Program Overview
The
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-58) was
signed into law by President Bush on August 8, 2005. Section
384 of the Act establishes the Coastal Impact Assistance
Program (CIAP) which authorizes funds to be distributed to
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas producing States
to mitigate the impacts of OCS oil and gas activities.
Under the CIAP, the
Secretary of the Interior is authorized to
distribute to producing States and coastal political
subdivisions (CPSs) $250 million for each of the fiscal
years 2007 through 2010. This money will be shared among
Alabama, Alaska, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, and
Texas and will be allocated to each producing State and
eligible CPS based upon allocation formulas prescribed by
the Act.
Pursuant to the Act, a producing State or CPS
shall use all amounts received under this section for one or more of the
following purposes:
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Projects and activities for the conservation, protection, or
restoration of coastal areas, including wetland
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Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources
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Planning assistance and the administrative costs of complying with this section
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Implementation of a federally-approved marine, coastal, or
comprehensive conservation management plan
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Mitigation of the impact of OCS activities through funding of onshore infrastructure projects and public
service needs |
Each
eligible State will be allocated their share based on the State’s Qualified
Outer Continental Shelf Revenue (QOCSR) generated off of its coast in
proportion to the total QOCSR generated off the coasts of all eligible
States.
Allocations to States in fiscal year (FY)
2007 and FY 2008 are based on FY 2006 QOCSR, and allocations to States
in FY 2009 and FY 2010 are based on FY 2008 QOCSR. The allotment amounts
were available April 16, 2007, for FY 2007 and FY 2008. The allotment
amounts for FY 2009 and FY 2010 will be available in mid-April 2009.
In the February 16, 2007, Continuing
Resolution, Congress approved a 3-percent appropriation of the CIAP
funds to be used by MMS to administer the CIAP program.
Only States that submit a coastal impact
assistance State plan (Plan) that meets MMS approval will be eligible to
receive CIAP funds. Plans must be developed in consultation with
eligible CPSs. A Plan for at least the first year’s funds was to be
submitted to MMS for approval by July 1, 2008.If a State could not
submit a Plan by that date, it was to inform MMS of its good intent to do
so. CIAP recipients with an approved Plan may submit grant applications for
projects included in the Plan. At the time a State Plan is approved, the
State announcement concerning CIAP grants will be available through the
Grants.gov website.
All six states now have an approved State Plan. They range
from 1 year to 4 year Plans.
Louisiana - approved
November, 2007, 4 year plan
Alaska - approved
September, 2008, 4 year Plan
Texas - approved
January, 2009, 1 year Plan for 2007 funds
Mississippi – approved
February, 2009, 4 year plan
Alabama - approved
April, 2009, 2 year Plan for 2007-2008 funds
California -
approved July, 2009, 4 year Plan
Funding requests within
project applications can be approved only for the projects
and funds covered in the State Plan and available in the
U.S. Treasury. The FY 2010 funds will not be available for
commitment to the recipients until early 2010.
CIAP Program Coordinator, Lee Benner
381 Elden Street
MS 4040
Herndon, VA
20170
Tel:
(703) 787-1710
FAX: (703)
787-1053
