Title 43 — Public LandsRelease 119-73
§1356a Coastal impact assistance program
Title 43 › Chapter CHAPTER 29— - SUBMERGED LANDS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF LANDS › § 1356a
Summary
Gives $250,000,000 each year for fiscal years 2007 through 2010 to coastal States that get oil and gas revenue and to their local coastal governments. The Secretary must divide the money among producing States based on how much “qualified Outer Continental Shelf” revenue comes from off each State’s coast (use 2006 revenue to set shares for 2007–2008 and 2008 revenue for 2009–2010). If more than one State is within 200 nautical miles of a lease, the share for that lease is split so closer States get more, and each producing State gets at least 1 percent. Thirty-five percent of each State’s share must go to local coastal governments. That local share is split 25 percent by coastal population, 25 percent by miles of coastline, and 50 percent so that closer local areas get more. Special rules apply for Louisiana and Alaska and tracts under leasing moratoria are excluded unless they were in production on January 1, 2005. Key terms (one line each): coastal political subdivision — a local government below the State level; coastal population — Census population in coastal areas; coastal State — as defined in the Coastal Zone Management Act; leased tract — an oil or gas lease area; producing State — a coastal State within 200 nautical miles of a lease; qualified Outer Continental Shelf revenues — lease money to the U.S. (bonus bids, rents, royalties, net profit shares, late interest) from eligible tracts; leasing moratoria — areas barred from leasing under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005. The Governor must send a coastal impact assistance plan to the Secretary by July 1, 2008, with local input. The Secretary must approve a plan (or amendments) within 90 days before paying funds and will only allow spending for listed uses such as coastal conservation, wildlife mitigation, planning/administration, approved coastal management plans, and onshore infrastructure to offset offshore impacts. No more than 23 percent of a recipient’s yearly funds may pay for planning/administration and onshore infrastructure combined. For a major oil spill, the Secretary may immediately fund response projects that fit these uses, but the State or local government must submit needed plan information or amendments within 90 days or further funds will be stopped.
Full Legal Text
Title 43, §1356a
Public Lands — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In this section:
(1)The term “coastal political subdivision” means a political subdivision of a coastal State any part of which political subdivision is—
(A)within the coastal zone (as defined in section 304 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1453)) of the coastal State as of August 8, 2005; and
(B)not more than 200 nautical miles from the geographic center of any leased tract.
(2)The term “coastal population” means the population, as determined by the most recent official data of the Census Bureau, of each political subdivision any part of which lies within the designated coastal boundary of a State (as defined in a State’s coastal zone management program under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.)).
(3)The term “coastal State” has the meaning given the term in section 304 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1453).
(4)The term “coastline” has the meaning given the term “coast line” in section 1301 of this title.
(5)The term “distance” means the minimum great circle distance, measured in statute miles.
(6)The term “leased tract” means a tract that is subject to a lease under section 1335 or 1337 of this title for the purpose of drilling for, developing, and producing oil or natural gas resources.
(8)The term “political subdivision” means the local political jurisdiction immediately below the level of State government, including counties, parishes, and boroughs.
(9)(A)The term “producing State” means a coastal State that has a coastal seaward boundary within 200 nautical miles of the geographic center of a leased tract within any area of the outer Continental Shelf.
(B)The term “producing State” does not include a producing State, a majority of the coastline of which is subject to leasing moratoria, unless production was occurring on January 1, 2005, from a lease within 10 nautical miles of the coastline of that State.
(10)(A)The term “qualified Outer Continental Shelf revenues” means all amounts received by the United States from each leased tract or portion of a leased tract—
(i)lying—
(I)seaward of the zone covered by section 1337(g) of this title; or
(II)within that zone, but to which section 1337(g) of this title does not apply; and
(ii)the geographic center of which lies within a distance of 200 nautical miles from any part of the coastline of any coastal State.
(B)The term “qualified Outer Continental Shelf revenues” includes bonus bids, rents, royalties (including payments for royalty taken in kind and sold), net profit share payments, and related late-payment interest from natural gas and oil leases issued under this subchapter.
(C)The term “qualified Outer Continental Shelf revenues” does not include any revenues from a leased tract or portion of a leased tract that is located in a geographic area subject to a leasing moratorium on January 1, 2005, unless the lease was in production on January 1, 2005.
(b)(1)The Secretary shall, without further appropriation, disburse to producing States and coastal political subdivisions in accordance with this section $250,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2010.
(2)In each fiscal year, the Secretary shall disburse to each producing State for which the Secretary has approved a plan under subsection (c), and to coastal political subdivisions under paragraph (4), such funds as are allocated to the producing State or coastal political subdivision, respectively, under this section for the fiscal year.
(3)(A)Except as provided in subparagraph (C) and subject to subparagraph (D), the amounts available under paragraph (1) shall be allocated to each producing State based on the ratio that—
(i)the amount of qualified outer Continental Shelf revenues generated off the coastline of the producing State; bears to
(ii)the amount of qualified outer Continental Shelf revenues generated off the coastline of all producing States.
(B)For purposes of subparagraph (A)—
(i)the amount of qualified outer Continental Shelf revenues for each of fiscal years 2007 and 2008 shall be determined using qualified outer Continental Shelf revenues received for fiscal year 2006; and
(ii)the amount of qualified outer Continental Shelf revenues for each of fiscal years 2009 and 2010 shall be determined using qualified outer Continental Shelf revenues received for fiscal year 2008.
(C)In a case in which more than one producing State is located within 200 nautical miles of any portion of a leased tract, the amount allocated to each producing State for the leased tract shall be inversely proportional to the distance between—
(i)the nearest point on the coastline of the producing State; and
(ii)the geographic center of the leased tract.
(D)The amount allocated to a producing State under subparagraph (A) shall be at least 1 percent of the amounts available under paragraph (1).
(4)(A)The Secretary shall pay 35 percent of the allocable share of each producing State, as determined under paragraph (3) to the coastal political subdivisions in the producing State.
(B)Of the amount paid by the Secretary to coastal political subdivisions under subparagraph (A)—
(i)25 percent shall be allocated to each coastal political subdivision in the proportion that—
(I)the coastal population of the coastal political subdivision; bears to
(II)the coastal population of all coastal political subdivisions in the producing State;
(ii)25 percent shall be allocated to each coastal political subdivision in the proportion that—
(I)the number of miles of coastline of the coastal political subdivision; bears to
(II)the number of miles of coastline of all coastal political subdivisions in the producing State; and
(iii)50 percent shall be allocated in amounts that are inversely proportional to the respective distances between the points in each coastal political subdivision that are closest to the geographic center of each leased tract, as determined by the Secretary.
(C)For the purposes of subparagraph (B)(ii), the coastline for coastal political subdivisions in the State of Louisiana without a coastline shall be considered to be ⅓ the average length of the coastline of all coastal political subdivisions with a coastline in the State of Louisiana.
(D)For the purposes of carrying out subparagraph (B)(iii) in the State of Alaska, the amounts allocated shall be divided equally among the two coastal political subdivisions that are closest to the geographic center of a leased tract.
(E)For purposes of subparagraph (B)(iii), a leased tract or portion of a leased tract shall be excluded if the tract or portion of a leased tract is located in a geographic area subject to a leasing moratorium on January 1, 2005, unless the lease was in production on that date.
(5)(A)Subject to subparagraph (B) and except as provided in subparagraph (C), in a case in which any amount allocated to a producing State or coastal political subdivision under paragraph (4) or (5) is not disbursed because the producing State does not have in effect a plan that has been approved by the Secretary under subsection (c), the Secretary shall allocate the undisbursed amount equally among all other producing States.
(B)The Secretary shall hold in escrow an undisbursed amount described in subparagraph (A) until such date as the final appeal regarding the disapproval of a plan submitted under subsection (c) is decided.
(C)The Secretary may waive subparagraph (A) with respect to an allocated share of a producing State and hold the allocable share in escrow if the Secretary determines that the producing State is making a good faith effort to develop and submit, or update, a plan in accordance with subsection (c).
(c)(1)(A)Not later than July 1, 2008, the Governor of a producing State shall submit to the Secretary a coastal impact assistance plan.
(B)In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Governor shall solicit local input and provide for public participation in the development of the plan.
(2)(A)The Secretary shall approve a plan of a producing State submitted under paragraph (1) before disbursing any amount to the producing State, or to a coastal political subdivision located in the producing State, under this section.
(B)The Secretary shall approve a plan submitted under paragraph (1) if—
(i)the Secretary determines that the plan is consistent with the uses described in subsection (d); and
(ii)the plan contains—
(I)the name of the State agency that will have the authority to represent and act on behalf of the producing State in dealing with the Secretary for purposes of this section;
(II)a program for the implementation of the plan that describes how the amounts provided under this section to the producing State will be used;
(III)for each coastal political subdivision that receives an amount under this section—
(aa)the name of a contact person; and
(bb)a description of how the coastal political subdivision will use amounts provided under this section;
(IV)a certification by the Governor that ample opportunity has been provided for public participation in the development and revision of the plan; and
(V)a description of measures that will be taken to determine the availability of assistance from other relevant Federal resources and programs.
(3)Any amendment to a plan submitted under paragraph (1) shall be—
(A)developed in accordance with this subsection; and
(B)submitted to the Secretary for approval or disapproval under paragraph (4).
(4)Not later than 90 days after the date on which a plan or amendment to a plan is submitted under paragraph (1) or (3), the Secretary shall approve or disapprove the plan or amendment.
(d)(1)A producing State or coastal political subdivision shall use all amounts received under this section, including any amount deposited in a trust fund that is administered by the State or coastal political subdivision and dedicated to uses consistent with this section, in accordance with all applicable Federal and State laws, only for one or more of the following purposes:
(A)Projects and activities for the conservation, protection, or restoration of coastal areas, including wetland.
(B)Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources.
(C)Planning assistance and the administrative costs of complying with this section.
(D)Implementation of a federally-approved marine, coastal, or comprehensive conservation management plan.
(E)Mitigation of the impact of outer Continental Shelf activities through funding of onshore infrastructure projects and public service needs.
(2)If the Secretary determines that any expenditure made by a producing State or coastal political subdivision is not consistent with this subsection, the Secretary shall not disburse any additional amount under this section to the producing State or the coastal political subdivision until such time as all amounts obligated for unauthorized uses have been repaid or reobligated for authorized uses.
(3)Not more than 23 percent of amounts received by a producing State or coastal political subdivision for any 1 fiscal year shall be used for the purposes described in subparagraphs (C) and (E) of paragraph (1).
(e)(1)In response to a spill of national significance under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.), at the request of a producing State or coastal political subdivision and notwithstanding the requirements of part 12 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation), the Secretary may immediately disburse funds allocated under this section for 1 or more individual projects that are—
(A)consistent with subsection (d); and
(B)specifically designed to respond to the spill of national significance.
(2)The Secretary may, in the sole discretion of the Secretary, approve, on a project by project basis, the immediate disbursal of the funds under paragraph (1).
(3)(A)If the Secretary approves a project for funding under this subsection that is included in a plan previously approved under subsection (c), not later than 90 days after the date of the funding approval, the producing State or coastal political subdivision shall submit to the Secretary any additional information that the Secretary determines to be necessary to ensure that the project is in compliance with subsection (d).
(B)If the Secretary approves a project for funding under this subsection that is not included in a plan previously approved under subsection (c), not later than 90 days after the date of the funding approval, the producing State or coastal political subdivision shall submit to the Secretary for approval an amendment to the plan that includes any projects funded under paragraph (1), as well as any information about such projects that the Secretary determines to be necessary to ensure that the project is in compliance with subsection (d).
(C)If a producing State or coastal political subdivision does not submit the additional information or amendments to the plan required by this paragraph, or if, based on the information submitted by the Secretary determines that the project is not in compliance with subsection (d), by the deadlines specified in this paragraph, the Secretary shall not disburse any additional funds to the producing State or the coastal political subdivisions until the date on which the additional information or amendment to the plan has been approved by the Secretary.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, referred to in subsec. (a)(2), is title III of Pub. L. 89–454, as added by Pub. L. 92–583, Oct. 27, 1972, 86 Stat. 1280, which is classified generally to chapter 33 (§ 1451 et seq.) of Title 16, Conservation. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 1451 of Title 16 and Tables. Sections 107 through 109 of division E of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005, referred to in subsec. (a)(7), are sections 107 to 109 of Pub. L. 108–447, div. E, title I, Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 3063, 3064, which are not classified to the Code. The Oil Pollution Act of 1990, referred to in subsec. (e)(1), is Pub. L. 101–380, Aug. 18, 1990, 104 Stat. 484, which is classified principally to chapter 40 (§ 2701 et seq.) of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 2701 of Title 33 and Tables.
Amendments
2010—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 111–212 added subsec. (e). 2005—Pub. L. 109–58 amended section catchline and text generally. Prior to amendment, section consisted of subsecs. (a) to (g) relating to
Construction
of section, definitions, authorization of appropriations, payments to States and political subdivisions, coastal impact assistance plan by the Governor of each producing coastal State, authorized uses of amounts provided, and repayment of amounts inconsistent with authorized uses.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
43 U.S.C. § 1356a
Title 43 — Public Lands
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73