Coastal States Organization

Coastal States Organization
Name	Coastal States Organization
Formation	1970
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Region served	United States coastal and Great Lakes jurisdictions
Membership	U.S. coastal states, commonwealths, territories
Leader title	Executive Director

Coastal States Organization is a nonprofit association representing the governors of U.S. coastal and Great Lakes jurisdictions on marine, coastal, and ocean policy. It serves as a collective voice in interactions with federal agencies, multilateral bodies, and regional entities, advocating for state and territorial interests in areas including marine spatial planning, fisheries, energy siting, and coastal resilience. The organization engages with legislative bodies, executive departments, and academic institutions to influence policy outcomes and coordinate intergovernmental collaboration.

History

The organization was established in 1970 amid rising national attention to environmental issues exemplified by events like the National Environmental Policy Act debates and the first Earth Day, responding to state-level concerns similar to those raised during the passage of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 and litigation such as Massachusetts v. EPA. Early interactions included coordinated testimony before the United States Congress and consultations with federal agencies including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of the Interior. Over subsequent decades, the group worked alongside entities like the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, the Chesapeake Bay Program, and the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission to address region-specific challenges. Notable historical moments include participation in discussions around offshore mineral leasing controversies tied to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and engagement during responses to disasters such as the Exxon Valdez oil spill and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Organization and Membership

Membership comprises coastal and Great Lakes governors' offices from states, commonwealths, and territories similar to memberships in bodies like the National Governors Association and the Council of State Governments. The organization’s membership roster parallels participants in intergovernmental forums such as the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission and regional compacts like the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers Conference. Engagement often involves state natural resource agencies, attorney general offices, and legislative delegations who coordinate with research partners including the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and university coastal programs. Affiliate members and observer organizations have included federal entities, private sector stakeholders like energy companies active under the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management regime, and non-governmental organizations comparable to The Nature Conservancy and the Ocean Conservancy.

Governance and Leadership

Governance is led by a board of directors drawn from member jurisdictions, modeled on governance practices seen in organizations such as the National Association of Attorneys General and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Leadership roles—chair, vice-chair, treasurer, and executive director—interact with legislative committees like the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and executive offices including the Office of Management and Budget during budget and policy deliberations. Past executive directors and chairs have testified before congressional committees and convened panels with officials from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Coast Guard. The organization’s bylaws set terms and committee structures analogous to nonprofit governance standards followed by the American Red Cross and national associations representing subnational governments.

Programs and Activities

Programs address coastal resilience, emergency response, coastal zone management, and offshore energy siting, working in parallel with initiatives like the National Estuarine Research Reserve System and the Sea Grant College Program. Activities include technical workshops with institutions such as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, model policy development similar to guidance from the Office of Coastal Resource Management, and intergovernmental coordination during incidents involving agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The organization convenes annual meetings, regional roundtables, and task forces on issues ranging from marine debris—an area coordinated internationally through frameworks like the United Nations Environment Programme—to aquaculture policy intersecting with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

Policy Positions and Advocacy

The group advocates on legislative and regulatory matters before bodies such as the United States Congress, the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and federal rulemaking under agencies like the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. Policy positions have covered federal funding formulas related to coastal grants, opposition or support for offshore leasing proposals under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, and recommendations on climate adaptation that intersect with reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and guidance from the National Climate Assessment. Advocacy frequently involves coalition-building with organizations such as the National League of Cities and regional partnerships including the West Coast Governors' Agreement on Ocean Health.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding streams include member dues, program grants from federal agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and foundations similar to the Packard Foundation or the Kresge Foundation, and partnerships with academic centers including the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions. The organization has partnered with philanthropic organizations, state agencies, and private sector contractors involved in offshore wind development administered under policies of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. Financial oversight follows standards comparable to nonprofit reporting required by the Internal Revenue Service and audit practices used by national associations.

Impact and Criticism

Supporters credit the organization with elevating state perspectives in federal policy debates, influencing funding allocations for coastal programs, and facilitating multi-state responses to incidents like Hurricane Katrina and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Critics have argued it sometimes aligns too closely with industry stakeholders involved in offshore energy development, drawing scrutiny similar to controversies faced by other advocacy groups during debates over the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management leasing schedules. Academic assessments from scholars associated with institutions like Duke University and policy analyses by think tanks such as the Brookings Institution have examined the organization’s role in shaping intergovernmental dynamics and regulatory outcomes.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in the United States