Public Notice

Office of Coastal Management (OCM)

Assessment and Strategy 2011-2015

Notice is hereby given that the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources’ Office of Coastal Management is seeking public comments for its strategic planning for 2011-2015 for priority areas and program enhancements.

The federal Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), as amended in 1990 and 1996, provides that Section 309 establish a voluntary coastal zone enhancement grants program to encourage State and Territory Coastal Management Programs to develop program changes in one or more of nine enhancement areas:  Wetlands, Coastal Hazards, Public Access, Marine Debris, Cumulative and Secondary Impacts, Special Area Management Planning, Ocean/Great Lake Resources, Energy and Government Facility Siting, and Aquaculture.  Under this program, the Secretary of Commerce is authorized to make awards to states and territories to develop and submit for federal approval program changes that support one or more of the enhancement area objectives. All coastal management programs must successfully complete an approved Assessment and Strategy to be eligible for 309 funding in FY 2011-2015. 

The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, Office of Coastal Management (OCM), is seeking public comment on its five (5) year assessment and strategic plan for 2011-2015.  The OCM is seeking input as to the effectiveness of existing efforts, and to identify priority needs and opportunities for program enhancement which would ultimately result in program changes.

The federal guidance documents are available at:
http://dnr.louisiana.gov/CRM/Sect-309-Guidance.pdf

The public is invited to submit comments by mail or email for consideration in the assessment and strategic planning process.  Comments will be accepted for 30 days from the date of this notice.  Correspondence should be addressed to:  Gregory DuCote, Administrator, Interagency Affairs/Field Services Division, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, Office of Coastal Management, P. O. Box 44487, Baton Rouge, LA  70804-4487, Gregory.ducote@la.gov.