A federal agency is reviewing the way California manages its coastline, potentially weakening the state’s role in decisions affecting its coastal resources.
On Tuesday, the California Natural Resources Agency held a webinar urging residents to submit comments in the federal review of its Coastal Management Program.
The review was ordered in May by the U.S. Department of Commerce and will be conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA is specifically requesting public input on issues including offshore oil production, pipeline maintenance, desalination projects, undersea cables, spaceport infrastructure and deep seabed mining. All are currently at the center of ongoing federal efforts to expand development along and offshore of California’s coast, according to a CNRA release.
“The state has the authority to review the federal administration’s recent proposals for offshore oil drilling in federal waters, which could start later this year and extend into 2027,” a CNRA statement said. “This federal audit could jeopardize California’s ability to review those proposals and leave the state with severely limited oversight.”
The last review was completed in 2024, making the Commerce Department’s decision to launch another review unusual.
California’s Coastal Management Program, established in 1978 under the federal Coastal Zone Management Act, is carried out by three state agencies — the California Coastal Commission, California State Coastal Conservancy and the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission.
“The Coastal Zone Management Act is really one of those seminal laws out there,” said Derek Brockbank, director of the Coastal States Organization, a nonprofit that represents 34 coastal states and territories with approved coastal zone management programs. He said the act was passed in 1972 alongside the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act and the Endangered Species Act, all of which were regulatory in nature.
“What the Coastal Zone Management Act said is that federal agencies and states shall coordinate and work together to co-manage our nation’s coastlines,” he said.
If the federal government wants to approve a permit, expand a military base or establish a national marine sanctuary, the state is allowed to review that action and provide comments.
For example, for the recent designation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary near San Luis Obispo, the Coastal Zone Management Act ensured state input.
“It’s not about stopping projects,” Brockbank said, adding that sustainable economic development is a core principle.
Kate Huckelbridge, executive director of the California Coastal Commission, said the law has always ensured respectful negotiated agreements between levels of government, with local communities having a chance to weigh in on what they want.
“In our 48-year history, the Coastal Commission has reviewed more than 3,700 federal actions, and in 96% of those cases, we have either negotiated improvements or approved a project as submitted,” Huckelbridge said.
The federal government can override the commission’s objection and move forward, but most of the time the review process helps the agencies find practical solutions, she said.
Brockbank is concerned that the scope of the sudden review could exceed what is allowed under the Coastal Zone Management Act.
“Any state could be concerned about having a federal review of their program done at any time,” he said.
The review process
After the public hearing, the federal government will issue a decision that could result in removing funding from California’s Coastal Management Program, Huckelbridge said. If that happens, officials must provide reasons and explain how the issues can be addressed, followed by public input and a final decision on certification of the program.
“In the Coastal Zone Management Act, it says there must be a written response by NOAA to every written comment submitted,” Brockbank said. “If you want to make sure that NOAA is doing their due diligence, submit an individual written comment and they have to respond.”
An in-person public hearing will be held Aug. 10 in Santa Monica. Virtual public meetings are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, with written comments accepted through Aug. 22. Registration information is available on the California Natural Resources Agency website.
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