National Estuary Program reauthorization; competitive awards

Section 320 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1330) is amended—(1)in subsection (g), by adding at the end the following:

(4)

Competitive awards

(A)

In general

Using the amounts made available under subsection (i)(2)(B), the Administrator shall make competitive awards under this paragraph.(B)

Application for awards

The Administrator shall solicit applications for awards under this paragraph from State, interstate, and regional water pollution control agencies and entities, State coastal zone management agencies, interstate agencies, other public or nonprofit private agencies, institutions, organizations, and individuals.(C)

Selection of recipients

The Administrator shall select award recipients under this paragraph that, as determined by the Administrator, are best able to address urgent and challenging issues that threaten the ecological and economic well-being of coastal areas, including—(i)extensive seagrass habitat losses resulting in significant impacts on fisheries and water quality;(ii)recurring harmful algae blooms;(iii)unusual marine mammal mortalities;(iv)invasive exotic species that may threaten wastewater systems and cause other damage;(v)jellyfish proliferation limiting community access to water during peak tourism seasons;(vi)flooding that may be related to sea level rise or wetland degradation or loss; and(vii)low dissolved oxygen conditions in estuarine waters and related nutrient management.

; and

(2)by striking subsection (i) and inserting the following:

(i)

Authorization of appropriations

(1)

In general

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator $26,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020 for—(A)making grants and awards under subsection (g); and(B)expenses relating to the administration of grants or awards by the Administrator under this section, including the award and oversight of grants and awards, subject to the condition that such expenses may not exceed 5 percent of the amount appropriated under this subsection for a fiscal year.(2)

Allocations

(A)

Conservation and management plans

Not less than 80 percent of the amount made available under this subsection for a fiscal year shall be used by the Administrator for the development, implementation, and monitoring of each conservation and management plan eligible for grant assistance under subsection (g)(2).(B)

Competitive awards

Not less than 15 percent of the amount made available under this subsection for a fiscal year shall be used by the Administrator for making competitive awards under subsection (g)(4).