[§171-153]  Beach restoration plan.  Thedepartment shall prepare and, from time to time, revise plans for therestoration of beach lands of the State.  These plans shall guide the board inidentifying those beach lands in need of restoration which have been degradedas a result of natural or human actions and shall designate suitable coastallands for the purpose of generating revenues to carry out the purposes of thissection.  In preparing these plans, the department may institute studiespertaining to the need for restoration of such lands and shall consider anyplan relating to the restoration of such lands that has been prepared by anyfederal, state, county, or private agency or entity.  The department may alsoinstitute other studies as necessary to support the development of beachrestoration projects, including the development of socioeconomic profiles,environmental studies pertaining to sand source analysis, and ecologicaleffects of beach restoration, cost-benefit analysis for project viability, andcoastal engineering studies including data gathering. [L 1999, c 84, pt of §2]