Federal Consistency

Federal consistency refers to the requirement in Section 307 of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) that certain specified federal actions be consistent with approved state coastal management programs.

Under the federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, all Federal agencies are required to conduct their planning, management, development, and regulatory activities in a manner consistent with federally-approved state and territorial coastal zone management programs.

The Division of Coastal Resources Management reviews federal agency activities for compliance with the CNMI’s coastal management program. If you have any questions about DCRM’s federal consistency process, please contact FedCon@dcrm.gov.mp.

Guide to Federal Consistency

List of Actions Subject to CZMA Review

CNMI’s Procedures Guide for Achieving Federal Consistency

NOAA’s FAQs on Federal Consistency 

View NOAA Guidance on Federal Consistency 

PowerPoint on Federal Consistency

View PowerPoint

Public Notices – Projects Under Review 

• 7/10/2020: Public Notice for CNMI Bottomfish Annual Catch Limits, Annual Catch Targets, and Accountability Measures. NOAA-NMFS
• 4/10/2020: Public Notice for Stormwater Discharge From Industrial Facilities. EPA
• 4/10/2020: Public Notice for Fishery Observer Rules. NOAA-NMFS
• 4/10/2020: Public Notice for Longline Caught Bigeye Tuna Catch Limit. NOAA-NMFS
• 3/19/2020: Public Notice for Expendable Bathythermographs (XBTs) in CNMI. NOAA-Office of Coast Survey
• 3/3/2020: Public Notice for Temporary Construction of Seabee Expeditionary Camp in Tinian and the proposed location. DOD-Navy
• 2/28/2020: Public Notice for Temporary Installation of One Tide Buoy in Two Locations in CNMI. NOAA-Office of Coast Survey
• 1/16/2020: Public Notice for NOAA-NMFS Draft Programmatic Agreement. NOAA-NMFS
• 1/16/2020: Public Notice for Hydrographic Survey, Drone Operation, and Coral Reef Surveys. NOAA-NMFS
• 1/6/2020: Public Notice for Marianas Islands Training and Testing (MITT) Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). DoD-Navy. More information about this consistency determination can be accessed here.

dcrm federal CONSISTENCY DETERMINATIONS

• 7/27/2020: Response for CNMI Bottomfish Annual Catch Limits, Annual Catch Targets, and Accountability Measures. NOAA-NMFS
• 6/3/2020: Response for Stormwater Discharge From Industrial Facilities. EPA
• 5/12/2020: Response for Fishery Observer Rules. NOAA-NMFS
• 5/18/2020: Response for Longline Caught Bigeye Tuna Catch Limit. NOAA-NMFS
• 3/30/2020: Response for Expendable Bathythermographs (XBTs) in CNMI. NOAA-Office of Coast Survey
• 3/25/2020: Response for Temporary Construction of Seabee Expeditionary Camp in Tinian and the proposed location. DOD-Navy
• 5/25/2020: Response for Temporary Installation of One Tide Buoy in Two Locations in CNMI. NOAA-Office of Coast Survey
• 1/29/2020: Response for NOAA-NMFS Draft Programmatic Agreement. NOAA-NMFS
• 1/29/2020: Response for Hydrographic Survey, Drone Operation, and Coral Reef Surveys. NOAA-NMFS
• 3/9/2020: Response for Marianas Islands Training and Testing (MITT) Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). DoD-Navy.

Public Notices – Updates to Regulations

• 3/1/2019: Public Notice for OCM’s Response to 9/18/2018 Routine Program Change Request
• 9/18/2018: Public Notice for Routine Program Change Request (revised from 08/29/2018)
• 8/29/2018: Public Notice for OCM’s Response to 4/18/2018 Routine Program Change Request and new Routine Program Change Request
• 4/18/2018: Public Notice for Routine Program Change Request
• 12/2/2015: Public Notice on OCM’s Response to Routine Program Change Request
• 10/13/2015: Public Notice for Routine Program Change Request
• 5/28/2015: Public Notice on OCM’s Response to Routine Program Change Request
• 4/3/2015: Public Notice for Routine Program Change Request
• 9/15/2014: Incorporation of Current Water Quality Regulations to Coastal Management Program
• 9/10/2014: Approved Changes to the CNMI’s Coastal Management Program