To amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to establish a conclusive presumption that a State concurs to certain activities, and for other purposes.

This bill proposes amendments to the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, establishing a new mechanism for federal consistency review. It introduces a conclusive presumption that a coastal state concurs with various federal actions and federally-supported activities, thereby streamlining the approval process. This presumption applies to consistency determinations, federal agency findings, applicant certifications, and state or local government applications for federal assistance. The core of the amendment lies in defining " covered activities ," which trigger this presumption of concurrence. These include national security activities carried out by defense, homeland security, or intelligence agencies, and critical infrastructure projects related to planning, construction, or maintenance of essential infrastructure. Additionally, disaster recovery or mitigation activities , designed to prevent, respond to, or recover from emergencies, are covered. The presumption also extends to activities with a significant national or regional economic impact , specifically those in areas characterized by low per capita income or high unemployment rates. A crucial provision states that any objection or challenge by a coastal state to an activity under this conclusive presumption may not delay or otherwise prevent the activity from proceeding. The Secretary has a 30-day window to review and potentially nullify the presumption if an activity is found not to be "covered," otherwise, the presumption becomes final and binding.