US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

16 U.S.C. § 3502

Definitions

(a)

In general

For purposes of this chapter:
(1)

Coastal barrier

The term “coastal barrier” means—
(A)
a depositional geologic feature (such as a bay barrier, tombolo, barrier spit, bluff, or barrier island) that—
(i)
is subject to wave, tidal, and wind energies; and
(ii)
protects landward aquatic habitats from direct wave attack; and
(B)
all associated aquatic habitats including the adjacent wetlands, marshes, estuaries, inlets, and nearshore waters.
(2)

Committees

The term “Committees” means the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate.

(3)

Financial assistance

(A)

In general

The term “financial assistance” means any form of loan, grant, guaranty, insurance, payment, rebate, subsidy, or any other form of direct or indirect Federal assistance other than—
(i)
deposit or account insurance for customers of banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, or similar institutions;
(ii)
the purchase of mortgages or loans by the Government National Mortgage Association, the Federal National Mortgage Association, or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation;
(iii)
assistance for environmental studies, planning, and assessments that are required incident to the issuance of permits or other authorizations under Federal law; and
(iv)
assistance pursuant to programs entirely unrelated to development, such as any Federal or federally assisted public assistance program or any Federal old-age survivors or disability insurance program.
(B)

Flood insurance

section 4028 of title 42The term “financial assistance” includes flood insurance described in .

(4)

Great Lakes

The term “Great Lakes” means Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake St. Clair, Lake Michigan, and Lake Superior, to the extent that those lakes are subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

(5)

Otherwise Protected Area

(A)

In general

The term “Otherwise Protected Area” means any unit of the System that, at the time of designation, was predominantly composed of areas established under Federal, State, or local law, or held by a qualified organization, primarily for wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, recreational, or natural resource conservation purposes.

(B)

Qualified organization

section 170(h)(3) of title 26For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term “qualified organization” has the meaning given the term in .

(6)

Secretary

The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior.

(7)

System

section 3503(a) of this titleThe term “System” means the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System established under .

(8)

System unit

section 3503(a) of this titleThe term “System unit” means any undeveloped coastal barrier, or combination of closely-related undeveloped coastal barriers, included within the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System established under .

(9)

Undeveloped coastal barrier

The term “undeveloped coastal barrier” means a coastal barrier the features and associated habitats of which contain few manmade structures and these structures, and man’s activities on such features and within such habitats, do not significantly impede geomorphic and ecological processes.

(b)

Savings clause

section 3503(a) of this titleNothing in this section supersedes the official maps described in .

Pub. L. 97–348, § 396 Stat. 1653Pub. L. 99–272, title XIV, § 14001(b)(5)100 Stat. 329Pub. L. 99–514, § 2100 Stat. 2095Pub. L. 100–707, title II, § 204(c)(2)102 Stat. 4714Pub. L. 101–591, § 2(a)104 Stat. 2931Pub. L. 106–167, § 3(c)(2)113 Stat. 1804Pub. L. 106–514, § 4(a)(1)114 Stat. 2396Pub. L. 118–117, title I, § 101138 Stat. 1608(, , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , (b)(1), (c), , ; , , ; , (2), , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 118–1172024— amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section defined terms for this chapter.

Pub. L. 106–514, § 4(a)(1)2000—Par. (2). , substituted “means the Committee on Resources” for “refers to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries”.

Pub. L. 106–514, § 4(a)(2)Par. (3). , substituted “Such” for “Effective , such” in concluding provisions.

Pub. L. 106–1671999—Pars. (6), (7). substituted “John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System” for “Coastal Barrier Resources System”.

Pub. L. 101–591, § 2(c)section 170(h)(3) of title 261990—Par. (1). , in concluding provisions, struck out cl. (i) designation, inserted a period after “processes”, and struck out at end “, and (ii) are not included within the boundaries of an area established under Federal, State, or local law, or held by a qualified organization as defined in , primarily for wildlife refuge, sanctuary, recreational, or natural resource conservation purposes.”

Pub. L. 101–591, § 2(a)Par. (1)(A). , redesignated cls. (ii) and (iii) as (i) and (ii), respectively, and struck out former cl. (i) which read as follows: “consists of unconsolidated sedimentary materials,”.

Pub. L. 101–591, § 2(b)(1)Par. (6). , amended par. (6) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (6) read as follows: “The term ‘system maps’ means—

“(A) the maps that are entitled ‘Coastal Barrier Resources System’, numbered A01 through T12 (but excluding maps T02 and T03) and dated , and the maps numbered T02A and T03A and dated ; and

section 3503(b) of this title“(B) the maps prepared under and any modification to those maps under that section.”

Pub. L. 100–7071988—Pars. (4) to (7). added pars. (4) and (6) and redesignated former pars. (4) and (5) as (5) and (7), respectively.

Pub. L. 99–5141986—Par. (1). substituted “Internal Revenue Code of 1986” for “Internal Revenue Code of 1954”, which for purposes of codification was translated as “title 26” thus requiring no change in text.

Pub. L. 99–272section 6702 of title 31Par. (3). struck out subpar. (A) relating to general revenue-sharing grants made under , and redesignated subpars. (B) to (E) as (A) to (D), respectively.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Committee on Resources of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Natural Resources of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Tenth Congress, .

Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

Pub. L. 99–272section 14001(e) of Pub. L. 99–272Amendment by , effective , see .