Oceans and Coasts Section

The Oceans and Coasts Section provides legal counsel to the National Ocean Service, including the National Marine Sanctuary Program, the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, and the Office of Coast Survey. The section also provides legal counsel to the NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations, including the NOAA Corps. In these roles, the office helps implement the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, the Coastal Zone Management Act, the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act, the National Geodetic and Coast Survey Act, the Marine Debris Act and other statutes.

The office has nine attorneys and one program specialist. The Chief for the Oceans and Coasts Section is Adam Dilts, and the Acting Deputy Section Chief is Bethany Henneman.

To access materials for CZMA consistency appeals as well as information on the CZMA appeal process visit: The NOAA Office for Coastal Management Consistency Appeals Website.