Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 100 Part 5.djvu/108

 100 STAT. 3582

PUBLIC LAW 99-645—NOV. 10, 1986

Public Law 99-645 99th Congress

., An Act

Nov 10 1986 ' [b. 740J

"^^ promote the conservation of migratory waterfowl and to offset or prevent the serious loss of wetlands by the acquisition of wetlands and other essential habitat, gjjjj £QJ. other purposes.

Emergency Resources Act of

^ g n enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

jrUSC 3901

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

note.

This Act may be cited as the "Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986".

16 USC 3901.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that— (1) wetlands play an integral role in maintaining the quality of life through material contributions to our national economy, food supply, water supply and quality, flood control, and fish, wildlife, and plant resources, and thus to the health, safety, recreation, and economic well-being of all our citizens of the Nation; (2) wetlands provide habitat essential for the breeding, spawning, nesting, migration, wintering and ultimate survival of a major portion of the migratory and resident fish and wildlife of the Nation; including migratory birds, endangered species, commercially and recreationally important finfish, shellfish and other aquatic organisms, and contain many unique species and communities of wild plants; (3) the migratory bird treaty obligations of the Nation with Canada, Mexico, Japan, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and with various countries in the Western Hemisphere require Federal protection of wetlands that are used by migratory birds for breeding, wintering or migration and needed to achieve and to maintain optimum population levels, distributions, and patterns of migration; (4) wetlands, and the fish, wildlife, and plants dependent on wetlands, provide significant recreational and commercial benefits, including— (A) contributions to a commercial marine harvest valued at over $10,000,000,000 annually; (B) support for a major portion of the Nation's multimillion dollar annual fur and hide harvest; and (C) fishing, hunting, birdwatching, nature observation and other wetland-related recreational activities that generate billions of dollars annually; (5) wetlands enhance the water quality and water supply of the Nation by serving as groundwater recharge areas, nutrient traps, and chemical sinks; (6) wetlands provide a natural means of flood and erosion control by retaining water during periods of high runoff, thereby protecting against loss of life and property;

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