-The Alaska Sea Party is a statewide grassroots organization comprised of municipal leaders and concerned citizens originally allied for the purpose of promoting a ballot initiative to restore a coastal management program to Alaska.

-Coastal management comes from a unique federal law (the Coastal Zone Management Act) that gives coastal states a powerful voice in decisions that affect a state's coastal region. The law recognizes that a "one-size fits all" approach doesn't work when it comes to the complexity and richness of the nation's coastal areas. With a state coastal program, the state and local communities decide what coastal uses and resources are important and establish policies for activities that may impact those uses and resources. All federal agencies responsible for permitting coastal activities must do so in a way that is consistent with the statewide and local coastal community policies.

-Alaska has more coastline than all other states combined and more federal land and water than any other state, yet it is the only state without a coastal management program. The coastal area is subject to higher population and development pressures than other regions - over 75% of Alaskans live near the coast. Coastal management balances potentially competing uses and resolves conflicts early in the process so development can proceed with fewer hurdles. A state coastal management program gives Alaskans a powerful voice in federal decisions that impact the coastal uses and resources we value.

-In 1976, Governor Hammond introduced the Alaska Coastal Management Act (ACMP) in response to increasing demands on state coastal resources. The program provided for the establishment of local coastal districts and a strong role for local governments in coastal development decisions. In 1984, Governor Sheffield adopted a coordinated review process for coastal projects. In 2003, Governor Murkowski amended the coastal program to reduce local communities' voice in coastal development decisions; removed consideration of air and water quality matters from the coordinated review process; and eliminated the regionally represented Coastal Policy Council, transferring its powers to a single agency, the Department of Natural Resources. In 2011, the Alaska legislature and the governor failed to agree on conditions for extending the coastal program and the program expired on July 1, 2011.

-While other federal environmental and resource laws give states the ability to comment on federal decisions, only the federal Coastal Zone Management Act and a federally approved state coastal management program requires federal agencies to reach an agreement with coastal states before permitting coastal projects.

-A state coastal program promotes economic development in several ways. Local coastal management plans identify areas suitable for development and provide guidance for development through established policies. The potential for lawsuits is reduced by providing a forum for meaningful public participation by citizens and interest groups and the early identification and resolution of issues. Responsible development is enhanced by a unified project review that coordinates federal, state, and local government permitting actions.

-The citizens' coastal management program initiative lays the groundwork for the creation of a new, improved program that will give the state and local communities an effective voice to protect Alaska's interests and values in the development of our coastal lands and waters. Rather than dictate the form of the new program, the initiative establishes a comprehensive list of objectives that will guide development of the new program. The objectives address

• the use, management, restoration, enhancement, development, and protection of the coastal environment;


• coordination among government agencies and citizens; and


• public and government participation in development and implementation of the coastal management program.

-The initiative differs from the prior program in the following substantive ways:

• Rather than consolidating all decision-making in a single resource agency as was done under the prior program, the initiative creates the Alaska Coastal Policy Board to oversee development and implementation of the new program, including approval of regulations and local coastal management plans. The Coastal Policy Board will bring local coastal district and state representatives together and ensure statewide input into the development and implementation of the coastal program.


• The new program will be located in the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED) rather than in the Department of Natural Resources. DCCED has a long history of working with local governments, including management of coastal district funding. In addition, since DCCED is not a resource agency, it provides a neutral role when coordinating project reviews.


• Generally, the new program does not incorporate prior program statutes and regulations, but instead establishes a comprehensive list of objectives that will be addressed through regulations developed and approved by the Alaska Coastal Policy Board.

-The Alaska Coastal Policy Board is designed to represent the interests of all Alaskans, not a particular industry or interest group. Through the regulatory process, all Alaskans, including industry and interest groups, will have the ability to help shape the new program.

-A new division, the Division of Ocean and Coastal Management, will be created in DCCED. The division will provide support to the Coastal Policy Board and, with guidance from the Board, will implement the program, including coordinating coastal program project reviews.

-Coastal districts are local government organizations that participate in the coastal program by developing local coastal management plans. Coastal districts include municipalities (cities and boroughs) and four coastal resource service areas located in the unorganized boroughs. Coastal district management plans include criteria for activities ("enforceable policies") that address local coastal values.

-While the initiative brings local policies to bear on development decisions, it does not allow for a coastal district to veto development projects.

-The coastal districts that were in place as of June 2011 and their coastal management plans will be incorporated into the new program. Districts may revise their plans at any time under the new program but will not be required to do so unless the plans conflict with the new law.

-New coastal districts may be formed by municipalities or by new coastal resource areas for areas of the unorganized boroughs.

-Federal funding for the coastal program will be available once the program receives federal approval. In fiscal year 2010, the federal government provided Alaska with approximately $2.6 million to implement the coastal program, including grants for special projects. State agencies and coastal districts provided matching in-kind and cash contributions totaling $2.1 million.