### Question
What does coastal environment mean?


### Answer
**Coastal environment** has the following meaning in *43 U.S.C. § 1331*:

> the physical atmospheric, and biological components, conditions, and factors which interactively determine the productivity, state, condition, and quality of the terrestrial ecosystem from the shoreline inward to the boundaries of the coastal zone

#### Citation:
  - *43 U.S.C. § 1331*
  - Heading: **CHAPTER 29-SUBMERGED LANDS > SUBCHAPTER III-OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF LANDS**

