
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 16USC1221]

 
                         TITLE 16--CONSERVATION
 
                       CHAPTER 26--ESTUARINE AREAS
 
Sec. 1221. Congressional declaration of policy

    Congress finds and declares that many estuaries in the United States 
are rich in a variety of natural, commercial, and other resources, 
including environmental natural beauty, and are of immediate and 
potential value to the present and future generations of Americans. It 
is therefore the purpose of this chapter to provide a means for 
considering the need to protect, conserve, and restore these estuaries 
in a manner that adequately and reasonably maintains a balance between 
the national need for such protection in the interest of conserving the 
natural resources and natural beauty of the Nation and the need to 
develop these estuaries to further the growth and development of the 
Nation. In connection with the exercise of jurisdiction over the 
estuaries of the Nation and in consequence of the benefits resulting to 
the public, it is declared to be the policy of Congress to recognize, 
preserve, and protect the responsibilities of the States in protecting, 
conserving, and restoring the estuaries in the United States.

(Pub. L. 90-454, Sec. 1, Aug. 3, 1968, 82 Stat. 625.)
