California Ocean Protection Council Overview of Ocean and Coastal Laws Overview of California Ocean and Coastal Laws With Reference to the Marine Environment Prepared for the California Ocean Protection Council Submitted by Jonathon Gurish* With assistance from Michael Hughes Ellen Sampson Laura Fandino Hope Schmeltzer Pamela Griggs Sam Schuchat Joe Milton Brad Torgan Amy Roach Kelly Willis Jack Rump Sean Williamson *Staff Counsel, State Coastal Conservancy. This Overview reflects the views of the main author alone and does not represent the position of the Ocean Protection Council or the State of California. Page i California Ocean Protection Council Overview of Ocean and Coastal Laws Table of contents CHAPTER 1: FOUNDATIONAL AND JURISDICTIONAL ISSUES....................................................9 1.1 INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................................9 1.2 CALIFORNIA’S OFFSHORE BOUNDARIES ..............................................................................................10 1.2.1 California State Boundaries .......................................................................................................10 1.2.2 Federal Waters ...........................................................................................................................12 1.2.3 Boundaries under International Law..........................................................................................13 1.2.4 The Territorial Sea (0 to 12 Nautical Miles) ..............................................................................13 1.2.5 The Contiguous Zone (12 to 24 Nautical Miles).........................................................................14 1.2.6 The Exclusive Economic Zone (12 to 200 Nautical Miles) .........................................................14 1.2.7 The Continental Shelf..................................................................................................................14 1.2.8 High Seas....................................................................................................................................15 1.2.9 Non-Jurisdictional Limits on U.S. and State Regulation of Marine Species...............................16 1.3 OVERVIEW OF OCEAN AND COASTAL LAW IN CALIFORNIA.................................................................17 1.4 REGIONAL MANAGEMENT COUNCILS..................................................................................................20 1.5 STATE LAW .........................................................................................................................................20 CHAPTER 2: CONSTITUTIONAL AND COMMON LAW OVERLAYS TO NAVIGABLE WATERS .....................................................................................................................................................21 2.1 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................21 2.2 PUBLIC TRUST DOCTRINE....................................................................................................................21 2.2.1 Overview.....................................................................................................................................21 2.2.2 History ........................................................................................................................................22 2.2.3 Trust Property is Inalienable......................................................................................................22 2.2.4 Granted Lands Must Comply with Public Trust .........................................................................23 2.2.5 An Evolving Doctrine..................................................................................................................23 2.2.6 Competing and Conflicting Uses ................................................................................................23 2.2.7 Statutory and Constitutional Rights under California Law ........................................................23 2.3 THE FEDERAL NAVIGATIONAL SERVITUDE .........................................................................................24 CHAPTER 3: FEDERAL AND STATE ENTITIES INVOLVED IN OCEAN AND COASTAL MANAGEMENT.........................................................................................................................................25 3.1 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................25 3.2 FEDERAL AGENCIES WITH OCEAN AND COASTAL RESPONSIBILITIES ..................................................25 3.2.1 Department of Commerce...........................................................................................................25 3.2.2 Department of Interior................................................................................................................26 3.2.3 Department of Defense ...............................................................................................................27 3.2.4 Environmental Protection Agency ..............................................................................................27 3.3 STATE AGENCIES WITH OCEAN AND COASTAL RESPONSIBILITIES.......................................................27 3.3.1 Resources Agency of California..................................................................................................28 3.3.2 California Ocean Protection Council.........................................................................................29 3.3.3 California Bay-Delta Program ...................................................................................................30 3.3.4 Department of Boating and Waterways ......................................................................................31 3.3.5 California Coastal Commission..................................................................................................33 3.3.6 California Coastal Conservancy.................................................................................................35 3.3.7 DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION ..................................................................................................37 3.3.8 California Energy Commission...................................................................................................38 3.3.9 Department of Fish and Game....................................................................................................40 3.3.10 Fish and Game Commission .....................................................................................................44 3.3.11 Department of Parks and Recreation & State Parks Commission............................................44 3.3.12 Department of Water Resources ...............................................................................................45 3.3.13 San Diego River Conservancy ..................................................................................................46 3.3.14 San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission ............................................47 Page ii California Ocean Protection Council Overview of Ocean and Coastal Laws 3.3.15 Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy ....................................................................................50 3.3.16 State Lands Commission...........................................................................................................51 3.3.17 California Environmental Protection Agency...........................................................................53 3.3.18 Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment ................................................................53 3.3.19 State and Regional Water Quality Control Boards...................................................................54 3.3.20 California Health and Human Services Agency .......................................................................55 3.3.21 University of California & California State University Systems ..............................................56 3.3.22 California Sea Grant ................................................................................................................56 3.4 INTER-AGENCY COUNCILS ..................................................................................................................57 3.5 PORTS..................................................................................................................................................57 3.6 NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES AND RANCHERIAS ....................................................................................58 3.7 REGIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS .........................................................................58 CHAPTER 4: OCEAN USE PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT ........................................................59 4.1 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................59 4.2 AN OUTLINE OF OCEAN MANAGEMENT ..............................................................................................61 4.3 STATE INSTITUTIONS AND GOVERNANCE ............................................................................................63 4.3.1 California Ocean Resources Management Act (CORMA)..........................................................63