§3503. Establishment of John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System
(a) Establishment
There is established the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System, which shall consist of those undeveloped coastal barriers and other areas located on the coasts of the United States that are identified and generally depicted as System units or Otherwise Protected Areas-
(1) on the maps on file with the Secretary entitled "Coastal Barrier Resources System", dated October 24, 1990;
(2) on a map described in section 201(b) of the Bolstering Ecosystems Against Coastal Harm Act; or
(3) on a map described in paragraph (1) or (2) as such map may be replaced, modified, revised, or corrected under-
(A) subsection (f)(3);
(B) section 4 of the Coastal Barrier Improvement Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 3503 note); or
(C) any other provision of law enacted on or after November 16, 1990, that specifically replaces or authorizes the modification, revision, or correction of such a map.
(b) System maps
(1) In general
The Secretary shall keep the maps referred to in subsection (a) on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and in such other offices of that service as the Director considers appropriate.
(2) Digital maps
(A) Availability
The Secretary shall make available to the public on the Internet web site of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service digital versions of the maps included in the set of maps referred to in subsection (a).
(B) Effect
Any determination as to whether a location is inside or outside the System shall be made without regard to the digital maps available under this paragraph, except that this subparagraph does not apply with respect to any printed version of such a digital map if the printed version is included in the maps referred to in subsection (a).
(C) Report
No later than 180 days after December 21, 2018, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report regarding the progress and challenges in the transition from paper to digital maps and a timetable for completion of the digitization of all maps related to the System.
(c) Boundary review and modification
At least once every 5 years, the Secretary shall review the maps referred to in subsection (a) and shall make, in consultation with the appropriate State, local, and Federal officials, such minor and technical modifications to the boundaries of System units as are necessary solely to reflect changes that have occurred in the size or location of any System unit as a result of natural forces.
(d) Additions to System
The Secretary may add a parcel of real property to the System, if-
(1) the owner of the parcel requests, in writing, that the Secretary add the parcel to the System; and
(2) the parcel is an undeveloped coastal barrier.
(e) Addition of excess Federal property
(1) Consultation and determination
Prior to transfer or disposal of excess property under chapters 1 to 11 of title 40 and division C (except sections 3302, 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711) of subtitle I of title 41 that may be a coastal barrier, the Administrator of General Services shall consult with and obtain from the Secretary a determination as to whether and what portion of the property constitutes a coastal barrier. Not later than 180 days after the initiation of such consultation, the Secretary shall make and publish notice of such determination. Immediately upon issuance of a positive determination, the Secretary shall-
(A) prepare a map depicting the coastal barrier portion of such property; and
(B) publish in the Federal Register notice of the addition of such property to the System.
(2) Effective date of inclusion
An area to be added to the System under this subsection shall be part of the System effective on the date on which the Secretary publishes notice in the Federal Register under paragraph (1)(B) with respect to that area.
(f) Maps
The Secretary shall-
(1) keep a map showing the location of each boundary modification made under subsection (c) and of each parcel of real property added to the System under subsection (d) or (e) on file and available for public inspection in the Office of the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and in such other offices of the Service as the Director considers appropriate;
(2) provide a notification of the availability of the map to-
(A) the State and unit of local government in which the property is located;
(B) the Committees; and
(C) the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and
(3) revise the maps referred to in subsection (a) to reflect each boundary modification under subsection (c) and each addition of real property to the System under subsection (d) or (e), after publishing in the Federal Register a notice of any such proposed revision.
(g) Guidelines for certain recommendations and determinations
(1) In general
In making any recommendation to the Congress regarding the addition of any area to the System or in determining whether, at the time of the inclusion of a System unit within the System, a coastal barrier is undeveloped, the Secretary shall consider whether within the area-
(A) the density of development is less than 1 structure per 5 acres of land above mean high tide; and
(B) there is existing infrastructure consisting of-
(i) a road, with a reinforced road bed, to each lot or building site in the area;
(ii) a wastewater disposal system sufficient to serve each lot or building site in the area;
(iii) electric service for each lot or building site in the area; and
(iv) a fresh water supply for each lot or building site in the area.
(2) Structure defined
In paragraph (1), the term "structure" means a walled and roofed building, other than a gas or liquid storage tank, that-
(A) is principally above ground and affixed to a permanent site, including a manufactured home on a permanent foundation; and
(B) covers an area of at least 200 square feet.
(3) Savings clause
Nothing in this subsection supersedes the official maps referred to in subsection (a).
(
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Section 201 of the Bolstering Ecosystems Against Coastal Harm Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(2), is section 201 of
Section 4 of the Coastal Barrier Improvement Act of 1990, referred to in subsec. (a)(3)(B), is section 4 of
Codification
The text of section 4(d) of
In subsec. (e)(1), "chapters 1 to 11 of title 40 and division C (except sections 3302, 3307(e), 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711) of subtitle I of title 41" substituted for "the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949" on authority of
Amendments
2024-Subsec. (a).
"(1) subsection (f)(3);
"(2) section 4 of the Coastal Barrier Improvement Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 3503 note;
"(3) any other provision of law enacted on or after November 16, 1990, that specifically replaces such a map or authorizes the modification, revision, or correction."
Subsec. (e)(1).
Subsec. (e)(1)(A).
Subsec. (f)(2).
2018-Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (a)(3).
Subsec. (b).
2000-Subsec. (a).
Subsec. (d).
Subsec. (e).
Subsec. (f).
Subsec. (g).
1999-
Subsec. (a).
1990-
1988-
1982-Subsec. (a)(1).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Transfer of Functions
For transfer of all functions, personnel, assets, components, authorities, grant programs, and liabilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including the functions of the Under Secretary for Federal Emergency Management relating thereto, to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, see section 315(a)(1) of Title 6, Domestic Security.
For transfer of functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including the functions of the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see former section 313(1) and sections 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.
Coastal Barrier Resources Reauthorization
"SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
"This Act may be cited as the 'Coastal Barrier Resources Reauthorization Act of 2005'.
"SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
"In this Act:
"(1)
"(2)
"(3)
"(4)
"[SEC. 3. Repealed.
Pub. L. 115–358, §4, Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5081
.]
"SEC. 4. DIGITAL MAPPING PROJECT FOR THE REMAINING JOHN H. CHAFEE COASTAL BARRIER RESOURCES SYSTEM UNITS AND OTHERWISE PROTECTED AREAS.
"(a)
"(b)
"(1)
"(2)
"(3)
"(4)
"(5)
"(A) the National Spatial Data Infrastructure established by Executive Order No. 12906 (59 Fed. Reg. 17671) [43 U.S.C. 1457 note]; and
"(B) any other standards established by the Federal Geographic Data Committee established by the Office of Management and Budget circular numbered A–16.
"(c)
"(1)
"(2)
"(A) in consultation with the Governors of the States in which the System units and otherwise protected areas are located; and
"(B) after-
"(i) providing an opportunity for the submission of public comments; and
"(ii) considering any public comments submitted under clause (i).
"(3)
"(A) a description of the extent to which the boundary lines on the digital maps differ from the boundary lines on the original maps;
"(B) a summary of the comments received from Governors, other government officials, and the public regarding the digital maps created under this section;
"(C) recommendations for the adoption of the digital maps created under this section by Congress;
"(D) recommendations for expansion of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System and otherwise protected areas, as in existence on the date of enactment of this Act [May 25, 2006];
"(E) a summary and update on the implementation and use of the digital maps created under the pilot project; and
"(F) a description of the feasibility of, and the amount of funding necessary for-
"(i) making all of the System unit and otherwise protected area maps available to the public in digital format; and
"(ii) facilitating the integration of digital System unit and otherwise protected area boundaries into Federal, State, and local planning tools.
"(d)
"SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS."
[Amended section 3510 of this title.]
Digital Mapping Pilot Project
"(a)
"(1)
"(2)
"(b)
"(1)
"(2)
"(3)
"(4)
"(A) the National Spatial Data Infrastructure established by Executive Order 12906 (59 Fed. Reg. 17671 (April 13, 1994)) [43 U.S.C. 1457 note]; and
"(B) any other standards established by the Federal Geographic Data Committee established by Office of Management and Budget Circular A–16.
"(c)
"(d)
"(1)
"(2)
"(A) the cooperative agreements that would be necessary to complete digital mapping of the entire System;
"(B) the extent to which the data necessary to complete digital mapping of the entire System are available;
"(C) the need for additional data to complete digital mapping of the entire System;
"(D) the extent to which the boundary lines on the digital maps differ from the boundary lines on the original maps; and
"(E) the amount of funding necessary to complete digital mapping of the entire System.
"(e)
Findings
"(1) during the past 2 decades, Senator John H. Chafee was a leading voice for the protection of the environment and the conservation of the natural resources of the United States;
"(2) Senator Chafee served on the Environment and Public Works Committee of the Senate for 22 years, influencing every major piece of environmental legislation enacted during that time;
"(3) Senator Chafee led the fight for clean air, clean water, safe drinking water, and cleanup of toxic wastes, and for strengthening of the National Wildlife Refuge System and protections for endangered species and their habitats;
"(4) millions of people of the United States breathe cleaner air, drink cleaner water, and enjoy more plentiful outdoor recreation opportunities because of the work of Senator Chafee;
"(5) in 1982, Senator Chafee authored and succeeded in enacting into law the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) to minimize loss of human life, wasteful expenditure of Federal revenues, and damage to fish, wildlife, and other natural resources associated with the coastal barriers along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts; and
"(6) to reflect the invaluable national contributions made by Senator Chafee during his service in the Senate, the Coastal Barrier Resources System should be named in his honor."
Redesignation of Coastal Barrier Resources System
"(a)
"(b)
Revision of Maps for Units of System
The following acts directed the Secretary of the Interior to make technical revisions to, corrections to, and replacement of maps relating to particular units of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System:
Correction of Errors in Maps; Modification of Boundaries; Additions to System
"(a)
"(1) make such technical revisions to the maps referred to in section 4(a) of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act [16 U.S.C. 3503(a)] (as amended by section 3 of this Act) as may be necessary to correct existing clerical and typographical errors in the maps; and
"(2) provide copies of the maps, as so revised, to-
"(A) each State and each local government in which is located a unit of the System;
"(B) the coastal zone management agency of each State-
"(i) in which is located a unit of the System; and
"(ii) which has a coastal zone management program approved pursuant to section 306 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1455); and
"(C) appropriate Federal agencies.
"(b)
"(A) a local government in which is located a unit of the System and which is in a State which has a coastal zone management program approved pursuant to section 306 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1455); and
"(B) the coastal zone management agency of a State in which is located a unit of the System and which has such a program approved;
may each submit to the Secretary recommendations for minor and technical modifications to the boundaries of existing units of the System located in that local government or State, respectively.
"(2) If, in the case of any minor and technical modification to the boundaries of System units made under the authority of section 4(e) of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3503(e)), an appropriate chief executive officer of a State, county or equivalent jurisdiction, or State coastal zone management agency to which notice was given in accordance with this subsection files comments disagreeing with all or part of the modification and the Secretary makes a modification which is in conflict with such comments, or if the Secretary fails to adopt a modification pursuant to a proposal submitted by an appropriate State coastal zone management agency under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to the chief executive officer a written justification for the failure to make modifications consistent with such comments or proposals.
"(c)
"(1)
"(A) to each local government in which is located an undeveloped coastal barrier not included within the System; and
"(B) to the Governor of each State in which such an area is located;
maps depicting those undeveloped coastal barriers not included within the System located in that local government or State, respectively.
"(2)
"(A) may each elect to add to the System, as a new unit or as an addition to an existing unit, any area of qualified coastal barrier (or any portion thereof) which is owned or held by the local government, State, or qualified organization, respectively;
"(B) shall notify the Secretary of that election; and
"(C) shall submit to the Secretary a map depicting the area, if-
"(i) the area (or portion) is not depicted on a map provided by the Secretary under paragraph (1); or
"(ii) the local government, State, or qualified organization was not provided maps under paragraph (1).
"(3)
"[(d) Redesignated section 3503(e) of this title.]
"(e)
"(1)
"(A) based on recommendations submitted by local governments and State coastal zone management agencies under subsection (b), may make such minor and technical modifications to the boundaries of existing units of the System as are consistent with the purposes of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and are necessary to clarify the boundaries of those units;
"(B) shall revise the maps referred to in section 4(a) of the Act [16 U.S.C. 3503(a)] (as amended by section 3 of this Act)-
"(i) to reflect those modifications; and
"(ii) to reflect each election of a local government, Governor of a State, or qualified organization to add an area to the System pursuant to subsection (c); and
"(C) shall publish in the Federal Register notice of each such modification or election.
"(2)
Pacific Coastal Barrier Protection Study and Maps
Section 6 of
Report Regarding Coastal Barrier Management
Definitions
"(1) the term 'undeveloped coastal barrier' means-
"(A) a depositional geologic feature (such as a bay barrier, tombolo, barrier spit, or barrier island) that-
"(i) is subject to wave, tidal, and wind energies, and
"(ii) protects landward aquatic habitats from direct wave attack; and
"(B) all associated aquatic habitats including the adjacent wetlands, marshes, estuaries, inlets, and nearshore waters;
but only if such features and associated habitats contain few manmade structures and these structures, and man's activities on such features and within such habitats, do not significantly impede geomorphic and ecological processes.
"(2) the term 'otherwise protected area' means an undeveloped coastal barrier within the boundaries of an area established under Federal, State, or local law, or held by a qualified organization, primarily for wildlife refuge, sanctuary, recreational, or natural resource conservation purposes;
"(3) the term 'qualified organization' means such an organization under section 170(h)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 170(h)(3));
"(4) the term 'Secretary' means the Secretary of the Interior; and
"(5) the term 'System' means the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System established by the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), as amended by this Act."