Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP)

Program Overview

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-58) was signed into law by President Bush on August 8, 2005. Section 384 of the Act establishes the Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) which authorizes funds to be distributed to Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas producing States for the conservation, protection and preservation of coastal areas, including wetlands.

Under the CIAP, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to distribute to producing States and coastal political subdivisions (CPSs) $250 million for each of the fiscal years 2007 through 2010. This money will be shared among Alabama, Alaska, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas and will be allocated to each producing State and eligible CPS based upon allocation formulas prescribed by the Act.

Pursuant to the Act, a producing State or CPS shall use all amounts received under this section for one or more of the following purposes:

	Projects and activities for the conservation, protection, or restoration of coastal areas, including wetland
	Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources
	Planning assistance and the administrative costs of complying with this section
	Implementation of a federally-approved marine, coastal, or comprehensive conservation management plan
	Mitigation of the impact of OCS activities through funding of onshore infrastructure projects and public service needs

Each eligible State will be allocated its share based on the State’s Qualified Outer Continental Shelf Revenue (QOCSR) generated off of its coast in proportion to the total QOCSR generated off the coasts of all eligible States.

Allocations to States in fiscal year (FY) 2007 and FY 2008 are based on FY 2006 QOCSR, and allocations to States in FY 2009 and FY 2010 are based on FY 2008 QOCSR. The allotment amounts were available April 16, 2007, for FY 2007 and FY 2008. The allotment amounts for FY 2009 and FY 2010 were made available in April 2009.

In the February 16, 2007, Continuing Resolution, Congress approved a 3-percent appropriation of the CIAP funds to be used by BOEMRE to administer the CIAP program. In October 2009 Congress approved an additional 1 percent appropriation from the FY 2010 funds. The re-calculations were completed and letters sent to the Governors with the revised allotment amounts in December 2009. Tables with the allotment amounts for all four fiscal years and the individual states and their coastal political subdivisions can be found under “Allotments”.

Only States that submit a CIAP State Plan (Plan) that meets BOEMRE approval will be eligible to receive CIAP funds. Plans must be developed in consultation with eligible CPSs. A Plan for at least the first year’s funds was to be submitted to BOEMRE for approval by July 1, 2008.

CIAP recipients with an approved Plan may submit grant applications for the fiscal year funds addressed in the approved Plan. At the time a State Plan is approved, or in May of a fiscal year, grant announcements will be posted at Grants.gov. Grant announcements explain who can apply, for which year funds, and what information must be included in an application.

All six states now have an approved State Plan. They range in providing implementation plans for only FY 2007/2008 funds to providing implementation plans for FY 2007-2010 funds.

Only funding requests for projects and funds covered in an approved Plan and have a posted grant announcement for the funds can be approved. As of May 17, 2010, states with an approved four-year Plan may submit applications for 2010 funds. Funds not addressed in the approved Plan will be eligible to a State with the submission and approval of an Amendment to a State Plan. An Amendment to a State Plan should contain all the components required in the Plan. State Plan Amendments must be submitted no later than December 31, 2012; grant applications must be submitted by December 31, 2013; and all projects must be completed and closed by December 31, 2016.