Coastal Zone

All United States waters subject to the tide, waters of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain, specified ports and harbors on inland rivers, waters of the contiguous zone, other waters of the high seas subject to the National Contingency Plan, and the land surface or land substrate, ground waters, and ambient air proximal to those waters. The term "coastal zone" delineates an area of federal responsibility for response action. Precise boundaries are determined by agreements between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), and are identified in Federal Regional Contingency Plans and Area Contingency Plans. (49CFR194)