Authority and Purpose

(1) Authority. 301 CMR 20.00 is promulgated by the Secretary of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs under the authority of M.G.L. c. 21A, §§ 2 and 4A and St. 1983, c. 589, § 30 and pursuant to the federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.) and implementing regulations at 15 CFR §§ 923 and 930. (2) Purpose. 301 CMR 20.00 is promulgated to carry out the responsibility of the Office of Coastal Zone Management under M.G.L. c. 21A, § 4A to secure for the inhabitants of the Commonwealth the objectives and benefits of the federal Coastal Zone Management Act 16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq. The general purposes of 301 CMR 20.00 are to: (a) establish the Massachusetts Coastal Program Policies as official statements of state environmental policy governing coastal resources and uses as part of the Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management Program; (b) ensure that implementation of the Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management Program by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, its Office of Coastal Zone Management, and its departments and divisions are conducted and coordinated in accordance with M.G.L. c. 21A, §§ 2(29) and 4A; and (c) allow for analysis and evaluation of projects in the Coastal Zone for which consistency review with Coastal Program Policies is authorized.