Sec. 3. Interagency Working Group on Coastal Blue Carbon
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The Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology of the National Science and Technology Council shall establish an interagency working group, to be known as the Interagency Working Group on Coastal Blue Carbon . The Interagency Working Group 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 State; the Department of Transportation; 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, updates, 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 conservation, planning, and restoration; develop a strategic assessment of the biophysical, chemical, social, statutory, regulatory, and economic impediments to conservation and restoration of coastal blue carbon ecosystems, including the vulnerability of coastal blue carbon ecosystems to climate impacts, such as sea-level rise and ocean and coastal acidification, and other environmental and human stressors; develop a national strategy for foundational science necessary to study, synthesize, and evaluate the effects of climate change and environmental and human stressors on sequestration rates and capabilities of coastal blue carbon ecosystems conservation, with input from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; establish national conservation and restoration priorities for coastal blue carbon ecosystems, including an assessment of Federal funding being used for conservation and restoration efforts; ensure the continuity, use, and interoperability of data assets, including data assets available through the Coastal Carbon Data Clearinghouse; and assess legal authorities in effect as of the date of the enactment of this Act to conserve and restore coastal blue carbon ecosystems.
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Interagency Working Group shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report containing the following: A summary of federally funded research, monitoring, conservation, and restoration activities relating to coastal blue carbon ecosystems, including— the budget for each such activity; and a description of the progress made by each such activity in advancing the national priorities identified under section 5(a)(3)(A).
An assessment of biophysical, chemical, social, statutory, regulatory, and economic impediments to conservation and restoration of coastal blue carbon ecosystems, including the vulnerability of coastal blue carbon ecosystems to climate impacts, such as sea-level rise and 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 on the date on which the first fiscal year after the date on which the report is submitted under paragraph
(1)begins. The plan required by subparagraph
(A)shall— include an assessment of the use of Federal programs existing as of the date of the enactment of this Act to conserve and restore coastal blue carbon ecosystems; and identify any additional authorities or programs that may be needed to conserve and restore such ecosystems. The Interagency Working Group shall— on a date that is not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act and not earlier than the date on which the report required by paragraph
(1)is submitted, submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives the strategic plan required by subparagraph (A); and submit a revised version of such plan not less frequently than once every 5 years thereafter. Not later than 90 days before the date on which the strategic plan or any revised version of such plan is submitted under subparagraph (C), 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.