February 4, 2004
Disclosure: No state or federal funds were used to develop or distribute this update
In a January 28, 2004 letter to the state, the federal Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) determined the state’s Alaska Coastal Management Program (ACMP) regulations need to be modified before they can receive preliminary approval. Specifically, OCRM identified four areas that must be changed including the Subsistence and Habitats statewide standards and the ability of district enforceable polices to apply to federal lands and waters. Click here to read the letter and attachments: OCRM Letter.
Feds Recommend Extension of Deadlines
In the letter, OCRM recommends the Legislature extend the July 1, 2005 deadline for submittal of district coastal management plans. It also recommends the state take action to address the July 1, 2005 “sunset” date for the statewide ACMP standards. OCRM sent a copy of the letter to Representative Paul Seaton.
Legislative Hearings Will Be Held on ACMP
The House State Affairs Committee plans to hold a legislative hearing on the ACMP in February -- stay tuned for the date and time.
In its January 28 letter, OCRM said it expects to complete the EIS for the ACMP changes by the end of the year, assuming DNR resubmits a complete ACMP Amendment document in February.
State Has No Response to OCRM Letter
The DNR held a teleconference on Thursday, February 3 with the coastal districts. It announced at the beginning of the teleconference that it was not prepared to discuss the OCRM letter and that it would be discussing the matter with the Governor’s Office later in the day – No word yet from DNR on the outcome of that meeting.
Guidance from DNR is Unclear
In its letter and attachments, OCRM noted that “the proposed ACMP revisions and explanations are still in a state of flux.” OCRM also said that the state “must provide a clear understanding of the content of the program, especially in identifying who will be affected . . . and a clear direction and predictability for decision makers.”
District Planning Must Continue
Unless Legislature extends the deadline, district plans are still due July 1, 2005. To meet this deadline, consultants must provide draft plans later this month to coastal districts so they can approve the public review draft before the public comment period begins in March. This means the enforceable policies will be drafted without clear guidance from DNR.
Guidance Changed Once Again
DNR announced yesterday that it posted new guidance on the “adequately addressed” issue regarding when district policies may address matters regulated by state or federal agencies. Click here for a copy of the new guidance and chose “amended guidance.”
ACMP Recommendations from Arctic Economic Summit
At a joint meeting of their assemblies, the Northwest Arctic Borough and North Slope Borough Assemblies passed motions recommending extension of the July 1, 2005 district plan submittal deadline. This joint meeting was held at the conclusion of the Arctic Economic Development Summit in Barrow this week.