(2) Preventing or significantly reducing threats to life and destruction of property by eliminating development and redevelopment in high-hazard areas, managing development in other hazard areas, and anticipating and managing the effects of potential sea level rise and Great Lakes level rise.

(3) Attaining increased opportunities for public access, taking into account current and future public access needs, to coastal areas of recreational, historical, aesthetic, ecological, or cultural value.

(4) Reducing marine debris entering the Nation's coastal and ocean environment by managing uses and activities that contribute to the entry of such debris.

(5) Development and adoption of procedures to assess, consider, and control cumulative and secondary impacts of coastal growth and development, including the collective effect on various individual uses or activities on coastal resources, such as coastal wetlands and fishery resources.

(6) Preparing and implementing special area management plans for important coastal areas.

(7) Planning for the use of ocean resources.

(8) Adoption of procedures and enforceable policies to help facilitate the siting of energy facilities and Government facilities and energy-related activities and Government activities which may be of greater than local significance.

(9) Adoption of procedures and policies to evaluate and facilitate the siting of public and private aquaculture facilities in the coastal zone, which will enable States to formulate, administer, and implement strategic plans for marine aquaculture.

(b)(1) Subject to the limitations and goals established in this section, the Secretary may make grants to coastal states to provide funding for development and submission for Federal approval of program changes that support attainment of one or more coastal zone enhancement objectives.

(2)(A) In addition to any amounts provided under section 306, and subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary may make grants under this subsection to States for implementing program changes approved by the Secretary in accordance with section 306(e).

(B) Grants under this paragraph to implement a program change may not be made in any fiscal year after the second fiscal year that begins after the approval of that change by the Secretary.

(c) The Secretary shall evaluate and rank State proposals for funding under this section, and make funding awards based on those proposals, taking into account the criteria established by the Secretary under subsection (d). The Secretary shall ensure that funding decisions under this section take into consideration the fiscal and technical needs of proposing States and the overall merit of each proposal in terms of benefits to the public.

(d) Within 12 months following the date of enactment of this section, and consistent with the notice and participation requirements established in section 317, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations concerning coastal zone enhancement grants that establish

(1) specific and detailed criteria that must be addressed by a coastal state (including the State's priority needs for im

provement as identified by the Secretary after careful consultation with the State) as part of the State's development and implementation of coastal zone enhancement objectives;

(2) administrative or procedural rules or requirements as necessary to facilitate the development and implementation of such objectives by coastal states; and

(3) other funding award criteria as are necessary or appropriate to ensure that evaluations of proposals, and decisions to award funding, under this section are based on objective standards applied fairly and equitably to those proposals.

(e) A State shall not be required to contribute any portion of the cost of any proposal for which funding is awarded under this section.

(f) Beginning in fiscal year 1991, not less than 10 percent and not more than 20 percent of the amounts appropriated to implement sections 306 and 306A of this title shall be retained by the Secretary for use in implementing this section, up to a maximum of $10,000,000 annually.

(g) If the Secretary finds that the State is not undertaking the actions committed to under the terms of the grant, the Secretary shall suspend the State's eligibility for further funding under this section for at least one year.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

SEC. 310. [16 U.S.C. 1456c] (a) The Secretary shall conduct a program of technical assistance and management-oriented research necessary to support the development and implementation of State coastal management program amendments under section 309, and appropriate to the furtherance of international cooperative efforts and technical assistance in coastal zone management. Each department, agency, and instrumentality of the executive branch of the Federal Government may assist the Secretary, on a reimbursable basis or otherwise, in carrying out the purposes of this section, including the furnishing of information to the extent permitted by law, the transfer of personnel with their consent and without prejudice to their position and rating, and the performance of any research, study, and technical assistance which does not interfere with the performance of the primary duties of such department, agency, or instrumentality. The Secretary may enter into contracts or other arrangements with any qualified person for the purposes of carrying out this subsection.

(b)(1) The Secretary shall provide for the coordination of technical assistance, studies, and research activities under this section with any other such activities that are conducted by or subject to the authority of the Secretary.

(2) The Secretary shall make the results of research and studies conducted pursuant to this section available to coastal States in the form of technical assistance publications, workshops, or other means appropriate.

(3) The Secretary shall consult with coastal States on a regular basis regarding the development and implementation of the program established by this section.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

SEC. 311. [16 U.S.C. 1457] All public hearings required under this title must be announced at least thirty days prior to the hearing date. At the time of the announcement, all agency materials pertinent to the hearings, including documents, studies, and other data, must be made available to the public for review and study. As similar materials are subsequently developed, they shall be made available to the public as they become available to the agen

cy.

REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE

SEC. 312. [16 U.S.C. 1458] (a) The Secretary shall conduct a continuing review of the performance of coastal states with respect to coastal management. Each review shall include a written evaluation with an assessment and detailed findings concerning the extent to which the state has implemented and enforced the program approved by the Secretary, addressed the coastal management needs identified in section 303(2)(A) and (K), and adhered to the terms of any grant, loan, or cooperative agreement funded under this title.

(b) In evaluating a coastal state's performance, the Secretary shall conduct the evaluation in an open and public manner, and provide full opportunity for public participation, including holding public meetings in the State being evaluated and providing opportunities for the submission of written and oral comments by the public. The Secretary shall provide the public with at least 45 days' notice of such public meetings by placing a notice in the Federal Register, by publication of timely notices in newspapers of general circulation within the State being evaluated, and by communications with persons and organizations known to be interested in the evaluation. Each evaluation shall be prepared in report form and shall include written responses to the written comments received during the evaluation process. The final report of the evaluation shall be completed within 120 days after the last public meeting held in the State being evaluated. Copies of the evaluation shall be immediately provided to all persons and organizations participating in the evaluation process.

(c)(1) The Secretary may suspend payment of any portion of financial assistance extended to any coastal state under this title, and may withdraw any unexpended portion of such assistance, if the Secretary determines that the coastal state is failing to adhere to (A) the management program or a State plan developed to manage a national estuarine reserve established under section 315 of this title, or a portion of the program or plan approved by the Secretary, or (B) the terms of any grant or cooperative agreement funded under this title.

(2) Financial assistance may not be suspended under paragraph (1) unless the Secretary provides the Governor of the coastal state with

(A) written specifications and a schedule for the actions that should be taken by the State in order that such suspension of financial assistance may be withdrawn; and

(B) written specifications stating how those funds from the suspended financial assistance shall be expended by the coastal state to take the actions referred to in subparagraph (A).

(3) The suspension of financial assistance may not last for less than 6 months or more than 36 months after the date of suspension.

(d) The Secretary shall withdraw approval of the management program of any coastal State and shall withdraw financial assistance available to that State under this title as well as any unexpended portion of such assistance, if the Secretary determines that the coastal State has failed to take the actions referred to in subsection (c)(2)(A).

(e) Management program approval and financial assistance may not be withdrawn under subsection (d), unless the Secretary gives the coastal state notice of the proposed withdrawal and an opportunity for a public hearing on the proposed action. Upon the withdrawal of management program approval under this subsection (d), the Secretary shall provide the coastal state with written specifications of the actions that should be taken, or not engaged in, by the state in order that such withdrawal may be canceled by the Secretary.

RECORDS AND AUDIT

SEC. 313. [16 U.S.C. 1459] (a) Each recipient of a grant under this title or of financial assistance under section 308, as in effect before the date of the enactment of the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments of 1990, shall keep such records as the Secretary shall prescribe, including records which fully disclose the amount and disposition of the funds received under the grant and the proceeds of such assistance, the total cost of the project or undertaking supplied by other sources, and such other records as will facilitate an effective audit.

(b) The Secretary and the Comptroller General of the United States, or any of their duly authorized representatives, shall

(1) after any grant is made under this title or any financial assistance is provided under section 308, as in effect before the date of the enactment of the Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments of 1990; and

(2) until the expiration of 3 years after

(A) completion of the project, program, or other undertaking for which such grant was made or used, or

(B) repayment of the loan or guaranteed indebtedness for which such financial assistance was provided,

have access for purposes of audit and examination to any record, book, document, and paper which belongs to or is used or controlled by, any recipient of the grant funds or any person who entered into any transaction relating to such financial assistance and which is pertinent for purposes of determining if the grant funds or the proceeds of such financial assistance are being, or were, used in accordance with the provisions of this title.

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WALTER B. JONES EXCELLENCE IN COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT AWARDS

SEC. 314. [16 U.S.C. 1460] (a) The Secretary shall, using sums in the Coastal Zone Management Fund established under section 308 and other amounts available to carry out this title (other than amounts appropriated to carry out sections 305, 306, 306A, 309, 310, and 315), implement a program to promote excellence in coastal zone management by identifying and acknowledging outstanding accomplishments in the field.

(b) The Secretary shall elect annually

(1) one individual, other than an employee or officer of the Federal Government, whose contribution to the field of coastal zone management has been the most significant;

(2) 5 local governments which have made the most progress in developing and implementing the coastal zone management principles embodied in this title; and

(3) up to 10 graduate students whose academic study promises to contribute materially to development of new or improved approaches to coastal zone management.

(c) In making selections under subsection (b)(2) the Secretary shall solicit nominations from the coastal states, and shall consult with experts in local government planning and land use.

(d) In making selections under subsection (b)(3) the Secretary shall solicit nominations from coastal states and the National Sea Grant College Program.

(e) Using sums in the Coastal Zone Management Fund established under section 308 and other amounts available to carry out this title (other than amounts appropriated to carry out sections 305, 306, 306A, 309, 310, and 315), the Secretary shall establish and execute appropriate awards, to be known as the "Walter B. Jones Awards", including—

(1) cash awards in an amount not to exceed $5,000 each; (2) research grants; and

(3) public ceremonies to acknowledge such awards.

NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE SYSTEM

SEC. 315. [16 U.S.C. 1461] (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SYSTEM.-There is established the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (hereinafter referred to in this section as the "System") that consists of

(1) each estuarine sanctuary designated under this section as in effect before the date of the enactment of the Coastal Zone Management Reauthorization Act of 1985; and

(2) each estuarine area designated as a national estuarine reserve under subsection (b).

Each estuarine sanctuary referred to in paragraph (1) is hereby designated as a national estuarine reserve.

(b) DESIGNATION OF NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESERVES.-After the date of the enactment of the Coastal Zone Management Reauthorization Act of 1985, the Secretary may designate an estuarine area as a national estuarine reserve if—

(1) the Government of the coastal state in which the area is located nominates the area for that designation; and (2) the Secretary finds that