center will make more effective use of NOAA remotely sensed data as well as integrate

NASA, Department of Defense, and international satellite data into NOAA's operational models.

Coastal Conservation Activities ($284.4 million)

• Over the past several years NOAA has proposed, through various initiatives and programs, funding to address some of the most serious challenges facing the U.S. coasts and oceans. Through those programs NOAA has made significant progress in addressing a number of critical environmental issues. The Coastal Conservation Activities Initiative will continue to

build on the progress made to preserve the Nation's coasts and oceans.

In the FY 2002 President's Budget, NOAA requests $284.4 million to continue environmental programs that are critical to ensuring the continued preservation of our Nation's coastal and ocean resources. The FY 2002 Budget Request includes resources to enhance our ability to effectively manage the National Marine Sanctuaries, enhance habitat protection through the National Estuarine Research Reserve System and strengthen and improve Marine Protected Area (MPA) programs and their conservation goals. These funds will be leveraged through improved Federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial coordination and collaboration to fill shared information, technical and operational needs. Also included are additional resources to increase Coastal Zone Management grants to states to enable coastal states to address such

issues of national importance as the impact of coastal storms, declining water quality, shortage

of public shoreline access, loss of wetlands, deteriorating waterfronts, and the challenge of balancing economic and environmental demands in the coastal zone. With the funds requested in FY 2002 NOAA will also continue to implement recommendations of the Coral Reef Task Force and enhance the recovery of threatened and endangered coastal salmon. The programs that comprise the Coastal Conservation Activities cross-cut are highlighted below.

Coral Reef Activities ($27.7 million)

The total request of $27.7 million for Coral Reef Activities represents an increase of $0.7 million above the FY 2001 Enacted level. This continued investment will allow for NOAA's

support for coral reef activities across the Nation. Funding will enable NOAA to continue implementing priorities of the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force and recommendations included in the America's Ocean Future Report. Working with state, territorial, and local partners, this level of funding will support research, monitoring, and local level projects to reduce human impacts and increase sustainable use of America's valuable coral reefs.

Coastal Zone Management Program ($75.4 million)

• The total request of $75.4 million for the Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program represents an increase of $12.2 million above the FY 2001 Enacted level. This includes an increase of $8.6 million for CZM grants, a technical change in the transfer from the CZM

Fund, and an increase of $0.4 million for Program Administration. In addition, $10.0 million

is requested for Nonpoint Pollution Implementation Grants, a separate but integral program,

which will be discussed later.

• The total request of $69.0 million for CZM Grants represents an increase of $8.6 million over the FY 2001 Enacted level. This continued investment will allow NOAA to provide direct grants to coastal states for implementing and improving their approved coastal management programs. Currently 33 of the 35 eligible coastal states have an approved coastal management program, with approval of the 34th state program, Indiana, expected in FY 2002. Combined, these programs serve to manage and protect 99.9 percent of the Nation's shoreline to the benefit of the environment and the economy. The requested investment would provide resources for coastal states to more fully implement their coastal management plans. Specifically, NOAA provides grants to coastal states and territories to address issues of national importance such as the impact of coastal storms and flooding, declining water quality, shortage of public access to the shoreline, loss of wetlands, deteriorating waterfronts and

harbors, and the challenge of balancing economic and environmental demands in increasingly competitive ports.

In order to streamline CZM administrative processes, NOAA proposes to consolidate all funding for CZM Program Administration under ORF. Doing so requires replacement of the $3.2 million that had been transferred from the CZM Fund (a non-ORF account) in prior years.

In FY 2002, the CZM Fund is proposed as a general offset to CZM Act activities.

The total request of $6.4 million for the CZM Program Administration represents an increase

of $0.4 million above the FY 2001 Enacted level. This continued investment will support

NOAA's national program administration responsibilities under the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), which continues to grow. This request will assist NOAA's ability to bring together representatives from state, Federal, and tribal governments and the private sector, to address issues such as coastal hazards, habitat and polluted runoff. It will allow NOAA to address the increasing requests of the states (33 in the program, one state program in development) for support and technical assistance. This level of funding will also enable NOAA to maintain national support for the 25 National Estuarine Research Reserves.

Nonpoint Pollution Implementation Grants ($10.0 million)

NOAA requests a total of $10.0 million for Nonpoint Pollution Implementation Grants. This investment will provide states with resources to reduce nonpoint pollution, the greatest single threat to coastal water quality. Coastal waters are increasingly impacted by polluted runoff. Symptoms include the impacts of Pfiesteria in coastal waters of the eastern seaboard, nutrient over-enrichment in the Gulf of Mexico, the loss of salmon fisheries in the Pacific Northwest and local closures of shellfish beds and beaches throughout the country. NOAA will provide grants to states with approved plans to address the causes of these and other symptoms of the

degradation of our coastal water quality.

National Estuarine Research Reserves ($26.3 million)

• The total request of $26.3 million for the National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRS) represents a decrease of $29.3 million below the FY 2001 Enacted level. This funding level supports an increase in operations of $1.7 million for a total of $16.4 million in the Operations, Research and Facilities (ORF) Account, and a decrease in one-time construction items of $28.0 million, for a total request of $9.9 million in the PAC Account. With regard to the increase for NERRS operations, these funds will improve the ability of NOAA and its state partners to understand, manage, and protect these special estuarine habitats and biodiversity. The NERRS is a network of protected areas established to improve the health of the Nation's estuaries and coastal habitats through long-term research, protection, and education and to address such issues as water quality, loss and degradation of habitat, and loss of species biodiversity. The increase will significantly enhance the monitoring and technical training programs at the 25 designated reserves, and ultimately lead to healthier estuaries, coastal water quality, and fisheries.

Of particular interest is the NERRS' System-Wide Monitoring Program (SWMP). The SWMP is a national monitoring system that will integrate water quality, and biological and land-cover change elements, making the information available to scientists and managers. The 25 existing reserves will expand their participation in SWMP by increasing spatial coverage of water quality stations, and by monitoring additional biological indicators. Reserve staff will also improve estuarine resource management by providing enhanced technical training for planners,