politics
U.S. Commerce Secretary Orders Review of California Coastal Management Program
The Trump administration has directed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to examine California's coastal management program. The review will assess how the state reviews federal projects along its coastline.
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The Trump administration has ordered a review of California's coastal management program, which allows the state to provide input on federal projects that affect its coastlines. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick directed the review, stating that prior evaluations had not given enough weight to economic factors and federal perspectives on offshore oil production, pipeline maintenance, and desalination.
He also cited what he described as repeated obstruction of spaceport development. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will conduct the review and has scheduled public meetings for August 10 and 12, with comments accepted through August 22.
Background on the program The California Coastal Management Program operates under a federal-state partnership created by the Coastal Management Act. Three state entities—the California Coastal Commission, the State Coastal Conservancy, and the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission—implement the program in coordination with federal officials.
The program gives states the ability to review and comment on federal projects but does not grant veto power. Officials said the review could affect millions of dollars in program funding or alter the state's role in assessing environmental hazards.
Recent context The review follows a similar evaluation completed under the prior administration and occurs as federal policy shifts toward expanded offshore drilling and increased rocket launches. California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot said the move disrupts a long-standing collaborative relationship between coastal states and the federal government.
A Houston-based oil company has used federal processes to bypass some state oversight in Santa Barbara County to restart a dormant offshore oil operation. In recent years, the California Coastal Commission raised concerns about increased SpaceX launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base, leading to agreements on wildlife monitoring and light management.
