Public Law No. 834, 74th Congress (S. 3505), approved June 26, 1936. "An Act For the 

 improvement and protection of the beaches along the shores of the United States." 



Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of 

 America in Congress assembled, That it is hereby declared to be the policy of the United 

 States to assist in the construction where Federal interests are involved, but not the 

 maintenance, of works for the improvement and protection of the beaches along the 

 shores of the United States, and to prevent erosion due to the action of waves, tides, and 

 currents, with the purpose of preventing damage to property along the shores of the 

 United States, and promoting and encouraging the healthful recreation of the people. As 

 used in this Act, the word "beaches" includes all those situated on the coasts of the 

 Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, and the shores of the Great Lakes, and 

 all estuaries and bays directly connected therewith. 



Sec. 2. (a) It shall be the duty of the Secretary of War, through the Beach Erosion 

 Board, organized under the provisions of section 2 of the Rivers and Harbors Act, 

 approved July 3, 1930, to make investigations with a view to determining the most 

 suitable methods of beach protection and restoration of beaches in different localities; to 

 advise the States, counties, municipalities, or individuals of the appropriate locations for 

 recreational facilities; and to publish from time to time such useful data and information • 

 concerning the protection of beaches as the Board may deem to be of value to the people 

 of tlie United States: Provided, That not more than 75 per centum of the cost of any 

 specific investigation shall be borne by the United States. 



(b) All provisions of existing law relating to examinations and surveys and to works of 

 improvement of rivers and harbors shall apply, insofar as practicable, to examinations and 

 surveys and to works of improvement relating to shore protection; except that all projects 

 having to do with shore protection shall be referred for consideration and 

 recommendation to the Beach Erosion Board instead of to the Board of Engineers for 

 Rivers and Harbors. 



Sec 3. The Beach Erosion Board, in making its report on any work or project relating 

 to shore protection shall, in addition to any other matters upon which it may be required 

 to report, state its opinion as to (a) the advisability of adopting the project, (b) what 

 Federal interest, if any, is involved in the proposed improvement, and (c) what share of 

 the expense, if dny, should be borne by the United States. 



Sec. 4. Any expenses incident and necessary in the undertaking of the investigations 

 and studies authorized herein may be paid from funds hitherto or hereafter appropriated 

 for examinations, surveys, and contingencies for rivers and harbors. 



Approved, June 26, 1936. 



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