Credit: USGS Post-Hurricane Isaac Coastal Oblique Aerial Photographs Collected along the Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana barrier islands; 2012.
Overview
In the early 1980s, Congress recognized that certain actions and programs of the Federal Government have historically subsidized and encouraged development on coastal barriers, resulting in the loss of natural resources; threats to human life, health, and property; and the expenditure of millions of tax dollars each year. To remove the federal incentive to develop these areas, the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) of 1982 and subsequent amendments designated relatively undeveloped coastal barriers along the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico coasts as part of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS), and made these areas ineligible for most new federal expenditures and financial assistance. CBRA encourages the conservation of hurricane prone, biologically rich coastal barriers by restricting federal expenditures that encourage development, such as federal flood insurance. Areas within the CBRS can be developed provided that private developers or other non-federal parties bear the full cost.
Hot Topics
New Interpretation of CBRA Exception for Beach Nourishment Projects
The Department of the Interior (Department) has revised its interpretation of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act as it relates to certain federally-funded dredging and beach-nourishment projects. The revised interpretation, which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife (Service) began applying as of November 4, 2019, allows for sand removal from within the Coastal Barrier Resources System (CBRS) to renourish beaches located both within and outside of the CBRS, so long as the project is consistent with the purposes of the Act and meets the statutory exception for “nonstructural projects for shoreline stabilization that are designed to mimic, enhance, or restore a natural stabilization system” (16 U.S.C § 3505(a)6)(G)). The purposes of the Act, signed into law by President Reagan in 1982, are: to minimize the loss of human life, wasteful expenditure of Federal revenues, and the damage to fish, wildlife, and other natural resources associated with coastal barriers … by restricting future Federal expenditures and financial assistance which have the effect of encouraging development …, and by considering the means and measures by which the long-term conservation of these fish, wildlife, and other natural resources may be achieved. Federal agencies must continue to consult with the Service prior to committing funds for projects affecting the CBRS. Learn more about the consultation process and view the Department’s legal memo (PDF) supporting the revised interpretation.
New Study on CBRA Estimates Billions Avoided in Coastal Disaster Expenditures
A recent study in the Journal of Coastal Research analyzed the economic benefits from the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA). This study found that CBRA reduced federal coastal disaster expenditures by $9.5 billion between 1989 and 2013, and forecasts that additional savings will range between $11 and $109 billion over the next 50 years.
CBRA Guidance Following Coastal Storms
After a Presidentially-declared disaster, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other federal agencies make expenditures and provide financial assistance to help communities recover and rebuild. Most federal funding for disaster relief is prohibited within the CBRS, with some exceptions (including certain emergency actions). Helpful information is available on our website, including: the CBRS mapper, GIS data, CBRS in/out documentation, a CBRA consultation fact sheet, and additional information about the CBRA consultations process. For assistance, please contact the local FWS Ecological Services Field Office.
New CBRS Data Available and Removal of the CBRS boundaries from the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps
In September 2018, the Service released a new CBRS data set which contains the flood insurance prohibition date for each area within the CBRS and the System Unit establishment date for each area within a System Unit. As of February 15, 2019, CBRS boundaries and flood insurance prohibition dates are no longer depicted on Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) issued by FEMA. The most up-to-date CBRS digital data is available via: the Service’s CBRS Mapper, downloadable shapefile, Web Map Service and Arc GIS Representational State Transfer Service. Learn more.
New CBRS Validation Tool
In October 2018, the Service released a new CBRS Validation Tool within the CBRS Mapper which allows users to create their own CBRS documentation for specific properties and project sites. This self-service tool will allow users to produce documentation that indicates whether or not a specific area is within or outside of the CBRS and will also provide the necessary dates needed for flood insurance and other purposes. Learn more