Public Law 727, 79th Congress, (H.R. 2033), approved August 13, 1946. "An Act 

 Authorizing Federal participation in the cost of protecting the shores of publicly-owned 

 property." 



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

 America in Congress assembled. That with the purpose of preventing damage to public 

 property and promoting and encouraging the healthful recreation of the people, it is 

 hereby deolared to be the policy of the United States to assist in the construction, but 

 not the maintenance, of works for the improvement and protection against erosion by 

 waves and currents of the shores of the United States that are owned by States, 

 municipalities, or other political subdivisions: Provided, That the Federal contribution 

 toward the construction of protective works shall nol in any case exceed one-third of the 

 total cost: Provided further, That where a political subdivision has heretofore erected a 

 sea wall to prevent erosion, by waves and currents, to a public highway considered by the 

 Chief of Engineers sufficiently important to justify protection. Federal contribution 

 toward the repair of such wall and the protection thereof by the building of an artificial 

 beach is authorized at not to exceed one-third of the original cost of such wall, and that 

 investigations and studies hereinafter provided for are hereby authorized for such 

 localities: Provided further. That the plan of protection shall have been specifically 

 adopted and authorized by Congress after investigation and study by the Beach Erosion 

 Board under the provisions of section 2 of the River and Harbor Act approved July 3, 

 1930, as amended and supplemented. 



Sec. 2. When the Chief of Engineers shall find that any such project has been 

 constructed in accordance with the authorized plans and specifications he shall cause to 

 be paid to the State, municipality, or political subdivision the amount authorized by 

 Congress. 



Sec. 3. The Chief of Engineers may, in his discretion, from time to time, make 

 payments on such construction as the work progresses, but these payments, including 

 previous payments, if any, shall not be more than the United States pro rata part of the 

 value of the labor and materials which have been actually put into such construction in 

 conformity to said plans and specifications: Provided, That the construction of 

 improvement and protective works may be undertaken by the Chief of Engineers upon 

 the request of, and contribution of required funds by, the interested State, municipality 

 or other political subdivision. 



Sec. 4. As used in this Act, the word "shores" includes all the shore lines of the 

 Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Gulf of Mexico, the Great Lakes, and lakes, estuaries and 

 bays directly connected therewith. 



Approved August 13, 1946. 



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