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  1. Register Now for the DOT Pipeline Compliance Workshop
  2. Standards Proposed to Reduce Corrosion
  3. Integrity Management Services
  4. Integrity Management Updates
  5. O&M Manual Up-To-Date?
  6. Operator Qualifications: Materials Available
  7. Need to Update Your Current Operator Qualification Program?
  8. Regulation of Liquid Gathering Pipelines
  9. RCP Services Spotlight – RCP Auditing, Due Diligence and Expert Witness Services
  10. PHMSA’s Public Awareness Expectations–API RP 1162
  11. Need to make sure your Public Awareness Program meets API RP 1162 standards?
  12. Pipeline Safety: Mechanical Damage Technical Workshop
  13. NPDES Stormwater Oil and Gas Exemption – Proposed Rule
  14. Coastal Zone Management Act Federal Consistency Regulations: Final Rule
  15. Will your SPCC Plan pass an EPA inspection based on the new SPCC Inspectors’ Guidance document?
  16. EPA Proposes Amendments to the SPCC Rule
  17. RCP’s Fantastic 1-Page Version of SPCC Regulation
  18. EPA Seeks Comment on Proposed NPDES Stormwater Permit for Industrial Activities

Coastal Zone Management Act Federal Consistency Regulations: Final Rule

[Docket No. 030604145-4038-02]

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has revised the federal consistency regulations under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (CZMA). For nearly 30 years, the CZMA has met the needs of coastal States, Great Lake States and United States Trust Territories and Commonwealths (collectively referred to as “coastal States” or “States”), Federal agencies, industry and the public to balance the protection of coastal resources with coastal development, including energy development. The CZMA requires the States to consider the national interest as stated in the CZMA objectives and give priority consideration to coastal-dependent uses and processes for facilities related to national defense, energy, fisheries, recreation, ports and transportation, when adopting and amending their Coastal Management Programs (CMPs), and when making coastal management decisions. This final rule continues to provide the balance between State-Federal-private interests embodied in the CZMA, while making improvements to the federal consistency regulations by clarifying some sections and providing greater transparency and predictability to the implementation of federal consistency. This final rule fully maintains the authority and ability of coastal States to review proposed federal actions that would have a reasonably foreseeable effect on any land or water use or natural resource of a State’s coastal zone, as provided for in the CZMA and NOAA’s regulations, as revised in 2000.

These rules shall become effective on Feb. 6, 2006. All appeals to the Secretary under 15 CFR part 930, subpart H, filed on or after Feb. 6 shall be processed in accordance with the procedures and time frames adopted in subpart H of this final rule. For appeals to the Secretary under 15 CFR part 930, subpart H, any procedural or threshold issues that occurred prior to Feb. 6 shall be governed by the regulations in 15 CFR part 930, subpart D, E, and/or F that were in effect at the time the procedural or threshold issue occurred. Additional information on federal consistency can be located at OCRM’s federal consistency Web page: http://www.ocrm.nos.noaa.gov/czm/federal_consistency.html.