Short Title

This Act may be cited as the

Marine Disease Emergency Act of 2015

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

Coordinator

The term coordinator means an individual designated under section 3(d) to coordinate the response to a marine disease emergency. (2)

Data Repository

The term Data Repository means the National Data Repository for Marine Diseases Research and Services established under section 6. (3)

Exclusive economic zone

The term exclusive economic zone means the exclusive economic zone of the United States established by Presidential Proclamation No. 5030, of March 10, 1983. (4)

Fund

The term Fund means the Marine Disease Emergency Fund established under section 5. (5)

Marine disease

The term marine disease means a pathological condition that— (A)occurs in a population of marine species; and (B)appears to be caused by an infectious or noninfectious biological agent. (6)

Marine disease emergency

The term marine disease emergency means an event that— (A)affects the marine environment; (B)is caused by a marine disease or environmental stressor; (C)is likely to threaten the sustainability of a marine species or the health of a marine ecosystem; and (D)is likely to expand in geographic scope. (7)

Marine environment

The term marine environment means those areas of coastal, ocean, and estuarine waters over which the United States has jurisdiction, including the exclusive economic zone, consistent with international law. (8)

Marine species

The term marine species— (A)except as provided in subparagraph (B), means marine reptiles, finfish, mollusks, and crustaceans, and all other forms of marine animal and plant life; and (B)does not include aquacultured animals of any species, marine mammals, and birds. (9)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Commerce acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (10)

State

The term State means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, and any other Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States, and each federally recognized Indian tribe. (11)

Working Group

The term Working Group means the Marine Disease Emergency Working Group established under section 4.

Declaration of marine disease emergency and response

(a)

In general

The Secretary may declare a marine disease emergency in accordance with subsection (b). (b)

Declaration procedure

After receiving notice that a marine disease emergency may be occurring, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable— (1)not later than 24 hours after receiving such notice, contact members of the Working Group for guidance on whether the event is a marine disease emergency; and (2)not later than 7 days after receiving such notice, declare whether the event is a marine disease emergency. (c)

Effect of declaration

(1)

Powers of Secretary

Upon declaring a marine disease emergency under this section, and subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary may take such actions as may be appropriate to respond to the emergency, including making grants, providing awards for expenses, entering into contracts and conducting and supporting investigations into the cause, treatment, or prevention of the emergency. (2)

Response activities

As soon as possible after declaring a marine disease emergency, the Secretary shall carry out the activities described in subsections (d) and (e) with respect to the emergency. (d)

Designation of coordinator

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall designate an individual to coordinate the response to each marine disease emergency declared under this section. (2)

Duties of coordinator

The coordinator, under the supervision of the Secretary, shall lead a response to the emergency that may include Federal, State, regional, and local agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and other persons as appropriate. (3)

Coordinator assistants

The Secretary may designate one or more individuals to assist the coordinator in carrying out the duties described in paragraph (2). (e)

Development of response plan

(1)

In general

Not later than 28 days after declaring a marine disease emergency under this section the Secretary shall, in consultation with the Task Force, develop a written response plan for such emergency based on sound science. (2)

Contents

The plan described in paragraph (1) shall include, at minimum— (A)a list of persons at appropriate Federal, regional, State, and local agencies who can assist the Secretary in implementing a coordinated and effective response to the marine disease emergency; (B)a description of the steps necessary to diagnose the cause of the marine disease emergency; (C)training, mobilization, and utilization procedures for personnel, facilities, and other resources necessary to conduct a rapid and effective response to the marine disease emergency; (D)an assessment of the potential effects of the marine disease emergency on populations of marine species; (E)strategies to minimize morbidity and mortality in marine species and minimize transmission of the disease; and (F)provisions to protect other populations of aquacultured animals, plants, marine mammals, and birds that could be directly or indirectly impacted by the marine disease emergency or response actions. (3)

Publication

Not later than 21 days after declaring a marine disease emergency under this section the Secretary shall publish a summary of the plan on a publicly accessible Internet website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (f)

Termination of marine disease emergency

(1)

In general

A marine disease emergency declared under this section shall terminate on the date on which the Secretary declares that the emergency no longer exists, or upon the expiration of the 120-day period beginning on the date on which such declaration is made by the Secretary, whichever occurs first. (2)

Renewal of declaration

A declaration that terminates under paragraph (1) may be renewed by the Secretary. The time limitations in paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to each such renewal. (g)

Report

Not later than 90 days after the termination of a marine disease emergency declared under this section, the Secretary shall— (1)submit to Congress a report describing— (A)the presumptive cause and environmental impact of the marine disease emergency; (B)the response to the marine disease emergency and recommendations, if any, for improving responses to future marine disease emergencies; and (C)recommendations, if any, for preventing future marine disease emergencies; and (2)publish the report on a publicly accessible Internet website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Marine Disease Emergency Working Group

(a)

Establishment

There is established in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration a working group to be known as the Marine Disease Emergency Working Group. (b)

Duties

The Working Group shall— (1)advise the Secretary on risk assessment, preparation, monitoring, research, and response to marine diseases that may significantly impact the health and sustainability of marine species and ecosystems; (2)advise the Secretary in determining whether a marine disease emergency should be declared or terminated; (3)assist the Secretary in drafting response plans under section 3(e); (4)assist the Secretary in drafting reports under section 3(g); and (5)consult with the Director of the Data Repository established under section 6 to ensure the quality and availability of the data contained therein. (c)

Membership

(1)

Composition

Subject to paragraph (3), the Working Group shall be composed of 7 members as follows: (A)The Secretary or the Secretary’s designee. (B)The Administrator of the United States Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service or the Administrator’s designee. (C)The Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service or the Director’s designee. (D)The Director of the United States Geological Survey or the Director’s designee. (E)3 members, appointed by the President, who have specialized knowledge and expertise in— (i)marine animal and plant health, marine animal and plant disease assessments, and responding to disease outbreaks or ecological disasters; and (ii)marine veterinary science, bacteriology, virology or immunology, histopathology, genetics, epidemiology, ecology, or microbiology. (2)

Limitation

A member appointed under paragraph (1)(E) shall not be an employee of an agency (as defined in section 551 of title 5, United States Code). If any such member becomes an employee of an agency, that member may continue as a member for not longer than the 30-day period beginning on the date the member becomes an employee of an agency. (3)

Temporary members

The Secretary may appoint additional members to the Working Group to serve during a marine disease emergency declared under section 3. (4)

Terms

(A)

Non-agency members

Each member appointed under paragraph (1)(E) shall be appointed for a term of 2 years and may be reappointed thereafter by the President. (B)

Temporary members

The term of each member appointed under paragraph (3) shall expire 90 days after the date on which the marine disease emergency for which that member was appointed is terminated under section 3(f). (5)

Vacancies

A vacancy in the Working Group shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made. (6)

Prohibition on compensation of Federal employees

Members of the Working Group who are full-time officers or employees of the United States may not receive additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their service on the Working Group. (7)

Travel expenses

Subject to the availability of appropriations, each member of the Working Group shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code. (8)

Chairperson

The Secretary, or a designee of the Secretary, shall be the Chairperson of the Working Group. (9)

Meetings

The Secretary shall convene the Working Group not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. Thereafter, the Working Group shall meet not less than annually and may also meet at the call of the Chairperson or a majority of its members. (d)

Staffing and assistance

The Secretary shall make available to the Working Group any staff, information, administrative services, or assistance the Secretary considers reasonably required to enable the Working Group to carry out its duties. (e)

Termination

Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply with respect to the Working Group.

Establishment of Marine Disease Emergency Fund

(a)

Establishment

There is established in the Treasury a fund to be known as the Marine Disease Emergency Fund, which shall be administered by the Secretary. Amounts in the Fund shall be made available without fiscal year limitation, and subject to appropriations, to carry out this Act. (b)

Amounts

The Fund shall consist of— (1)amounts appropriated to the Fund; and (2)amounts received by the Secretary as donations, gifts, or contributions for the purpose of addressing marine disease emergencies. (c)

Use of fund

Amounts in the Fund shall be used only to respond to a marine disease emergency declared under section 3. (d)

Supplement not supplant

Amounts from the Fund shall be used to supplement and not supplant other Federal, State, regional, and local public funds provided for activities under this Act.

National Data Repository for Marine Diseases Research and Services

(a)

In general

The Secretary shall establish a National Data Repository for Marine Diseases Research and Services. Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary shall enter into a contract with an entity eligible under subsection (c) to develop and administer such repository. (b)

Purpose

The purpose of the Data Repository shall be to— (1)collect, store, and disseminate information regarding research, data, findings, and technical assistance materials related to marine diseases; (2)facilitate the development, coordination, and rapid dissemination of research on marine diseases; and (3)collect epidemiological, environmental impact, timeline, global positioning system registered location, and ecological consequence data regarding marine diseases, linking different datasets across the country to assist researchers in developing strategies for addressing marine diseases. (c)

Eligibility

To be eligible for the contract under subsection (a), an entity shall— (1)be a public or private nonprofit entity; (2)have experience— (A)collecting data; (B)developing systems to store data in a secure manner; (C)developing Internet web portals and other means of communicating with a wide audience; and (D)making information available to the public; and (3)meet such other criteria as the Secretary considers appropriate. (d)

Data repository director

As a condition of receiving the contract under subsection (a), an entity shall agree to employ a director of the Data Repository chosen in accordance with guidance issued by the Secretary. The Director, in consultation with the Secretary and Working Group, shall— (1)collect information and research methodologies from individuals, agencies, and organizations engaged in the research of marine diseases; (2)ensure research methods are standardized whenever possible to ensure data comparability across regions; (3)securely store and maintain information in the Data Repository; (4)make information in the Data Repository accessible through an Internet website or other appropriate means of sharing information; and (5)ensure that the information contained in the Data Repository is accessible to members of the public, marine disease researchers, and persons responding to marine disease emergencies.

Marine disease emergency for sea star wasting syndrome

(a)

In General

The marine mortality event affecting species of sea stars commonly referred to as sea star wasting syndrome is deemed to be a marine disease emergency declared by the Secretary under section 3. Beginning on the effective date of this section, the Secretary shall immediately carry out the activities described in subsections (d) and (e) of section 3 with respect to such marine disease emergency. (b)

Effective date

This section shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $15,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2016 through 2021.