CSHB 191(FIN): "An Act relating to the Alaska coastal management program and to policies and procedures for consistency reviews and the rendering of consistency determinations under that program; eliminating the Alaska Coastal Policy Council; annulling certain regulations relating to the Alaska coastal management program; and providing for an effective date."
00 CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 191(FIN) 01 "An Act relating to the Alaska coastal management program and to policies and 02 procedures for consistency reviews and the rendering of consistency determinations 03 under that program; eliminating the Alaska Coastal Policy Council; annulling certain 04 regulations relating to the Alaska coastal management program; and providing for an 05 effective date." 06 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 07 * Section 1. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section 08 to read: 09 FINDINGS. The legislature finds that 10 (1) the Alaska coastal management program (ACMP) is intended to function 11 with a minimum of delay and avoid regulatory confusion, costly litigation, and uncertainty 12 regarding the feasibility of new investment; 13 (2) there is a need to update and reform the existing statewide standards of the
01 ACMP so that they are clear and concise and provide needed predictability as to the 02 applicability, scope, and timing of the consistency review process under the program; 03 (3) there is a need to update and reform the district coastal management plans 04 under the ACMP so that the local enforceable policies within those plans are clear and 05 concise, provide greater uniformity in coastal management throughout the state, relate to 06 matters of local concern, and do not duplicate state and federal requirements; 07 (4) the state has chosen not to enact legislation similar to 42 U.S.C. 4321 - 08 4370f (National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended) and, in furtherance of the 09 legislative findings expressed in sec. 1(7), ch. 38, SLA 1994, the ACMP is not intended to 10 take the place of such a program; 11 (5) to achieve these goals, statutory reform is needed; and 12 (6) to implement these needed reforms at the administrative level, it is in the 13 best interest of the state for the development and implementation of the ACMP to be 14 transferred from the Alaska Coastal Policy Council to the Department of Natural Resources. 15 * Sec. 2. AS 38.05.825(a) is amended to read: 16 (a) Unless the commissioner finds that the public interest in retaining state 17 ownership of the land clearly outweighs the municipality's interest in obtaining the 18 land, the commissioner shall convey to a municipality tide or submerged land 19 requested by the municipality that is occupied or suitable for occupation and 20 development if the 21 (1) land is within or contiguous to the boundaries of the municipality; 22 (2) use of the land would not unreasonably interfere with navigation or 23 public access; 24 (3) municipality has applied to the commissioner for conveyance of the 25 land under this section; 26 (4) land is not subject to a shore fisheries lease under AS 38.05.082, 27 or, if the land is subject to a shore fisheries lease, the commissioner determines it is in 28 the best interests of the state to convey the land; 29 (5) land is classified for waterfront development or for another use that 30 is consistent or compatible with the use proposed by the municipality, or the proposed 31 use of the land is consistent or compatible with a land use plan adopted by the
01 municipality or [,] the department [, OR THE ALASKA COASTAL POLICY 02 COUNCIL]; and 03 (6) land 04 (A) is required for the accomplishment of a public or private 05 development approved by the municipality; 06 (B) is the subject of a lease from the state to the municipality; 07 or 08 (C) has been approved for lease to the municipality. 09 * Sec. 3. AS 44.33.781 is amended to read: 10 Sec. 44.33.781. Planning assistance for development and maintenance of 11 district coastal management plans [PROGRAMS]. The department shall conduct a 12 program of research, training, and technical assistance to coastal resource districts 13 necessary for the development, [AND] implementation, and maintenance of district 14 coastal management plans [PROGRAMS] under AS 46.40. The technical assistance 15 shall include the direct granting to the coastal resource districts of a portion of any 16 funds received by the state from the federal coastal zone management program, in 17 amounts to be individually determined for each coastal resource district by the 18 commissioner of community and economic development. State agencies shall assist 19 the department in carrying out the purposes of this section. 20 * Sec. 4. AS 44.62.800(1) is amended to read: 21 (1) "agency" means a department, an institution, or a division or other 22 administrative unit of the executive branch of state government authorized or required 23 by law to make regulations, except that "agency" does not include 24 (A) a board, [;] a commission; [;] a council, [EXCEPT THE 25 ALASKA COASTAL POLICY COUNCIL ESTABLISHED IN 26 AS 46.39.020;] an authority, [;] or a public corporation of the executive branch 27 of state government authorized or required by law to make regulations; or 28 (B) the Department of Corrections; 29 * Sec. 5. AS 46.39.010 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 30 (c) The department may adopt regulations necessary to implement this 31 chapter.
01 * Sec. 6. AS 46.39.030 is amended to read: 02 Sec. 46.39.030. Powers of the department [COUNCIL]. The department 03 [COUNCIL] may 04 (1) apply for and accept grants, contributions, and appropriations, 05 including application for and acceptance of federal funds that may become available 06 for coastal planning and management; 07 (2) contract for necessary services; 08 (3) consult and cooperate with 09 (A) persons, organizations, and groups, public or private, 10 interested in, affected by, or concerned with coastal area planning and 11 management; 12 (B) agents and officials of the coastal resource districts of the 13 state, and federal and state agencies concerned with or having jurisdiction over 14 coastal planning and management; 15 (4) take any reasonable action necessary to carry out the provisions of 16 this chapter or AS 46.40 [AS 46.39.020 - 46.39.050]. 17 * Sec. 7. AS 46.39.040 is amended to read: 18 Sec. 46.39.040. Duties of the department [COUNCIL]. In conformity with 19 16 U.S.C. 1451-1464 (Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972), as amended, the 20 department [COUNCIL] shall 21 (1) [THROUGH THE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS AND THE 22 RECORDING OF THE MINUTES OF THE HEARINGS,] develop statewide 23 [GUIDELINES AND] standards for the Alaska coastal management program, and 24 criteria for the preparation [OF,] and approval of district coastal management 25 plans [APPROVE,] in accordance with AS 46.40 [, THE ALASKA COASTAL 26 MANAGEMENT PROGRAM]; 27 (2) establish continuing coordination among state agencies to facilitate 28 the development and implementation of the Alaska coastal management program; in 29 carrying out its duties under this paragraph, the department [COUNCIL] shall initiate 30 an interagency program of comprehensive coastal resource planning for each 31 geographic region of the state [DESCRIBED IN AS 46.39.020(a)(1)];
01 (3) assure continued provision of data and information to coastal 02 resource districts to carry out their planning and management functions under the 03 program. 04 * Sec. 8. AS 46.40.010 is amended to read: 05 Sec. 46.40.010. Development of Alaska coastal management program. (a) 06 The department [ALASKA COASTAL POLICY COUNCIL ESTABLISHED IN 07 AS 46.39.020] shall approve, in accordance with this chapter, the Alaska coastal 08 management program. 09 (b) The department [COUNCIL] may approve the Alaska coastal 10 management program for a portion or portions of the coastal area before approving the 11 complete program under (a) of this section. Portions of the program approved under 12 this subsection shall be incorporated into the Alaska coastal management program. 13 (c) The Alaska coastal management program shall be reviewed by the 14 department [COUNCIL] and, when appropriate, revised to 15 (1) add newly approved district coastal management plans 16 [PROGRAMS], or revisions and amendments to the Alaska coastal management 17 program; 18 (2) integrate newly approved district coastal management plans 19 [PROGRAMS], or revisions and amendments of district coastal management plans 20 [PROGRAMS], with existing approved plans [PROGRAMS] and with plans 21 developed by state agencies; 22 (3) add new or revised state statutes, policies, regulations, or other 23 appropriate material; 24 (4) review the effectiveness of implementation of district coastal 25 management plans [PROGRAMS]; and 26 (5) consider new information acquired by the state and coastal resource 27 districts. 28 (d) All reviews and revisions shall be in accordance with the statewide 29 [GUIDELINES AND] standards and district plan criteria adopted [BY THE 30 COUNCIL] under AS 46.40.040. 31 * Sec. 9. AS 46.40.030 is amended to read:
01 Sec. 46.40.030. Development of district coastal management plans 02 [PROGRAMS]. (a) Coastal resource districts shall develop and adopt district coastal 03 management plans [PROGRAMS] in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. 04 The plan [PROGRAM] adopted by a coastal resource district shall be based upon a 05 municipality's existing comprehensive plan or a new comprehensive resource use plan 06 or comprehensive statement of needs, policies, objectives, and standards governing the 07 use of resources within the coastal area of the district. The plan [PROGRAM] must 08 meet [BE CONSISTENT WITH] the statewide [GUIDELINES AND] standards and 09 district plan criteria adopted [BY THE COUNCIL] under AS 46.40.040 and must 10 include 11 (1) a delineation within the district of the boundaries of the coastal area 12 subject to the district coastal management plan [PROGRAM]; 13 (2) a statement, list, or definition of the land and water uses and 14 activities subject to the district coastal management plan [PROGRAM]; 15 (3) a statement of policies to be applied to the land and water uses 16 subject to the district coastal management plan [PROGRAM]; 17 (4) [ REGULATIONS, AS APPROPRIATE, TO BE APPLIED TO 18 THE LAND AND WATER USES SUBJECT TO THE DISTRICT COASTAL 19 MANAGEMENT PROGRAM; 20 (5)] a description of the uses and activities which will be considered 21 proper and the uses and activities which will be considered improper with respect to 22 the land and water within the coastal area; 23 [(6) A SUMMARY OR STATEMENT OF THE POLICIES WHICH 24 WILL BE APPLIED AND THE PROCEDURES WHICH WILL BE USED TO 25 DETERMINE WHETHER SPECIFIC PROPOSALS FOR LAND OR WATER USES 26 OR ACTIVITIES SHALL BE ALLOWED;] and 27 (5) [(7)] a designation of, and the policies which will be applied to the 28 use of, areas within the coastal resource district which merit special attention. 29 (b) In developing enforceable policies in its coastal management plan 30 [STATEMENTS OF POLICIES AND REGULATIONS] under (a) of this section, a 31 coastal resource district shall meet the requirements of AS 46.40.070, and may not
01 duplicate, restate, or incorporate by reference statutes and administrative regulations 02 adopted by state or federal agencies. 03 * Sec. 10. AS 46.40.040 is amended to read: 04 Sec. 46.40.040. Statewide standards and district plan criteria [DUTIES 05 OF THE ALASKA COASTAL POLICY COUNCIL]. Except as provided in (b) 06 of this section and AS 41.17, the department [THROUGH THE PUBLIC 07 HEARING PROCESS AND THE RECORDING OF THE MINUTES OF THE 08 HEARINGS, THE ALASKA COASTAL POLICY COUNCIL] shall 09 (1) by regulation, adopt under the provisions of AS 44.62 10 (Administrative Procedure Act) for the use of and application by coastal resource 11 districts and state agencies for carrying out their responsibilities under this chapter, 12 statewide [GUIDELINES AND] standards and district coastal management plan 13 criteria for 14 (A) identifying the boundaries of the coastal area subject to the 15 Alaska [DISTRICT] coastal management program; 16 (B) determining the land and water uses and activities subject 17 to the Alaska [DISTRICT] coastal management program; 18 (C) developing policies applicable to the land and water uses 19 subject to the Alaska [DISTRICT] coastal management program; 20 (D) developing regulations applicable to the land and water 21 uses subject to the Alaska [DISTRICT] coastal management program; 22 (E) developing policies and procedures to determine whether 23 specific proposals for the land and water uses or activities subject to the 24 Alaska [DISTRICT] coastal management program shall be allowed; 25 (F) designating and developing policies for the use of areas of 26 the coast which merit special attention; and 27 (G) measuring the progress of a coastal resource district in 28 meeting its responsibilities under this chapter; 29 (2) develop and maintain a program of technical and financial 30 assistance to aid coastal resource districts in the development and implementation of 31 district coastal management plans [PROGRAMS];
01 (3) undertake review and approval of district coastal management 02 plans [PROGRAMS] in accordance with this chapter; 03 (4) initiate a process for identifying and managing uses of state 04 concern within specific areas of the coast; 05 (5) develop procedures or guidelines for consultation and coordination 06 with federal agencies managing land or conducting activities potentially affecting the 07 coastal area of the state; 08 (6) by regulation, establish a consistency review and determination or 09 certification process that conforms to the requirements of AS 46.40.096. 10 * Sec. 11. AS 46.40.040 is amended by adding new subsections to read: 11 (b) AS 46.03, AS 46.04, AS 46.09, AS 46.14, and the regulations adopted 12 under those statutes constitute the exclusive enforceable policies of the Alaska coastal 13 management program for those purposes. For those purposes only, 14 (1) the issuance of permits, certifications, approvals, and 15 authorizations by the Department of Environmental Conservation establishes 16 consistency with the Alaska coastal management program for those activities of a 17 proposed project subject to those permits, certifications, approvals, and authorizations; 18 (2) for a consistency review of an activity that does not require a 19 Department of Environmental Conservation permit, certification, approval, or 20 authorization because the activity is a federal activity or the activity is located on 21 federal lands or the federal outer continental shelf, consistency with AS 46.03, 22 AS 46.04, AS 46.09, and AS 46.14 and the regulations adopted under those statutes 23 shall be established on the basis of whether the Department of Environmental 24 Conservation finds that the activity satisfies the requirements of those statutes and 25 regulations. 26 (c) For a consistency review described in (b)(2) of this section, the 27 department, in addition to its review under AS 46.40.096 of all other enforceable 28 policies applicable to the project, shall coordinate with the Department of 29 Environmental Conservation and issue the Department of Environmental 30 Conservation's finding of whether the activity satisfies the requirements of the statutes 31 and regulations described in (b)(2) of this section.
01 * Sec. 12. AS 46.40.050 is repealed and reenacted to read: 02 Sec. 46.40.050. Submission of district plans by coastal resource districts. 03 (a) A coastal resource district must review and resubmit its coastal management plan 04 for reapproval every 10 years after its approval by the department under 05 AS 46.40.060. 06 (b) Within 30 months after certification of the organization of a new coastal 07 resource district, the coastal resource district shall complete and submit to the 08 department a proposed district coastal management plan. If, after receipt of a written 09 request for extension from the coastal resource district, the department considers an 10 extension proper, the department may grant an extension to a date that is within 54 11 months after certification of the results of the coastal resource district's organization. 12 A request under this subsection must include the reasons for the extension. 13 * Sec. 13. AS 46.40.060 is amended to read: 14 Sec. 46.40.060. Review and approval by the department [COUNCIL]. (a) 15 If, upon submission of a district coastal management plan [PROGRAM] for approval, 16 the department [COUNCIL] finds that the plan meets [PROGRAM IS 17 SUBSTANTIALLY CONSISTENT WITH] the provisions of this chapter and the 18 statewide [GUIDELINES AND] standards and district plan criteria adopted by the 19 department [COUNCIL] and does not arbitrarily or unreasonably restrict or exclude 20 uses of state concern, the department [COUNCIL] may approve [GRANT 21 SUMMARY APPROVAL OF] the district coastal management plan [PROGRAM], or 22 may approve portions of the district plan that meet those requirements [PROGRAM 23 WHICH ARE CONSISTENT]. 24 (b) If the department [COUNCIL] finds that a district coastal management 25 plan [PROGRAM] is not approvable or is approvable only in part under (a) of this 26 section, it shall direct that deficiencies in the plan [PROGRAM] submitted by the 27 coastal resource district be mediated. In mediating the deficiencies, the department 28 [COUNCIL] may call for one or more public hearings in the district. The department 29 [COUNCIL] shall meet with officials of the coastal resource district in order to resolve 30 differences. 31 (c) If, after mediation, the differences have not been resolved [TO THE
01 MUTUAL AGREEMENT OF THE COASTAL RESOURCE DISTRICT AND THE 02 COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL SHALL CALL FOR A PUBLIC HEARING AND 03 SHALL RESOLVE THE DIFFERENCES IN ACCORDANCE WITH AS 44.62 04 (ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE ACT). AFTER A PUBLIC HEARING HELD 05 UNDER THIS SUBSECTION], the department [COUNCIL] shall enter findings 06 and, by order, may require 07 (1) that the district coastal management plan [PROGRAM] be 08 amended to satisfy [MAKE IT CONSISTENT WITH] the provisions of this chapter 09 or meet the statewide [GUIDELINES AND] standards and district plan criteria 10 adopted by the department [COUNCIL]; 11 (2) that the district coastal management plan [PROGRAM] be revised 12 to accommodate a use of state concern; or 13 (3) any other action be taken by the coastal resource district as 14 appropriate. 15 (d) The superior courts of the state have jurisdiction to enforce orders of the 16 department [COUNCIL] entered under (c) of this section. 17 * Sec. 14. AS 46.40.070 is repealed and reenacted to read: 18 Sec. 46.40.070. Requirements for department review and approval. (a) 19 The department shall approve a district coastal management plan submitted for review 20 and approval if 21 (1) the district coastal management plan meets the requirements of this 22 chapter and the statewide standards and district plan criteria adopted by the 23 department; and 24 (2) the enforceable policies of the district coastal management plan 25 (A) are clear and concise as to the activities and persons 26 affected by the policies, and the requirements of the policies; 27 (B) use precise, prescriptive, and enforceable language; and 28 (C) do not address a matter regulated or authorized by state or 29 federal law unless the enforceable policies relate specifically to a matter of 30 local concern; for purposes of this subparagraph, "matter of local concern" 31 means a specific coastal use or resource within a defined portion of the
01 district's coastal zone, that is 02 (i) demonstrated as sensitive to development; 03 (ii) not adequately addressed by state or federal law; 04 and 05 (iii) of unique concern to the coastal resource district as 06 demonstrated by local usage or scientific evidence. 07 (b) A decision by the department under this section shall be given within 90 08 days after submission of the district coastal management plan to the department. 09 * Sec. 15. AS 46.40.090 is amended to read: 10 Sec. 46.40.090. Implementation of district coastal management plans 11 [PROGRAMS]. (a) A district coastal management plan [PROGRAM] approved 12 under this chapter [BY THE COUNCIL AND THE LEGISLATURE] for a coastal 13 resource district that [WHICH] does not have and exercise zoning or other controls on 14 the use of resources within the coastal area shall be implemented by appropriate state 15 agencies as provided in AS 46.40.096. Implementation shall be in accordance with 16 the comprehensive use plan or the statement of needs, policies, objectives, and 17 standards adopted by the district. 18 (b) A coastal resource district that [WHICH] has and exercises zoning or 19 other controls on the use of resources within the coastal area shall implement its 20 district coastal management plan [PROGRAM]. Implementation shall be in 21 accordance with the comprehensive use plan or the statement of needs, policies, 22 objectives, and standards adopted by the district. 23 * Sec. 16. AS 46.40.094(a) is amended to read: 24 (a) The provisions of this section apply to a use or activity for which a 25 consistency determination is required if 26 (1) at the time the proposed use or activity is initiated, there is 27 insufficient information to evaluate and render a consistency determination for the 28 entirety of the proposed use or activity; 29 (2) the proposed use or activity is capable of proceeding in discrete 30 phases based upon developing information that was not available to the project 31 applicant at the time of the previous [OBTAINED IN THE COURSE OF A] phase;
01 and 02 (3) each subsequent phase of the proposed use or activity is subject to 03 discretion to implement alternative decisions based upon the developing information. 04 * Sec. 17. AS 46.40.096(a) is amended to read: 05 (a) The department [COUNCIL] shall, by regulation, establish a consistency 06 review and determination process that conforms to the requirements of this section. 07 * Sec. 18. AS 46.40.096(b) is amended to read: 08 (b) If a consistency review is not subject to AS 46.39.010 because the project 09 for which a consistency review is made requires a permit, lease, or authorization from 10 only one state resource agency, that state resource agency shall coordinate the 11 consistency review of the project. The state resource agency shall coordinate the 12 consistency review according to the requirements of the regulations adopted by the 13 department [COUNCIL] under this section. 14 * Sec. 19. AS 46.40.096(c) is amended to read: 15 (c) The regulations adopted by the department [COUNCIL] under this 16 section must include provisions for public notice and provide the opportunity for 17 public comment. The regulations adopted under this subsection may make 18 distinctions relating to notice based upon differences in project type, anticipated effect 19 of the project on coastal resources and uses, other state or federal notice requirements, 20 and time constraints. However, a notice given under this subsection must contain 21 sufficient information, expressed in commonly understood terms, to inform the public 22 of the nature of the proposed project for which a consistency determination is sought, 23 and must explain how the public may comment on the proposed project. 24 * Sec. 20. AS 46.40.096(d) is amended to read: 25 (d) In preparing a consistency review and determination for a proposed 26 project, the reviewing entity shall 27 (1) request consistency review comments for the proposed project 28 from state resource agencies, affected coastal resource districts, and other affected 29 [INTERESTED] parties as determined by regulation adopted by the department 30 [COUNCIL]; 31 (2) prepare proposed consistency determinations;
01 (3) coordinate subsequent reviews of proposed consistency 02 determinations prepared under (2) of this subsection; a subsequent review of a 03 proposed consistency determination under this paragraph 04 (A) is limited to a review by the department [STATE 05 RESOURCE AGENCIES]; [AND] 06 (B) may occur only if requested by 07 (i) the project applicant; 08 (ii) a state resource agency; or 09 (iii) an affected coastal resource district; and 10 (C) shall be completed by the department within 45 days 11 after the initial request for subsequent review under this paragraph; 12 (4) render the final consistency determination and certification. 13 * Sec. 21. AS 46.40.096(g) is amended to read: 14 (g) The reviewing entity shall [MAY] exclude from the consistency review 15 and determination process for a project 16 (1) an activity that 17 (A) is authorized under a general or nationwide permit that has 18 previously been determined to be consistent with the Alaska [APPLICABLE] 19 coastal management program [PROGRAMS]; or 20 (B) is subject to authorization by the Department of 21 Environmental Conservation under the requirements described in 22 AS 46.40.040(b); 23 (2) activities excluded from a consistency review under AS 41.17; 24 and 25 (3) the issuance of an authorization or permit issued by the Alaska Oil 26 and Gas Conservation Commission. 27 * Sec. 22. AS 46.40.096 is amended by adding new subsections to read: 28 (i) For purposes of those activities of a proposed project that are subject to 29 (g)(1)(B) of this section, the consistency of those activities is determined by the 30 issuance of the applicable permits, certifications, approvals, and authorizations by the 31 Department of Environmental Conservation.
01 (j) Except as provided in (g) of this section, AS 41.17, AS 46.40.040(b), 16 02 U.S.C. 1456, and 15 C.F.R. Part 930, a consistency review of a project under this 03 section is triggered by an activity within the areas described in (l) of this section that is 04 subject to a state resource agency permit, lease, authorization, approval, or 05 certification. 06 (k) Except as provided in (g) of this section, AS 41.17, AS 46.40.040(b), and 07 AS 46.40.094, the scope of a consistency review of a project, once triggered under (j) 08 of this section, is limited to activities that are located within the areas described in (l) 09 of this section and that either are subject to a state resource agency permit, lease, 10 authorization, approval, or certification or are the subject of a coastal resource district 11 enforceable policy approved by the department under this chapter. The scope of a 12 consistency review subject to 16 U.S.C. 1456 is determined under 16 U.S.C. 1456 and 13 15 C.F.R. Part 930. 14 (l) The regulations adopted under (a) of this section apply, as authorized by 16 15 U.S.C. 1456(c), to 16 (1) activities within the coastal zone; and 17 (2) activities on federal lands, including the federal outer continental 18 shelf, that would affect any land or water use or natural resource of the state's coastal 19 zone; for purposes of this paragraph those activities consist of any activity on the 20 federal outer continental shelf and any activity on federal lands that are within the 21 geographic boundaries of the state's coastal zone notwithstanding the exclusion of 22 federal lands in 16 U.S.C. 1453(l). 23 (m) As part of the regulations adopted under (a) of this section, the department 24 shall establish a list of permits, certifications, leases, approvals, and authorizations 25 issued by a state resource or federal agency that will trigger a consistency review 26 under (j) of this section. In addition, the department shall establish in regulation 27 categories and descriptions of uses and activities that, for purposes of evaluating 28 consistency with the Alaska coastal management program, are determined to be 29 categorically consistent or generally consistent after the inclusion of standard 30 alternative measures. These categories of uses and activities must be as broad as 31 possible so as to minimize the number of projects that must undergo an individualized
01 consistency review under this section. 02 (n) Except as provided in (o) of this section, a consistency review under this 03 section shall be completed within 90 days after the receipt of a complete application 04 by the state. If a consistency review is not completed by the time specified in this 05 subsection, the activity subject to review is conclusively presumed consistent. 06 (o) The time limitations in (n) of this section 07 (1) do not apply to a consistency review involving the disposal of an 08 interest in state land or resources; 09 (2) are suspended 10 (A) from the time the reviewing entity determines that the 11 applicant has not adequately responded in writing within 14 days after the 12 receipt of a written request from the reviewing entity for additional 13 information, until the time the reviewing entity determines that the applicant 14 has provided an adequate written response; 15 (B) during a period of time requested by the applicant; 16 (C) during the period of time a consistency review is 17 undergoing a subsequent review under (d)(3) of this section. 18 (p) A consistency review and determination for those activities of a project not 19 excluded under (g) of this section may not be delayed or withheld pending issuance of 20 the permits, certifications, approvals, and authorizations referred to in (g) of this 21 section but shall proceed regardless of the status of those permits, certifications, 22 approvals, and authorizations. 23 * Sec. 23. AS 46.40.100(a) is amended to read: 24 (a) As provided in AS 46.40.090 and 46.40.096, municipalities 25 [MUNICIPALITIES] and state resource agencies shall administer land and water use 26 regulations or controls in conformity with district coastal management plans 27 [PROGRAMS] approved under this chapter [BY THE COUNCIL] and in effect. 28 * Sec. 24. AS 46.40.100(b) is amended to read: 29 (b) A party that is authorized under (g) of this section may file a petition 30 showing that a district coastal management plan [PROGRAM] is not being 31 implemented. A petition filed under this subsection may not seek review of a
01 proposed or final consistency determination regarding a specific project. On receipt of 02 a petition, the department [COUNCIL], after giving public notice in the manner 03 required by (f) of this section, shall convene a hearing to consider the matter. A 04 hearing called under this subsection shall be held in accordance with regulations 05 adopted under this chapter [BY THE COUNCIL]. After hearing, the department 06 [COUNCIL] may order that the coastal resource district or a state resource agency 07 take any action with respect to future implementation of the district coastal 08 management plan [PROGRAM] that the department [COUNCIL] considers 09 necessary, except that the department [COUNCIL] may not order that the coastal 10 resource district or a state agency take any action with respect to a proposed or final 11 consistency determination that has been issued. 12 * Sec. 25. AS 46.40.100(c) is amended to read: 13 (c) In determining whether an approved district coastal management plan 14 [PROGRAM] is being implemented by a coastal resource district that exercises zoning 15 authority or controls on the use of resources within the coastal area or by a state 16 resource agency, the department [COUNCIL] shall find in favor of the district or the 17 state resource agency, unless the department [COUNCIL] finds a pattern of 18 nonimplementation. 19 * Sec. 26. AS 46.40.100(e) is amended to read: 20 (e) The superior courts of the state have jurisdiction to enforce lawful orders 21 of the department under this chapter [COUNCIL]. 22 * Sec. 27. AS 46.40.100(f) is amended to read: 23 (f) Upon receipt of a petition under (b) of this section, the department 24 [COUNCIL] shall give notice of the hearing at least 10 days before the scheduled date 25 of the hearing. The notice must 26 (1) contain sufficient information in commonly understood terms to 27 inform the public of the nature of the petition; and 28 (2) indicate the manner in which the public may comment on the 29 petition. 30 * Sec. 28. AS 46.40.100(h) is amended to read: 31 (h) If the department [COUNCIL] finds a pattern of nonimplementation
01 under (c) of this section, the department [COUNCIL] may order a coastal resource 02 district or a state resource agency to take action with respect to future implementation 03 of the district coastal management plan [PROGRAM] that the department 04 [COUNCIL] considers necessary to implement the district coastal management plan 05 [PROGRAM]. The department's [COUNCIL'S] determination under (c) of this 06 section and any order issued under this subsection shall be considered a final 07 administrative order for purposes of judicial review under AS 44.62.560. 08 * Sec. 29. AS 46.40.110 is repealed and reenacted to read: 09 Sec. 46.40.110. Authority in the unorganized borough. A coastal resource 10 service area in the unorganized borough organized under AS 29.03.020 and 11 AS 46.40.110 - 46.40.180 before the effective date of this bill section shall exercise 12 those authorities and perform those duties required under this chapter. 13 * Sec. 30. AS 46.40.140(a) is amended to read: 14 (a) Each coastal resource service area [, UPON ORGANIZATION,] shall have 15 an elected board representing the population of the service area. The board shall have 16 the powers and duties and perform the functions prescribed for or required of coastal 17 resource districts. 18 * Sec. 31. AS 46.40.140(d) is amended to read: 19 (d) The term of office of a member of a coastal resource service area board is 20 three years [, EXCEPT THAT THE TERMS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE FIRST 21 BOARD ELECTED AFTER ORGANIZATION OF A COASTAL RESOURCE 22 SERVICE AREA SHALL BE DETERMINED BY LOT, WITH TWO MEMBERS 23 SERVING ONE-YEAR TERMS, TWO MEMBERS SERVING TWO-YEAR 24 TERMS, AND THREE MEMBERS SERVING THREE-YEAR TERMS.] Members 25 serve until their successors are elected and have qualified. This section does not 26 prohibit the reelection of a board member. 27 * Sec. 32. AS 46.40.140(e) is amended to read: 28 (e) The lieutenant governor shall provide for the election of the members of 29 coastal resource service area boards. [THE FIRST ELECTION OF BOARD 30 MEMBERS SHALL OCCUR AT THE SAME TIME AS THE ORGANIZATION 31 ELECTION UNDER AS 46.40.130(b)].
01 * Sec. 33. AS 46.40.140(f) is amended to read: 02 (f) Election [EXCEPT FOR THE FIRST ELECTION] of members of coastal 03 resource service area boards [, ELECTIONS] shall be held annually on the date of 04 election of members of regional educational attendance area boards under 05 AS 14.08.071(b). [FOR AN ELECTION UNDER THIS SUBSECTION OR UNDER 06 (e) OF THIS SECTION, A NEWLY ELECTED BOARD MEMBER TAKES 07 OFFICE AT THE FIRST COASTAL RESOURCE SERVICE AREA BOARD 08 MEETING AFTER CERTIFICATION OF THE ELECTION.] If no candidate files for 09 election to a seat on the coastal resource service area board, the seat is considered 10 vacant at the time a newly elected member would have taken office. 11 * Sec. 34. AS 46.40.150 is amended to read: 12 Sec. 46.40.150. Elections in coastal resource service areas. Elections 13 [ORGANIZATION ELECTIONS] under AS 46.40.110 - 46.40.180 [AS 46.40.130 14 AND OTHER ELECTIONS, INCLUDING RECALL ELECTIONS CONDUCTED 15 UNDER AS 46.40.140,] shall be administered by the lieutenant governor in the 16 general manner provided in AS 15 (Election Code). In addition, the lieutenant 17 governor may adopt regulations necessary to the conduct of coastal resource service 18 area board elections. The state shall pay all election costs. 19 * Sec. 35. AS 46.40.180(a) is amended to read: 20 (a) Before adoption by a coastal resource service area board, [OR BY THE 21 DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UNDER 22 AS 46.40.170,] a district coastal management plan [PROGRAM] shall be submitted 23 for review to each city or village within the coastal resource service area. The council 24 of a city or traditional village council shall consider the plan [PROGRAM] submitted 25 for review. Within 60 days of submission, the council of a city or traditional village 26 council shall either approve the plan [PROGRAM] or enter objections to all or any 27 portion of the plan [PROGRAM]. 28 * Sec. 36. AS 46.40.180(b) is amended to read: 29 (b) If a city or village within a coastal resource service area fails to approve a 30 portion of the district coastal management plan [PROGRAM] prepared and submitted 31 for approval under (a) of this section, the governing body shall advise the coastal
01 resource service area board [OR THE DEPARTMENT, AS APPLICABLE,] of its 02 objections to the proposed plan [PROGRAM] and suggest alternative elements or 03 components for inclusion in the district coastal management plan [PROGRAM]. New 04 matter submitted by a city or village which meets [IS SUBSTANTIALLY 05 CONSISTENT WITH] the statewide [GUIDELINES AND] standards and district 06 plan criteria adopted under this chapter [BY THE COUNCIL] shall be accepted 07 and the district coastal management plan [PROGRAM] modified accordingly. If a 08 city or village fails to provide objections and suggested alternatives within the time 09 limits established in this section, the coastal resource service area board [OR THE 10 DEPARTMENT, AS APPLICABLE,] may adopt the district coastal management 11 plan [PROGRAM] as initially offered. 12 * Sec. 37. AS 46.40.180(c) is amended to read: 13 (c) Objection by a city council under (b) of this section is limited to objection 14 to elements of the plan [PROGRAM] affecting resources or the use of resources 15 within the corporate limits of the city. Objection by a traditional village council under 16 (b) of this section is limited to objection to elements of the plan [PROGRAM] 17 affecting resources or the use of resources within the village or within two miles of the 18 village. 19 * Sec. 38. AS 46.40 is amended by adding a new section to read: 20 Sec. 46.40.195. Construction with other laws. Nothing in this chapter shall 21 be construed to 22 (1) diminish state jurisdiction, responsibility, or rights in the field of 23 planning, development, or control of land or water resources, submerged lands, or 24 navigable waters; 25 (2) affect in any way any state requirement imposed under a federal 26 authorization or federal waiver of sovereign immunity; or 27 (3) diminish the zoning or planning authority of municipalities under 28 AS 29. 29 * Sec. 39. AS 46.40.210(2) is amended to read: 30 (2) "coastal resource district" means each of the following that 31 contains a portion of the coastal area of the state:
01 (A) unified municipalities; 02 (B) organized boroughs of any class that exercise planning and 03 zoning authority; 04 (C) home rule and first class cities of the unorganized borough 05 or within boroughs that do not exercise planning and zoning authority; 06 (D) second class cities of the unorganized borough, or within 07 boroughs that do not exercise planning and zoning authority, that have 08 established a planning commission, and that, in the opinion of the 09 commissioner of community and economic development, have the capability 10 of preparing and implementing a comprehensive district coastal management 11 plan [PROGRAM] under AS 46.40.030; 12 (E) coastal resource service areas established and organized 13 under AS 29.03.020 and AS 46.40.110 - 46.40.180; 14 * Sec. 40. AS 46.40.210(3) is amended to read: 15 (3) "consistency review" means the evaluation of a proposed project, 16 the scope of which is determined under AS 46.40.094 and 46.40.096, against the 17 statewide standards adopted [BY THE COUNCIL] under AS 46.40.040 for those 18 evaluations and the enforceable policies in an applicable [A] district coastal 19 management plan [PROGRAM] approved [BY THE COUNCIL] under 20 AS 46.40.060; 21 * Sec. 41. AS 46.40.210(5) is amended to read: 22 (5) "department" means the Department of Natural Resources 23 [COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT]; 24 * Sec. 42. AS 46.40.210(8) is amended to read: 25 (8) "uses of state concern" means those land and water uses that 26 [WHICH] would significantly affect the long-term public interest; "uses of state 27 concern" [THESE USES, SUBJECT TO COUNCIL DEFINITION OF THEIR 28 EXTENT,] include 29 (A) uses of national interest, including the use of resources for 30 the siting of ports and major facilities that [WHICH] contribute to meeting 31 national energy needs, construction and maintenance of navigational facilities
01 and systems, resource development of federal land, and national defense and 02 related security facilities that are dependent upon coastal locations; 03 (B) uses of more than local concern, including those land and 04 water uses which confer significant environmental, social, cultural, or 05 economic benefits or burdens beyond a single coastal resource district; 06 (C) the siting of major energy facilities, activities pursuant to a 07 state or federal oil and gas lease, or large-scale industrial or commercial 08 development activities that [WHICH] are dependent on a coastal location and 09 that [WHICH], because of their magnitude or the magnitude of their effect on 10 the economy of the state or the surrounding area, are reasonably likely to 11 present issues of more than local significance; 12 (D) facilities serving statewide or interregional transportation 13 and communication needs; and 14 (E) uses in areas established as state parks or recreational areas 15 under AS 41.21 or as state game refuges, game sanctuaries, or critical habitat 16 areas under AS 16.20; 17 * Sec. 43. AS 46.40.210 is amended by adding new paragraphs to read: 18 (10) "coastal use or resource" means a land or water use or natural 19 resource of the coastal zone; "coastal use or resource" includes subsistence, recreation, 20 public access, fishing, historic or archaeological resources, geophysical resources, and 21 biological or physical resources found in the coastal zone on a regular or cyclical 22 basis; 23 (11) "coastal zone" means the coastal waters including lands within 24 and under those waters, and adjacent shorelands, including the waters within and 25 under those shorelands, within the boundaries approved by the former Alaska Coastal 26 Policy Council and by the United States Secretary of Commerce under 16 U.S.C. 1451 27 - 1465 (Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended); "coastal zone" includes 28 areas added as a result of any boundary changes approved by the department and by 29 the United States Secretary of Commerce under 16 U.S.C. 1451 - 1465; "coastal zone" 30 does not include 31 (A) those lands excluded under 16 U.S.C. 1453(1); or
01 (B) areas deleted as a result of any boundary changes by the 02 department in conformance with 16 U.S.C. 1451 - 1465; 03 (12) "district coastal management plan" means a plan developed by a 04 coastal resource district, including enforceable policies of that plan, setting out 05 policies and standards to guide public and private uses of land and waters within that 06 district and approved by the department as meeting the requirements of this chapter 07 and the regulations adopted under this chapter; 08 (13) "enforceable policy" means a policy established by this chapter or 09 approved by the department as a legally binding policy of the Alaska coastal 10 management program applicable to public and private activities; 11 (14) "project" means all activities that will be part of a proposed 12 development. 13 * Sec. 44. AS 38.05.037(b)(2); AS 39.50.200(b)(38); AS 44.62.800(2)(B); AS 46.39.020, 14 46.39.050; AS 46.40.080, 46.40.120, 46.40.130, 46.40.140(c), 46.40.160, 46.40.170, 15 46.40.200, and 46.40.210(4) are repealed. 16 * Sec. 45. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 17 read: 18 ANNULMENT OF CERTAIN REGULATIONS. The following regulations are 19 annulled: 20 (1) 6 AAC 80.010 - 6 AAC 80.900; 21 (2) 6 AAC 85.020 - 6 AAC 85.900. 22 * Sec. 46. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding new sections to 23 read: 24 TRANSITION: GENERAL PROVISIONS. (a) The Department of Natural 25 Resources shall adopt regulations under AS 44.62 (Administrative Procedure Act) 26 implementing this Act in order that the regulations are effective no later than July 1, 2004. 27 (b) Until sec. 45 of this Act takes effect or the regulations attorney removes the 28 regulations under sec. 48(c) of this Act, whichever occurs first, regulations adopted to 29 implement the Alaska Coastal Management Program at 6 AAC 80 and 6 AAC 85 remain in 30 effect and, to the extent the regulations are not inconsistent with this Act, the Department of 31 Natural Resources may implement and enforce the regulations.
01 (c) Notwithstanding the repeal of the Alaska Coastal Policy Council enacted by sec. 02 44 of this Act, and the repeal of the Alaska Coastal Policy Council's duties in AS 46.40.040, 03 enacted in sec. 10 of this Act, a district coastal management program, including its 04 enforceable policies, approved by the former Alaska Coastal Policy Council that is not 05 otherwise inconsistent with this Act or AS 46.40 as amended by this Act, remains in effect for 06 purposes of AS 46.39 and AS 46.40 until July 1, 2006, unless the Department of Natural 07 Resources disapproves or modifies all or part of the program before July 1, 2006. 08 (d) Consistency reviews pending on the day before the effective date of secs. 17 - 22 09 of this Act and initiated under the provisions of AS 46.40.096, as that section existed before 10 the changes made by secs. 17 - 22 of this Act, may, at the applicant's option exercised no 11 more than 60 days after the effective date of secs. 17 - 22 of this Act, be continued and 12 completed under the procedures and enforceable policies under the provisions of AS 46.39 13 and AS 46.40 as they existed before the changes made by this Act. 14 (e) Except as provided in (d) of this section, contracts, rights, liabilities, and 15 obligations created by or under a law repealed by this Act remain in effect notwithstanding 16 this Act's taking effect. 17 * Sec. 47. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 18 read: 19 TRANSITION AND APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS: 20 SUBMISSION OF DISTRICT PLANS BY COASTAL RESOURCE DISTRICTS FOR 21 INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT. (a) Within one year after the effective date 22 of regulations adopted by the Department of Natural Resources implementing changes to 23 AS 46.40.010 - 46.40.090, enacted by secs. 8 - 15 of this Act, or by July 1, 2005, whichever is 24 later, coastal resource districts shall review their existing district coastal management program 25 and submit to the Department of Natural Resources for review and approval a revised district 26 coastal management plan meeting the requirements of AS 46.40, as amended by this Act, and 27 the implementing regulations. 28 (b) Upon request, the Department of Natural Resources shall consult with coastal 29 resource districts to identify plan amendments that will meet the standards and guidelines 30 established under this Act. 31 (c) AS 46.40.070(b), enacted by sec. 14 of this Act, does not apply to a revised
01 district coastal management plan submitted under (a) of this section. 02 * Sec. 48. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to 03 read: 04 REVISOR'S INSTRUCTIONS. (a) The revisor of statutes is instructed to 05 (1) change the heading of 06 (A) AS 46.39 from "Coastal Management Administration; Alaska 07 Coastal Policy Council" to "Coastal Management Administration"; 08 (B) article 2 of AS 46.40 from "Coastal Management Programs in the 09 Unorganized Borough" to "Coastal Management Plans in the Unorganized Borough"; 10 (C) AS 46.40.180 from "Approval of programs in coastal resource 11 service areas" to "Approval of plans in coastal resource service areas"; 12 (2) delete the heading of article 2 of AS 46.39 and renumber article 3 of 13 AS 46.39 as article 2. 14 (b) Wherever in the Alaska Administrative Code the terms "Alaska Coastal Policy 15 Council" or "Coastal Policy Council" are used, or the term "council" is used to refer to the 16 Alaska Coastal Policy Council, the regulations attorney is instructed to change those terms to 17 read as "Department of Natural Resources," "DNR," "department" or "commissioner of 18 natural resources" when to do so would be consistent with AS 44.62.125(b)(6) and the 19 changes made by this Act. 20 (c) If regulations adopted by the Department of Natural Resources under sec. 46 of 21 this Act take effect before the effective date of sec. 45 of this Act, the regulations attorney is 22 instructed to remove from the Alaska Administrative Code the regulations listed in sec. 45 of 23 this Act, as being obsolete. The lieutenant governor shall notify the regulations attorney of 24 the effective date of the regulations adopted by the Department of Natural Resources under 25 sec. 46 of this Act. 26 * Sec. 49. Section 45 of this Act takes effect July 1, 2005. 27 * Sec. 50. Except as provided in sec. 49 of this Act, this Act takes effect immediately under 28 AS 01.10.070(c).