33 U.S.C. § 2901 — Purposes

to promote the restoration of estuary habitat^* by implementing a coordinated Federal approach to estuary^* habitat restoration activities, including the use of common monitoring standards and a common system for tracking restoration acreage;

to develop and implement a national estuary habitat restoration strategy for creating and maintaining effective estuary habitat restoration partnerships among public agencies at all levels of government and to establish new partnerships between the public and private sectors;

to provide Federal assistance for estuary habitat restoration projects through cooperative agreements and to promote efficient financing of such projects; and

to develop and enhance monitoring and research capabilities through the use of the environmental technology innovation program associated with the National Estuarine Research Reserve System established by section 1461 of title 16 to ensure that estuary habitat restoration efforts are based on sound scientific understanding and innovative technologies.