Sec. 6. Natural resources adaptation science and information
390 words·~2 min read·
/bill/113/s/1202/is/section-6A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary of the Interior, in collaboration with the States, Indian tribes, and other partner organizations, shall establish a National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center within the United States Geological Survey. The Center shall assess and develop scientific information, tools, strategies, and techniques to be used by the Panel, Federal and State agencies, and other interested parties in addressing the impacts of extreme weather and climate change on natural resources.
The Secretary may enter into contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements, for periods not to exceed 5 years, with State agencies, State cooperative extension services, institutions of higher education, other research or educational institutions and organizations, Federal and private agencies and organizations, individuals, and any other contractor or recipient, to further the duties under paragraph
(2)without regard to— any requirements for competition; section 6101 of title 41, United States Code; or subsections
(a)and
(b)of section 3324 of title 31, United States Code. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior shall establish and appoint the members of a Science Advisory Board. The Board shall be comprised of not fewer than 10 and not more than 20 members— who have expertise in biology (including fish, wildlife, plant, aquatic, coastal, and marine biology), ecology, climate change (including, where applicable, ocean acidification, drought, flooding, and wildfire), and other relevant scientific disciplines; who are scientists that represent a balanced membership among Federal, State, tribal, and local representatives, institutions of higher education, and other interested parties; and of whom at least 1/2 shall be recommended by the President of the National Academy of Sciences. The Board shall— advise the Panel on the state of the science regarding— the ongoing and expected impacts of extreme weather and climate change on natural resources; and scientific strategies and mechanisms for natural resources adaptation; identify and recommend priorities for ongoing research needs on the issues described in subparagraph
(A)to inform the research priorities of the Center described in subsection
(a)and other Federal climate science institutions; and review and comment on each revised Strategy before that Strategy is finalized. The Board shall collaborate with climate change and ecosystem research entities in other Federal agencies and departments. The advice and recommendations of the Board shall be made available to the public.