Federal Statutes influence the use of the coastal zone and outer continental shelf in varied ways depending on location and activity. Some statutes have clearly defined and static geographic footprints, while others have shifted over time because of their dependence on a natural boundary or a change of policy. Statutes also tend to be topically focused and administered by one or more agencies. Within any given location it is highly likely that overlapping statutes and multiple agencies will have a controlling interest. Effective management, use and conservation of public trust resources within this setting is a place-based process with a rich statutory history.

The footprint of the following fourteen different federal statutes is contained in this collection and can be extracted using the supporting look-up tables.

Abandoned Shipwreck Act Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships Clean Water Act Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act Endangered Species Act Energy Policy Act Marine Debris Research Prevention and Reduction Act Marine Mammal Protection Act National Environmental Policy Act National Marine Sanctuaries Act Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Rivers and Harbors Act Submerged Lands Act U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Authority