Last week, we welcomed our new coastal management fellow, Natalie Cross, to CSO! Her work at CSO will focus on providing technical assistance and capacity support for the implementation of justice and equity policies and programs within state coastal zone management programs. Prior to joining CSO, Natalie served as a policy research fellow with Urban Ocean Lab, a think tank focused on providing an equitable and just future for coastal cities. She holds an M.S. (‘23) and B.S. with Honors (‘22) from Stanford University’s Earth Systems program where she specialized in marine ecological research, environmental justice & scientific communication. Hailing from a Caribbean family, she is particularly passionate about supporting historically marginalized coastal communities, as they much too often bear the brunt of climate and environmental injustices.

New Announcements:

Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Underserved Communities

NOAA Habitat (Fisheries) announced the BIL/IRA funded Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Tribes and Underserved Communities. $45 million to support capacity building, science and restoration projects. Applications are due December 19, 2023.

Marine Debris – Removal & Interception Technology

NOAA National Ocean Service announced the BIL funded Marine Debris Removal & Interception Technology NOFOs. $24 million to support removing and preventing marine debris from getting in coastal waters. LOIs are due Friday October 27, 2023 (Removal); and Wednesday November 15, 2023 (Interception Technology).

On-going opportunities:

All information available at https://www.coastalstates.org/members-only/cso-work-groups/2023-funding-work-group/

NOAA Fisheries announced the BIL/IRA funded fish passage NOFO. $175 million to support projects that reopen migratory pathways and restore access to healthy habitat for fish around the country. Applications are due Thursday October 16, 2023.

The application for CZM (and NERRS) non-competitive funds from IRA was just published. $20 million is available to state CZM programs, with amounts based on formula. The application deadline of Wednesday November 1, 2023. (See here for NERRS)

NOAA’s Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience NOFO is now available for a $240 million fund from NOAA Fisheries transformational projects that restore coastal habitat and strengthen community resilience. NOAA will accept proposals between $1 million and $25 million total over the award period. Applications are due by Tuesday November 17, 2023. For more information, view the Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grants funding opportunity.

Sea Grant is administering the Climate Ready Workforce opportunity to establish programs aimed at at placing people across the country into good jobs that advance climate resilience. LOIs are due Thursday November 30, 2023.

Closed – awaiting invitations:

The Climate Resilience Regional Challenge had, according to NOAA, “overwhelming” response. NOAA is still on Track to invite back some LOI submissions for a full proposal by October 11.

CZM Competitive Funding using BIL year 2 and IRA funds received about 65 LOIs, totaling ~$175 Million (both similar to last year). Just under $60 million will be awarded this year. Some LOI submissions will be invited to submit a full proposal by early October.

See here for the August monthly regulatory update. More information on rulemaking developments is available on the Regulatory Resources page.

[NEW] WOTUS Rule Amendment to Issue Friday, Effective Immediately

On Sep. 8, 2023, EPA and USACE intend to issue a new final rule amending the jurisdictional reach of the Clean Water Act over wetlands (a pre-publication version was release on Aug. 29). The final rule is intended to conform the definition of “waters of the United States” to the U.S. Supreme Court’s May 25, 2023, decision in Sackett v. EPA by removing reference to the “significant nexus” test and “interstate wetlands.” A factsheet, redline of the regulatory text, and registration for a Tuesday Sep. 12, 2023 public webinar are available at EPA’s rulemaking page. The new final rule will not be open for public comment and will become effective immediately on formal publication in the Federal Register. USACE has also indicated that it intends to resume issuing jurisdictional determinations per the new rule.

OMB Issues Draft Ecosystem Services Valuation Guidance – Deadline 9/18

On August 1, 2023, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released a draft for first-ever federal guidance for accounting for ecosystem services in benefit-cost analysis. The draft guidance sets out procedures to aggregate and compare monetized, quantified, or qualitatively described impacts on natural, built, and social systems. The new requirements would be applicable to benefit-cost analysis for both federal rulemaking (under OMB Circular A-4) and federal investment (under OMB Circular A-94). OMB has issued a Request for Information seeking feedback on the draft. Comments may be submitted via Regulations.gov through Monday September 18, 2023.

NOAA RFI on Equitable Delivery of Climate Services

On Jul. 20, 2023, NOAA issued a Request for Information on how to enhance NOAA's delivery of climate data, information, science, and tools accounting for the needs and priorities of a diverse set of user communities as they engage in climate preparedness, adaptation, and resilience planning. Regional listening sessions will be held through August starting August 3, 2023; register here. Comments may be submitted via Regulations.gov through Thursday September 21, 2023.

CEQ Issues NEPA “Phase 2” Rule – Deadline 9/29

On Jul. 31, 2023, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) issued a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Implementation Regulations Phase 2 proposed rule. Significant changes under the proposed rule include a codified definition for “environmental justice” that calls for more explicit consideration of impacts on burdened communities, requiring assessment of both the impacts of the proposed action on climate change as well as reasonably foreseeable effects of climate change on the proposed action, broadening consideration of context and intensity to include multiple geographic and time scales, and creating greater flexibility for agencies to promulgate and use categorical exclusions. The Rule also invites agencies to pursue “innovative approaches” to NEPA compliance when addressing “extreme environmental challenges” due to climate change. A redline of changes from current regulations under the proposed rule is available here. Virtual meetings will be held in late August and September. Comments may be submitted via Regulations.gov through Friday September 29, 2023.

DOE CITAP Transmission Review Process Rule Proposed – Comment deadline Oct. 2, 2023

On Aug. 16, 2023, the Energy Department issued a proposed rule to streamline the federal permitting process for high voltage transmission lines. The new regulations apply to non-marine interstate transmission projects carrying greater than 230kV which require a NEPA Environmental Impact Statement. Proponents of offshore grid projects (not generation export cables) can also request to use the accelerated process. Comments can be submitted via Regulations.gov through Monday October 2, 2023.

EPA Clean Water Act 404 Assumption Rule Proposed – Comment deadline Oct. 13, 2023

On Aug. 14, 2023, EPA formally issued a proposed rule to revise the process for states and Tribes to administer Clean Water Act Section 404 dredge and fill permitting programs, after releasing a July prepublication copy. Elements of the proposed rule include clarification of retained waters, compensatory mitigation requirements (allowing banks and permittee mitigation but not in-lieu fees), and five-year permit limits. Public comment may be submitted via Regulations.gov through Friday October 13, 2023.

[NEW] NASA Sea Level Rise Decision Impact Survey

NASA has released a survey to understand how NASA can best support climate-related decision making. During group interviews with coastal managers from around the USA, they asked participants to provide specific examples of information, tools, or decision support resources that would allow them to more effectively make decisions related to sea level rise. The list of "needs" included in the survey was compiled based on participant responses and NASA would like your input as to how impactful each would be for coastal adaptation planning. Take the ~5 minute survey here. The deadline is Monday September 18, 2023. If you have any questions contact kelli.archie@acgi.org.

[NEW] FEMA Announces FY22 BRIC and FMA Selections

On August 28, 2023, FEMA announced the selection of 124 projects for this year’s BRIC National Competition. In addition, this is a follow-up from May 19, when FEMA announced the BRIC initial selections for the Tribal Set-Aside and the State and Territory Allocation. FEMA made $2.295 billion available for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program in fiscal year 2022. BRIC received 803 subapplications totaling more than $4.6 billion from 55 states, territories, and the District of Columbia. The agency also received requests from 37 tribal governments totaling more than $56.2 million in the Tribal Set-Aside funds. Learn about the application process here and see the selected projects here.

[REMINDER] Ocean Acidification Mini-Grant Opportunity

NOAA's Ocean Acidification Program has announced a FY24 Education mini-grant opportunity to provide assistance for the development of ocean and coast educational tools in underserved and/or Indigenous communities. Letters of intent are due by Friday, September 15, 2023. 

NOAA Brennan Ocean Mapping Matching Fund

NOAA invites non-Federal entities to partner with NOAA National Ocean Service’s ocean and coastal mapping programs on jointly funded projects of mutual interest. NOAA would receive and match partner funds and rely on its existing contract arrangements to conduct the surveying and mapping activities in FY2025. Cost share is 70% federal / 30% non-federal up to $1M total. Proposals must be submitted via email to iwgocm.staff@noaa.gov. Proposals, including any optional GIS files of the proposed project areas, must be received via email by 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday October 10, 2023. If an entity is unable to apply but has an interest in participating in similar future opportunities, NOAA requests a one-page statement of interest, also by October 10, 2023. Virtual office hours will be held Sep. 14, 2023; register by email.

Request for Proposals on Including Indigenous Ways of Knowing in Decision-Making for Ocean and Coastal Management

The Lenfest Ocean Program has released an RFP for projects that elevate Indigenous Peoples in sharing their traditions, culture, knowledge, and wisdom to improve evidence-based decision-making for the management, conservation, and restoration of coastal marine species, habitats, and ecosystems. The RFP is intended to support identification, analysis, and/or communication of Indigenous Knowledge and wisdom (where it is culturally appropriate); and engagement approaches that facilitate the inclusion of this knowledge into ocean and coastal management decisions. The deadline to apply is Monday October 16, 2023.