16 U.S.C. § 6414 — Authorization of appropriations

Page 2590 TITLE 16—CONSERVATION § 6412 cies to establish research priorities and translate and apply research findings to management and restoration practices; and (iv) conduct public education and aware- ness programs for policymakers, resource managers, and the general public on— (I) coral reefs and coral reef eco- systems; (II) best practices for coral reef eco- system management and restoration; (III) the value of coral reefs; and (IV) the threats to the sustainability of coral reef ecosystems. (b) Coral reef research centers (1) In general The Administrator shall— (A) periodically solicit applications for designation of qualifying institutions in cov- ered States as coral reef research centers; and (B) designate all qualifying institutions in covered States as coral reef research cen- ters. (2) Qualifying institutions For purposes of paragraph (1), an institution is a qualifying institution if the Adminis- trator determines that the institution— (A) is operated by an institution of higher education or nonprofit marine research or- ganization; (B) has established management-driven na- tional or regional coral reef research or res- toration programs; (C) has demonstrated abilities to coordi- nate closely with appropriate Federal and State agencies, and other academic and non- profit organizations; and (D) maintains significant local community engagement and outreach programs related to coral reef ecosystems. (Pub. L. 106–562, title II, § 212, as added Pub. L. 117–263, div. J, title C, § 10001(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3945.) § 6412. Coral reef prize competitions (a) In general Subject to the availability of appropriations, the head of any Federal agency with a rep- resentative serving on the United States Coral Reef Task Force established by section 6451 of this title, may, individually or in cooperation with one or more agencies, carry out a program to award prizes competitively under section 3719 of title 15. (b) Purposes Any program carried out under this section shall be for the purpose of stimulating innova- tion to advance the ability of the United States to understand, research, or monitor coral reef ecosystems, or to develop management or adap- tation options to preserve, sustain, and restore coral reef ecosystems. (c) Priority programs Priority shall be given to establishing pro- grams under this section that address commu- nities, environments, or industries that are in distress as a result of the decline or degradation of coral reef ecosystems, including— (1) scientific research and monitoring that furthers the understanding of causes behind coral reef decline and degradation and the gen- erally slow recovery following disturbances, including changing ocean chemistry, tempera- ture-related bleaching, disease, and their asso- ciated impacts on coral physiology; (2) the development of monitoring or man- agement options for communities or indus- tries that are experiencing significant finan- cial hardship; (3) the development of adaptation options to alleviate economic harm and job loss caused by damage to coral reef ecosystems; (4) the development of measures to help vul- nerable communities or industries, with an emphasis on rural communities and busi- nesses; and (5) the development of adaptation and man- agement options for impacted tourism indus- tries. (Pub. L. 106–562, title II, § 213, as added Pub. L. 117–263, div. J, title C, § 10001(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3946.) § 6413. Reports on administration (a) In general Not later than 2 years after December 23, 2022, and every 2 years thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the committees specified in sub- section (b) a report on the administration of this chapter during the 2-year period preceding sub- mission of the report, including— (1) a description of all activities undertaken to implement the National Coral Reef Resil- ience Strategy; (2) a statement of all funds obligated under the authorities of this chapter; and (3) a summary, disaggregated by State, of Federal and non-Federal contributions toward the costs of each project or activity funded, in full or in part, under this chapter. (b) Committees specified The committees specified in this subsection are— (1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Committee on Environ- ment and Public Works, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and (2) the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. (Pub. L. 106–562, title II, § 214, as added Pub. L. 117–263, div. J, title C, § 10001(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3947.) § 6414. Authorization of appropriations (a) In general There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator $45,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027 to carry out this chapter which shall remain available until expended. Of such amounts, there is authorized to be appropriated for each such fiscal year— (1) $12,000,000 to carry out section 6406 of this title; Page 2591 TITLE 16—CONSERVATION § 6415 (2) $3,500,000 for activities authorized under section 6410 of this title; and (3) $4,500,000 to be provided to the coopera- tive institutes designated under section 6411(a) of this title to carry out the functions de- scribed in such section. (b) Administration Not more than 10 percent of the amounts ap- propriated under subsection (a) may be used for program administration or overhead costs in- curred by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or the Department of Com- merce. (Pub. L. 106–562, title II, § 215, as added Pub. L. 117–263, div. J, title C, § 10001(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3947.) § 6415. Definitions In this chapter: (1) Administrator The term ‘‘Administrator’’ means the Ad- ministrator of the National Oceanic and At- mospheric Administration. (2) Alaska Native Corporation The term ‘‘Alaska Native Corporation’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘Native Corpora- tion’’ in section 1602 of title 43. (3) Appropriate congressional committees The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com- mittees’’ means the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives. (4) Conservation The term ‘‘conservation’’ means the use of methods and procedures necessary to preserve or sustain native corals and associated species as diverse, viable, and self-perpetuating coral reef ecosystems with minimal impacts from invasive species, including— (A) all activities associated with resource management, such as monitoring, assess- ment, protection, restoration, sustainable use, management of habitat, and mainte- nance or augmentation of genetic diversity; (B) mapping; (C) scientific expertise and technical as- sistance in the development and implemen- tation of management strategies for marine protected areas and marine resources re- quired by Federal law; (D) law enforcement; (E) conflict resolution initiatives; (F) community outreach and education; and (G) promotion of safe and ecologically sound navigation and anchoring. (5) Coral The term ‘‘coral’’ means species of the phy- lum Cnidaria, including— (A) all species of the orders Antipatharia (black corals), Scleractinia (stony corals), Alcyonacea (soft corals, organ pipe corals, gorgonians), and Helioporacea (blue coral), of the class Anthozoa; and (B) all species of the order Anthoathecata (fire corals and other hydrocorals) of the class Hydrozoa. (6) Coral products The term ‘‘coral products’’ means any living or dead specimens, parts, or derivatives, or any product containing specimens, parts, or derivatives, of any species of coral. (7) Coral reef The term ‘‘coral reef’’ means calcium car- bonate structures in the form of a reef or shoal, composed in whole or in part by living coral, skeletal remains of coral, crustose coralline algae, and other associated sessile marine plants and animals. (8) Coral reef ecosystem The term ‘‘coral reef ecosystem’’ means— (A) corals and other geographically and ecologically associated marine communities of other reef organisms (including reef plants and animals) associated with coral reef habitat; and (B) the biotic and abiotic factors and proc- esses that control or significantly affect coral calcification rates, tissue growth, re- production, recruitment, abundance, coral- algal symbiosis, and biodiversity in such habitat. (9) Coral reef ecosystem services The term ‘‘coral reef ecosystem services’’ means the attributes and benefits provided by coral reef ecosystems including— (A) protection of coastal beaches, struc- tures, and infrastructure; (B) habitat for organisms of economic, eco- logical, biomedical, medicinal, and cultural value; (C) serving as centers for the promulga- tion, performance, and training of cultural practices representative of traditional eco- logical knowledge; and (D) aesthetic value. (10) Covered Native entity The term ‘‘covered Native entity’’ means a Native entity with interests in a coral reef ecosystem. (11) Covered reef manager The term ‘‘covered reef manager’’ means— (A) a management unit of a covered State with jurisdiction over a coral reef eco- system; (B) a covered State; or (C) a coral reef stewardship partnership under section 6405 of this title. (12) Covered State The term ‘‘covered State’’ means Florida, Hawaii, and the territories of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands. (13) Federal reef manager (A) In general The term ‘‘Federal reef manager’’ means— (i) a management unit of a Federal agen- cy specified in subparagraph (B) with lead management jurisdiction over a coral reef ecosystem; or (ii) a coral reef stewardship partnership under section 6405(c) of this title.