ACCOMPLISHMENTS
TO DATE
- Collaborative partnership process established
- 110 projects underway or completed
- 23 States and Territories participating
- $40 million committed to projects
- 300 non-Federal partners participating
- Consensus reports on key issues published
I. RENEWING THE COMMITMENT
1994 MILESTONES
This year saw a sustained commitment to the Coastal America Partnership. A new Memorandum of Understanding was signed, a new member joined the Partnership, and two new Regional Implementation Teams (RITs) were formed.
In July 1994, a new Memorandum of Understanding was signed. The partners renewed their commitment to a national effort to address primary coastal concerns, including habitat loss and degradation, nonpoint source pollution, and contaminated sediments. This renewed effort will be guided by the concepts of ecosystem management and sustainable development. As in the past, Coastal America will continue to operate within existing authorities and strive to link Federal statutes that affect coastal living resources by providing a forum for interagency collaborative action.
As part of an effort to encourage participation by all Federal agencies whose authorities affect the coastal environment, the Department of Energy was invited to join the partnership and sign the Memorandum of Understanding. The addition of the Department of Energy has facilitated the identification of opportunities for environmental restoration in connection with energy development.
To encourage a stronger geographic focus, Mid-Atlantic and Pacific RITs were established. The Mid-Atlantic team extends from Virginia to New York, and the Pacific team includes Hawaii and the Pacific Territories. Formation of these RlTs is expected to enhance local coordination and strategy development.
PARTNERSHIP ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Coastal America began in 1991 with a simple idea--where there are common goals, join forces. Agencies with primary responsibility for management, regulation, and stewardship of coastal living resources joined in partnership to integrate their activities to protect and restore coastal environments. Involvement by State and local governments and nongovernmental organizations became an essential part of the process. The Partnership has grown and become stronger since its inception. Initially composed of four Federal partners, the Partnership now has twelve. Federal officials have built solid working alliances with each other and with their State, local, and nongovernment counterparts.
This unique multiagency partnership represents a new approach to addressing complex environmental problems in a time of limited resources--a new way of doing business that goes beyond conventional roles and demonstrates innovative, aggressive action at all levels. The most significant accomplishment of the Partnership is the establishment of a process that provides:
- A mechanism for leveraging resources, expertise, and authorities which enables comprehensive solutions
- A collaborative problem-solving focus that expedites efforts
- A consensus-building process that avoids conflicts
- A philosophy that encourages cost-efficient, creative solutions
- An action-oriented approach that achieves results
