Contact: Stanley Young 916.653.5792
June 5, 2001 Brian Baird 415.904.5466

California Resources Secretary Announces
Deadline Extension for Comments on Draft Policy

SACRAMENTO - Today California Resources Secretary Mary D. Nichols announced an extension of the deadline for submitting comments on the state's draft policy on coastal erosion planning and response. The new deadline for comments is July 9, 2001.

Since May 22, public meetings have been held in Carpinteria, Newport Beach, Encinitas, Santa Monica, Sausalito, Santa Cruz and Sacramento to solicit public comment for integration into a final revised policy. "The comments we have received to date are quite helpful and are providing a variety of good suggestions for making improvements to the draft document," indicated Secretary Nichols. "We want to give the public the maximum opportunity to provide input into this process," she continued. Members of the public attending the meetings had requested a deadline extension.

The draft policy constitutes an unprecedented approach to the problem of coastal erosion by coordinating the activities of different government agencies that have historically not worked in unison on this pressing problem. The document entitled "Draft Policy on Coastal Erosion Planning and Response and Background Material," is the first statewide policy statement on shoreline erosion released by the Resources Agency in over 23 years. Nichols noted that the new draft policy provides for the maintenance of critical infrastructure and the protection of natural resources, while also considering the dynamic and sometimes unpredictable nature of the state's coastal bluffs, beaches and sand resources.

Recognizing the importance of this issue to the California economy, Governor Gray Davis awarded $10 million in grant funds this year to support projects addressing coastal erosion issues. The reason for this focus by the Davis administration is clear: approximately 85 percent of the coast is actively eroding, natural sand supply to beaches has decreased, storm activity has caused substantial coastal damage, and the majority of California's population lives within 30 miles of the coast.

The policy document can be found online at http://ceres.ca.gov/cra/ocean. Print copies of the draft policy are available at local libraries throughout California (see web site for locations). For a hard copy contact Clifton Moberg at the Resources Agency (916.653.5656 or Clifton@resources.ca.gov).

Public comments may be submitted electronically (shorepolicy@ceres.ca.gov) or by mail to the address below and must be postmarked no later than July 9, 2001.

Brian Baird, Ocean Program Manager
Resources Agency of California
1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1311
Sacramento, CA 98514