
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 16USC3501]

 
                         TITLE 16--CONSERVATION
 
                  CHAPTER 55--COASTAL BARRIER RESOURCES
 
Sec. 3501. Congressional statement of findings and purpose

    (a) The Congress finds that--
        (1) 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. 97-348, Sec. 2, Oct. 18, 1982, 96 Stat. 1653; Pub. L. 100-707, 
title II, Sec. 204(c)(1), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4714; Pub. L. 106-
167, Sec. 3(c)(1), Dec. 9, 1999, 113 Stat. 1804.)

                       References in Text

    This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original ``this 
Act'', meaning Pub. L. 97-348, Oct. 18, 1982, 96 Stat. 1653, as amended, 
known as the Coastal Barrier Resources Act, which is classified 
generally to this chapter (Sec. 3501 et seq.). For complete 
classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out 
below and Tables.


                               Amendments

    1999--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106-167 substituted ``the John H. Chafee 
Coastal Barrier Resources System'' for ``a Coastal Barrier Resources 
System''.
    1988--Subsecs. (a)(1), (b). Pub. L. 100-707 inserted ``and along the 
shore areas of the Great Lakes'' after ``Atlantic and Gulf coasts''.


                      Short Title of 2000 Amendment

    Pub. L. 106-514, Sec. 1, Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2394, provided 
that: ``This Act [amending sections 3502, 3503, and 3510 of this title, 
repealing section 3509 of this title, enacting provisions set out as 
notes under this section and section 3503 of this title, and amending 
and repealing provisions set out as notes under section 3503 of this 
title] may be cited as the `Coastal Barrier Resources Reauthorization 
Act of 2000'.''


                      Short Title of 1999 Amendment

    Pub. L. 106-167, Sec. 1, Dec. 9, 1999, 113 Stat. 1803, provided 
that: ``This Act [amending this section and sections 3502, 3503, and 
3509 of this title, section 1441a-3 of Title 12, Banks and Banking, and 
section 4028 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and enacting 
and amending provisions set out as notes under section 3503 of this 
title] may be cited as the `John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources 
System Act'.''


                      Short Title of 1990 Amendment

    Pub. L. 101-591, Sec. 1, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 2931, provided 
that: ``This Act [enacting section 1441a-3 of Title 12, Banks and 
Banking, amending sections 3502 to 3506 and 3510 of this title and 
section 4028 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, enacting 
provisions set out as notes under section 3503 of this title, and 
repealing provisions set out as a note under section 3505 of this title] 
may be cited as the `Coastal Barrier Improvement Act of 1990'.''


                      Short Title of 1988 Amendment

    Section 204(a) of Pub. L. 100-707 provided that: ``This section 
[amending this section and sections 3502 and 3503 of this title and 
enacting provisions set out as a note under section 3505 of this title] 
may be cited as the `Great Lakes Coastal Barrier Act of 1988'.''


                               Short Title

    Section 1 of Pub. L. 97-348 provided that: ``This Act [enacting this 
chapter, amending section 4028 of Title 42, The Public Health and 
Welfare, and repealing provisions set out as a note under section 4028 
of Title 42] may be cited as the `Coastal Barrier Resources Act'.''


 Economic Assessment of John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System

    Pub. L. 106-514, Sec. 7, Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2397, provided 
that:
    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act [Nov. 13, 2000], the Secretary of the Interior shall submit 
to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and the 
Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives an economic 
assessment of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System.
    ``(b) Required Elements.--The assessment shall consider the impact 
on Federal expenditures of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq.), including impacts resulting from the avoidance of Federal 
expenditures for--
        ``(1) disaster relief under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
    Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.);
        ``(2) the national flood insurance program established under 
    chapter 1 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 
    4011 et seq.); and
        ``(3) development assistance for roads, potable water supplies, 
    and wastewater infrastructure.''
