coastal areas experience a demographic shift fa-
voring wealthier citizens. 
‘‘(D) Privately owned access areas for 
water-dependent commercial activity in many 
States are under increasing threat from private 
residential development and other conversion. 
‘‘(E) Loss of access for water-dependent 
commercial activity would have economically 
and culturally devastating consequences for 
many coastal communities. 
‘‘(2) The purpose of this section is to preserve, 
protect, and expand coastal access for persons en-
gaged in water-dependent commercial activities in-
cluding commercial fishing, recreational fishing busi-
nesses, aquaculture, boatbuilding, or other water-de-
pendent coastal-related businesses. 
‘‘(b) GRANT PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) The Secretary shall establish a Working 
Waterfront Grant Program, in cooperation with ap-
propriate State, regional, and other units of govern-
ment, under which the Secretary may make a grant 
to any coastal state for the purpose of implementing 
a working waterfront plan approved by the Secretary 
under subsection (c). 
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‘‘(2)(A) Subject to the availability of appropria-
tions, the Secretary shall award matching grants 
under the program to coastal states with approved 
working waterfront plans through a regionally equi-
table, competitive funding process in accordance 
with the following: 
‘‘(i) The Governor, or the lead agency des-
ignated by the Governor for coordinating the 
implementation of this section, where appro-
priate in consultation with the appropriate local 
government, shall determine that the applica-
tion is consistent with the State’s or territory’s 
approved coastal zone plan, program, and poli-
cies prior to submittal to the Secretary. 
‘‘(ii) In developing guidelines under this 
section, the Secretary shall consult with coastal 
states, other Federal agencies, and other inter-
ested stakeholders with expertise in working 
waterfront planning. 
‘‘(iii) Coastal states may allocate grants to 
local governments, agencies, or nongovernment 
organizations eligible for assistance under this 
section. 
‘‘(3) In awarding a grant to a coastal state, the 
Secretary shall consider— 
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‘‘(A) the economic and cultural significance 
of working waterfront to the coastal state; 
‘‘(B) the demonstrated working waterfront 
needs of the coastal state as outlined by a 
working waterfront plan approved for the coast-
al state under subsection (c), and the value of 
the proposed project for the implementation of 
such Plan; 
‘‘(C) the ability to successfully leverage 
funds among participating entities, including 
Federal programs, regional organizations, State 
and other government units, landowners, cor-
porations, or private organizations; 
‘‘(D) the potential for rapid turnover in 
the ownership of working waterfront in the 
coastal state, and where applicable the need for 
coastal states to respond quickly when prop-
erties in existing or potential working water-
front areas or public access areas as identified 
in the working waterfront plan submitted by 
the coastal state come under threat or become 
available; 
‘‘(E) the impact of the working waterfront 
plan approved for the coastal state under sub-
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section (c) on the coastal ecosystem and the 
users of the coastal ecosystem; and 
‘‘(F) the extent of the historic connection 
between working waterfronts and the local com-
munities within the coastal state. 
‘‘(4) The Secretary shall approve or reject an 
application for such a grant within 60 days after re-
ceiving an application for the grant. 
‘‘(c) WORKING WATERFRONT PLANS.— 
‘‘(1) To be eligible for a grant under subsection 
(b), a coastal state must submit and have approved 
by the Secretary a comprehensive working water-
front plan in accordance with this subsection or be 
in the process of developing such a plan and have an 
established working waterfront program at the State 
or local level. 
‘‘(2) Such plan— 
‘‘(A) must provide for preservation and ex-
pansion of access to coastal waters to persons 
engaged in commercial fishing, recreational 
fishing businesses, aquaculture, boatbuilding, or 
other water-dependent, coastal-related business; 
‘‘(B) shall include— 
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‘‘(i) an assessment of the economic, 
social, cultural, and historic value of work-
ing waterfront to the coastal state; 
‘‘(ii) a description of relevant State 
and local laws and regulations affecting 
working waterfront in the geographic areas 
identified in the working waterfront plan; 
‘‘(iii) 
identification 
of 
geographic 
areas where working waterfronts are cur-
rently under threat of conversion to uses 
incompatible with commercial fishing, rec-
reational fishing businesses, aquaculture, 
boatbuilding, or other water-dependent, 
coastal-related business, and the level of 
that threat; 
‘‘(iv) identification of geographic areas 
with a historic connection to working wa-
terfronts where working waterfronts are 
not currently available, and, where appro-
priate, an assessment of the environmental 
impacts of any expansion or new develop-
ment of working waterfronts on the coastal 
ecosystem; 
‘‘(v) identification of other working 
waterfront needs including improvements 
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to existing working waterfronts and work-
ing waterfront areas; 
‘‘(vi) a strategic and prioritized plan 
for the preservation, expansion, and im-
provement of working waterfronts in the 
coastal state; 
‘‘(vii) 
for 
areas 
identified 
under 
clauses (iii), (iv), (v), and (vi), identifica-
tion of current availability and potential 
for expansion of public access to coastal 
waters; 
‘‘(viii) a description of the degree of 
community support for such strategic plan; 
and 
‘‘(ix) a contingency plan for properties 
that revert to the coastal state pursuant to 
determinations made by the coastal state 
under subsection (g)(4)(C); 
‘‘(C) may be part of the management pro-
gram approved under section 306; 
‘‘(D) shall utilize to the maximum extent 
practicable existing information contained in 
relevant surveys, plans, or other strategies to 
fulfill the information requirements under this 
paragraph; and 
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