§ 1356a. Coastal impact assistance program

(a) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Coastal political subdivision

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) Coastal population

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) Coastal State

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) Coastline

The term “coastline” has the meaning given the term “coast line” in section 1301 of this title.

(5) Distance

The term “distance” means the minimum great circle distance, measured in statute miles.

(6) Leased tract

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.

(7) Leasing moratoria

The term “leasing moratoria” means the prohibitions on preleasing, leasing, and related activities on any geographic area of the outer Continental Shelf as contained in sections 107 through 109 of division E of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (Public Law 108–447; 118 Stat. 3063).

(8) Political subdivision

The term “political subdivision” means the local political jurisdiction immediately below the level of State government, including counties, parishes, and boroughs.

(9) Producing State

(A) In general

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) Exclusion

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) Qualified Outer Continental Shelf revenues

(A) In general

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) Inclusions

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.

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) Payments to producing States and coastal political subdivisions

(1) In general

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) Disbursement

In each fiscal year, the Secretary shall disburse to each producing State for which the Secretary has approved a plan under subsection (c) of this section, 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) Allocation among producing States

(A) In general

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) Amount of outer Continental Shelf revenues

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.

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) Minimum allocation

The amount allocated to a producing State under subparagraph (A) shall be at least 1 percent of the amounts available under paragraph (1).

(4) Payments to coastal political subdivisions

(A) In general

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) Formula

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.

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 1/3 the average length of the coastline of all coastal political subdivisions with a coastline in the State of Louisiana.

(D) Exception for the State of Alaska

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) Exclusion of certain leased tracts

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) No approved plan

(A) In general

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) of this section, the Secretary shall allocate the undisbursed amount equally among all other producing States.

(B) Retention of allocation

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) of this section is decided.

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) of this section.

(1) Submission of State plans

(A) In general

Not later than July 1, 2008, the Governor of a producing State shall submit to the Secretary a coastal impact assistance plan.

(B) Public participation

In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Governor shall solicit local input and provide for public participation in the development of the plan.

(2) Approval

(A) In general

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) Components

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) of this section; 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) Amendment

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) Procedure

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) Authorized uses

(1) In general

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.

(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) Compliance with authorized uses

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) Limitation

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).

U.S. Code

§ 1356a. Coastal impact assistance program