Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73
§3501 Congressional statement of findings and purpose
Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 55— - COASTAL BARRIER RESOURCES › § 3501
Summary
Protects coastal barrier areas along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and the shores of the Great Lakes by limiting federal money that encourages building there and by creating the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System. It asks federal, state, and local governments to work together to plan for long‑term protection of these places. Congress found that these barrier islands and nearby wetlands are important homes for migratory birds, fish, shellfish, sea turtles, and other wildlife. They also have scenic, historic, cultural, and economic value, act as natural storm buffers, and are often damaged by development. Federal programs have sometimes encouraged harmful building and wasted taxpayer money, so the law aims to reduce loss of life, save federal funds, and protect natural resources.
Full Legal Text
Title 16, §3501
Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(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.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
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, 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
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”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Short Title
of 2024 Amendment Pub. L. 118–117, § 1, Nov. 25, 2024, 138 Stat. 1608, provided that: “This Act [amending sections 3502 to 3506 and 3510 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 3504 of this title and listed in a table of Revision of Maps for Units of System set out under section 3503 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Bolstering Ecosystems Against Coastal Harm Act’ or the ‘BEACH Act’.”
Short Title
of 2018 Amendment Pub. L. 115–358, § 1, Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5078, provided that: “This Act [amending section 3503 of this title and enacting and amending provisions set out as notes under section 3503 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Strengthening Coastal Communities Act of 2018’.”
Short Title
of 2000 Amendment Pub. L. 106–514, § 1, Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2394, provided that: “This Act [amending section 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, § 1, Dec. 9, 1999, 113 Stat. 1803, provided that: “This Act [amending this section and section 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, § 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 Pub. L. 100–707, title II, § 204(a), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4713, provided that: “This section [amending this section and section 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
Pub. L. 97–348, § 1, Oct. 18, 1982, 96 Stat. 1653, 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, § 7, Nov. 13, 2000, 114 Stat. 2397, required the Secretary of the Interior to submit to Congress, no later than 1 year after Nov. 13, 2000, 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 (16 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
16 U.S.C. § 3501
Title 16 — Conservation
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73