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Federal Consistency

Apply for Federal Consistency Review
Oregon Federal Consistency Portal
Federal permit applicants and federal agencies compile and submit federal consistency applications through a new Federal Consistency Portal at 
https://ocmp.info/federalconsistency/

Federal Consistency Authority

One of the incentives for state participation in the Coastal Zone Management Act is the federal consistency authority. The authority includes a review process that coastal states with federally approved coastal programs undertake, every time a federal activity is proposed in that state's Coastal Zone. The review process is usually triggered under three circumstances; when the federal activity is proposed by a federal agency, when a federal permit is needed for a proposed project, or when a project receives federal assistance (e.g. funding). The process assists early coordination between the state and a federal agency planning an activity that may affect coastal resources and uses. Learn more about the federal consistency review process.

Where Does Federal Consistency Apply?

Federal consistency applies to any project that affects a coastal use or resource, whether inside or outside of the coastal zone boundary. However, there are specific rules that apply to areas outside of the coastal zone boundary. Areas outside of the coastal zone must be within a designated geographic location description (GLD).

Learn more about where the federal consistency review process applies and Oregon's only designated GLD regarding marine renewable energy.

Enforceable Policies of the Program

The Oregon Coastal Management Program (Program) is made up of 42 partners at the county and city level and 11 state agency partners. Each local entity has documents governing how they operate and guiding how they administer land use in their community. Each state agency has chapters of statutes guiding operations and helping them administer state law. These documents include comprehensive plans and land use regulations, state statutes, and statewide planning goals. DLCD incorporates the documents in their entirety into the Program.

Within the various statutes, goals, plans, and ordinances only certain elements meet the criteria to be used for federal consistency review. These special policies are called enforceable policies. A legal definition of enforceable policies is available in the federal regulations. See a list of the Program's enforceable policies.

Learn how to identify enforceable policies using this NOAA training module.

Oregon Coastal Management Program Changes

As statutes, rules, and local plans and ordinances change over time, it is the responsibility of the Oregon Coastal Management Program to keep its federally approved enforceable policies up to date through the NOAA Program Change process. This process may also be used to add or remove enforceable policies from the federally approved coastal program. 

DLCD posts public notices for all proposed program changes on our Public Notice and Comment page . Public comments may be submitted via the NOAA Program Change website, which also contains information on all past changes to the Oregon Coastal Management Program.

Program Change News - August 7, 2023

APPROVED: NOAA Program Change - Clatsop County Comprehensive Plan and Land and Water Development and Use Code

Original submission information may be found on the NOAA Program Change website and in the Closed Comment Opportunities section of the Public Notice and Comment page. 


Information about the Jordan Cove Energy Project

  • DLCD completed this federal consistency review as of February 19, 2020.
  • The U.S. Secretary of Commerce upheld OCMP's objection as of February 8, 2021.

Notice of Appeal

On March 19, 2020 the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) received a Notice of Appeal from legal counsel representing Jordan Cove Energy Project L.P. (“JCEP") and Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline, LP, the applicants proposing construction of the Jordan Cove Energy Project.  This notice indicates that the applicants are appealing DLCD's Federal Consistency Objection to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.  Federal regulations give DLCD 60 days from submission of the Notice of Appeal to submit a response brief.

More information on the Federal Consistency Appeal Process are available in 15 C.F.R. Part 930, Subpart H. NOAA intends to post publicly available materials and related documents comprising the appeal record on the federal website.

APPEAL DECISION

On February 8, 2021, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce upheld OCMP's objection to the consistency certification for the Jordan Cove Energy Project and Pacific Connector Pipeline.  View the official decision and findings here.

Further questions on this appeal or the appeal process should be directed to the NOAA Office for Coastal Management at:

NOAA Office of General Counsel Oceans and Coasts Section
Adam Dilts
Office of the General Counsel
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Federal Consistency Decision & Associated Information

The Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) has reviewed the federal permit applications for the Jordan Cove Energy Project (FERC CP17-495-000 and CP17-494-000; USACE # NWP-2017-41) for consistency with the Oregon Coastal Management Program (OCMP) and it's federally approved enforceable policies.

On February 19, 2020 DLCD-OCMP issued an objection to the project's consistency certification.  The following documents have been issued to the applicant and filed with the appropriate federal agencies.

JCEP Federal Consistency Decision Letter (Objection)

JCEP Federal Consistency Decision Letter Appendices

More information on the JCEP Federal Consistency objection can be found in the Press Release and FAQ.

Project Review Background

DLCD reviewed two major federal permits/licenses needed for the proposed project: the Army Corps Section 404/Section10 permit and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's energy siting certificate. The applicant for the proposed project submitted a complete application on April 12, 2019. This letter was supplied to the applicant on May 13, 2019. On July 12, 2019, DLCD supplied the federally required 3-month notification letter that the project is still under review. On August 15, 2019, DLCD supplied an additional information request to the applicant. A Stay Agreement has been executed between DLCD and Pembina, which extends DLCD’s decision deadline to February 28, 2020.

The applicable enforceable policies (updated August 01, 2019) for the proposed project have been identified, however are subject to change as additional information becomes available.

Additional Formal Correspondence with Applicant

Related Resources

Contacts

Jeff Burright
Coastal State-Federal Relations Coordinator
jeff.d.burright@dlcd.oregon.gov
Phone: 503-991-8479