On Earth Day, April 22, Georgia Gov. Zell Miller signed the Georgia Coastal Management Act into law. The law makes Georgia the 32nd ocean-facing coastal state to join the National Coastal Zone Management Program.
By joining the national program, Georgia is eligible for approximately $1 million of federal funding annually.
Under Georgia's Coastal Management Program (CMP), almost all of these funds will be passed down to local governments, non-profit organizations, and other groups interested in coordinating projects to benefit the coastal zone.
Over the last five years, Georgia's CMP was developed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and coastal citizens. The Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) participated on a coastal advisory committee appointed by the governor. The Committee was part of a larger group of more than 200 coastal citizens working to identify coastal issues. These issues formed the basis for the Georgia CMP.
Once the Georgia program is approved by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, federal resources will be made available to the state.
According to Ross King, ACCG assistant director, the Georgia Program will assist counties by making a number of activities eligible for federal funds. Funds will be available to encourage, but not require, local governments to implement program activities. These activities include:
In addition to new funds, Georgia's state and local governments will benefit by joining the federal program in other ways.
A federally-approved program will give Georgia control over federal projects (such as dredging) that affect the coastal zone.
Also, Georgia will have the same authority as bordering states that already have federally-approved programs, which is important for resolving conflicts with those states.
(For more information, call Kathy Zagzebski, program manager, Georgia Coastal Management Office, at 912/262-3143. The office is located at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources in Brunswick, Ga.)