary may make grants to eligible coastal States to support voluntary State efforts to initiate and complete surveys of portions of coastal State waters and Federal waters adjacent to a State's coastal zone, in consultation with the Minerals Management Service, to identify potential areas suitable or unsuitable for the exploration, development, and production of renewable energy that are consistent with the enforceable policies of coastal management plans approved pursuant to section 306(d).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(b) Survey Elements- Surveys developed with grants under this section shall include consideration of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) hydrographic and bathymetric surveys;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) oceanographic observations and measurements of the physical ocean environment, especially seismically active areas;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) identification and characterization of significant or sensitive marine ecosystems or other areas possessing important conservation, recreational, ecological, historic, or aesthetic values;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(4) surveys of existing marine uses in the outer Continental Shelf and identification of potential conflicts;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(5) inventories and surveys of shore locations and infrastructure capable of supporting renewable energy development;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(6) inventories and surveys of offshore locations and infrastructure capable of supporting renewable energy development; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(7) other matters as may be necessary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(c) Participation and Cooperation- To the extent practicable, coastal States shall provide opportunity for the participation in surveys under this section by relevant Federal agencies, State agencies, local governments, regional organizations, port authorities, and other interested parties and stakeholders, public and private, that is adequate to develop a comprehensive survey.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(d) Guidelines- The Secretary shall, within 180 days after the date of enactment of this section and after consultation with the coastal States, publish guidelines for the application for and use of grants under this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(e) Annual Grants- For each of fiscal years 2009 through 2012, the Secretary may make a grant to a coastal State under this section if the coastal State demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the grant will be used to develop a renewable energy survey consistent with the requirements set forth in this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(f) Grant Amounts- The amount of any grant under this section shall not exceed $750,000 for any fiscal year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(g) State Match-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) BEFORE FISCAL YEAR 2011- The Secretary shall not require any State matching fund contribution for grants awarded under this section for any fiscal year before fiscal year 2011.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) AFTER FISCAL YEAR 2011- The Secretary shall require a coastal State to provide a matching fund contribution for a grant under this section for surveys of a State's coastal waters, according to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(A) a 2-to-1 ratio of Federal-to-State contributions for fiscal year 2011; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(B) a 1-to-1 ratio of Federal-to-State contributions for fiscal year 2012.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) LIMITATION- The Secretary shall not require any matching funds for surveys of Federal waters adjacent to a State's coastal zone.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(h) Secretarial Review- After an initial grant is made to a coastal State under this section, no subsequent grant may be made to that coastal State under this section unless the Secretary finds that the coastal State is satisfactorily developing its survey.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(i) Limitation on Eligibility- No coastal State is eligible to receive grants under this section for more than 3 fiscal years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(j) Applicability- This section and the surveys conducted with assistance under this section shall not be construed to convey any new authority to any coastal State, or repeal or supersede any existing authority of any Federal agency, to regulate the siting, licensing, leasing, or permitting of renewable energy facilities in areas of the outer Continental Shelf under the administration of the Federal Government. Nothing in this section repeals or supersedes any existing coastal State authority pursuant to State or Federal law.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(k) Priority- Any area that is identified as suitable for potential renewable energy development under surveys developed with assistance under this section shall be given priority consideration by Federal agencies for the siting, licensing, leasing, or permitting of renewable energy facilities. Any area that is identified as unsuitable under surveys developed with assistance under this section shall be avoided by Federal agencies to the maximum extent practicable.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(l) Assistance by the Secretary- The Secretary shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(1) under section 307(a) and to the extent practicable, make available to coastal States the resources and capabilities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to provide technical assistance to the coastal States to develop surveys under this section; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(2) encourage other Federal agencies with relevant expertise to participate in providing technical assistance under this subsection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(m) Renewable Energy Defined- In this section the term `renewable energy' means wind, wave, current, tidal, or ocean thermal energy.'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Authorization of Appropriations- Section 318(a) of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1464) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in paragraph (1)(C) by striking `and' after the semicolon;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





`(3) for grants under section 306B such sums as are necessary; and'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink