Coral Reef Conservation Legacy Act of 2006 - (Sec. 2) Amends the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 to extend the award of remaining coral reef conservation program grant funds, in addition to projects addressing emerging priorities or threats, to other appropriate projects, as determined by the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including monitoring and assessment, research, pollution reduction, education, and technical support.
Establishes as additional coral reef conservation project approval criteria: (1) the minimization of the likelihood of damage to coral reefs; and (2) promoting and assisting entities to work with local communities, and appropriate governmental and nongovernmental organizations, to support community-based planning and management initiatives for the protection of coral reef systems.
(Sec. 3) Authorizes the Administrator and the Secretary of the Interior to undertake or authorize emergency response actions to prevent or minimize the destruction or loss of, or injury to, coral reefs or coral ecosystems from vessel impacts or other physical damage to coral reefs, including damage from unforeseen or disaster-related circumstances. Allows actions to include vessel removal and emergency restabilization of the vessel and any impacted coral reef.
(Sec. 4) Requires the Administrator to report every three years to specified congressional committees on: (1) all activities undertaken to implement the national coral reef action strategy; and (2) the condition of United States coral reefs.
(Sec. 5) Allows coral reef conservation fund amounts to be used for emergency response actions. Authorizes the Administrator to make community-based planning grants to certain persons to work with local communities and appropriate federal and state entities to implement plans for increased protection of high priority coral reefs.
Establishes the United States Coral Reef Task Force to coordinate federal actions to better preserve and protect coral reef ecosystems.
(Sec. 6) Reauthorizes the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 and authorizes appropriations through FY2010 for: (1) the coral reef conservation program; and (2) community-based planning grants.
(Sec. 7) Authorizes appropriations to: (1) the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College program to administer a marine science laboratory for coral reef research and protection, and coastal ecology and development, at the American Samoa Community College; and (2) the University of Guam for coral reef research and protection and the University of Guam Marine Laboratory.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5622 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5622
To reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 15, 2006
Mr. Pombo introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Coral Reef Conservation Legacy Act
of 2006''.
SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF CORAL REEF CONSERVATION GRANTS PROGRAM.
(a) Project Diversity.--Section 204(d) of the Coral Reef
Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6403(d)) is amended by striking
paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
``(3) Remaining funds shall be awarded for--
``(A) projects (with priority given to community-
based local action strategies) that address emerging
priorities or threats, including international and
territorial priorities, or threats identified by the
Administrator in consultation with the Coral Reef Task
Force; and
``(B) other appropriate projects, as determined by
the Administrator, including monitoring and assessment,
research, pollution reduction, education, and technical
support.''.
(b) Approval Criteria.--Section 204(g) of that Act (16 U.S.C.
6403(g)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``or'' after the semicolon in paragraph
(9);
(2) by redesignating paragraph (10) as paragraph (12); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following:
``(10) activities designed to minimize the likelihood of
damage to coral reefs, including the use of devices to minimize
human impacts on coral reefs;
``(11) promoting and assisting entities to work with local
communities, and all appropriate governmental and
nongovernmental organizations, to support community-based
planning and management initiatives for the protection of coral
reef systems; or''.
SEC. 3. EMERGENCY RESPONSE ACTIONS.
Section 206 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C.
6404) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 206. EMERGENCY RESPONSE ACTIONS.
``(a) In General.--The Administrator and the Secretary of the
Interior may each undertake or authorize action within areas under
their administrative jurisdiction as necessary to prevent or minimize
the destruction or loss of, or injury to, coral reefs or coral reef
ecosystems from vessel impacts or other physical damage to coral reefs,
including damage from unforeseen or disaster-related circumstances.
``(b) Actions Authorized.--Action authorized by subsection (a)
includes vessel removal and emergency restabilization of the vessel and
any impacted coral reef.
``(c) Partnering With Other Agencies.--When possible, actions under
this section should--
``(1) be conducted in partnership with other government
agencies, including--
``(A) the Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, and the Corps of Engineers; and
``(B) agencies of States and territories of the
United States; and
``(2) leverage resources of such other agencies, including
funding or assistance authorized under other Federal laws.''.
SEC. 4. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
(a) In General.--Section 208 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of
2000 (16 U.S.C. 6407) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 208. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.
``(a) Implementation of Strategy.--Not later than October 1, 2007,
and every 3 years thereafter, the Administrator, in consultation with
the United States Coral Reef Task Force, shall submit to the Committee
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the
Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives a report
describing all activities undertaken to implement the strategy,
including--
``(1) a description of the funds obligated by each
participating Federal agency to advance coral reef conservation
during each of the 3 fiscal years next preceding the fiscal
year in which the report is submitted;
``(2) a description of Federal interagency and cooperative
efforts with States and United States territories to prevent or
address overharvesting, coastal runoff, or other anthropogenic
impacts on coral reefs, including projects undertaken with the
Department of the Interior, Department of Agriculture, the
Environmental Protection Agency, and the Army Corps of
Engineers;
``(3) a description of Federal disaster response actions
taken pursuant to the National Response Plan to address damage
to coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems; and
``(4) an assessment of accomplishments under this Act and
the effectiveness of management actions to address threats to
coral reefs.
``(b) Condition of Coral Reefs.--Not later than October 1, 2008,
and every 3 years thereafter, the Administrator, in consultation with
the United States Coral Reef Task Force, shall submit to the Committees
referred to in subsection (a) an assessment of the condition of United
States coral reefs.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for the Coral Reef
Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6401 et seq.) is amended by
striking the item relating to section 208 and inserting the following:
``Sec. 208. Report to Congress.''.
SEC. 5. FUND; GRANTS; COORDINATION; TASK FORCE.
(a) In General.--The Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C.
6401 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by striking ``organization solely'' and all that
follows in section 205(a) (16 U.S.C. 6404(a)) and inserting
``organization--
``(1) to support partnerships between the public and
private sectors that further the purposes of this Act and are
consistent with the national coral reef strategy under section
203; and
``(2) to address emergency response actions under section
206.'';
(2) by adding at the end of section 205(b) 16 U.S.C.
6404(b)) ``The organization is encouraged to solicit funding
and in-kind services from the private sector, including
nongovernmental organizations, for emergency response actions
under section 206 and for activities to prevent damage to coral
reefs, including activities described in section 210(b)(2).'';
(3) by striking ``the grant program'' in section 205(c) (16
U.S.C. 6404(c)) and inserting ``any grant program or emergency
response action'';
(4) by redesignating sections 209 and 210 as sections 212
and 213, respectively; and
(5) by inserting after section 208 the following:
``SEC. 209. COMMUNITY-BASED PLANNING GRANTS.
``(a) In General.--The Administrator may make a grant to any person
that may submit a coral conservation proposal under section 204(e) to
provide additional funds to such person to work with local communities
and through appropriate Federal and State entities to prepare and
implement plans for the increased protection of coral reef areas
identified by the community and the best scientific information
available as high priorities for focused attention. The plans shall--
``(1) support attainment of 1 or more of the criteria
described in section 204(g);
``(2) be developed at the community level;
``(3) utilize watershed-based approaches;
``(4) provide for coordination with Federal and State
experts and managers;
``(5) build upon local approaches or models, including
traditional or island-based resource management concepts; and
``(6) compliment local action strategies or other regional
plans for coral reef conservation.
``(b) Terms and Conditions.--The provisions of subsections (b),
(d), (f), and (h) of section 204 apply to grants under subsection (a),
except that, for the purpose of applying section 204(b)(1) to grants
under this section, `75 percent' shall be substituted for `50 percent'.
``SEC. 210. REGIONAL COORDINATION.
``(a) In General.--The Administrator shall work in coordination and
collaboration with other Federal agencies, States, and United States
territorial governments to implement the strategies developed under
section 203, including regional and local strategies, to address
multiple threats to coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems such as
coastal runoff, vessel impacts, and overharvesting.
``(b) Multiyear Cooperative Agreements.--The Administrator may
enter into multiyear cooperative agreements with other Federal
agencies, States and local governments, academic institutions, and
nongovernmental organizations to carry out the activities of the
national coral reef action strategy.
``SEC. 211. UNITED STATES CORAL REEF TASK FORCE.
``(a) Establishment.--There is hereby established the United States
Coral Reef Task Force.
``(b) Goal.--The goal of the Task Force shall be to lead,
coordinate, and strengthen Federal Government actions to better
preserve and protect coral reef ecosystems.
``(c) Duties.--The duties of the Task Force shall be--
``(1) to coordinate, in cooperation with State, territory,
commonwealth, and local government partners, and
nongovernmental partners if appropriate, activities regarding
the mapping, monitoring, research, conservation, mitigation,
restoration of coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems;
``(2) work with the Secretary of State and the
Administrator of the Agency for International Development, and
in coordination with the other members of the Task Force, to--
``(A) assess the United States role in
international trade and protection of coral reef
species; and
``(B) implement appropriate strategies and actions
to promote conservation and sustainable use of coral
reef resources worldwide.
``(d) Membership, Generally.--The Task Force shall be comprised
of--
``(1) the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, and the Secretary of the Interior, who shall be
co-chairs of the Task Force;
``(2) the Administrator of the Agency of International
Development;
``(3) the Secretary of Agriculture;
``(4) the Secretary of Defense;
``(5) the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Corps
of Engineers;
``(6) the Secretary of Homeland Security;
``(7) the Attorney General;
``(8) the Secretary of State;
``(9) the Secretary of Transportation;
``(10) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency;
``(11) the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration;
``(12) the Director of the National Science Foundation;
``(13) the Governor, or a representative of the Governor,
of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;
``(14) the Governor, or a representative of the Governor,
of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
``(15) the Governor, or a representative of the Governor,
of the State of Florida;
``(16) the Governor, or a representative of the Governor,
of the State of Hawaii;
``(17) the Governor, or a representative of the Governor,
of the Territory of Guam;
``(18) the Governor, or a representative of the Governor,
of the Territory of American Samoa; and
``(19) the Governor, or a representative of the Governor,
of the Virgin Islands.
``(e) Non-Voting Members.--The President, or a representative of
the President, of each of the Freely Associated States of the Federated
States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the
Republic of Palau may appoint a non-voting member of the Task Force.
``(f) Working Groups.--
``(1) In general.--The co-chairs of the Task Force may
establish working groups as necessary to meet the goals and
duties of this Act. The Task Force may request the co-chairs to
establish such a working group.
``(2) Participation by nongovernmental organizations.--The
co-chairs may allow a nongovernmental organization to
participate in such a working group.
``(g) FACA.--The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.)
shall not apply to the Task Force.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents for the Coral Reef
Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6401 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating the items relating to sections 208
through 211 as relating to sections 211 through 214; and
(b) by inserting the following after the item relating to
section 207:
``Sec. 209. Community-based planning grants.
``Sec. 210. Regional coordination.
``Sec. 211. United States Coral Reef Task Force.''.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 212 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (formerly 16
U.S.C. 6408), as redesignated by section 6, is amended--
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
``(a) In General.--
``(1) Authorization.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this title--
``(A) to the Secretary of Commerce, $30,000,000 for
fiscal year 2008, $32,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, and
$34,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
``(B) to the Secretary of the Interior, $10,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2010.
``(2) Allocation.--Of the amount authorized by this
subsection for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2010--
``(A) no less than 30 percent shall be used for the
grant program under section 204;
``(B) up to 10 percent shall be used for the Fund
established under section 205;
``(C) $500,000 may be used by the Secretary of the
Interior to support operations of the United States
Coral Reef Task Force; and
``(D) $250,000 may be used by the Secretary of
Commerce to support such operations.'';
(2) by striking ``$1,000,000'' in subsection (b) and
inserting ``$2,000,000''; and
(3) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
``(c) Community-Based Planning Grants.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Administrator to carry out section 209 the sum of
$8,000,000 for fiscal years 2008 through 2010, such sum to remain
available until expended.''; and
(4) by striking subsection (d).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1167-1168)
Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Resources. H. Rept. 109-665.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Resources. H. Rept. 109-665.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 396.
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