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U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy - Joint Ocean Commission Initiative

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Recommendati<strong>on</strong> 14–7The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) should align its c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> programs and fundingwith other programs aimed at reducing n<strong>on</strong>point source polluti<strong>on</strong>, such as those of theU.S. Envir<strong>on</strong>mental Protecti<strong>on</strong> Agency and the Nati<strong>on</strong>al <strong>Ocean</strong>ic and Atmospheric Administrati<strong>on</strong>.In particular, USDA’s Natural Resources C<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> Service should:• require that its state c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong>ists coordinate with representatives of federal andstate water quality agencies and state coastal management agencies, and participate inwatershed and coastal management planning processes, to ensure that funding for agriculturalc<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> programs complements and advances other federal and state managementprograms.• provide enhanced technical assistance in the field to better support growing agriculturalc<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> programs.Recommendati<strong>on</strong> 14–8The Nati<strong>on</strong>al <strong>Ocean</strong> Council (NOC), working with states, should establish reducti<strong>on</strong> of n<strong>on</strong>pointsource polluti<strong>on</strong> in coastal watersheds as a nati<strong>on</strong>al goal, with a particular focus <strong>on</strong>impaired watersheds. The NOC should then set specific, measurable objectives to meethuman health- and ecosystem-based water quality standards. The NOC should ensure thatall federal n<strong>on</strong>point source polluti<strong>on</strong> programs are coordinated to attain those objectives.Recommendati<strong>on</strong> 14–9The Nati<strong>on</strong>al <strong>Ocean</strong> Council should strengthen efforts to address n<strong>on</strong>point source polluti<strong>on</strong>by evaluating the n<strong>on</strong>point source polluti<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>trol programs established under Secti<strong>on</strong> 6217of the Coastal Z<strong>on</strong>e Act Reauthorizati<strong>on</strong> Amendments and under Secti<strong>on</strong> 319 of the CleanWater Act and making recommendati<strong>on</strong>s to C<strong>on</strong>gress for improvements to these programs,including their possible c<strong>on</strong>solidati<strong>on</strong>.Improvements to the programs should:• require enforceable best management practices and other management measuresthroughout the United States, with increased federal support for states to develop andimplement those practices and measures.• eliminate counterproductive financial disincentives.• enhance cooperati<strong>on</strong> and coordinati<strong>on</strong> between federal and state water quality andcoastal management agencies.Recommendati<strong>on</strong> 14–10To ensure protecti<strong>on</strong> of coastal resources nati<strong>on</strong>wide, C<strong>on</strong>gress should provide authorityunder the Clean Water Act and other applicable laws for federal agencies to establishenforceable management measures for n<strong>on</strong>point sources of polluti<strong>on</strong> and impose financialdisincentives related to programs that result in water quality degradati<strong>on</strong> if a state persistentlyfails to make meaningful progress toward meeting water quality standards <strong>on</strong> its own.Recommendati<strong>on</strong> 14–11The U.S. Envir<strong>on</strong>mental Protecti<strong>on</strong> Agency, the Nati<strong>on</strong>al <strong>Ocean</strong>ic and Atmospheric Administrati<strong>on</strong>,and other appropriate entities should increase assistance and outreach to provide decisi<strong>on</strong>makers with the knowledge and tools needed to make sound land use decisi<strong>on</strong>s that protectcoastal water quality. State and local governments should adopt or revise existing codes andordinances to require land use planning and decisi<strong>on</strong> making to carefully c<strong>on</strong>sider the individualand cumulative impacts of development <strong>on</strong> water quality, including effects <strong>on</strong>stormwater runoff.496 A N O CEAN B LUEPRINT FOR THE 21ST C ENTURY

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