Town of North Topsail Beach

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CBRA (Coastal Barrier Resources Act)

 

The Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) of 1982 established the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS), comprised of undeveloped coastal barriers along the Atlantic, Gulf, and Great Lakes coasts. The law encourages the conservation of hurricane prone, biologically rich coastal barriers by restricting Federal expenditures that encourage development, such as Federal flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program. CBRA is a free-market approach to conservation. These areas can be developed, but Federal taxpayers do not underwrite the investments. CBRA saves taxpayer dollars and encourages conservation at the same time. CBRA has saved over $1 billion and will save millions more in the future. Approximately 3.1 million acres of land and associated aquatic habitat are part of the CBRS. The Fish and Wildlife Service maintains the repository for CBRA maps enacted by Congress that depict the CBRS. The Service also advises Federal agencies, landowners, and Congress regarding whether properties are in or out of the CBRS, and what kind of Federal expenditures are allowed in the CBRS. (published by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service http://www.fws.gov/habitatconservation/coastal_barrier.html)

 

CBRA affects approximately 70% of North Topsail Beach’s land mass.

 

The most recent legislation for CBRA was the Coastal Barrier Resources Reauthorization Act of 2005 (signed into law on May 25, 2006) which reauthorized the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) and directed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to finalize the Digital Mapping Pilot Project by: (1) providing a public comment period for the draft maps created through the pilot project (covering approximately 10 percent of the entire Coastal Barrier Resources System, CBRS), and (2) preparing a report to Congress that contains the final recommended digital maps and a summary of the comments received during the public comments period. The 2005 Act also directed the Service to create digital maps for the remainder of the CBRS.

 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released the Report to Congress: John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System Digital Mapping Pilot Project on April 7, 2009.  There was a public review and comment period which ended on August 5, 2009.

 

The Town of North Topsail Beach submitted comments (see CBRA Documents page) to U.S. Fish and Wildlife on July 30, 2009.  The comments were followed up with an August 17, 2009 visit to Washington, D.C. by Town officials, staff, and citizen volunteer Gene Graziosi.  NTB representatives met with U.S. Fish and Wildlife to present to them an Infrastructure Analysis Overview  (prepared by Mr. Graziosi) indicating that the Town had existing infrastructure when the CBRA designation was made.  The North Topsail Beach representatives also had meetings with legislative assistants and aides for Senators Burr and Hagan and Representatives McIntyre and Jones with help from government affairs consultants from Marlowe & Company.  The meetings and presentation were well received by all parties. (Manager's Report on Trip to D.C.)

 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently compiling comments and preparing recommendations for Congress.  Any changes to the CBRS will have to be passed by Congress and the maps will become law.  The Town of North Topsail Beach’s Government Advocacy Committee members, Town Manager, and Marlowe & Company consultants regularly receive updates on the status of the Service’s report.  At this time the Town does not know the recommendations the Service will make to Congress and the Town will not know until the report is released.  

 

In the meantime, the Town has been working with Marlowe & Company and others to approach the corrections to the CBRA designation legislatively through Congress (see CBRA news).  The Town would appreciate any comments from NTB property owners about the affect the CBRA designation has had on them.  Comments can be e-mailed Carin Faulkner, Town Clerk, or please contact your representatives at the Federal level directly.

 

Other Links:

 

U.S. Fish & Wildlife CBRA Fact Sheet

 

FEMA CBRA Fact Sheet

 

March 2007 GAO Report - CBRS: Status of Development that Has Occurred & Financial Assistance Provided by Federal Agencies (NTB Pages 53-56)

 

 

CBRS Digital Mapping Project

Virtual Public Meeting Presentation (July 14-15 2009) by U.S. Fish & Wildlife

 

Is your property in a CBRA Zone?

 

Onslow County GIS has entered data into their system which will indicate which NTB properties are in the CBRA zone.  You can enter the address, zoom in, and select "COBRA" as a boundary and if a property is marked with red boxes it is in the CBRA zone.

 

If you have need assistance please call Deborah Hill, Planning & Zoning Administrator at 910-328-1349.

 

An official CBRS Map is available on this site. (NC L06).