Nick Snow
Washington Correspondent
WASHINGTON, DC, Oct. 5 -- The US Minerals Management Service has published guidelines under which six states can receive financial help under the Coastal Impact Assistance Program.
The program, which was authorized under Section 384 of the 2005 Energy Policy Act, authorizes the US Secretary of the Interior, as delegated to MMS, to distribute $250 million/year to Alabama, Alaska, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas from fiscal 2007 through 2010.
All CIAP funds will be distributed through grants, MMS said.
The states must use all funding received under CIAP for coastal programs and activities, including implementation of a federally approved marine, coastal, or comprehensive conservation management plan; mitigation of impacts from Outer Continental Shelf activities through funding of onshore infrastructure projects and public service needs; and wetlands protection or restoration.
Each state has to submit a coastal impact assistance plan by July 1, 2008, to receive funding from the program, MMS said. They also have to submit individual grant applications as required and governed by the DOI's grant regulations.
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