1995 U.S. Code
Title 33 - NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS
CHAPTER 9 - PROTECTION OF NAVIGABLE WATERS AND OF HARBOR AND RIVER IMPROVEMENTS GENERALLY
SUBCHAPTER I - IN GENERAL
Sec. 426e - Federal aid in protection of shores

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§426e. Federal aid in protection of shores (a) Declaration of policy

With the purpose of preventing damage to the shores of the United States, its Territories and possessions and promoting and encouraging the healthful recreation of the people, it is declared to be the policy of the United States, subject to the following provisions of sections 426e to 426h of this title to assist in the construction, but not the maintenance, of works for the restoration and protection against erosion, by waves and currents, of the shores of the United States, its Territories and possessions.

(b) Federal contribution; maximum amount; exceptions

The Federal contribution in the case of any project referred to in subsection (a) of this section shall not exceed one-half of the cost of the project, and the remainder shall be paid by the State, municipality, or other political subdivision in which the project is located, except that (1) the costs allocated to the restoration and protection of Federal property shall be borne fully by the Federal Government, (2) Federal participation in the cost of a project for restoration and protection of State, county, and other publicly owned shore parks and conservation areas may be, in the discretion of the Chief of Engineers, not more than 70 per centum of the total cost exclusive of land costs, when such areas: Include a zone which excludes permanent human habitation; include but are not limited to recreational beaches; satisfy adequate criteria for conservation and development of the natural resources of the environment; extend landward a sufficient distance to include, where appropriate, protective dunes, bluffs, or other natural features which serve to protect the uplands from damage; and provide essentially full park facilities for appropriate public use, all of which shall meet with the approval of the Chief of Engineers, and (3) Federal participation in the cost of a project providing hurricane protection may be, in the discretion of the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, not more than 70 per centum of the total cost exclusive of land costs.

(c) Periodic beach nourishment; “construction” defined

When in the opinion of the Chief of Engineers the most suitable and economical remedial measures would be provided by periodic beach nourishment, the term “construction” may be construed for the purposes of sections 426e to 426h of this title to include the deposit of sand fill at suitable intervals of time to furnish sand supply to project shores for a length of time specified by the Chief of Engineers.

(d) Shores other than public

Shores other than public will be eligible for Federal assistance if there is benefit such as that arising from public use or from the protection of nearby public property or if the benefits to those shores are incidental to the project, and the Federal contribution to the project shall be adjusted in accordance with the degree of such benefits.

(e) Authorized plans

No Federal contributions shall be made with respect to a project under sections 426e to 426h of this title unless the plan therefor shall have been specifically adopted and authorized by Congress after investigation and study by the Coastal Engineering Research Center under the provisions of section 426 of this title as amended and supplemented, or, in the case of a small project under section 426g of this title, unless the plan therefor has been approved by the Chief of Engineers.

(Aug. 13, 1946, ch. 960, §1, 60 Stat. 1056; July 28, 1956, ch. 768, 70 Stat. 702; Oct. 23, 1962, Pub. L. 87–874, title I, §103(a)(1)–(3), 76 Stat. 1178; Nov. 7, 1963, Pub. L. 88–172, §1, 77 Stat. 304; Dec. 31, 1970, Pub. L. 91–611, title II, §208, 84 Stat. 1829.)

Codification

Coastal Engineering Research Center, referred to in subsec. (e), has been substituted for Beach Erosion Board pursuant to Pub. L. 88–172, §1, providing in part for the abolition of the Beach Erosion Board and for transfer of functions of the Beach Erosion Board to the Coastal Engineering Research Center. See section 426–1 of this title.

Amendments

1970—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 91–611 provided for designation of existing provisions as cls. (1) and (2) by insertion of “(1)” after “except that” and substitution of “(2)” for “and, further, that” and added cl. (3).

1962—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 87–874, §103(a)(1), (2), increased maximum limit on amount of Federal contributions from one-third to one-half of project cost, provided that costs for restoration and protection of Federal property shall be borne fully by the Federal Government, and that costs for restoration and protection of State, county and other publicly owned shore parks and conservation areas may be borne by Federal Government up to not more than 70 per centum, exclusive of land costs, when such areas include a zone which excludes permanent human habitation, include recreational beaches, satisfy criteria for conservation and development of natural resources, extend landward enough to include natural features to protect uplands, and provide essentially full park facilities for public use, all of which meet with approval of Chief of Engineers.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 87–874, §103(a)(3), required approval of plans by Chief of Engineers in case of a small project under section 426g of this title.

1956—Act July 28, 1956, extended assistance to privately owned shores, to include shores of Territories and possessions, substituted “restoration” for “improvement”, defined “construction”, and struck out provisions which authorized Federal aid toward the repair and protection of seawalls constructed by political subdivisions to protect important public highways.

Report to Congress on Shoreline Protection Programs

Pub. L. 101–640, title III, §309, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4638, provided that: “Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 28, 1990], the Secretary shall transmit to Congress a report on the advisability of not participating in the planning, implementation, or maintenance of any beach stabilization or renourishment project involving Federal funds unless the State in which the proposed project will be located has established or committed to establish a beach front management program that includes—

“(1) restrictions on new development seaward of an erosion setback line (based on preproject beach size) of at least 30 times the annual erosion rate;

“(2) restrictions on construction of new structural stabilization projects, such as seawalls and groins, and their reconstruction if damaged by 50 percent or more;

“(3) provisions for the relocation of structures in erosion-prone areas;

“(4) provisions to assure public access to beaches stabilized or renourished with Federal funds after January 1, 1991; and

“(5) such other provisions as the Secretary may prescribe by regulation to prevent hazardous or environmentally damaging shoreline development.”

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 426g, 426h of this title.