Photo Credit: Grace Milstein
By Isabel Dawson, Policy Associate
When federal projects are proposed that could impact California’s coast, our state has a say in how they get done.
Under the Coastal Zone Management Act, states and the federal government enter a voluntary partnership to manage coastal areas. In California, this has resulted in our Coastal Management Program, which gives our coastal agencies—the Coastal Commission, Coastal Conservancy, and San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission—the ability to review federal projects that could impact our coast. This important oversight authority helps protect California’s coastal resources and public access, ensuring we have a voice when federal actions could impact us. This authority is also increasingly critical amid federal attempts to open our coastal waters to offshore drilling and rollbacks of national environmental laws.
Unfortunately, the Trump administration seems set on getting rid of our seat at the table, criticizing how the environmental laws and review that keep our coastline and communities safe are “obstructionist” as they “delay” offshore oil production, spaceport development, undersea cables, and other projects that could severely harm our coast.
Under the Trump administration’s direction, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has begun a review of California’s Coastal Management Program. Many are worried that this is a clear attempt to remove the state’s oversight authority and “bypass the state’s objections to developing coastal waters for oil and gas.”
We can’t afford to lose California’s coastal authority. Let NOAA know our Coastal Zone Management Program is important to protecting the health and economic vitality of coastal communities, who depend on healthy ecosystems to thrive!
Written Comments
Send to: NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management (czma.california-evaluation@noaa.gov).
Subject line: “Comments on Performance Evaluation of the California Coastal Management Program”
Deadline: 11:59 p.m. PT on August 22, 2026.
Virtual Meeting
Date: August 11 & 12, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT
Register Here *Due to limited capacity, NOAA requests that individuals attend only one virtual meeting.
In Person Meeting
Date: August 10, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. PT
Address: Pacific Ballroom, Hilton Santa Monica Hotel and Suites, 1707 4th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Comment: Register for public comment by sending an email to czma.california-evaluation@noaa.gov by 11:59 p.m. PT on August 8, 2026. You must be physically present to comment.
