16 U.S.C. § 1447e — Report on research program

Page 1871 TITLE 16—CONSERVATION § 1447e Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to fund projects aimed at achieving the research priorities set forth in each research plan, includ- ing amendments thereto, developed and ap- proved pursuant to section 1447c of this title. (2) Projects eligible for funding under this sec- tion shall include research, investigations, stud- ies, surveys, or demonstrations with respect to— (A) baseline assessment of marine environ- mental quality, including chemical, physical, and biological indicators of environmental quality; (B) effects or potential effects of contami- nants, including nutrients, toxic chemicals and heavy metals, on the environment, includ- ing marine and aquatic organisms; (C) effects of modification of habitats, in- cluding coastal wetlands, seagrass beds and reefs, on the environment, including marine organisms; (D) assessment of impacts of pollutant sources and pollutant discharges into the coastal environment; (E) transport, dispersion, transformation, and fate and effect of contaminants in the ma- rine environment; (F) marine and estuarine habitat assessment and restoration; (G) methods and techniques for modeling en- vironmental quality conditions and trends; (H) methods and techniques for sampling of water, sediment, marine and aquatic orga- nisms, and demonstration of such methods and techniques; (I) the effects on human health and the envi- ronment of contaminants or combinations of contaminants at various levels, whether nat- ural or anthropogenic, that are found in the marine environment; (J) environmental assessment of potential effects of major coastal and offshore develop- ment projects in the region; (K) assessment of the effects of climate change on marine resources in the region; and (L) analysis and interpretation of research data for the benefit of State and local environ- mental protection and resource management agencies in the region. (3) Grant applications submitted pursuant to this subsection shall include— (A) a description of the specific research projects to be conducted; (B) identification of the organization respon- sible for each project and the principal investi- gator directing the project; (C) a budget statement for each project; (D) a schedule of milestones and interim products for each research project; (E) a description of the relationship of the proposed project to the goals, objectives, and priorities of the research plan for the region and to other research projects; and (F) any other information which may be re- quired by the Administrator. (c) Review and approval of project proposals (1) The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall review the annual grant application and, with the con- currence of the Administrator of the Environ- mental Protection Agency, approve such grant application with such conditions as are deter- mined to be appropriate based on peer reviews conducted pursuant to paragraph (2). (2) The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall develop a system of peer review of grant applications which shall ensure that only the highest quality research is approved for funding and that each project is reviewed by research scientists out- side the region concerned. (d) Reporting Any recipient of a grant under this section shall report to the appropriate Board, not later than 18 months after award of the grant, on the activities of such recipient conducted pursuant to this subsection. Such report shall include narrative summaries and technical data in such form as the Administrator of the National Oce- anic and Atmospheric Administration may re- quire. (Pub. L. 92–532, title IV, § 405, as added Pub. L. 101–593, title III, § 301, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 2967.) § 1447e. Report on research program (a) Preparation and submission of report Each Board receiving a grant under section 1447d of this title shall, not later than 2 years after the approval of its comprehensive plan under section 1447d of this title and at 2-year in- tervals thereafter, prepare and submit to the Administrator of the National Oceanic and At- mospheric Administration and the Adminis- trator of the Environmental Protection Agency a report describing— (1) the findings and conclusions of research projects conducted in the region; (2) recommendations for improvements in the design or implementation of programs for the protection of the marine environment; and (3) available data and information con- cerning ecosystem health within the region. (b) Transmittal to Congress Upon receipt of a report prepared by a Board under subsection (a), the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- tion and the Administrator of the Environ- mental Protection Agency shall transmit a copy of such report to the Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and on Environ- ment and Public Works of the Senate and to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the House of Representatives. (Pub. L. 92–532, title IV, § 406, as added Pub. L. 101–593, title III, § 301, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 2969.) Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries ABOLITION OF HOUSE COMMITTEE ON MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of House of Representatives abolished and its jurisdiction transferred by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Fourth Congress, Jan. 4, 1995. Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of House of Representatives treat- ed as referring to Committee on Science of House of Representatives in case of provisions relating to ma- rine research by section 1(b)(3) of Pub. L. 104–14, set out Page 1872 TITLE 16—CONSERVATION § 1447f 1 So in original. The semicolon probably should be a period. as a note preceding section 21 of Title 2, The Congress. Committee on Science of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Science and Technology of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Jan. 5, 2007. Committee on Science and Technology of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Science, Space, and Tech- nology of House of Representatives by House Resolu- tion No. 5, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Jan. 5, 2011. § 1447f. Authorization of appropriations (a) In general For purposes of carrying out the provisions of this chapter, there are authorized to be appro- priated $18,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1992 through 1996. (b) Allocation (1) Of funds appropriated in any fiscal year, not more than $500,000 shall be reserved for ad- ministration of this chapter by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency. (2) Funds appropriated in a fiscal year which are available after allocation pursuant to para- graph (1), shall be used to support the adminis- trative costs of Boards established pursuant to section 1447b(a) of this title, provided that such funding does not exceed $300,000 for each re- search Board in each fiscal year. (3) Seventy-five percent of funds appropriated in a fiscal year available after allocation pursu- ant to paragraphs (1) and (2), shall be allocated equally among Boards located in regions sub- mitting research project grant applications pur- suant to section 1447d(b) of this title. (4) Twenty-five percent of funds appropriated in a fiscal year available after allocation pursu- ant to paragraphs (1) and (2), shall be allocated among Boards located in regions submitting re- search project grant applications pursuant to section 1447d(b) of this title which, in the judg- ment of the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in consultation with the Administrator of the En- vironmental Protection Agency, propose the most needed and highest quality research. (Pub. L. 92–532, title IV, § 407, as added Pub. L. 101–593, title III, § 301, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 2969.) CHAPTER 33—COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT Sec. 1451. Congressional findings. 1452. Congressional declaration of policy. 1453. Definitions. 1454. Submittal of State program for approval. 1455. Administrative grants. 1455a. Coastal resource improvement program. 1455b. Protecting coastal waters. 1456. Coordination and cooperation. 1456–1. Authorization of the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program. 1456a. Coastal Zone Management Fund. 1456b. Coastal zone enhancement grants. 1456c. Technical assistance. 1456d. Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program. 1457. Public hearings. 1458. Review of performance. 1459. Records and audit. 1460. Walter B. Jones excellence in coastal zone management awards. Sec. 1461. National Estuarine Research Reserve System. 1462. Coastal zone management reports. 1463. Rules and regulations. 1463a. Omitted. 1463b. National Coastal Resources Research and De- velopment Institute. 1464. Authorization of appropriations. 1465. Appeals to the Secretary. 1466. Appeals relating to offshore mineral develop- ment. 1467. Establishment of the Digital Coast. 1468. Regional Ocean Partnerships. § 1451. Congressional findings The Congress finds that— (a) There is a national interest in the effective management, beneficial use, protection, and de- velopment of the coastal zone. (b) The coastal zone is rich in a variety of nat- ural, commercial, recreational, ecological, in- dustrial, and esthetic resources of immediate and potential value to the present and future well-being of the Nation. (c) The increasing and competing demands upon the lands and waters of our coastal zone occasioned by population growth and economic development, including requirements for indus- try, commerce, residential development, recre- ation, extraction of mineral resources and fossil fuels, transportation and navigation, waste dis- posal, and harvesting of fish, shellfish, and other living marine resources, have resulted in the loss of living marine resources, wildlife, nutri- ent-rich areas, permanent and adverse changes to ecological systems, decreasing open space for public use, and shoreline erosion. (d) The habitat areas of the coastal zone, and the fish, shellfish, other living marine resources, and wildlife therein, are ecologically fragile and consequently extremely vulnerable to destruc- tion by man’s alterations. (e) Important ecological, cultural, historic, and esthetic values in the coastal zone which are essential to the well-being of all citizens are being irretrievably damaged or lost. (f) New and expanding demands for food, en- ergy, minerals, defense needs, recreation, waste disposal, transportation, and industrial activi- ties in the Great Lakes, territorial sea, exclu- sive economic zone, and Outer Continental Shelf are placing stress on these areas and are cre- ating the need for resolution of serious conflicts among important and competing uses and values in coastal and ocean waters; 1 (g) Special natural and scenic characteristics are being damaged by ill-planned development that threatens these values. (h) In light of competing demands and the ur- gent need to protect and to give high priority to natural systems in the coastal zone, present state and local institutional arrangements for planning and regulating land and water uses in such areas are inadequate. (i) The key to more effective protection and use of the land and water resources of the coast- al zone is to encourage the states to exercise their full authority over the lands and waters in the coastal zone by assisting the states, in co- operation with Federal and local governments