To help the Fish and Wildlife Service meet the unique challenges associated with implementing these laws, the Branch provides support by:

• developing policy, guidance, and legislative initiatives to address the challenges faced by the regions and fields;
• communicating program needs to the Administration;
• coordinating the activities of regional and field offices, and different Service Programs when appropriate, to ensure consistency of policy implementation and adherence to established protocols;
• providing technical support when needed; and
• facilitating communication at a national level with other agencies and stakeholder organizations.

The Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) of 1982 established the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System, comprised of undeveloped coastal barriers along the Atlantic, Gulf, and Great Lakes coasts. The law encourages the conservation of these hurricane prone, biologically rich coastal barriers by restricting within the System, Federal expenditures funds that encourage development, such as Federal flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program. These areas can be developed however, but Federal taxpayers do not underwrite the investments. CBRA saves taxpayer dollars and encourages conservation at the same time. CBRA has saved over $1 billion and will save millions more in the future. The Service’s role is to maintain the enacted by Congress that depict the System, and to advise Federal agencies, private landowners, and Congress regarding whether properties are in or out of the System, and what kind of expenditures are allowed in the System.

The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) directs the Service to conserve and manage sea and marine otter, walrus, polar bear, manatee, and dugong. The Service does this by working with partners to conduct population censuses, gather biological information, rescue and rehabilitate stranded and/or injured marine mammals, develop conservation and management plans, promulgate regulations prescribing permissible means to carry out activities that incidentally take marine mammals, and create national and international management agreements.

The Sikes Act seeks to incorporate Service and State expertise into the management of lands owned by the Department of Defense to maximize the conservation of fish and wildlife resources. The Sikes Act requires the development of Integrated Natural Resource Management Plans (INRMPs) for relevant installations, and emphasizes that the plans are to be prepared in cooperation with the Service and State fish and wildlife agencies. INRMPs reflect the mutual agreement of installation commanders, the Service and the States concerning the conservation, protection, and management of fish and wildlife resources, and cannot compromise the capability of DOD lands to support the military mission.