The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration conducted its periodic review of the North Carolina Coastal Management Program during the week of Sept. 12. NOAA evaluates all coastal management programs about once every five years. North Carolina’s last review was in 2006.
A team of two federal reviewers from NOAA and one reviewer from California spent the week traveling the North Carolina coast and meeting with DCM staff and representatives of the Coastal Resources Commission, Coastal Resources Advisory Council, other state Department of Environment and Natural Resources divisions, environmental groups and local governments.
At the end of the week, the team provided informal feedback on how the program is being managed to DCM staff and DENR Secretary Dee Freeman. DCM should receive a formal report from NOAA in the next few months.