§ 1001. — Declaration of policy.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 16USC1001]
TITLE 16--CONSERVATION
CHAPTER 18--WATERSHED PROTECTION AND FLOOD PREVENTION
Sec. 1001. Declaration of policy
Erosion, floodwater, and sediment damages in the watersheds of the
rivers and streams of the United States, causing loss of life and damage
to property, constitute a menace to the national welfare; and it is the
sense of Congress that the Federal Government should cooperate with
States and their political subdivisions, soil or water conservation
districts, flood prevention or control districts, and other local public
agencies for the purpose of preventing such damages, of furthering the
conservation, development, utilization, and disposal of water, and the
conservation and utilization of land and thereby of preserving,
protecting, and improving the Nation's land and water resources and the
quality of the environment.
(Aug. 4, 1954, ch. 656, Sec. 1, 68 Stat. 666; Pub. L. 92-419, title II,
Sec. 201(a), Aug. 30, 1972, 86 Stat. 667.)
Amendments
1972--Pub. L. 92-419 expanded the declaration of policy to include
conservation and utilization of land, improvement of land and water
resources, and quality of the environment.
Short Title
Section 11 of act Aug. 4, 1954, as renumbered by act Aug. 7, 1956,
ch. 1027, Sec. 1(g), 70 Stat. 1088, provided that: ``This Act [enacting
this chapter, amending section 701b of Title 33, Navigation and
Navigable Waters, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this
section and section 701b of Title 33] may be cited as the `Watershed
Protection and Flood Prevention Act'.''
Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Projects Exempt From
Requirements for Independent Water Project Review
For exemption of projects under this chapter from independent water
project review requirements of Ex. Ords. No. 12113 and 12141, see Pub.
L. 96-528, title VI, Sec. 622, Dec. 15, 1980, 94 Stat. 3118, set out as
a note under section 1962 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.
Extension of Benefits to Projects Authorized Before Aug. 7, 1956
Section 2 of act Aug. 7, 1956, ch. 1027, 70 Stat. 1090, provided
that sections 1006a and 1006b of this title and the amendments made by
act Aug. 7, 1956 to sections 1002 to 1005 of this title should be
applicable to all works of improvement and plans for such works under
the provisions of this chapter and that any plans for works of
improvement with respect to which the Secretary of Agriculture was
authorized prior to Aug. 7, 1956 to participate in the installation of
works of improvement in accordance with such plan, or any plan for works
of improvement which had received prior to Aug. 7, 1956 the approval of
congressional committees, need not be submitted to the congressional
committees as required by this chapter.
