Sec. 71801. Interagency working group

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The National Science and Technology Council Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology shall establish an Interagency Working Group on Coastal Blue Carbon. The Interagency Working Group on Coastal Blue Carbon shall oversee the development of a national map of coastal blue carbon ecosystems, establish national coastal blue carbon ecosystem protection and restoration priorities, assess the biophysical, social, and economic impediments to coastal blue carbon ecosystem restoration, study the effects of climate change, environmental stressors, and human stressors on carbon sequestration rates, and preserve the continuity of coastal blue carbon data.

The Interagency Working Group on Coastal Blue Carbon shall be comprised of senior representatives from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the United States Geological Survey, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Smithsonian Institution, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, the Department of Transportation, the Department of State, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Council on Environmental Quality.

The Interagency Working Group shall be chaired by the Administrator. The Interagency Working Group shall— oversee the development, update, and maintenance of a national map and inventory of coastal blue carbon ecosystems, including habitat types with a regional focus in analysis that is usable for local level protection planning and restoration; develop a strategic assessment of the biophysical, chemical, social, statutory, regulatory, and economic impediments to protection and restoration of coastal blue carbon ecosystems; develop a national strategy for foundational science necessary to study, synthesize, and evaluate the effects of climate change, environmental, and human stressors on sequestration rates and capabilities of coastal blue carbon ecosystems protection; establish national coastal blue carbon ecosystem protection and restoration priorities, including an assessment of current Federal funding being used for restoration efforts; ensure the continuity, use, and interoperability of data assets through the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center’s Coastal Carbon Data Clearinghouse; and assess current legal authorities to protect and restore blue carbon ecosystems.

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Interagency Working Group shall provide to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report containing the following: A summary of federally funded coastal blue carbon ecosystem research, monitoring, preservation, and restoration activities, including the budget for each of these activities and describe the progress in advancing the national priorities established in section 71803(a)(4)(A).

An assessment of biophysical, social, and economic impediments to coastal blue carbon ecosystem restoration, including the vulnerability of coastal blue carbon ecosystems to climate impacts, such as sea-level rise, ocean and coastal acidification, and other environmental and human stressors. The Interagency Working group shall create a strategic plan for Federal investments in basic research, development, demonstration, long-term monitoring and stewardship, and deployment of coastal blue carbon ecosystem projects for the 5-year period beginning at the start of the first fiscal year after the date on which the budget assessment is submitted under paragraph (1).

The plan shall include an assessment of the use of existing Federal programs to protect and preserve coastal blue carbon ecosystems and identify the need for any additional authorities or programs. The Interagency Working Group shall— submit the strategic plan under paragraph

(A)to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on a date that is not later than one year after the enactment of this Act and not earlier than the date on which the report under paragraph

(1)is submitted to such committees of Congress; and submit a revised version of such plan not less than quinquennially thereafter. Not later than 90 days before the strategic plan under this paragraph, or any revision thereof, is submitted under subparagraph (B), the Interagency Working Group shall publish such plan in the Federal Register and provide an opportunity for submission of public comments for a period of not less than 60 days.