§2902. Definitions
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Latest Jul 12, 2026 NOW As last amended Nov 8, 2007 — Pub. L. 110–114 As originally enacted Nov 7, 200033 U.S.C. § 2902
In this chapter, the following definitions apply:
Council— The term “Council” means the Estuary Habitat Restoration Council established by section 2904 of this title.
Estuary— The term “estuary” means a part of a river or stream or other body of water that has an unimpaired connection with the open sea and where the sea water is measurably diluted with fresh water derived from land drainage. The term also includes near coastal waters and wetlands of the Great Lakes that are similar in form and function to estuaries, including the area located in the Great Lakes biogeographic region and designated as a National Estuarine Research Reserve under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.) as of November 7, 2000.
Estuary habitat— The term “estuary habitat” means the physical, biological, and chemical elements associated with an estuary, including the complex of physical and hydrologic features and living organisms within the estuary and associated ecosystems.
Estuary habitat restoration activity—
In general— The term “estuary habitat restoration activity” means an activity that results in improving degraded estuaries or estuary habitat or creating estuary habitat (including both physical and functional restoration), with the goal of attaining a self-sustaining system integrated into the surrounding landscape.
the reestablishment of chemical, physical, hydrologic, and biological features and components associated with an estuary;
except as provided in subparagraph (C), the cleanup of pollution for the benefit of estuary habitat;
the control of nonnative and invasive species in the estuary;
the reintroduction of species native to the estuary, including through such means as planting or promoting natural succession;
the construction of reefs to promote fish and shellfish production and to provide estuary habitat for living resources; and
other activities that improve estuary habitat.
Excluded activities— The term “estuary habitat restoration activity” does not include an activity that—
constitutes mitigation required under any Federal or State law for the adverse effects of an activity regulated or otherwise governed by Federal or State law; or
constitutes restoration for natural resource damages required under any Federal or State law.
Estuary habitat restoration project— The term “estuary habitat restoration project” means a project to carry out an estuary habitat restoration activity.
Estuary habitat restoration plan—
In general— The term “estuary habitat restoration plan” means any Federal, State, or regional plan for restoration of degraded estuary habitat that was developed with the substantial participation of appropriate public and private stakeholders.
Included plans and programs— The term “estuary habitat restoration plan” includes estuary habitat restoration components of—
a comprehensive conservation and management plan approved under section 1330 of this title;
a lakewide management plan or remedial action plan developed under section 1268 of this title;
a management plan approved under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.); and
the interstate management plan developed pursuant to the Chesapeake Bay program under section 1267 of this title.
Indian tribe— The term “Indian tribe” has the meaning given such term by section 5304 of title 25.
Non-Federal interest— The term “non-Federal interest” means a State, a political subdivision of a State, an Indian tribe, a regional or interstate agency, or, as provided in section 2903(f)(2) of this title, a nongovernmental organization.
Secretary— The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Army.
State— The term “State” means the States of Alabama, Alaska, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam.
Notes, amendments, and revision history
(Pub. L. 106–457, title I, § 103, Nov. 7, 2000, 114 Stat. 1958; Pub. L. 110–114, title V, § 5017(b), Nov. 8, 2007, 121 Stat. 1197.)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, referred to in pars. (2) and (6)(B)(iii), is title III of Pub. L. 89–454 as added by Pub. L. 92–583, Oct. 27, 1972, 86 Stat. 1280, as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 33 (§ 1451 et seq.) of Title 16, Conservation. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1451 of Title 16 and Tables.
Amendments
2007—Par. (6)(A). Pub. L. 110–114 substituted “Federal, State, or regional” for “Federal or State”.