COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT REVIEW.

SEC. 6212. COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT REVIEW. (a) Public Participation.—Subsection (b) of section 312 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1458) is amended to read as follows: “(b) In evaluating a coastal State’s performance, the Secretary shall conduct the evaluation in an open and public manner, and provide full opportunity for public participation, including holding public meetings in the State being evaluated and providing opportunities for the submission of written and oral comments by the public. The Secretary shall provide the public with at least 45 days’ notice of such public meetings by placing a notice in the Federal Register, by publication of timely notices in newspapers of general circulation within the State being evaluated, and by communications with persons and organizations known to be interested in the evaluation. Each evaluation shall be prepared in report form and shall include written responses to the written comments received during the evaluation process. The final report of the evaluation shall be completed within 120 days after the last public meeting held in the State being evaluated. Copies of the evaluation shall be immediately provided to all persons and organizations participating in the evaluation process.”. 104 STAT. 1388–312 (b) Interim Sanctions.—Subsection (c) of section 312 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1458(c)) is amended to read as follows: “(c)(1) The Secretary may suspend payment of any portion of financial assistance extended to any coastal State under this title, and may withdraw any unexpended portion of such assistance, if the Secretary determines that the coastal state is failing to adhere to (A) the management program or a State plan developed to manage a national estuarine reserve established under section 315 of this title, or a portion of the program or plan approved by the Secretary, or (B) the terms of any grant or cooperative agreement funded under this title. “(2) Financial assistance may not be suspended under paragraph (1) unless the Secretary provides the Governor of the coastal state with— “(A) written specifications and a schedule for the actions that should be taken by the State in order that such suspension of financial assistance may be withdrawn; and “(B) written specifications stating how those funds from the suspended financial assistance shall be expended by the coastal state to take the actions referred to in subparagraph (A). “(3) The suspension of financial assistance may not last for less than 6 months or more than 36 months after the date of suspension.”. (c) Final Sanctions.—Section 312(d) of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1458(d)) is amended to read as follows: “(d) The Secretary shall withdraw approval of the management program of any coastal state and shall withdraw financial assistance available to that State under this title as well as any unexpended portion of such assistance, if the Secretary determines that the coastal state has failed to take the actions referred to in subsection (c)(2)(A).”. (d) Repeal.—Subsection (f) of section 312 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1458) is repealed.