33 U.S.C. § 3103 — Public information and outreach

Page 949 TITLE 33—NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS § 3104 1 So in original. Probably should be ‘‘oceans’ ’’. § 3102. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad- ministration Oceans and Human Health Ini- tiative (a) Establishment As part of the interagency oceans and human health research program, the Secretary of Com- merce is authorized to establish an Oceans and Human Health Initiative to coordinate and im- plement research and activities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration re- lated to the role of the oceans, the coasts, and the Great Lakes in human health. In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall consult with other Federal agencies conducting inte- grated oceans and human health research and research in related areas, including the National Science Foundation. The Oceans and Human Health Initiative is authorized to provide sup- port for— (1) centralized program and research coordi- nation; (2) an advisory panel; (3) one or more National Oceanic and Atmos- pheric Administration national centers of ex- cellence; (4) research grants; and (5) distinguished scholars and traineeships. (b) Advisory panel The Secretary is authorized to establish an oceans and human health advisory panel to as- sist in the development and implementation of the Oceans and Human Health Initiative. Mem- bership of the advisory group shall provide for balanced representation of individuals with multi-disciplinary expertise in the marine and biomedical sciences. Chapter 10 of title 5 shall not apply to the oceans and human health advi- sory panel. (c) National centers (1) The Secretary is authorized to identify and provide financial support through a competitive process to develop, within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, for one or more centers of excellence that strengthen the capabilities of the National Oceanic and Atmos- pheric Administration to carry out its programs and activities related to the oceans’ role in human health. (2) The centers shall focus on areas related to agency missions, including use of marine orga- nisms as indicators for marine environmental health, ocean pollutants, marine toxins and pathogens, harmful algal blooms, hypoxia, sea- food testing, identification of potential marine products, and biology and pathobiology of ma- rine mammals, and on disciplines including ma- rine genomics, marine environmental microbi- ology, ecological chemistry and conservation medicine. (3) In selecting centers for funding, the Sec- retary will give priority to proposals with strong interdisciplinary scientific merit that en- courage educational opportunities and provide for effective partnerships among the Adminis- tration, other Federal entities, State, academic, non-profit research organizations, medical, and industry participants. (d) Extramural research grants (1) The Secretary is authorized to provide grants of financial assistance to the scientific community for critical research and projects that explore the relationship between the oceans and human health and that complement or strengthen programs and activities of the Na- tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration related to the ocean’s 1 role in human health. Of- ficers and employees of Federal agencies may collaborate with, and participate in, such re- search and projects to the extent requested by the grant recipient. The Secretary shall consult with the oceans and human health advisory panel established under subsection (b) and may work cooperatively with other agencies partici- pating in the interagency program to establish joint criteria for such research and projects. (2) Grants under this subsection shall be awarded through a competitive peer-reviewed, merit-based process that may be conducted jointly with other agencies participating in the interagency program. (e) Traineeships The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to establish a program to provide traineeships, training, and experience to pre-doctoral and post-doctoral students and to scientists at the beginning of their careers who are interested in the oceans in human health research conducted under the NOAA initiative. (Pub. L. 108–447, div. B, title IX, § 903, Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 2933; Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(206), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4328.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2022—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 117–286 substituted ‘‘Chapter 10 of title 5’’ for ‘‘The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.)’’. § 3103. Public information and outreach The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with other Federal agencies, and in cooperation with the National Sea Grant program, shall de- sign and implement a program to disseminate information developed under the NOAA Oceans and Human Health Initiative, including re- search, assessments, and findings regarding the relationship between oceans and human health, on both a regional and national scale. The infor- mation, particularly with respect to potential health risks, shall be made available in a timely manner to appropriate Federal or State agen- cies, involved industries, and other interested persons through a variety of means, including through the Internet. (Pub. L. 108–447, div. B, title IX, § 904, Dec. 8, 2004, 118 Stat. 2934; Pub. L. 114–327, title VI, § 601, Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1998.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2016—Pub. L. 114–327 struck out subsec. (a) designa- tion and heading, realigned margins, and struck out subsec. (b) which related to NOAA Oceans and Human Health Initiative annual report. § 3104. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce to carry out the Na-