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| National Coastal Coalition | |
|---|---|
| Name | National Coastal Coalition |
| Abbreviation | NCC |
| Formation | 1990s |
| Type | Nonprofit advocacy coalition |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Region served | United States coastal states |
| Leader title | Executive Director |
National Coastal Coalition is a United States-based advocacy coalition formed to influence coastal policy affecting shoreline development, marine resource use, and federal regulation. It engages with legislators, federal agencies, state authorities, and industry stakeholders to advance positions on coastal management, permit reform, and infrastructure projects. The coalition interacts with a wide range of actors across the political spectrum and has been active in debates over statutes, regulatory rulemaking, and project approvals.
The coalition emerged amid debates following the enactment and implementation of Coastal Zone Management Act revisions and controversies around Clean Water Act jurisdictional interpretations, competing with coalitions associated with Environmental Protection Agency, Department of the Interior, and state agencies such as the California Coastal Commission and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. It formed as an umbrella organization linking interests from legacy organizations including the American Petroleum Institute, National Association of Home Builders, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and state-level groups like the Texas General Land Office constituency. Early activity involved litigation strategies paralleling cases before the Supreme Court of the United States and petitions submitted to the United States Congress and the United States Army Corps of Engineers during rulemakings related to wetlands and navigable waters. Influential policy moments for the coalition include response to decisions such as Rapanos v. United States, debates over the Water Resources Development Act, and amendments to the Endangered Species Act affecting coastal species.
The coalition's stated mission centers on advocating for streamlined permitting and regulatory certainty for coastal development consistent with statutes like the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and instruments administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. Its goals often emphasize coordination with legislative initiatives in the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, promoting statutory reforms akin to proposals from committees such as the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The coalition frames objectives around facilitating infrastructure investment linked to programs administered by entities like the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Marine Fisheries Service while engaging with grant programs from the National Science Foundation and regional commissions such as the Pacific Fishery Management Council.
Membership historically comprises corporate members drawn from Chevron Corporation, ExxonMobil, BP plc, Shell plc, and maritime interests including the American Waterways Operators and the National Association of Realtors; construction and engineering firms such as Bechtel Corporation and Fluor Corporation; and local stakeholder groups aligned with the American Planning Association and the Association of State Floodplain Managers. The organizational structure features a board with representatives from trade associations like the National Association of Manufacturers and advocacy nonprofits such as Coastal Conservation Association affiliates, coordinating with law firms that have appeared before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and lobbyists registered with the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Regional chapters have ties to state bodies including the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources and the Maine Coastal Program.
Policy positions articulated by the coalition frequently call for revisions to guidance issued by agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Army Corps of Engineers on jurisdictional waters, often citing precedents from Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.. The coalition advocates for permit streamlining under statutes like the Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act and for statutory clarity in legislation such as the Coastal Zone Management Act. It lobbies on appropriations before the Congressional Budget Office and seeks to influence regulatory impact analyses used by the Office of Management and Budget. Positions also address fisheries management overseen by the Pacific Fishery Management Council and shipping issues relevant to the United States Coast Guard and port authorities like the Port of Los Angeles.
Major campaigns have targeted rulemakings on wetlands delineation, litigation strategy connected to cases before the Supreme Court of the United States, and advocacy during enactments of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 and subsequent reauthorizations. The coalition has mounted public affairs efforts involving think tanks and policy centers such as the Heritage Foundation, the Brookings Institution, and the Resources for the Future to shape debate. It has coordinated amicus briefs with industry partners in cases heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and organized congressional briefings for members of the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Engagements include testimony before the National Research Council panels and collaboration with state governors’ offices like the Office of the Governor of Texas.
Funding sources reported include trade associations like the American Petroleum Institute, corporate sponsorships from firms such as Halliburton and Transocean, and membership dues from maritime and development companies including Austal USA and Kiewit Corporation. Partnerships extend to regional organizations including the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and academic institutions such as Columbia University’s research centers and the University of Texas Marine Science Institute. The coalition has received in-kind support from public relations firms that have worked with entities like the International Association of Drilling Contractors and financial contributions routed through intermediary nonprofits similar to those associated with the Searle Freedom Trust model.
Critics from advocacy groups such as Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Oceana have accused the coalition of prioritizing private development interests over conservation objectives championed by entities like the National Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy. Investigations by journalists at outlets including The New York Times and The Washington Post have detailed lobbying expenditures reported to the United States Senate Office of Public Records and questioned ties to fossil fuel companies implicated in debates over climate change impacts on coasts. Legal challenges have pitted the coalition’s positions against rulings from the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and enforcement actions by the Environmental Protection Agency, prompting public comment disputes during regulatory dockets overseen by the Federal Register.
Category:Organizations based in the United States