The Trump administration has begun a new review of the California Coastal Commission and other powerful coastal watchdogs — a move that several state leaders and environmental activists worry could undermine the state’s mandate to protect its precious coastline.
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick recently ordered a review, calling some of the country’s efforts to regulate joint projects “environmental overreach.”
“California has repeatedly and unjustifiably obstructed spaceport development,” Lutnick wrote. He said the previous assessment did not take enough into account the economics and the opinion of government officials, especially “with regard to offshore oil production, pipeline maintenance and desalination.”
The review will be conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and will examine California’s decades-old Coastal Management Plan, a voluntary, federal partnership established by the Coastal Management Act. The system provides states with the power to review, control and provide input on federal projects that affect their coasts, but not broad veto power.
The California Coastal Commission, the State Coastal Conservancy and the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission all operate the California system in partnership with NOAA.
Such reviews happen regularly, but this one comes shortly after the Biden administration completed its review. It also comes as the Trump administration is pushing an agenda that could have major impacts on California’s coast, including expanded offshore drilling and increased rocketry.
“For decades, coastal states and the federal government have worked together to effectively manage our coastlines,” California Environmental Secretary Wade Crowfoot said in a statement. “Now, the Trump administration is launching a new assault on that partnership. … Our $51 billion coastal economy serves as a powerful engine for the nation’s prosperity, and the people of our nation must be at the table to protect it.”
Depending on the results of the review, state officials said the Trump administration could cut off millions in funding for the California Coastal Management Program or roll back its impact in reviewing potential environmental hazards.
The Trump administration remains at loggerheads with California over access to the state’s coastline, a battle most visible off the coast of Santa Barbara County, where a Houston-based oil company has used Trump’s influence to sway environmental oversight — including the California Coastal Commission — to revive long-dormant offshore oil operations.
On Friday, NOAA filed its official notice of review, which will include public comment and hold three public meetings. The only face-to-face meeting will be on Aug. 10 in Santa Monica, while two virtual meetings will be held on Aug. 10 and 12. Public comments can be submitted until Aug. 22.
The review sent shock waves through environmental advocates. Defenders of Wildlife, a national non-profit organization, called it “a clear attempt by the Trump administration to target one of California’s most effective tools to protect its famous coastline” – and they fear it could send a message to other states.
“This unnecessary review sends a clear message to California and other coastal states: challenge management’s priorities, and your coastal management plan may be the next target,” said Stephanie Altman, senior strategist for the nonprofit energy and biodiversity organization, in a statement.
While the coastal management system does not give states the authority to hire federal officials, it does provide “reasonable oversight of state projects, as well as state-approved or licensed projects that could impact the coast,” according to a statement from the state environmental agency. Such oversight may include ensuring that companies have oil spill plans in place, or that they are undertaking recovery efforts after development.
In recent years, the program made headlines as the California Coastal Commission raised repeated concerns about a large Space X launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Concerns did not stop the launch, but the organizations were able to reach an agreement that government officials would better monitor wildlife around the base and create a light management plan.
At a recent meeting of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, Chairman Zack Wasserman criticized the review and said it may be politically motivated, according to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle.
“Unfortunately, this is another step in the efforts of our current government officials to force by fiat, not by law,” Wasserman was quoted as saying.
