Sec. 1202. Regional Ocean Partnerships
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In this subtitle: The term coastal state has the meaning given that term in section 304 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 ( 16 U.S.C. 1453 ). The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given to the term Indian tribe in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 5304 ). A coastal state may participate in a Regional Ocean Partnership with 1 or more other coastal states that share a common ocean or coastal area with the coastal state, without regard to whether the coastal states are contiguous.
The Governor of a coastal state or the Governors of a group of coastal states may apply to the Secretary of Commerce, on behalf of a partnership, for the partnership to receive designation as a Regional Ocean Partnership if the partnership— meets the requirements under paragraph (3); and submits an application for such designation in such manner, in such form, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. A partnership is eligible for designation as a Regional Ocean Partnership by the Secretary under paragraph
(2)if the partnership— is established to coordinate the interstate management of coastal resources; focuses on the environmental issues affecting the ocean and coastal areas of the members participating in the partnership; complements existing State coastal and ocean management efforts on an interstate scale, focusing on shared regional priorities; does not have a regulatory function; and is not duplicative of an existing Regional Ocean Partnership designated under paragraph (4), as determined by the Secretary. Notwithstanding paragraph
(2)or (3), the following entities are designated as Regional Ocean Partnerships: The Gulf of Mexico Alliance, comprised of the States of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. The Northeast Regional Ocean Council, comprised of the States of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. The Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean, comprised of the States of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. The West Coast Ocean Alliance, comprised of the States of California, Oregon, and Washington and the coastal Indian Tribes therein. A Regional Ocean Partnership designated under subsection
(b)shall be governed by a governing body. A governing body described in paragraph (1)— shall be comprised, at a minimum, of voting members from each coastal state participating in the Regional Ocean Partnership, designated by the Governor of the coastal state; and may include such other members as the partnership considers appropriate. A Regional Ocean Partnership designated under subsection
(b)may perform the following functions: Promote coordination of the actions of the agencies of coastal states participating in the partnership with the actions of the appropriate officials of Federal agencies and State and Tribal governments in developing strategies— to conserve living resources, expand and protect valuable habitats, enhance coastal resilience, and address such other issues related to the shared ocean or coastal area as are determined to be a shared, regional priority by those States; and to manage regional data portals and develop associated data products for purposes that support the priorities of the partnership. In cooperation with appropriate Federal and State agencies, Tribal governments, and local authorities, develop and implement specific action plans to carry out coordination goals. Coordinate and implement priority plans and projects, and facilitate science, research, modeling, monitoring, data collection, and other activities that support the goals of the partnership through the provision of grants and contracts under subsection (e). Engage, coordinate, and collaborate with relevant governmental entities and stakeholders to address ocean and coastal related matters that require interagency or intergovernmental solutions. Implement engagement programs for public information, education, and participation to foster stewardship of the resources of the ocean and coastal areas, as relevant. Develop and make available, through publications, technical assistance, and other appropriate means, information pertaining to cross-jurisdictional issues being addressed through the coordinated activities of the partnership. Serve as a liaison with, and provide information to, international counterparts, as appropriate on priority issues for the partnership. A Regional Ocean Partnership designated under subsection
(b)may, in coordination with existing Federal and State management programs, from amounts made available to the partnership by the Administrator or the head of another Federal agency— provide grants to eligible persons described in paragraph
(2)for the purposes described in paragraph (3); and enter into contracts with such persons for such purposes. The eligible persons described in this paragraph are the following: Indian Tribes. State and local governments. Nongovernmental organizations. Institutions of higher education. Individuals. Private entities. The purposes described in this paragraph include any of the following: Monitoring the water quality and living resources of multi-State ocean and coastal ecosystems and to coastal communities. Researching and addressing the effects of natural and human-induced environmental changes to— ocean and coastal ecosystems; and coastal communities. Developing and executing cooperative strategies that— address regional data issues identified by the partnership; and will result in more effective management of common ocean and coastal areas. Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 5 years thereafter until 2040, the Administrator, in coordination with the Regional Ocean Partnerships designated under subsection (b), shall— assess the effectiveness of the partnerships in supporting regional priorities relating to the management of common ocean and coastal areas; and submit to Congress a report on that assessment. The report required under paragraph (1)(B) shall include the following: An assessment of the overall status of the work of the Regional Ocean Partnerships designated under subsection (b). An assessment of the effectiveness of the strategies that the Regional Ocean Partnerships are supporting or implementing and the extent to which the priority needs of the regions covered by such partnerships are being met through such strategies. Such recommendations as the Administrator may have for the improvement of efforts of the Regional Ocean Partnerships to support the purposes of this Act. An assessment of how the efforts of the Regional Ocean Partnerships support or enhance Federal and State efforts in line with the purposes of this Act. Recommendations for improvements to the collective strategies that support the purposes of this Act in coordination and consultation with all relevant Federal, State, and Tribal entities. In addition to amounts made available to Regional Ocean Partnerships designated under subsection
(b)by the Administrator under this section, the head of any other Federal agency may provide grants to, enter into contracts with, or otherwise provide funding to such partnerships. Nothing in this section establishes any new legal or regulatory authority of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or of the Regional Ocean Partnerships designated under subsection (b), other than— the authority of the Administrator to provide amounts to the partnerships; and the authority of the partnerships to provide grants and enter into contracts under subsection (e). Of amounts authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Administrator may make the following amounts available to Regional Ocean Partnerships designated under subsection
(b)or designated fiscal management entities of such partnerships to carry out activities of the partnerships under this Act: $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2021. $10,100,000 for fiscal year 2022. $10,202,000 for fiscal year 2023. $10,306,040 for fiscal year 2024. $10,412,160 for fiscal year 2025. $10,520,404 for fiscal year 2026. Amounts made available under paragraph
(1)shall be divided evenly among the Regional Ocean Partnerships designated under subsection (b). Amounts made available under paragraph
(1)shall remain available until expended.
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