16 U.S.C. § 6407

Current through P.L. 118-106 (published on www.congress.gov on 10/04/2024)
Section 6407 - Coral Reef Stewardship Fund
(a) Agreement

The Administrator shall seek to enter into an agreement with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (in this section referred to as the "Foundation"), authorizing the Foundation to receive, hold, and administer funds received under this section.

(b) Fund
(1) In general

The Foundation shall establish an account, which shall-

(A) be known as the "Coral Reef Stewardship Fund" (in this section referred to as the "Fund"); and
(B) serve as the successor to the account known before December 23, 2022, as the Coral Reef Conservation Fund and administered through a public-private partnership with the Foundation.
(2) Deposits

The Foundation shall deposit funds received under this section into the Fund.

(3) Purposes

The Fund shall be available solely to support coral reef stewardship activities that-

(A) further the purposes of this chapter; and
(B) are consistent with-
(i) the National Coral Reef Resilience Strategy; and
(ii) coral reef action plans in effect, if any, under section 6404 of this title covering a coral reef or ecologically significant component of a coral reef to be impacted by such activities, if applicable.
(4) Investment of amounts
(A) Investment of amounts

The Foundation shall invest such portion of the Fund as is not required to meet current withdrawals in interest-bearing obligations of the United States or in obligations guaranteed as to both principal and interest by the United States.

(B) Interest and proceeds

The interest on, and the proceeds from the sale or redemption of, any obligations held in the Fund shall be credited to and form a part of the Fund.

(5) Review of performance

The Administrator shall conduct a continuing review of all deposits into, and disbursements from, the Fund. Each review shall include a written assessment concerning the extent to which the Foundation has implemented the goals and requirements of-

(A) this section; and
(B) the National Coral Reef Resilience Strategy.
(c) Authorization to solicit donations
(1) In general

Pursuant to an agreement entered into under subsection (a), the Foundation may accept, receive, solicit, hold, administer, and use any gift (including, notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, donations of services) to further the purposes of this chapter.

(2) Deposits in Fund

Notwithstanding section 3302 of title 31, any funds received as a gift shall be deposited and maintained in the Fund.

(d) Administration

Under an agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (a), and subject to the availability of appropriations, the Administrator may transfer funds appropriated for such purposes to carry out this chapter to the Foundation. Amounts received by the Foundation under this subsection may be used for matching, in whole or in part, contributions (whether in money, services, or property) made to the Foundation by private persons, State or local government agencies, or covered Native entities.

16 U.S.C. § 6407

Pub. L. 106-562, title II, §208, as added Pub. L. 117-263 title C, §10001(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3939.

EDITORIAL NOTES

PRIOR PROVISIONSA prior section 6407,Pub. L. 106-562, title II, §2086407,, 114 Stat. 2804, required submission of reports documenting the effectiveness of the coral reef conservation grant program and describing activities undertaken to implement the national coral reef strategy, 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.
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.