Senate Committee Approves Measure To Protect Ecologically Significant Coastal Lands

Press Release

SENATE COMMITTEE APPROVES MEASURE TO PROTECT ECOLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT COASTAL LANDS

The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee today approved legislation authored by U.S. Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH), and supported by Senator John Sununu (R-NH) and 15 additional cosponsors, which will provide federal funds for the purchase and protection of critical coastal ecosystems with the goal of better ensuring their protection from development or conversion. The measure is now ready for consideration by the full Senate at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader.

"New Hampshire has one of the most beautiful and ecologically-significant coastal ecosystems in the nation," stated Senator Gregg, who initiated funding for this program six years ago as the former Chairman and a current member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee which oversees funding for the Department of Commerce. "I am very pleased that the Senate Commerce Committee recognized the importance of this legislation and worked to expeditiously pass it today. This bill will further preserve our strong New Hampshire legacy by conserving lands around the state, including Great Bay and others. Coastal regions across the nation, including New Hampshire's Seacoast community, are under increasing pressure to sell land for development, land that provides critical habitat for a variety of species. This legislation takes action now to help coastal states around the country conserve significant coastal lands for future generations to enjoy."

Senator Sununu, a Commerce Committee member who supported the bill in today's vote, said, "Preserving New Hampshire's coastal lands is an important part of a broad effort to safeguard the state's special environmental character. Once again I have been glad to join Senator Gregg's effort to advance legislation that permanently establishes the Coastal and Estuarine Land Protection program. This funding source has brought significant resources to our state, helping to move forward land conservation projects along the Seacoast. These ecologically valuable areas face an ongoing threat from development, which highlights the continued importance of private and public partnerships that work to protect critical habitat. The CELP program has repeatedly played a key role in these efforts, and the legislation approved today in the Commerce Committee will help make certain that funds are available for worthy projects in New Hampshire and other states."

The Coastal and Estuarine Land Protection program, to be created under the U.S. Department of Commerce, is modeled after the successful federal Forest Legacy Program. Consistent with the recommendations of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, the CELP program will award grants to states with approved coastal management programs or National Estuarine Research Reserves through a competitive process for the purpose of acquiring property or interest in the property to protect coastal habitats.

The measure is supported by the Trust for Public Land, The Nature Conservancy, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Land Trust Alliance, The Conservation Fund, Restore America's Estuaries, American Fly Fishing Trade Association, The Ocean Conservancy, National Estuarine Research Reserve Association, Association of National Estuary Programs, Coastal States Organization, Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, New Hampshire Audubon, New Jersey Audubon, the NY/NJ Baykeeper, American Littoral Society (NJ), People for Puget Sound, Alliance for Puget Sound Shorelines, Mt. Agamenticus to the Sea Initiative and the Maine Coast Heritage Trust.

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