CSO Newsletter
The Coastal States Organization represents the nation’s Coastal States, Territories & Commonwealths on ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resource issues.
Spotlight on Coastal Management
Fast-tracking post-storm permitting and supporting recovery in South Carolina
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management hit the ground running after Hurricane Matthew slammed the state’s coast in 2016, where it caused nearly $341 million in damages. [1] Within two weeks, DHEC coastal specialists had evaluated 1,466 sites and issued more than 200 emergency permits for structure repair. DHEC emergency orders enabled residents to use sand bags, sand scraping, and beach nourishment for oceanfront protection. For structures damaged beyond repair, the program offered technical engineering assistance to complete assessments and guide property owners through regulatory processes for rebuilding or, in the case of erosion-control structures, removal.

[1] NOAA Office for Coastal Management, 2017, Storm-Recovery Actions Bring Quick Results . https://coast.noaa.gov/states/stories/storm-recovery-actions-bring-quick-results.html
After the rains have passed through Edisto Beach, Edisto Island, SC, the area now faces the flooding and damage caused by Hurricane Matthew on Friday, Oct. 8, 2016. South Carolina National Guard (SCNG) in support of local and state authorities, are on the ground along ready to respond as needed. Approximately 2,300 South Carolina National Guard Soldiers and Airmen have been activated since Oct. 4, 2016 to support state and county emergency management agencies and local first responders after Governor Nikki Haley declared a State of Emergency. DOD photo by Staff Sgt. Erica Knight.
At the Agencies
NOAA
Using Flood Exposure Maps - Jun. 14, 2018; 1:00pm - 2:00pm Eastern
The rising costs and dangers associated with coastal flooding are motivating communities to assess the people, places, and resources at risk. During this live interview with a guest speaker, participants will hear first-hand experiences from field experts who have used maps to engage stakeholders in discussions about local hazards and risk. Participants will learn how to best use local flood exposure maps when working with citizens and local officials.

This live webinar supports the work of community land use, hazards, and resilience planners. It replaces the Roadmap for Adapting to Coastal Risk webinar. Read more.
BOEM
BOEM Extends Comment Period for Seeking Information and Industry Interest in Offshore Wind Energy Development within the New York Bight Region
BOEM today announced the agency will now accept comments through July 30, 2018 for information and nominations for offshore wind energy development within the New York Bight region. In addition, BOEM will be working with affected states in the New York Bight to plan additional stakeholder engagement opportunities with key stakeholder groups, such as commercial and recreational fisheries and the maritime navigation community. Read more.
USACE
Army Civil Works Program, FY 2018 work plan released
In the States and Regions
West Coast & Pacific Islands
Little-Known Accounting Policy Could Fuel Green Infrastructure Surge
Most water agencies don’t think of local water projects like green roofs or efficiency rebates as assets, but now they can. And that means agencies can now access capital markets for funding, which could help dramatically grow these projects. Read more.
East Coast and Caribbean
V.I. Port Authority Reports Continued Restoration Progress
The Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA) continues to make progress with the rebuilding of the U.S. Virgin Islands air and seaports. The territory’s ports were severely damaged during two Category 5 hurricanes in September 2017.
Aviation

VIPA’s contractor, Lemartec Inc., has begun construction of a new roof for the Cyril E. King Airport Terminal. The entire 240,000-square foot roof at the CEKA Terminal will be replaced with a metal and two-ply membrane roof. The roof replacement will be done in phases to address the most critical areas first and should be completed by late November 2018. Read more.

USACE Releases Draft Chesapeake Bay Comprehensive Plan
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore and Norfolk districts, in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced the release of the main report of the draft Chesapeake Bay Comprehensive Water Resources and Restoration Plan, May 31, 2018. Read more.

Maryland Announces First State-Led Climate Leadership Academy
Maryland is launching the nation’s first state-sponsored Climate Leadership Academy to help local governments, critical infrastructure organizations and state agencies effectively plan, prepare and implement climate change initiatives.

At a launch event on the first day of Maryland’s inaugural State of the Coast conference, senior state and local officials and decision-makers developed a vision for the academy, which will be an important resource to help public and private sector incorporate the impacts of climate change into their decision-making and planning. Read more.

State officials look to shore up coastal communities
Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton turned his head Tuesday and admired the view of waves rolling in and sliding up Nauset Beach from the rounded top of a protective wall of sand.

He then acknowledged the loss of Liam’s restaurant, a fixture at the popular beach, that until a few months ago stood on that spot but was lost almost overnight to an implacable series of storms and nearly 60 feet of erosion. Read more.
Gulf of Mexico
CPRA Presents Louisiana Coastal Basins Report
Louisiana’s coastal basins need help, the state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) reported at the biennial State of the Coast Conference at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center yesterday.

During a panel discussion led by CPRA Operations Chief Ignacio Harrouch, officials also said that much has been done in each of the basins, and CPRA has plans to do even more through projects outlined in its 2017 Coastal Master Plan. Read more.
Great Lakes
EPA Hosts Public Engagement Sessions Across Great Lakes Basin
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will host a series of public engagement sessions this summer to update the public on the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and to seek their input on future priorities.

The first engagement session will be held on June 13 in Toledo, followed by sessions in Rochester, Duluth, Milwaukee, Saginaw, and Chicago. Read more.
Announcements
Add Your Name In Support of National Ocean Sciences Board
Ocean education needs greater attention in the U.S. The National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB) is a long-standing program providing high school students with high quality educational experiences and building a community—already tens of thousands strong—of STEM trained, ocean literate, and thoughtful future leaders in our nation’s workforce. The letter linked below urges the federal government to renew its support for ocean education and, in particular, the NOSB. Without sustained federal funding, the NOSB will likely soon come to an end. Please help us demonstrate the ocean science and education community’s support for this program and the need for federal action by signing on to the letter. Sign on here!

Apply Now to the New Strengthening Coastal Counties Resilience Challenge
The National Association of Counties, the Association of State Floodplain Managers and the Coastal States Organization have launched the Strengthening Coastal Counties Resilience Challenge - a technical assistance pilot program to help counties identify ways to increase resilience to extreme weather and climate-related hazards across the Gulf of Mexico region. The Challenge is open to teams from Gulf coastal counties with populations of fewer than 250,000. Applications are due Friday, June 15, 2018. Learn more and apply here: www.naco.org/coastalcounties.
Events & Webinars
June 17 - 21, 2018

July 23 - 26, 2018

August 6 - 9, 2018

September 17 -19, 2018

October 15 - 19, 2018
  • Coastal States Organization Annual Meeting, Providence, Rhode Island

October 30 - Nov 2 , 2018

December 8 - 13, 2018
Job Openings
The views expressed in articles referenced here are those of the authors and do not represent or reflect the views of CSO.  

If you have a news item or job posting to include in future CSO Newsletters, please send an email to: gwilliams@coastalstates.org with a subject line: "Newsletter Content". Please include the information to be considered in the body of the email. 
 
Please note: CSO reserves final decision regarding published newsletter content and may not use all information submitted.
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