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     Complex combinations of federal and state laws form the basis of the state's coastal management program. The most notable of these is the federal Clean Water Act enacted in 1972, the NC Coastal Area Management Act of 1974 (CAMA), and the NC Sedimentation and Pollution Control Act of 1973.
     Four chapters in this guide explain the basic provisions of these laws. The final two chapters describe other regulatory and non-regulatory programs that apply in the coastal area. To begin the guide, we summarize the general concepts of regulatory programs and the basic principles of public participation.
     Remember, the regulatory programs that protect our coastal resources are ever changing. As this edition was being produced, state and federal water quality regulations are being revised and possibly have been altered. This book is only a starting point. To stay current with regulations requires a personal commitment to the preservation and protection of our valuable coastal region. Individuals can make a difference.
     We hope this guide helps you become involved. After all, public interest ensures that decisions affecting public resources –  the beaches, the sounds, the marshes – are made on behalf of all the citizens of North Carolina.