The aim of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) of 1972 was to protect the environment along the nation’s coastal region. The legislation is evidence that Congress recognized the significance of tackling the challenges posed by population growth along coastal zones. Several provisions are present in the CZMA, among them is the federal consistency provision. The forethought is that federal agencies are required to predict the possible effects of population growth on coastal zones (Miller, 2018). As per the federally approved coastal management program, agency activities are to maximize their authority, however, to practical extents. Additionally, these programs are to be managed by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council case of 1992 is an example of the conflict between the public and coastal management agencies that reached the supreme court. The case involved David H. Lucas, an investor who purchased property along the South Carolina beachfront. He was, however, restricted from erecting houses on the property by the Beachfront Management Act ( Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council, 1992). The Beachfront Management Act was enacted as the property’s effects would be adverse for the public beach. Lucas filed a suit asserting that the action was not just as he did not receive compensation for his deprived economic benefits. The lower courts agreed with his argument and initially awarded Lucas over $ 1.2 million ( Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council, 1992). However, the government of South Carolina appealed the case, and the Supreme Court of South Carolina reversed the ruling. The California Coastal Zone Management Program (CCZMP) is one of the most influential agencies in the country. Under strict regulations, the agency determines buildings to be along the California coastline (Nagourney, 2016). The agency is independent of state bureaucracy; it receives recognition for its high scrutiny of all projects regardless of size (Nagourney, 2016). From a personal perspective, the initiative is noble as it protects the coastal zones from the damaging effects of population growth while maintaining the aesthetics of the region. However, the growing economic demand for housing in the region has resulted in conflicts with the agency (Nagourney, 2016). The current policy observed by the California Coastal Zone Management Program is the preservation of the aesthetics and environment of the coastal line.
References
Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Council , 505 U.S. 1003, 112 S. Ct. 2886 (1992)
Miller, A. (2018). Coastal management: An unfinished undertaking. In Man and the marine environment (pp. 119-140). CRC Press.
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Nagourney, A. (2016). Californians Fight Over Whether Coast Should Be Rugged or Refined . Nytimes.com. Retrieved 29 February 2020, from https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/09/us/california-coastal-commission.html.
