The state is contracting with the regional planning agencies to develop public participation programs for their particular areas. Planning agencies are identifying existing plans and programs that affect coastal zone management. Three public meetings have been held on the program and the film, "It's Your Coast, is being shown to groups along the shoreline. Public information materials have been developed and distributed. The state's newsletter, "Shorelines," and a summary document of the program, "Coastal Zone Management Program, A Review," are available, as are copies of the state's quarterly performance reports. State-federal interaction and consideration of the national interest in facility siting Indiana is participating in the Great Lakes Basin Commission's Coastal Zone Management Standing Committee, which has representation from federal agencies. Also, federal agency representation is provided through the state's Technical Advisory Committee. During the first year, the state determined federal agency contacts and kept them advised of program activities by mail. Federal agency representatives are invited to attend meetings, as appropriate. Organizational arrangements Indiana hasn't addressed this task. It will be relying upon the advice of state, regional and local agencies when developing the organizational structure. Authorities Indiana is reviewing federal and state law, zoning regulations, local government authorities and relevant case and tax law to develop information on the adequacy of existing state authority to implement a coastal management program. GRANT RECIPIENT: Louisiana State Planning Office Coastal management program contact: Paul Templet, OTHER MAJOR PARTICIPATING AGENCIES: Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries Commission; Louisiana Coastal Commission; Louisiana State University Sea Grant Program; regional planning agencies; parish governments. Total Plan Development Allocation (through June 1976): $1,121,590 AUTHORITY: Pending a governmental reorganization that is to be completed in 1977 in line with a Constitutional amendment, six major state agencies are involved in Louisiana's coastal planning and management activities. The Wildlife & Fisheries Commission reviews water quality impacts on fish and wildlife in the coastal area. The Dept. of Public Works is responsible for water resource development, drainage and flood control. The Land Office protects land interests, as does the Mineral Board. The Board of Health is responsible for sewerage disposal. 011 and gas activities are regulated by the Dept. of Conservation. There also are numerous state boards, commissions and special districts regulating other activities in the coastal areas. The Dept. of Natural Resources ordered by Constitutional amendment has been formed. The Louisiana Advisory Commission on Coastal & Marine Resources completed "Louisiana Government & the Coastal Zone" in 1972 and "Louisiana Wetlands Prospectus" in 1973. Both contain recommendations on coastal management organization at the state level. On June 30, 1974, the first Section 305 program development grant was awarded under the Coastal Zone Management Act. The state anticipates that it will enter the Section 306 implementation phase in 1978. PRIORITY ISSUES: Louisiana cites the following coastal management concerns. Nonrenewable resources have been developed in a manner which has reduced the renewable resource base, particularly the marsh and estuarine resources. Marsh areas supporting fisheries and recreation have been significantly decreased by unrestrained urban expansion, flood control projects, expansion of the transportation system, agricultural activity, salt water intrusion and pollution. A deep draft terminal planned for offshore Louisiana, airport construction and major recreational development will cause substantial *The rate of salt water intrusion into previously freshwater strata is increasing. OBJECTIVES OF COASTAL PROGRAM: The objectives of Louisiana's coastal program are as follows. *To review the impact of wetland uses on water flow, circulation, quantity and quality prior to authorization of such uses. *To assess the impact of uses on coastal marshes and estuaries in terms of cumulative impact upon the system. *To assess land and water uses in terms of intrinsic suitability and the limiting factors of the particular land area. *To encourage urban and industrial growth in most suitable corridors and to discourage such growth in substantially undisturbed wetlands. *To assure that provision of long-term energy needs won't destroy the integrity of the coastal environment. CURRENT STATUS: A major thrust in Louisiana's third year of coastal program planning is redrafting of a coastal resources program statute for consideration by the 1977 Legislature. The state also will pass through funds to parishes to establish a planning capacity at that governmental level. At the same time, efforts are being made to explain the process of coastal resources management to the public and solicit comments and suggestions. In 1976, the legislature approved the State & Coastal Resources Management Act which designated the Louisiana Coastal Commission as an autonomous policy and decision-making body within the office of the governor. The 21-member LCC, headed by the director of the Wildlife & Fisheries Commission, was directed to recommend to the Legislature prior to March 1977 an act establishing the framework of a comprehensive state and local coastal management program for the state. The LCC is to disband in August 1978, unless legislatively extended. OCS oil and gas development study With state and federal funds authorized under the Coastal Zone Management Act, Louisiana is undertaking studies that will identify trends or development patterns that occur from oil and gas production on the outer continental shelf. The state will study existing procedures for controlling onshore impacts -- particularly in the Barataria/Lafourche area, develop parameters for assessing consequences of offshore development on individual parishes and define the size and scope of Louisiana's oil activity and its effect upon the environment and economy. The findings of these studies will be integrated into development of the state's coastal management program. Boundary identification For planning purposes, Louisiana's coastal area is comprised of the first and second tier coastal parishes. This area encompasses nearly 10-million acres of land of which nearly 8-million acres are wetlands. That represents more than 25% of the nation's wetlands. suggested a management boundary that approximates the five-foot contour except for the Atchafalya Basin where the boundary extends inland to the headwaters of the basin. For purposes of administrative ease, the boundary would be delineated in terms of those cultural features (range, township, parish or railroad lines) that most closely approximate the five-foot contour. New Orleans and Morgan City would fall within the management boundaries which are described in a report, "A Rationale for Determining Louisiana's Coastal Zone." Definition of permissible land and water uses Louisiana is moving toward a three-class system for defining permissible uses and the level of government that would serve as the primary management unit. Class 1 uses would involve major uses of wetlands or national or multi-parish interests. Management would be a state responsibility with some local input. Class 2 uses would involve wetlands uses affecting a single parish or dryland uses affecting coastal waters. Local governments would be encouraged to prepare a management program under state guidelines and to develop a permitting process for those uses. Class 3 uses would involve uses of local concern traditionally handled by local governments. An atlas has been prepared to guide decision-making there. Environmental characterization and use categories have been identified for the Barataria Basin as the result of a pilot study on oil and gas production there. During the third year of coastal program planning, environmental and use characterization will be completed for the remaining parts of the state, permissible uses will be reevaluated as to priority and area and management techniques will be formulated. Identification of geographic areas of particular concern Those areas not capable of being managed under the general management program process would be designated geographic areas of particular concern. Existing GAPCs are the 35 state-mandated wild and scenic rivers. Potential GAPCs would include the Atchafalya Basin and development corridors, although it is probable that the latter could be handled under the general management program. A process for designation of areas of particular concern has been stated in the proposed coastal management bill. Under that proposal, an inventory of possible CAPCs would be followed by a listing of areas by priority. The LCC would approve the areas and they would be regulated in line with LCC-approved guidelines. Similarly, standards and criteria for preservation and restoraareas will be established. Priority ranking for areas of preservation will be suggested, although recommendations can't be considered until the state inventory and use characterization is near completion. Public and governmental involvement In its mass communications effort, Louisiana has used brochures, television interviews, press announcements, slide shows, public meetings and workshops. The public participation effort that revolves bill and attempts to explain how the legislation would affect local governments. User groups are being contacted to discuss guidelines that are being formulated. The organizational network visualized by the draft bill is being explained to governmental bodies at different levels, as well as the public, planning agencies and port authorities. There will be an effort to transfer technology to the local level in order to assure development of a satisfactory local plan. Those parishes that already have plans will be advised as to the process for complying with state management guidelines. In the third year of program planning, attempts will be made to broaden public participation by greater use of mass media and use of the school system. An effort will be made to involve regional planning commissions in a coordination effort with those parishes under their jurisdiction. Materials will be prepared for legislative committees and hearings. A paper, "Coastal Zone Management & State-Local Relations under the Louisiana Constitution of 1974," addresses constitutional authority to implement coastal management and the authority of home rule charter governments and non-home rule charter governments and special districts. State-federal interaction and consideration of the national interest in facility siting Several federal agencies have substantial investments in the Louisiana coastal area primarily in wildlife refuges and flood control properties. The state has used the Southwest Federal Regional Council in its initial attempts to communicate with federal agencies. Under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Geolgical Survey, the State Planning Office generated a set of land ownership map overlays that include a listing of federal and state-owned lands in the 22-parish coastal study area. Expressions of the national interest can be made through use of the FRC as well as through an ad-hoc inter agency committee on coastal management. The state is soliciting nominations from federal agencies for areas of particular concern and an analysis of allowable and non-allowable uses on federal lands is being made. A paper, "Achieving Federal-State Coordination in Coastal Resources Management," has been completed. Organizational arrangements The draft coastal management bill sets up a system of cooperation and coordination with state and local level agencies as well as allowing input from user groups. The Coastal Resources Management Program established in the bill is assigned to the office of Coastal Resources Management in the Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries. Ten state agencies, four planning commissions, three special commissions and affected port authorities are suggested as members of an Interagency Advisory Committee. Local government involvement is outlined and provisions made for local control of local uses if the governing body has a stateapproved coastal management plan. A policy and appeals commission is composed of one half local representatives and one half representative |