| Federal coastal management funding to Alaska coastal districts comes primarily from two programs: Section 306 and Section 309 of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA). The Division of Community and Regional Affairs (DCA) awards and administers coastal district grants in consultation with the Office of Project Management and Permitting (OPMP).
Currently, to be eligible to apply for ACMP grant funding, a coastal district must be actively participating in the ACMP and must be involved in the amendment of the district coastal management plan following the process outlined in 11 AAC 114.345.Transition. |
Ernst Schneider
Div. of Community & Business Development |
Section 306 Funding for Required Tasks
Section 306 of the federal CZMA provides grants for the implementation of the ACMP and approved district coastal management programs. These funds support the ACMP’s day-to-day operations. Section 306 provides the majority of federal funding for the ACMP. Alaska must match federal Section 306 money dollar for dollar. The match is met through state agency general funds and coastal district in-kind non-federal funds. In FY06, coastal districts received $710,000 in Section 306 funds, which the districts have been asked to match with $265,000 cash and/or in-kind contributions. This money funds the development and implementation of district coastal management programs, required tasks, and special projects.
When it receives ACMP grant funds for its coastal management program, a coastal district is required to perform several important functions, including,
- Participation in project consistency reviews
- Municipal implementation of coastal district policies
- Grant reporting, and
- ACMP coordination and outreach within the coastal district.
Required tasks also include funds to attend coastal management conferences. The required tasks are the same for all coastal districts. The DCA, in cooperation with OPMP, considers the following items to guide the distribution of required task funds:
- Implementation responsibilities of the coastal district being funded (CRSA or municipal district);
- Other mechanisms or financial ability to support implementation of its program;
- Type of municipal coastal district (borough or city);
- Population; and
- Amount of permit activity occurring in the coastal district.
Section 306 grants are administered on a cost-reimbursable basis by State fiscal year (July 1 - June 30). Coastal districts who have received Section 306 grant awards are required to report on project performance and grant expenditures on a quarterly basis.
Downloadable Required Tasks Grant Forms and Resources
© Ernst Schneider, Alaska Division of Tourism
Section 309 Funding for Special Projects
Section 309 of the CZMA, known as the Coastal Zone Enhancement Grants Program , was created in the 1990 reauthorization of the CZMA. This voluntary program provides an opportunity for coastal states to improve their coastal programs in nine categories
- marine aquaculture
- coastal hazards
- public access
- ocean resources management
- coastal wetlands
- cumulative and secondary impacts
- marine debris
- energy facilities and development, and
- special area management planning.
This program provides funds for special projects that result in improvements to the ACMP. Special project funds are available with no match required from the state. In FY05 and FY06, Section 309 funding has been used wholly to support coastal districts in amending their district coastal management plans to comply with revisions to the ACMP regulations and statutes. In FY06, coastal districts received $200,000 in Section 309 funds.
Similar to the Section 306 grants, the Section 309 grants are administered on a cost-reimbursable basis by State fiscal year (July 1 - June 30). Coastal districts who have received Section 309 grant awards are required to report on project performance and grant expenditures on a quarterly basis.
For more information, please email Sally Russell Cox, Planner, Division of Community and Regional Affairs, or call 269-4588.
|