Administrative grants

The Secretary may make grants to any coastal state for the purpose of administering that State’s management program, if the State matches any such grant according to the following ratios of Federal-to-State contributions for the applicable fiscal year: The Secretary may make a grant to a coastal state under subsection (a) only if the Secretary finds that the management program of the coastal state meets all applicable requirements of this chapter and has been approved in accordance with subsection (d). Grants under this section shall be allocated to coastal states with approved programs based on rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary which shall take into account the extent and nature of the shoreline and area covered by the program, population of the area, and other relevant factors. The Secretary shall establish, after consulting with the coastal states, maximum and minimum grants for any fiscal year to promote equity between coastal states and effective coastal management. Before approving a management program submitted by a coastal state, the Secretary shall find the following: The management program includes each of the following required program elements: The State has— coordinated its program with local, areawide, and interstate plans applicable to areas within the coastal zone— established an effective mechanism for continuing consultation and coordination between the management agency designated pursuant to paragraph (6) and with local governments, interstate agencies, regional agencies, and areawide agencies within the coastal zone to assure the full participation of those local governments and agencies in carrying out the purposes of this chapter; except that the Secretary shall not find any mechanism to be effective for purposes of this subparagraph unless it requires that— the management agency, if any comments are submitted to it within the 30-day period by any local government— The State, acting through its chosen agency or agencies (including local governments, areawide agencies, regional agencies, or interstate agencies) has authority for the management of the coastal zone in accordance with the management program. Such authority shall include power— The management program provides for any one or a combination of the following general techniques for control of land uses and water uses within the coastal zone: The management program provides for— A coastal state may amend or modify a management program which it has submitted and which has been approved by the Secretary under this section, subject to the following conditions: