§ 1221. — Congressional 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: 16USC1221]
TITLE 16--CONSERVATION
CHAPTER 26--ESTUARINE AREAS
Sec. 1221. Congressional declaration of policy
Congress finds and declares that many estuaries in the United States
are rich in a variety of natural, commercial, and other resources,
including environmental natural beauty, and are of immediate and
potential value to the present and future generations of Americans. It
is therefore the purpose of this chapter to provide a means for
considering the need to protect, conserve, and restore these estuaries
in a manner that adequately and reasonably maintains a balance between
the national need for such protection in the interest of conserving the
natural resources and natural beauty of the Nation and the need to
develop these estuaries to further the growth and development of the
Nation. In connection with the exercise of jurisdiction over the
estuaries of the Nation and in consequence of the benefits resulting to
the public, it is declared to be the policy of Congress to recognize,
preserve, and protect the responsibilities of the States in protecting,
conserving, and restoring the estuaries in the United States.
(Pub. L. 90-454, Sec. 1, Aug. 3, 1968, 82 Stat. 625.)
