ACTION BY COMMISSIONER OR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

(a) A proposed action is consistent with the goals and policies of the coastal management program and approved by the commissioner unless the commissioner determines the action to be inconsistent with the coastal management program and protests the action.

(b) If the commissioner protests the proposed action, the commissioner shall report the commissioner's findings on the matter to the agency or subdivision. The report shall specify how the proposed action is inconsistent with the goals and policies of the coastal management program and include specific recommendations of the commissioner regarding how the proposed action may be modified or amended to make it consistent with the program. Before the 21st day after the date the agency or subdivision receives the report, the agency or subdivision shall review the findings and recommendations and determine whether to modify or amend the proposed action to make it consistent with the goals and policies of the coastal management program and shall notify the commissioner of its decision.

(c) If an agency or subdivision does not modify or amend a proposed action to be consistent with the goals and policies of the coastal management program, the commissioner shall request the attorney general to issue an opinion on the consistency of the proposed action with the coastal management program. The agency or subdivision is stayed from taking the proposed action until the attorney general issues the opinion. The attorney general shall issue an opinion before the 26th day after the date the commissioner requests the opinion.

(d) The commissioner shall adopt guidance and procedural rules for the review of federal actions, activities, and outer continental shelf plans that incorporate the provisions of federal regulations governing those reviews. The guidance and rules shall provide that the commissioner or any three committee members may request additional information from a federal agency or additional time for review as provided by the federal regulations.

(e) The commissioner shall review any federal action, activity, or outer continental shelf plan that any three committee members agree presents a significant unresolved issue regarding consistency with the goals and policies of the coastal management program.

(f) If an activity requiring an agency or subdivision action described by Section 33.2053 that falls above thresholds in effect under Section 33.2052 also requires an equivalent federal permit or license, the commissioner may determine the consistency of the agency or subdivision action or the federal license or permit, but not both. The determination regarding the consistency of an action made by the commissioner under this subsection constitutes the state's determination regarding consistency of the equivalent agency or subdivision action or federal action.

(g) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this subchapter, on request for referral, the commissioner may not review a consistency determination of the land office, the commissioner, or the board. The commissioner shall refer a request for a review of the consistency of such an action to the attorney general not later than the second day after the date the commissioner receives the request. The attorney general shall determine whether the action is consistent with the goals and policies of the coastal management program in accordance with the applicable provisions of this subchapter governing determinations by the commissioner. If the attorney general determines the action to be inconsistent with the goals and policies of the coastal management program, the attorney general may protest the action in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter governing protests by the commissioner. A protest by the attorney general has the same effect as a protest by the commissioner. The attorney general may adopt rules as necessary to implement this subsection.