Sec. 502. Regional coordination

469 words·~2 min read·/bill/115/hr/4426/ih/section-502

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

The purpose of this subtitle is— to promote better coordination, communication, and collaboration between Federal agencies with authorities for ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes management; and to promote coordinated and collaborative regional planning efforts using the best available science in decisions affecting the sustainable development and use of Federal renewable and nonrenewable resources on, in, or above the ocean (including the Outer Continental Shelf) and the Great Lakes to ensure the protection and maintenance of marine ecosystem health and for the long-term economic and environmental benefit of the United States.

Such regional efforts shall achieve the following objectives: Greater systematic communication and coordination among Federal, coastal State, and affected tribal governments concerned with the conservation of and the sustainable development and use of Federal renewable and nonrenewable resources of the oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes. To the maximum extent feasible, greater reliance on a multiobjective, science- and ecosystem-based, spatially explicit management approach that integrates regional economic, ecological, affected tribal, and social objectives into ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes management decisions.

Identification and prioritization of shared State and Federal ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes management issues. Identification of data and information needed by the Regional Coordination Councils established under section 503. There are hereby designated the following Coordination Regions: The Pacific Coordination Region, which shall consist of the coastal waters and Exclusive Economic Zone adjacent to the States of Washington, Oregon, and California. The Gulf of Mexico Coordination Region, which shall consist of the coastal waters and Exclusive Economic Zone adjacent to the States of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, and the west coast of Florida.

The North Atlantic Coordination Region, which shall consist of the coastal waters and Exclusive Economic Zone adjacent to the States of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. The Mid Atlantic Coordination Region, which shall consist of the coastal waters and Exclusive Economic Zone adjacent to the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. The South Atlantic Coordination Region, which shall consist of the coastal waters and Exclusive Economic Zone adjacent to the States of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, the east coast of Florida, and the Straits of Florida Planning Area.

The Alaska Coordination Region, which shall consist of the coastal waters and Exclusive Economic Zone adjacent to the State of Alaska. The Pacific Islands Coordination Region, which shall consist of the coastal waters and Exclusive Economic Zone adjacent to the State of Hawaii, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and Guam. The Caribbean Coordination Region, which shall consist of the coastal waters and Exclusive Economic Zone adjacent to Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands.

The Great Lakes Coordination Region, which shall consist of waters of the Great Lakes in the States of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.