Federal consistency is a provision in the Coastal Zone Management Act that requires the federal government to comply with a state s Coastal Management Program when taking action likely to affect coastal resources.
The federal law, passed in 1973, provides for the management of the nations coastal resources by balancing economic development with environmental conservation. Its goal is to preserve, protect, develop, and where possible, to restore or enhance the resources of the nation s coastal zone,” according to a release from the Guam Coastal Management Program.
The entire island of Guam has been designated a coastal zone in the context of the federal law.