§9-7-12. Declaration of state policy.

The Legislature finds and declares that it is state policy:

(1) To preserve, protect, develop and, where possible, to restore or enhance the resources of the state's coastal area for this and succeeding generations;

(2) To encourage and assist counties and municipalities, wherever applicable, to exercise effectively their responsibilities in the coastal area through the development and implementation of administration programs to achieve wise use of the land and water resources of the coastal area, giving full consideration to needs for economic development as well as to ecological, cultural, historic and aesthetic values;

(3) To assure that in development of the state's coastal area adequate consideration is given to such uses of the coastal area as the establishment of harbor facilities for the receiving of oil, gas and other commodities from ships and tankers, pipelines from such ports and utility plant sites, utility generation, transmission, distribution and transportation facilities;

(4) To urge that all state agencies engaged in programs affecting the coastal area cooperate and participate with local governments and regional agencies in effectuating the purposes of this chapter; and

(5) To encourage the participation of the public, of federal, state and local governments and of regional agencies in the development of coastal area management programs. With respect to implementation of such management programs, it is the state policy to encourage cooperation among the various state and regional agencies, including establishment of interstate and regional agreements, cooperative procedures and joint action, particularly regarding environmental problems.

(Acts 1976, No. 534, p. 686, §2.)