16 U.S.C. § 3501 : US Code - Section 3501: Congressional statement of findings and purpose

Search 16 U.S.C. § 3501 : US Code - Section 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.