NOAA Awards over $2.9 Million to the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources

NOAA AWARDS OVER $2.9 MILLION TO THE NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) today awarded a grant of more than $2.9 million to the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources for coastal area management. NOAA is an agency of the Commerce Department.

The NOAA grant will help the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources implement its federally-approved coastal management program. Grant work will include technical assistance to local governments, land use planning, technical studies, permit administration and enforcement, protection of coastal reserves and wetlands, identifying coastal hazards, management of development and non-point source pollution control.

“We are constantly working to improve the management of our coastal zone by strengthening local initiatives like those of North Carolina’s Coastal Management Program,” said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “This grant allows the state to manage its coastal resources, while actively supporting efforts that reinforce NOAA and the Bush Administration’s commitment to the environment.”

NOAA’s Coastal Management Program is a federal-state partnership dedicated to comprehensive management of the nation’s coastal resources, ensuring their protection for future generations while balancing competing national economic, cultural and environmental interests. The Coastal Zone Management Program (CZMP) is authorized by the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 and administered at the federal level by the Coastal Programs Division (CPD) within NOAA.

In fiscal year 2003, NOAA has awarded more than 475 grants totaling more than $204 million to members of the academic, scientific and business communities to assist the agency in fulfilling its mission to study the Earth’s natural systems in order to predict environmental change, manage ocean resources, protect life and property and provide decision makers with reliable scientific information. NOAA goals and programs reflect a commitment to these basic responsibilities of science and service to the nation for the past 33 years.

The Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources. To learn more about NOAA, please visit http://www.noaa.gov.