Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 98 Part 2.djvu/1136

 98 STAT. 2296

PUBLIC LAW 98-498—OCT. 19, 1984

Public Law 98-498 98th Congress An Act Oct. 19, 1984 [S. 1102]

To provide authorization of appropriations for title III of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, Marine

TITLE I—MARINE SANCTUARIES

Sanctuaries

1984"'*"'^"*'^°^ 16 USC 1431 note.

SEC. 101. This title may be cited as the "Marine Sanctuaries Amendments of 1984". SEC. 102. Title III of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.) is amended to read as follows: "TITLE III—NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES

16 USC 1431.

"SEC. 301. FINDINGS, PURPOSES, AND POLICIES.

"(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that ' l l) this Nation historically has recognized the importance of protecting special areas of its public domain, but these efforts have been directed almost exclusively to land areas above the high-water mark; "(2) certain areas of the marine environment possess conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, research, educational, or esthetic qualities which give them special national significance; "(3) while the need to control the effects of particular activities has led to enactment of resource-specific legislation, these laws cannot in all cases provide a coordinated and comprehensive approach to the conservation and management of special areas of the marine environment; "(4) a Federal program which identifies special areas of the marine environment will contribute positively to marine resources conservation and management; and "(5) such a Federal program will also serve to enhance public awareness, understanding, appreciation, and wise use of the marine environment. "(b) PURPOSES AND POLICIES.—The purposes and policies of this title are— "(1) to identify areas of the marine environment of special national significance due to their resource or human-use values; "(2) to provide authority for comprehensive and coordinated conservation and management of these marine areas that will complement existing regulatory authorities; "(3) to support, promote, and coordinate scientific research on, and monitoring of, the resources of these marine areas; "(4) to enhance public awareness, understanding, appreciation, and wise use of the marine environment; and

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