16 U.S.C. § 6406

Current through P.L. 118-106 (published on www.congress.gov on 10/04/2024)

Section 6406 - Block grants

(a) In general

In each fiscal year beginning in fiscal year 2023 and subject to the availability of appropriations, the Administrator shall provide block grants of financial assistance of not less than $500,000 to each covered State to support management and restoration activities and further the implementation of coral reef action plans in effect under section 6404 of this title by covered States and non-Federal coral reef stewardship partnerships in accordance with this section. The Administrator shall review each covered State's application for block grant funding to ensure that applications are consistent with applicable action plans and the National Coral Reef Resilience Strategy.

(b) Responsibilities of the Administrator

The Administrator is responsible for-

(1) providing guidance on the proper documentation of expenditures authorized under this chapter;

(2) issuing annual solicitations to covered States for awards under this section; and

(3) determining the appropriate allocation of additional amounts among covered States in accordance with this section.

(c) Responsibilities of covered States

Each covered State is responsible for documenting and reporting-

(1) such State's use of Federal funds received under this chapter; and

(2) such expenditures of non-Federal funds made in furtherance of coral reef management and restoration as the Administrator determines appropriate.

(d) Cooperative agreements

Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Administrator may seek to enter into a cooperative agreement with a covered State to fund coral reef conservation and restoration activities in waters managed under the jurisdiction of such covered State that are consistent with the National Coral Reef Resilience Strategy and any applicable action plan under section 6404 of this title.

(e) All Islands Committee

The Administrator may enter into a cooperative agreement with the All Islands Committee of the Task Force to provide support for its activities.

16 U.S.C. § 6406

Pub. L. 106-562, title II, §207, as added Pub. L. 117-263 title C, §10001(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3938.

EDITORIAL NOTES

REFERENCES IN TEXTThis chapter, referred to in subsecs. (b)(1) and (c)(1), was in the original "this Act" which was translated as reading "this title", meaning title II of Pub. L. 106-562 to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

PRIOR PROVISIONSA prior section 6406,Pub. L. 106-562, title II, §2076406,, 114 Stat. 2804, related to national program to conserve coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 117-263 title C, §10001(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3931.

Administrator: The term "Administrator" means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
National Coral Reef Resilience Strategy: The term "National Coral Reef Resilience Strategy" means the National Coral Reef Resilience Strategy in effect under section 6403 of this title.
State: The term "State" means-(A) any State of the United States that contains a coral reef ecosystem within its seaward boundaries;(B) American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the United States Virgin Islands; or(C) any other territory or possession of the United States or separate sovereign in free association with the United States that contains a coral reef ecosystem within its seaward boundaries.
Task Force: The term "Task Force" means the United States Coral Reef Task Force established under section 6451 of this title.1So in original. A closing parenthesis probably should precede the period.
conservation: The term "conservation" means the use of methods and procedures necessary to preserve or sustain native corals and associated species as diverse, viable, and self-perpetuating coral reef ecosystems with minimal impacts from invasive species, including-(A) all activities associated with resource management, such as monitoring, assessment, protection, restoration, sustainable use, management of habitat, and maintenance or augmentation of genetic diversity;(B) mapping;(C) scientific expertise and technical assistance in the development and implementation of management strategies for marine protected areas and marine resources required by Federal law;(D) law enforcement;(E) conflict resolution initiatives;(F) community outreach and education; and(G) promotion of safe and ecologically sound navigation and anchoring.
coral reef: The term "coral reef" means calcium carbonate structures in the form of a reef or shoal, composed in whole or in part by living coral, skeletal remains of coral, crustose coralline algae, and other associated sessile marine plants and animals.
coral: The term "coral" means species of the phylum Cnidaria, including-(A) all species of the orders Antipatharia (black corals), Scleractinia (stony corals), Alcyonacea (soft corals, organ pipe corals, gorgonians), and Helioporacea (blue coral), of the class Anthozoa; and(B) all species of the order Anthoathecata (fire corals and other hydrocorals) of the class Hydrozoa.
covered State: The term "covered State" means Florida, Hawaii, and the territories of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands.
restoration: The term "restoration" means the use of methods and procedures necessary to enhance, rehabilitate, recreate, or create a functioning coral reef or coral reef ecosystem, in whole or in part, within suitable waters of the historical geographic range of such ecosystems, to provide ecological, economic, cultural, or coastal resiliency services associated with healthy coral reefs and benefit native populations of coral reef organisms.