Notice of Proposed Changes to the North Carolina Coastal Management Program

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PUBLIC & INTERESTED PARTIES NOTICE

Notice of Proposed Changes to the North Carolina Coastal Management Program

Pursuant to Session Law 2024-45

Notice of intended action: Pursuant to the federal Coastal Zone Management Act regulations (15 CFR §§923.80 – 923.84), The North Carolina Coastal Management Program (NCCMP) hereby provides notice that it is submitting a program change request to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office for Coastal Management (OCM).

Purpose of the notice: The Coastal Zone Management Act (15 C.F.R. §923.84) requires state Coastal Zone Management Programs to formally incorporate changes made to the laws, rules and policies that are used for Federal Consistency. These program changes affect the uses subject to management; however, they do not affect (1) special management areas; (2) boundaries; (3) authorities and organization or (4) coordination, public involvement and national interest components of the NCCMP. Upon concurrence by OCM, the policies below will be incorporated into the NCCMP.

Description of Change: Pursuant to Session Law 2024-45, the following constitutes a request by NCCMP for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office for Coastal Management (OCM) to concur in the incorporation of a Program Change (PC) regarding North Carolina's Session Law 2024-45 requirements. North Carolina’s federally-approved CMP includes, but is not limited to, the Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA, NC G.S. 113A-100 through 134); the State’s Dredge and Fill Law (NC G.S. 113-229); and Chapter 7 of Title 15A of North Carolina’s Administrative Code (NCAC). In compliance with Session Law 2024-45 the North Carolina's Coastal Resources Commission (CRC) is proposing to amend:

  • 15A NCAC 07J .0210 Replacement of Existing Structures Rule;
  • 15A NCAC 07H .0304 and 15A NCAC 07H .0305 Ocean Hazard Areas Measurement Line.

Additionally, Session Law 2024-45 amends the Coastal Area Management Act to:

  • exclude aquaculture from the definitions of "Development" ;
  • authorize the replacement of certain erosion control structures and to permit the construction of a terminal groin at the intersection of Frying Pan Shoals and the Atlantic Ocean.

The complete Session Law 2024-45 may be viewed online at: https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2023/Bills/Senate/PDF/S607v7.pdf with detailed Proposed Changes to the North Carolina Coastal Management Program outlined on pages 10 – 16.

How to Comment: Comments on these proposed program changes shall be submitted to OCM within 21 days following the date of publication of this notice. All comments should be submitted directly to NOAA Office of Coastal Management on NOAA’s Program Change website under file name NC-2024-1 at:

https://coast.noaa.gov/czmprogramchange/#/public/home .

Written hard copy comments may be submitted to Joelle Gore, Office for Coastal Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1305 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

For additional information, please contact: Daniel Govoni, North Carolina Division of Coastal Management, 400 Commerce Avenue, Morehead City, NC 28557. Telephone: 252-515-5435; email: Daniel.govoni@deq.nc.gov.