16 USC 8304 - Reports

§ 8301. Purpose
§ 8302. Definitions
§ 8303. Coastal Program
§ 8304. Reports
§ 8305. Authorization of appropriations

§ 8301. Purpose

The purpose of this chapter is to legislatively authorize the Coastal Program of the Service in effect as of December 11, 2024, to conduct collaborative landscape-level planning and on-the-ground coastal habitat assessment, coastal habitat protection, coastal habitat restoration, and coastal habitat enhancement projects in priority coastal landscapes to conserve and recover Federal trust species.

(Pub. L. 118–138, § 2, Dec. 11, 2024, 138 Stat. 1651.)

§ 8302. Definitions

In this chapter:

(1) Coastal ecosystem

(2) Coastal habitat assessment

(3) Coastal habitat enhancement

(4) Coastal habitat planning

The term “coastal habitat planning” means the process of developing a comprehensive plan that—

(A) characterizes a coastal ecosystem;

(B) sets protection, restoration, or enhancement goals and identifies the priorities of those goals;

(D) establishes a timetable for implementation of the plan; and

(E) identifies roles of participants and stakeholders.

(5) Coastal habitat protection

(A) In general

(B) Inclusion

(6) Coastal habitat restoration

(7) Coastal landscape

The term “coastal landscape” means a portion of a coastal ecosystem within or adjacent to a coastal State that contains various habitat types, including—

(A) a fresh or saltwater wetland in a coastal watershed;

(B) a coastal river, stream, or waterway;

(D) a seagrass bed, reef, or other nearshore marine habitat;

(E) a beach or dune system;

(F) a mangrove forest; and

(G) an associated coastal upland.

(8) Coastal State

The term “coastal State” means—

(A) a State in, or bordering on, the Atlantic, Pacific, or Arctic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, the Long Island Sound, or 1 or more of the Great Lakes;

(B) the District of Columbia;

(D) Guam;

(E) American Samoa;

(F) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;

(G) the Federated States of Micronesia;

(H) the Republic of the Marshall Islands;

(I) the Republic of Palau; and

(J) the United States Virgin Islands.

(9) Federal trust species

(10) Financial assistance

(11) Secretary

(12) Service

(13) Technical assistance

(Pub. L. 118–138, § 3, Dec. 11, 2024, 138 Stat. 1651.)

§ 8303. Coastal Program

The Secretary shall carry out the Coastal Program within the Service to—

(1) identify the leading threats to priority coastal landscapes and conservation actions to address those threats in partnership with Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments, nongovernmental institutions, nonprofit organizations, and private individuals and entities;

(2) provide technical assistance and financial assistance through partnerships with Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments, nongovernmental institutions, nonprofit organizations, and private individuals and entities to conduct voluntary coastal habitat planning, coastal habitat assessment, coastal habitat protection, coastal habitat restoration, and coastal habitat enhancement projects on public land or private land;

(3) ensure the health and resilience of coastal ecosystems through adaptive management procedures based on the best available science;

(4) build the capacity of Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments, nongovernmental institutions, nonprofit organizations, and private individuals and entities to carry out environmental conservation and stewardship measures;

(5) assist in the development and implementation of monitoring protocols to ensure the success of coastal ecosystem restoration and coastal ecosystem enhancement measures; and

(6) collaborate and share information with partners and the public relating to best management practices for the conservation, restoration, and enhancement of coastal ecosystems.

(Pub. L. 118–138, § 4, Dec. 11, 2024, 138 Stat. 1653.)

§ 8304. Reports

(a) In general

(b) Requirements

Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall assess on regional and nationwide bases—

(1) Coastal Program work on coastal ecosystems;

(2) progress made by the Coastal Program toward identifying the leading threats to priority coastal landscapes and conservation actions to address those threats; and

(3) prospects for, and success of, protecting, restoring, and enhancing coastal ecosystems.

Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall include—

(1) quantitative information on coastal landscapes protected, restored, or enhanced;

(2) funds appropriated to the Coastal Program that have been expended or leveraged;

(3) a description of adaptive management practices implemented; and

(4) a description of emerging challenges or data gaps that hinder the ability of the Coastal Program to achieve the purpose of this chapter.

(Pub. L. 118–138, § 5, Dec. 11, 2024, 138 Stat. 1653.)

§ 8305. Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this chapter $16,957,000 for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028.

(Pub. L. 118–138, § 6, Dec. 11, 2024, 138 Stat. 1654.)