CS for House Bill No. 74(CRA) - Alaska Coastal Management Program

• Creates the Alaska Coastal Policy Board in the Department of Natural Resources with 5 public members appointed by the governor (one at-large, four from regional nominations) plus 4 state commissioners; public members serve 2-year terms and the board designates co-chairs from both public and commissioner members.

• Transfers key coastal management duties from the Department of Natural Resources to the newly established Alaska Coastal Policy Board, including approving statewide standards, reviewing and approving district coastal management plans, and developing technical and financial assistance programs.

• Establishes enforceable policy requirements for district coastal management plans: policies must be clear and concise, necessary given local conditions, and supported by evidence; policies cannot duplicate state or federal law or arbitrarily restrict uses of state concern.

• Expands consistency review scope to include federal agency activities (lease sales, development projects, seismic surveys) on federal land and the outer continental shelf, requiring full consistency reviews for projects that affect coastal uses or resources.

• Modifies the board's authority over coastal zone boundary changes, district plan approvals, and enforcement of implementation standards, replacing prior departmental authority with board oversight throughout the coastal management program.