§ 8302. Definitions

645 words·~3 min read·/usc/title-16/section-8302

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

In this chapter:

(1)Coastal ecosystem The term “coastal ecosystem” means a biological community of organisms interacting with each other and their habitats in a coastal landscape.

(2)Coastal habitat assessment The term “coastal habitat assessment” means the process of evaluating the physical, chemical, and biological function of a coastal site to determine the value of the site to fish and wildlife.

(3)Coastal habitat enhancement The term “coastal habitat enhancement” means the manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of a coastal ecosystem to increase or decrease specific biological functions that make the ecosystem valuable to fish and wildlife.

(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;

(C)describes conservation strategies and methodologies;

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

(E)identifies roles of participants and stakeholders.

(5)Coastal habitat protection

(A)In general The term “coastal habitat protection” means a long-term action to safeguard habitat of value to fish and wildlife in a coastal ecosystem.

(B)Inclusion The term “coastal habitat protection” includes activities to support establishment of a conservation easement or fee title acquisition by Federal and non-Federal partners.

(6)Coastal habitat restoration The term “coastal habitat restoration” means the manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of a coastal ecosystem with the goal of returning, to the maximum extent practicable, the full natural biological functions to lost or degraded native habitat.

(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;

(C)a coastal bay or estuary;

(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;

(C)the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;

(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 The term “Federal trust species” means migratory birds, threatened species or endangered species listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), interjurisdictional fish, and marine mammals for which the Secretary has management authority.

(10)Financial assistance The term “financial assistance” means Federal funding provided to Federal, State, local, or Tribal governments, nongovernmental institutions, nonprofit organizations, and private individuals and entities through a grant or cooperative agreement.

(11)Secretary The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior.

(12)Service The term “Service” means the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

(13)Technical assistance The term “technical assistance” means a collaboration, facilitation, or consulting action relating to a coastal habitat planning, coastal habitat assessment, coastal habitat protection, coastal habitat restoration, or coastal habitat enhancement project or initiative in which the Service contributes scientific knowledge, skills, and expertise to the project or initiative.

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

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