More people than ever are using coastal waters for recreation and business activities and living along the shores. This puts more pressure on natural resources and creates more conflicts between the people using the resources. This guidebook is designed to help citizens develop an understanding of how coastal management works. Four chapters in this guide explain the basic provisions of the important state and federal laws that form the basis of the State of North Carolina's coastal management program. Also included is a summary of the general concepts of regulatory programs and the basic principles of public participation. Four appendices include a directory of agency mailing lists of regulatory information, permit review agencies, coastal resource management organizations, and phone numbers and addresses to be used in the reporting of possible violations of management policy. (CW)