---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 8206"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "8206"
heading: "Technical and scientific assistance"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/8206"
units:
  - "Chapter 101 — National Fish Habitat Conservation Through Partnerships"
---

# §8206. Technical and scientific assistance

- (a) **In general—** The [Director](/usc/16/8202.md?p=3), the [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Assistant Administrator](/usc/16/8202.md?p=6), the [Environmental Protection Agency Assistant Administrator](/usc/16/8202.md?p=4), and the [Director](/usc/16/8202.md?p=3) of the United States Geological Survey, in coordination with the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and other appropriate Federal departments and agencies, may provide scientific and technical assistance to [Partnerships](/usc/16/8202.md?p=7), participants in fish habitat conservation [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4), and the [Board](/usc/16/8202.md?p=2).
- (b) **Inclusions—** Scientific and technical assistance provided under [subsection (a)](#a) may include—
  - (1) providing technical and scientific assistance to [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r), [Indian Tribes](/usc/16/544.md?p=g), regions, local communities, and nongovernmental organizations in the development and implementation of [Partnerships](/usc/16/8202.md?p=7);
  - (2) providing technical and scientific assistance to [Partnerships](/usc/16/8202.md?p=7) for habitat assessment, strategic planning, and prioritization;
  - (3) supporting the development and implementation of fish habitat conservation [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) that are identified as high priorities by [Partnerships](/usc/16/8202.md?p=7) and the [Board](/usc/16/8202.md?p=2);
  - (4) supporting and providing recommendations regarding the development of science-based monitoring and assessment approaches for implementation through [Partnerships](/usc/16/8202.md?p=7);
  - (5) supporting and providing recommendations for a national fish habitat assessment;
  - (6) ensuring the availability of experts to assist in conducting scientifically based evaluation and reporting of the results of fish habitat conservation [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4); and
  - (7) providing resources to secure [State agency](/usc/16/8202.md?p=12) scientific and technical assistance to support [Partnerships](/usc/16/8202.md?p=7), participants in fish habitat conservation [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4), and the [Board](/usc/16/8202.md?p=2).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 116–188, title II, § 206, Oct. 30, 2020, 134 Stat. 934; Pub. L. 118–198, title II, § 204, Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2682.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2024—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 118–198 inserted “, the Bureau of Land Management,” after “the Forest Service”.