Public Notice: Draft Section 309 Assessment and Strategy Available for Public Comment

The Department of Commerce (DOC) invites public review and comment on the draft Section 309 Assessment and Strategy. The Section 309 Assessment and Strategy is a required process conducted every five years and involves a comprehensive self-assessment of coastal management programs.

This process encourages states and territories to identify issues and enhancement opportunities across nine enhancement areas, including wetlands, coastal hazards, public access, marine debris, cumulative and secondary impacts, special area management plans, ocean and Great Lakes resources, energy and government facility siting, and aquaculture. The resulting strategy is intended to strengthen the effectiveness of existing coastal management efforts and address identified challenges.

The draft plan will be available for public comment for a period of thirty (30) days, beginning January 21, 2026, following publication on the DOC website.

All comments received during the public comment period will be reviewed and considered prior to finalizing the plan. After the close of the public comment period, the final version will be submitted to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for final approval.

Click Here to view draft plan.

Please submit written comments to Georgina H. Faiga at gina.faiga@doc.as.gov