coastal barriers along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and along the shore areas of the Great Lakes of the United States and the adjacent wetlands, marshes, estuaries, inlets and nearshore waters provide—
(A)
habitats for migratory birds and other wildlife; and
(B)
habitats which are essential spawning, nursery, nesting, and feeding areas for commercially and recreationally important species of finfish and shellfish, as well as other aquatic organisms such as sea turtles;
(2)
coastal barriers contain resources of extraordinary scenic, scientific, recreational, natural, historic, archeological, cultural, and economic importance; which are being irretrievably damaged and lost due to development on, among, and adjacent to, such barriers;
(3)
coastal barriers serve as natural storm protective buffers and are generally unsuitable for development because they are vulnerable to hurricane and other storm damage and because natural shoreline recession and the movement of unstable sediments undermine manmade structures;
(4)
certain actions and programs of the Federal Government have subsidized and permitted development on coastal barriers and the result has been the loss of barrier resources, threats to human life, health, and property, and the expenditure of millions of tax dollars each year; and
(5)
a program of coordinated action by Federal, State, and local governments is critical to the more appropriate use and conservation of coastal barriers.
(b)
The Congress declares that it is the purpose of this chapter to minimize the loss of human life, wasteful expenditure of Federal revenues, and the damage to fish, wildlife, and other natural resources associated with the coastal barriers along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and along the shore areas of the Great Lakes by restricting future Federal expenditures and financial assistance which have the effect of encouraging development of coastal barriers, by establishing the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System, and by considering the means and measures by which the long-term conservation of these fish, wildlife, and other natural resources may be achieved.
Pub. L. 97–34896 Stat. 1653This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original “this Act”, meaning , , , known as the Coastal Barrier Resources Act, which is classified generally to this chapter (§ 3501 et seq.). For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out below and Tables.
Amendments
Pub. L. 106–1671999—Subsec. (b). substituted “the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System” for “a Coastal Barrier Resources System”.
Pub. L. 100–7071988—Subsecs. (a)(1), (b). inserted “and along the shore areas of the Great Lakes” after “Atlantic and Gulf coasts”.
section 3504 of this titlesection 3503 of this title“This Act [amending sections 3502 to 3506 and 3510 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under and listed in a table of Revision of Maps for Units of System set out under ] may be cited as the ‘Bolstering Ecosystems Against Coastal Harm Act’ or the ‘BEACH Act’.”
section 3509 of this titlesection 3503 of this titlesection 3503 of this title“This Act [amending sections 3502, 3503, and 3510 of this title, repealing , enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and , and amending and repealing provisions set out as notes under ] may be cited as the ‘Coastal Barrier Resources Reauthorization Act of 2000’.”
section 1441a–3 of Title 12section 4028 of Title 42section 3503 of this title“This Act [amending this section and sections 3502, 3503, and 3509 of this title, , Banks and Banking, and , The Public Health and Welfare, and enacting and amending provisions set out as notes under ] may be cited as the ‘John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System Act’.”
section 3505 of this title“This section [amending this section and sections 3502 and 3503 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under ] may be cited as the ‘Great Lakes Coastal Barrier Act of 1988’.”
section 4028 of Title 42section 4028 of Title 42“This Act [enacting this chapter, amending , The Public Health and Welfare, and repealing provisions set out as a note under ] may be cited as the ‘Coastal Barrier Resources Act’.”
, , , provided that:
Economic Assessment of John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System
Pub. L. 106–514, § 7114 Stat. 239716 U.S.C. 3501, , , required the Secretary of the Interior to submit to Congress, no later than 1 year after , an economic assessment of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System that would consider the impact on Federal expenditures of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act ( et seq.).