296 



including unified policies, criteria, standards, methods, and processes for dealing 

 with land and water use decisions of more than local significance. 



"declaration of policy 



"Sec. 303. The Congress finds and declares that it is the national policy : 

 "(a) To preserve, protect, develop, and where possible to restore, the resources 

 of the Nation's coastal zone for this and succeeding generations; (b) To en- 

 courage and assist the States to exercise effectively their responsibilities in the 

 coastal zone through the preparation and implementation of management 

 programs to achieve wise use of the land and water resources of the coastal 

 zone giving full consideration to ecological, cultural, historic, and esthetic 

 values as well as to needs for economic development, (c) For all Federal agenciea 

 engaged in programs affecting the coastal zone to cooperate and participate with 

 State and local governments and regional agencies in effectuating the purposes 

 of this Act. And. (d) to encourage the participation of the public, of Federal, 

 coastal State, and local governments and of regional agencies in the develop- 

 ment of coastal zone management programs. With respect to implementation of 

 such management programs, it is the national policy to encourage cooperation 

 among the various coastal State and regional agencies including establishment of 

 interstate and regional agreements, cooperative procedures, and joint action, 

 particularly regarding environmental problems. 



"definitions 



"Sec. 304. For the purposes of this title — 



"(a) 'Coastal zone' means the coastal waters (including the lands therein and 

 thereunder) and the adjacent shorelands (including the waters therein and 

 thereunder), strongly influenced by each other and in proximity to the shore- 

 lines of the several coastal States, and includes transitional and intertidal areas, 

 salt marshes, wetlands, and beaches. The zone terminates, in Gieat Lakes 

 waters, and the international boundary between tlie United States and Canada 

 and, in other areas, extends seaward to the outer limit of the legally recognized 

 territorial seas of the respective coastal States, but shall not extend beyond the 

 limits of State jurisdiction as established by the Submerged Lands Act of 

 May 22, 1953. and the Outer Continental Shelf Act of 1953. The zone extends 

 inland from the shorelines only to the extent necessary to control shorelands, 

 the uses of which have a dii'ect and significant impact on the coastal waters. 

 Excluded from the coastal zone are lands the use of which is by law subject 

 solely to the discretion of or which is held in trust by the Federal Government, 

 its officers or agents. 



"(b) 'Coastal waters' means (1) in the Great Lakes area, the waters within 

 tlie territorial jurisdiction of tlie United States consisting of the Great Lakes, 

 their connecting waters, harbors, roadsiteads. and estuary-type areas such as bays, 

 shallows, and mar.shes and (2) in other areas, tliose waters, adjacent to the 

 shorelines, which contain a measurable tidal infiuence. including, but not limited 

 to, sounds, bays, lagoons, bayous, pounds, and estuaries. 



"(c) 'Coastal-State' means a State of the United States in, or bordering on, the 

 Atlantic, Pacific, or Arctic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, Long Island Sound, or one 

 or more of the Great Lakes. For the puri>oses of this title, the tenn includes 

 Puerto Rico, the "S'irgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. 



"(d) 'Estuary' means that part of a nver or stream or other body of water 

 having unimpaired connection with the open sea. where the sea water is measur- 

 ably di kited with fresh water deilved from land drainage. The term includes 

 estuary-type areas of the Great Lakes. 



"(e) 'Estuarine sanctuary' means a research area which may include any part 

 or all of an estuary, adjoining transitional ai'eas. and adjacent uplands, constitut- 

 ing to the extent feasible a natural unit, set aside to provide scientists and stu- 

 dents the opportunity to examine over a period of time the ecological relationships 

 within the area. 



"(f) 'Secretaiy' means the Secretary of Commerce. 



"(g) 'Management program' means a comprehensive .statement in words, maps, 

 illustrations, or other media of communication, prepared and adopted by the 

 coastal State in accordance with the provisions of this title, setting forth objec- 

 tives, policies, and standards to guide public and private uses of lands and waters 

 In the coasital zone so as to minimize direct, significant, and adverse impact on 

 the coastal waters, and governmental structure capable of implementing such a 

 progiam. 



