15A NCAC 07L .0503. PRIORITIES FOR FUNDING CAMA LAND USE PLANS AND IMPLEMENTATION PROJECTS

(a)  In funding local planning and management grants, DENR shall follow the general priorities set out in 15A NCAC 07L .0503(b).  Examples of the types of eligible projects are listed and have been placed in the appropriate priority category.   Any applications for project funding not specifically identified and placed in a priority category shall be assigned the appropriate priority category by DENR upon receipt of the application.  Funding priorities and eligibility for the Sustainable Communities Component of the planning program are described in 15A NCAC 07L .0512.

(b)  General priority categories for local planning and management grants are as follows:

(1)           The highest priority includes projects directly mandated by statute, including initial and updated CAMA land use plans, local participation in projects initiated by DENR, and projects DENR indicates urgently need local attention in order to meet CRC management topics.  In general, grants for projects in this priority category, except CAMA Workbook land use plans, shall be funded for no more than 85 percent of the total project cost, although lower funding percentages may be awarded.  The type of CAMA land use plan to be funded and the corresponding percentage of funding shall be based on community characteristics as determined during the scoping process described in 15A NCAC 07L .0505 to be held prior to project application.

(2)           The second priority includes projects directly related to carrying out the explicit goals of CAMA, for which DENR indicates there is a high priority for local actions or projects which are coastally dependent (water-related) or projects to implement the CAMA land use plan such as public facilities planning or land use regulations preparation.  Grants for projects in this category shall be for no more than 65 percent of the total project cost, although lower funding percentages may be awarded.

(3)           The third priority includes projects related to improving local coastal management and land use management capabilities.  Grants for projects in this priority category shall be for no more than 50 percent of the total project cost, although lower funding percentages may be awarded.

(c)  In addition, DENR shall take into consideration the following factors listed in order of importance to establish priorities for individual projects within the general priority categories:

(1)           project's contribution towards meeting CRC management topics;

(2)           the extent to which the project includes measures of environmental protection beyond Areas of Environmental Concern (AEC) standards;

(3)           applicant's urgency of need;

(4)           past history of applicant's implementation of CAMA planning and management activities;

(5)           feasibility of successful completion of project by the applicant;

(6)           past experience with this program as well as present management and administrative capabilities;

(7)           potential applicability of the project to other coastal area municipalities and counties; and

(8)           geographic distribution of applicants.

(d)  In priority categories two and three, the proportion of the grant award to total project costs shall be the same for all similar projects.  For example, if one waterfront access plan is funded at a 60 percent level, all waterfront access plans shall be funded at a 60 percent level.  The only exception to this involves multi-year projects which may receive a lower level of funding within a given priority category after the initial year.

(e)  Generally, available funds shall first be allocated to projects in priority category one; then, if there are funds remaining, grants shall be made to projects in priority category two; and then, if there are funds remaining, grants may be made to projects in priority category three.  However, the factors listed in Paragraph (c) of this Rule shall also be considered in funding decisions.  Sustainable Communities projects shall be funded as described in 15A NCAC 07L .0512.

(f)  Any local government whose CAMA land use plan is not certified by the CRC due to failure to meet the criteria listed in 15A NCAC 07B .0803 shall not receive further funding under this program until these inconsistencies are corrected.

(g)  Any local government that is not implementing its certified CAMA land use plan shall not receive additional funding under this program.  CAMA land use plan implementation shall be documented through periodic Implementation Status Reports provided to the Division of Coastal Management (DCM), as described in 15A NCAC 07L .0511 (Required Periodic Implementation Status Reports).  A local government that is deemed by the DCM Planner to not have implemented its current CAMA land use plan may seek a review by the Director of the DCM to determine if the current CAMA land use plan implementation is acceptable to receive future funding.

(h)  All funding decisions shall be based on availability and amount of state and federal appropriations.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 113A‑112; 113A‑124;

Eff. August 1, 2002.