---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 1511c"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "1511c"
heading: "Estuarine Programs Office"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/1511c"
units:
  - "Chapter 40 — Department of Commerce"
---

# §1511c. Estuarine Programs Office

- (a) **Establishment—** The [Administrator](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “[Administrator](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1)”) shall establish within the [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) an Estuarine Programs Office.
- (b) **Functions—** The Estuarine Programs Office shall—
  - (1) develop and implement a national estuarine strategy for the [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) that integrates the research, regulatory, and trusteeship responsibilities of the [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1);
  - (2) coordinate the estuarine activities of the various organizations within the [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1), including activities in estuarine research and assessment, fisheries research, coastal management, and habitat conservation;
  - (3) coordinate the estuarine activities of the [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) with the activities of other Federal and [State](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2) agencies; and
  - (4) provide technical assistance to the [Administrator](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1), to other Federal agencies, and to [State](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2) and [local government](/usc/15/34.md?p=1) agencies in—
    - (A) assessing the condition of estuaries;
    - (B) identifying estuaries of critical national or regional importance;
    - (C) identifying technical and management alternatives for the restoration and protection of estuarine resources; and
    - (D) monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of estuarine management plans.
- (c) **Authorization—** There are authorized to be appropriated to the [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) not to exceed $500,000 for fiscal year 1987, $530,000 for fiscal year 1988, $560,000 for fiscal year 1989, and $600,000 for fiscal year 1990 to carry out the provisions of this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 99–659, title IV, § 406, Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3738.)