[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4174 Engrossed in House (EH)]

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4174

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
To establish an interagency committee to develop an ocean acidification 
 research and monitoring plan and to establish an ocean acidification 
  program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Ocean 
Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2008'' or the ``FOARAM 
Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings and purposes.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Sec. 4. Interagency subcommittee.
Sec. 5. Strategic research plan.
Sec. 6. NOAA ocean acidification activities.
Sec. 7. NSF ocean acidification activities.
Sec. 8. NASA ocean acidification activities.
Sec. 9. Authorization of appropriations.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
            (1) The oceans help regulate atmospheric chemistry by 
        acting as the largest sink for carbon dioxide.
            (2) The rapid increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide is 
        overwhelming the natural ability of the oceans to absorb this 
        gas.
            (3) The influx of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and 
        the subsequent absorption by the oceans is changing surface 
        ocean carbon chemistry and lowering the pH. These changes in 
        ocean chemistry are detrimental to organisms including corals, 
        which support one of the richest habitats on Earth, marine 
        shellfish, and many other organisms that form the base of the 
        food chain for many fish and marine mammals.
            (4) The rich biodiversity of marine organisms is an 
        important contribution to the national economy and the change 
        in ocean chemistry threatens tourism, our fisheries, and marine 
        environmental quality, and could result in significant social 
        and economic costs.
            (5) Existing Federal programs support research in related 
        ocean chemistry, but gaps in funding, coordination, and 
        outreach have impeded national progress in addressing ocean 
        acidification.
            (6) National investment in a coordinated program of 
        research and monitoring would improve the understanding of 
        ocean acidification effects on whole ecosystems, advance our 
        knowledge of the socioeconomic impacts of increased ocean 
        acidification, and strengthen the ability of marine resource 
        managers to assess and prepare for the harmful impacts of ocean 
        acidification on our marine resources.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to provide for--
            (1) development and coordination of a comprehensive 
        interagency plan to--
                    (A) monitor and conduct research on the processes 
                and consequences of ocean acidification on marine 
                organisms and ecosystems; and
                    (B) establish an interagency research and 
                monitoring program on ocean acidification;
            (2) assessment and consideration of regional and national 
        ecosystem and socioeconomic impacts of increased ocean 
        acidification; and
            (3) research on adaptation strategies and techniques for 
        effectively conserving marine ecosystems as they cope with 
        increased ocean acidification.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Ocean acidification.--The term ``ocean acidification'' 
        means the decrease in pH of the Earth's oceans and changes in 
        ocean chemistry caused by chemical inputs from the atmosphere, 
        including carbon dioxide.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
            (3) Subcommittee.--The term ``Subcommittee'' means the 
        Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology of the 
        National Science and Technology Council.

SEC. 4. INTERAGENCY SUBCOMMITTEE.

    (a) Designation.--The Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and 
Technology of the National Science and Technology Council shall 
coordinate Federal activities on ocean acidification.
    (b) Duties.--The Subcommittee shall--
            (1) develop the strategic research and monitoring plan to 
        guide Federal research on ocean acidification required under 
        section 5 of this Act and oversee the implementation of the 
        plan;
            (2) oversee the development of--
                    (A) an assessment of the potential impacts of ocean 
                acidification on marine organisms and marine 
                ecosystems; and
                    (B) adaptation and mitigation strategies to 
                conserve marine organisms and ecosystems exposed to 
                ocean acidification;
            (3) facilitate communication and outreach opportunities 
        with nongovernmental organizations and members of the 
        stakeholder community with interests in marine resources;
            (4) coordinate the United States Federal research and 
        monitoring program with research and monitoring programs and 
        scientists from other nations; and
            (5) establish or designate an Ocean Acidification 
        Information Exchange to make information on ocean acidification 
        developed through or utilized by the interagency ocean 
        acidification program accessible through electronic means, 
        including information which would be useful to policymakers, 
        researchers, and other stakeholders in mitigating or adapting 
        to the impacts of ocean acidification.
    (c) Reports to Congress.--
            (1) Initial report.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, the Subcommittee shall transmit a 
        report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science and 
        Technology and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House 
        of Representatives that--
                    (A) includes a summary of federally funded ocean 
                acidification research and monitoring activities, 
                including the budget for each of these activities; and
                    (B) describes the progress in developing the plan 
                required under section 5 of this Act.
            (2) Biennial report.--Not later than 2 years after the 
        delivery of the initial report under paragraph (1) and every 2 
        years thereafter, the Subcommittee shall transmit a report to 
        the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
        Senate and the Committee on Science and Technology and the 
        Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives 
        that includes--
                    (A) a summary of federally funded ocean 
                acidification research and monitoring activities, 
                including the budget for each of these activities; and
                    (B) an analysis of the progress made toward 
                achieving the goals and priorities for the interagency 
                research plan developed by the Subcommittee under 
                section 5.
            (3) Strategic research plan.--Not later than 2 years after 
        the date of enactment of this Act, the Subcommittee shall 
        transmit the strategic research plan developed under section 5 
        to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
        the Senate and the Committee on Science and Technology and the 
        Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives. 
        A revised plan shall be submitted at least once every 5 years 
        thereafter.

SEC. 5. STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Subcommittee shall develop a strategic plan for 
Federal research and monitoring on ocean acidification that will 
provide for an assessment of the impacts of ocean acidification on 
marine organisms and marine ecosystems and the development of 
adaptation and mitigation strategies to conserve marine organisms and 
marine ecosystems. In developing the plan, the Subcommittee shall 
consider and use information, reports, and studies of ocean 
acidification that have identified research and monitoring needed to 
better understand ocean acidification and its potential impacts, and 
recommendations made by the National Academy of Sciences in the review 
of the plan required under subsection (d).
    (b) Contents of the Plan.--The plan shall--
            (1) establish, for the 10-year period beginning in the year 
        the plan is submitted, the goals and priorities for Federal 
        research and monitoring which will--
                    (A) advance understanding of ocean acidification 
                and its physical, chemical, and biological impacts on 
                marine organisms and marine ecosystems;
                    (B) improve the ability to assess the socioeconomic 
                impacts of ocean acidification; and
                    (C) provide information for the development of 
                adaptation and mitigation strategies to conserve marine 
                organisms and marine ecosystems;
            (2) describe specific activities, including--
                    (A) efforts to determine user needs;
                    (B) research activities;
                    (C) monitoring activities;
                    (D) technology and methods development;
                    (E) data collection;
                    (F) database development;
                    (G) modeling activities;
                    (H) assessment of ocean acidification impacts; and
                    (I) participation in international research 
                efforts;
            (3) identify relevant programs and activities of the 
        Federal agencies that contribute to the interagency program 
        directly and indirectly and set forth the role of each Federal 
        agency in implementing the plan;
            (4) consider and utilize, as appropriate, reports and 
        studies conducted by Federal agencies, the National Research 
        Council, or other entities;
            (5) make recommendations for the coordination of the ocean 
        acidification research and monitoring activities of the United 
        States with such activities of other nations and international 
        organizations;
            (6) outline budget requirements for Federal ocean 
        acidification research and monitoring and assessment activities 
        to be conducted by each agency under the plan;
            (7) identify the monitoring systems and sampling programs 
        currently employed in collecting data relevant to ocean 
        acidification and prioritize additional monitoring systems that 
        may be needed to ensure adequate data collection and monitoring 
        of ocean acidification and its impacts; and
            (8) describe specific activities designed to facilitate 
        outreach and data and information exchange with stakeholder 
        communities.
    (c) Program Elements.--The plan shall include at a minimum the 
following program elements:
            (1) Monitoring of ocean chemistry and biological impacts 
        associated with ocean acidification at selected coastal and 
        open-ocean monitoring stations, including satellite-based 
        monitoring to characterize--
                    (A) marine ecosystems;
                    (B) changes in marine productivity; and
                    (C) changes in surface ocean chemistry.
            (2) Research to understand the species specific 
        physiological response of marine organisms to ocean 
        acidification, impacts on marine food webs of ocean 
        acidification, and to develop environmental and ecological 
        indices that track marine ecosystem responses to ocean 
        acidification.
            (3) Modeling to predict changes in the ocean carbon cycle 
        as a function of carbon dioxide and atmosphere-induced changes 
        in temperature, ocean circulation, biogeochemistry, ecosystem 
        and terrestrial input, and modeling to determine impacts on 
        marine ecosystems and individual marine organisms.
            (4) Technology development and standardization of carbonate 
        chemistry measurements on moorings and autonomous floats.
            (5) Assessment of socioeconomic impacts of ocean 
        acidification and development of adaptation and mitigation 
        strategies to conserve marine organisms and marine ecosystems.
    (d) National Academy of Sciences Evaluation.--The Secretary shall 
enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to review 
the plan.
    (e) Public Participation.--In developing the plan, the Subcommittee 
shall consult with representatives of academic, State, industry and 
environmental groups. Not later than 90 days before the plan, or any 
revision thereof, is submitted to the Congress, the plan shall be 
published in the Federal Register for a public comment period of not 
less than 60 days.

SEC. 6. NOAA OCEAN ACIDIFICATION ACTIVITIES.

    The Secretary shall conduct research and monitoring activities and 
may establish a program on ocean acidification within the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration consistent with the strategic 
research plan developed by the Subcommittee under section 5 that--
            (1) includes--
                    (A) interdisciplinary research among the ocean and 
                atmospheric sciences, and coordinated research and 
                activities to improve understanding of ocean 
                acidification;
                    (B) the establishment of a long-term monitoring 
                program of ocean acidification utilizing existing 
                global and national ocean observing assets, and adding 
                instrumentation and sampling stations as appropriate to 
                the aims of the research program;
                    (C) research to identify and develop adaptation 
                strategies and techniques for effectively conserving 
                marine ecosystems as they cope with increased ocean 
                acidification;
                    (D) as an integral part of the research programs 
                described in this Act, educational opportunities that 
                encourage an interdisciplinary and international 
                approach to exploring the impacts of ocean 
                acidification;
                    (E) as an integral part of the research programs 
                described in this Act, national public outreach 
                activities to improve the understanding of current 
                scientific knowledge of ocean acidification and its 
                impacts on marine resources; and
                    (F) coordination of ocean acidification monitoring 
                and impacts research with other appropriate 
                international ocean science bodies such as the 
                International Oceanographic Commission, the 
                International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, 
                the North Pacific Marine Science Organization, and 
                others;
            (2) provides grants for critical research projects that 
        explore the effects of ocean acidification on ecosystems and 
        the socioeconomic impacts of increased ocean acidification that 
        are relevant to the goals and priorities of the strategic 
        research plan; and
            (3) incorporates a competitive merit-based process for 
        awarding grants that may be conducted jointly with other 
        participating agencies or under the National Oceanographic 
        Partnership Program under section 7901 of title 10, United 
        States Code.

SEC. 7. NSF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION ACTIVITIES.

    (a) Research Activities.--The Director of the National Science 
Foundation shall continue to carry out research activities on ocean 
acidification which shall support competitive, merit-based, peer-
reviewed proposals for research and monitoring of ocean acidification 
and its impacts, including--
            (1) impacts on marine organisms and marine ecosystems;
            (2) impacts on ocean, coastal, and estuarine 
        biogeochemistry; and
            (3) the development of methodologies and technologies to 
        evaluate ocean acidification and its impacts.
    (b) Consistency.--The research activities shall be consistent with 
the strategic research plan developed by the Subcommittee under section 
5.
    (c) Coordination.--The Director shall encourage coordination of the 
Foundation's ocean acidification activities with such activities of 
other nations and international organizations.

SEC. 8. NASA OCEAN ACIDIFICATION ACTIVITIES.

    (a) Ocean Acidification Activities.--The Administrator of the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, in coordination with 
other relevant agencies, shall ensure that space-based monitoring 
assets are used in as productive a manner as possible for monitoring of 
ocean acidification and its impacts.
    (b) Program Consistency.--The Administrator shall ensure that the 
Agency's research and monitoring activities on ocean acidification are 
carried out in a manner consistent with the strategic research plan 
developed by the Subcommittee under section 5.
    (c) Coordination.--The Administrator shall encourage coordination 
of the Agency's ocean acidification activities with such activities of 
other nations and international organizations.

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) NOAA.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out the purposes of 
this Act--
            (1) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
            (2) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            (3) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
            (4) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.
    (b) NSF.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the National 
Science Foundation to carry out the purposes of this Act--
            (1) $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
            (2) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            (3) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
            (4) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.

            Passed the House of Representatives July 9, 2008.

            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.
110th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 4174

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

To establish an interagency committee to develop an ocean acidification 
 research and monitoring plan and to establish an ocean acidification 
  program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.