This Act establishes a voluntary national program within the Department of Commerce to encourage coastal States to develop and implement coastal zone management plans. Funds were authorized for cost-sharing grants to States to develop their programs. Each State's plan was required to define boundaries of the coastal zone, to identify uses of the area to be regulated by the State, the mechanism (criteria, standards or regulations) for controlling such uses, and broad guidelines for priorities of uses within the coastal zone. The Act also establishes a system of criteria and standards for requiring that Federal actions be conducted in a manner consistent with the Federally approved plan. The Act also establishes a program for the prevention and control of harmful algal blooms and hypoxia.
Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 USC 1451-1466).