[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1237 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1237
To amend the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of
2009 to establish an Ocean Acidification Advisory Board, to expand and
improve the research on Ocean Acidification and Coastal Acidification,
to establish and maintain a data archive system for Ocean Acidification
data and Coastal Acidification data, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 14, 2019
Ms. Bonamici (for herself, Mr. Young, Ms. Pingree, and Mr. Posey)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of
2009 to establish an Ocean Acidification Advisory Board, to expand and
improve the research on Ocean Acidification and Coastal Acidification,
to establish and maintain a data archive system for Ocean Acidification
data and Coastal Acidification data, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Coastal and Ocean Acidification
Stressors and Threats Research Act of 2019'' or the ``COAST Research
Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSES.
(a) In General.--Section 12402(a) of the Federal Ocean
Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3701(a))
is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
striking ``development and coordination'' and inserting
``coordination and implementation'';
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``acidification on marine organisms'' and inserting
``acidification and coastal acidification on marine
organisms''; and
(C) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``establish''
and all that follows before the semicolon and inserting
``maintain and advise an interagency research,
monitoring, and public outreach program on ocean
acidification and coastal acidification'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``establishment'' and
inserting ``maintenance'';
(3) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``and coastal
acidification'' after ``ocean acidification''; and
(4) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``and coastal
acidification that take into account other environmental and
anthropogenic stressors'' after ``ocean acidification''.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--Section 12402 of the
Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 (33
U.S.C. 3701(a)) is amended by striking ``(a) Purposes.--''.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
Section 12403 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and
Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3702) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``of the Earth's oceans''
and all that follows before the period at the end and inserting
``and changes in the water chemistry of the Earth's oceans,
coastal estuaries, and waterways caused by carbon dioxide from
the atmosphere and the breakdown of organic matter'';
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``Joint Subcommittee on
Ocean Science and Technology of the National Science and
Technology Council'' and inserting ``National Science and
Technology Council Subcommittee on Ocean Science and
Technology'';
(3) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as
paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), respectively;
(4) by inserting before paragraph (2), as so redesignated,
the following new paragraph:
``(1) Coastal acidification.--The term `coastal
acidification' means the combined decrease in pH and changes in
the water chemistry of coastal oceans, estuaries, and other
bodies of water from chemical inputs (including carbon dioxide
from the atmosphere), freshwater inputs, and excess nutrient
run-off from land and coastal atmospheric pollution that result
in processes that release carbon dioxide, acidic nitrogen, and
sulfur compounds as byproducts.''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(5) State.--The term `State' means each of the State of
the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands of the United
States, and any other territory or possession of the United
States.''.
SEC. 4. INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.
Section 12404 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and
Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3703) is amended--
(1) in the heading, by striking ``subcommittee'' and
inserting ``working group'';
(2) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Joint
Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology of the
National Science and Technology Council shall
coordinate Federal activities on ocean acidification
and'' and insert ``Subcommittee shall'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``Wildlife
Service,'' and inserting ``Wildlife Service, the Bureau
of Ocean Energy Management, the Environmental
Protection Agency, the Department of Agriculture, the
Department of State, the Department of Energy, the
Department of the Navy, the National Park Service, the
Bureau of Indian Affairs, the National Institute of
Standards and Technology, the Smithsonian
Institution,''; and
(C) in paragraph (3), in the heading, by striking
``Chairman'' and inserting ``Chair'';
(3) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``, including
the efforts of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration to facilitate such implementation''
after ``of the plan'';
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``and
coastal acidification'' after ``ocean
acidification''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting
``and coastal acidification'' after ``ocean
acidification'';
(C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a semicolon;
(D) in paragraph (5)--
(i) by striking ``developed'' and inserting
``and coastal acidification developed''; and
(ii) by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``and coastal acidification; and'';
and
(E) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(6) ensure that each of the Federal agencies represented
on the interagency working group--
``(A) participates in the Ocean Acidification
Information Exchange established under paragraph (5);
and
``(B) delivers data and information to support the
data archive system established under section
12406(d).'';
(4) in subsection (c), in paragraph (2)--
(A) by inserting ``, and to the Office of
Management and Budget,'' after ``House of
Representatives''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``the
interagency research'' and inserting ``interagency
strategic research'';
(5) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
(6) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
``(c) Advisory Board.--
``(1) Establishment.--The Chair of the Subcommittee shall
establish an Ocean Acidification Advisory Board.
``(2) Duties.--The Advisory Board shall--
``(A) not later than 180 days after the
Subcommittee submits the most recent report under
subsection (d)(2) to Congress--
``(i) review such report; and
``(ii) submit an analysis of such report to
the Subcommittee, the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of
the House of Representatives, and the Committee
on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives;
``(B) not later than 180 days after the
Subcommittee submits the most recent strategic research
plan under subsection (d)(3) to Congress--
``(i) review such plan; and
``(ii) submit an analysis of such plan and
the implementation thereof to the Subcommittee,
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives, and the Committee on Natural
Resources of the House of Representatives;
``(C) provide ongoing advice to the Subcommittee
and the interagency working group on matters related to
Federal activities on ocean acidification and coastal
acidification;
``(D) advise the Subcommittee and the interagency
working group on--
``(i) efforts to coordinate research and
monitoring activities related to ocean
acidification and coastal acidification; and
``(ii) the best practices for the standards
developed for data archiving under section
12406(e);
``(E) publish in the Federal Register the charter
required under section 9(c) of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.);
``(F) provide the Library of Congress with--
``(i) the charter described under
subparagraph (E);
``(ii) any schedules and minutes for
meetings of the Advisory Board;
``(iii) any documents described in
subsections (b) and (c) of section 9 of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.)
that are created by the Advisory Board; and
``(iv) any reports prepared by the Advisory
Board; and
``(G) establish a publicly accessible web page on
the website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, that contains the information described
in clause (i) through (iv) of subparagraph (F).
``(3) Membership.--The Advisory Board shall consist of 21
members as follows:
``(A) 2 representatives of the shellfish and crab
industry.
``(B) 1 representative of the finfish industry.
``(C) 1 representative of seafood processors.
``(D) 3 representatives from academia, including
both natural and social sciences.
``(E) 1 representative of recreational fishing.
``(F) 1 representative of relevant nongovernmental
organizations.
``(G) 6 representatives from relevant State, local,
and Tribal governments.
``(H) 1 representative from the Alaska Ocean
Acidification Network.
``(I) 1 representative from the California Current
Acidification Network.
``(J) 1 representative from the Northeast Coastal
Acidification Network.
``(K) 1 representative from the Southeast Coastal
Acidification Network.
``(L) 1 representative from the Gulf of Mexico
Coastal Acidification Network.
``(M) 1 representative from the Mid-Atlantic
Coastal Acidification Network.
``(4) Appointment of members.--The Chair of the
Subcommittee shall--
``(A) appoint members to the Advisory Board (taking
into account the geographical interests of each
individual to be appointed as a member of the Advisory
Board to ensure that an appropriate balance of
geographical interests are represented by the members
of the Advisory Board) who--
``(i) represent the interest group for
which each seat is designated;
``(ii) demonstrate expertise on ocean
acidification or coastal acidification and its
scientific, economic, industry, cultural, and
community impacts; and
``(iii) have a record of distinguished
service with respect to ocean acidification or
coastal acidification, and such impacts
thereof;
``(B) give consideration to nominations and
recommendations from the members of the interagency
working group and the public for such appointments; and
``(C) ensure that an appropriate balance of
scientific, industry, and geographical interests are
represented by the members of the Advisory Board.
``(5) Term of membership.--Each member of the Advisory
Board--
``(A) shall be appointed for a 5-year term; and
``(B) may be appointed to more than one term.
``(6) Chair.--The Chair of the Subcommittee shall appoint
one member of the Advisory Board to serve as the Chair of the
Advisory Board.
``(7) Meetings.--Not less than once each calendar year, the
Advisory Board shall meet at such times and places as may be
designated by the Chair of the Advisory Board, in consultation
with the Chair of the Subcommittee and the Chair of the
interagency working group.
``(8) Briefing.--The Chair of the Advisory Board shall
brief the Subcommittee and the interagency working group on the
progress of the Advisory Board as necessary.
``(9) Federal advisory committee act.--The Federal Advisory
Committee Act shall not apply to the Advisory Board, except for
subsections (b) and (c) of section 9 and subsections (a)
through (d) of section 10 of such Act.''.
SEC. 5. STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN.
Section 12405 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and
Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3704) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ``acidification'' each place it
appears and inserting ``acidification and coastal
acidification'';
(B) in the first sentence--
(i) by inserting ``, and not later than
every 5 years thereafter'' after ``the date of
enactment of this Act'';
(ii) by inserting ``address the
socioeconomic impacts of ocean acidification
and coastal acidification and to'' after
``mitigation strategies to''; and
(iii) by striking ``marine ecosystems''
each place it appears and inserting
``ecosystems''; and
(C) in the second sentence, by inserting ``and
recommendations made by the Advisory Board in the
review of the plan required under subsection (e)''
after ``subsection (d)'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``and social
sciences'' after ``among the ocean sciences'';
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``impacts'' and inserting ``impacts, including
trends of changes in ocean chemistry,'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) by striking ``improve the
ability to assess the'' and inserting
``assess the short-term and long-
term''; and
(II) by striking ``; and'' at the
end and inserting a semicolon;
(iii) by amending subparagraph (C) to read
as follows:
``(C) provide information for the--
``(i) development of adaptation and
mitigation strategies to address the
socioeconomic impacts of ocean acidification
and coastal acidification;
``(ii) conservation of marine organisms and
ecosystems; and
``(iii) assessment of the effectiveness of
such adaptation and mitigation strategies;'';
and
(iv) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(D) improve research on--
``(i) ocean acidification and coastal
acidification;
``(ii) the effect of environmental
stressors on each other, including research on
the effect of changes in water chemistry,
changes in sediment delivery, hypoxia, and
harmful algal blooms, on ocean acidification
and coastal acidification; and
``(iii) the effect of environmental
stressors on marine resources and
ecosystems;'';
(C) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (F), by inserting ``and
management'' after ``database development'';
(ii) in subparagraph (H) by striking
``and'' at the end; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following
new subparagraphs:
``(J) assessment of adaptation and mitigation
strategies; and
``(K) education and outreach activities;'';
(D) in paragraph (4), by striking ``set forth'' and
inserting ``ensure an appropriate balance of
contribution in establishing'';
(E) in paragraph (5), by striking ``reports'' and
inserting ``the best available peer-reviewed scientific
reports'';
(F) in paragraph (6)--
(i) by inserting ``and coastal
acidification'' after ``ocean acidification'';
and
(ii) by striking ``of the United States''
and inserting ``within the United States'';
(G) in paragraph (7)--
(i) by striking ``outline budget
requirements'' and inserting ``estimate budget
requirements for each of the fiscal years of
the plan for full implementation of each
element of the plan''; and
(ii) by inserting ``over the course of 10
years'' after ``under the plan'';
(H) in paragraph (8)--
(i) by inserting ``and coastal
acidification'' after ``ocean acidification''
each place it appears;
(ii) by striking ``its'' and inserting
``their''; and
(iii) by striking ``; and'' at the end and
inserting a semicolon;
(I) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(J) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(10) describe monitoring needs necessary to support
potentially affected industry members, coastal stakeholders,
fishery management councils and commissions, non-Federal
resource managers, and scientific experts on decision-making
and adaptation related to ocean acidification and coastal
acidification.'';
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking ``surface'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``and coastal
acidification'' after ``ocean acidification'';
(C) in paragraph (3)--
(i) by striking ``input, and'' and
inserting ``inputs,'';
(ii) by inserting ``, marine food webs,''
after ``marine ecosystems''; and
(iii) by inserting ``, and modeling that
supports fisheries management'' after ``marine
organisms'';
(D) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``and coastal
acidification'' after ``ocean acidification''; and
(E) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(6) Research to understand related and cumulative
stressors and other biogeochemical processes occurring in
conjunction with ocean acidification and coastal
acidification.''; and
(4) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following:
``(e) Advisory Board Evaluation.--Not later than 60 days before a
plan is submitted to Congress, the Subcommittee shall provide the
Advisory Board established under section 12404(c) a copy of the plan.
``(f) Publication and Public Comment.--Not later than 90 days
before the strategic research plan, or any revision thereof, is
submitted to Congress, the Subcommittee shall publish the plan in the
Federal Register and provide an opportunity for submission of public
comments for a period of not less than 60 days.''.
SEC. 6. NOAA OCEAN ACIDIFICATION ACTIVITIES.
Section 12406 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and
Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3705) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
inserting ``coordination,'' after ``research,
monitoring,'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) by inserting ``including the
Integrated Ocean Observing System and
the ocean observing assets of other
Federal agencies,'' after ``ocean
observing assets,''; and
(II) by inserting ``and agency and
department missions, prioritizing the
location of monitoring instruments,
assets, and projects to maximize the
efficiency of resources and to optimize
understanding of socioeconomic impacts
and ecosystem health'' after ``research
program'';
(ii) in subparagraph (C)--
(I) by striking ``adaptation'' and
inserting ``adaptation and
mitigation''; and
(II) by inserting ``and supporting
socioeconomically vulnerable
communities and industries'' after
``marine ecosystems'';
(iii) in subparagraph (E), by striking
``its impacts'' and inserting ``their
respective impacts'';
(iv) in subparagraph (F), by striking
``monitoring and impacts research'' and
inserting ``research, monitoring, and
adaptation and mitigation strategies''; and
(v) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(G) research to improve understanding of the
effect of--
``(i) other environmental stressors on
ocean acidification and coastal acidification;
``(ii) multiple environmental stressors on
living marine resources and coastal ecosystems;
and
``(iii) adaptation and mitigation
strategies to address the socioeconomic impacts
of ocean acidification and coastal
acidification.'';
(C) in paragraph (2), by striking ``critical
research projects that explore'' and inserting
``critical research and education projects that explore
and communicate''; and
(D) in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), by striking
``acidification'' each place it appears and inserting
``acidification and coastal acidification''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
``(c) Relationship to Interagency Working Group.--The National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall serve as the lead Federal
agency responsible for coordinating the Federal response to ocean
acidification and coastal acidification, by--
``(1) leading the interagency working group in implementing
the strategic research plan under section 12405;
``(2) coordinating monitoring and research efforts among
Federal agencies in cooperation with State, local, and
international partners;
``(3) maintaining an Ocean Acidification Information
Exchange described under section 12404(b)(5) to allow for
information to be electronically accessible, including
information--
``(A) on ocean acidification developed through or
used by the ocean acidification program described under
section 12406(a); or
``(B) that would be useful to State governments,
local governments, Tribal governments, resource
managers, policymakers, researchers, and other
stakeholders in mitigating or adapting to the impacts
of ocean acidification and coastal acidification; and
``(4) establishing and maintaining the data archive system
under subsection (d).
``(d) Data Archive System.--
``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary, in coordination with
members of the interagency working group, shall provide for the
long-term stewardship of, and access to, data relating to ocean
acidification and coastal acidification by establishing a data
archive system that processes, stores, archives, provides
access to, and incorporates to the extent possible, such data
collected--
``(A) through relevant federally funded research;
and
``(B) by a Federal agency, State agency, local
agency, Tribe, academic scientist, citizen scientist,
or industry organization.
``(2) Existing global or national data assets.--In
establishing the data archive system under paragraph (1), the
Secretary shall ensure that existing global or national data
assets (including the data assets of the National Centers for
Environmental Information, the Integrated Ocean Observing
System, and other existing data systems within Federal
agencies) are incorporated to the greatest extent possible.
``(e) Standards, Protocols, and Procedures.--With respect to the
data described in subsection (d), the Secretary, in coordination with
members of the interagency working group, shall establish standards,
protocols, or procedures for--
``(1) processing, storing, archiving, and providing access
to such data;
``(2) the interoperability and intercalibration of such
data;
``(3) the collection of any metadata underlying such data;
and
``(4) sharing such data with State, local, and Tribal
government programs, potentially affected industry members,
coastal stakeholders, fishery management councils and
commissions, non-Federal resource managers, and academia.
``(f) Dissemination of Ocean Acidification Data and Coastal
Acidification Data.--The Secretary, in coordination with members of the
interagency working group, shall disseminate the data described under
subsection (d) to the greatest extent practicable by sharing such data
on full and open access exchanges, including the Ocean Acidification
Information Exchange described in section 12404(b)(5).
``(g) Requirement.--Recipients of grants from the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration under this subtitle that collected data
described under subsection (d) shall--
``(1) collect such data in accordance with the standards,
protocols, or procedures established pursuant to subsection
(e); and
``(2) submit such data to the Secretary, in accordance with
any rules promulgated by the Secretary.''.
SEC. 7. NSF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION ACTIVITIES.
Section 12407 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and
Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3706) is amended--
(1) by striking ``ocean acidification'' each place it
appears and inserting ``ocean acidification and coastal
acidification'';
(2) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``continue to carry out
research activities on ocean acidification
which shall'';
(ii) by striking ``proposals for research''
and inserting ``proposals for the
researching''; and
(iii) by striking ``its impacts'' and
inserting ``their respective impacts'';
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``marine
ecosystems'' and inserting ``ecosystems'';
(C) in paragraph (2), by striking ``; and'' at the
end and inserting a semicolon;
(D) in paragraph (3)--
(i) by striking ``and its impacts'' and
inserting ``and their respective impacts''; and
(ii) by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(E) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(4) adaptation and mitigation strategies to address
socioeconomic effects of ocean acidification and coastal
acidification.''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Requirement.--Recipients of grants from the National Science
Foundation under this subtitle that collect data described under
section 12406(d) shall--
``(1) collect data in accordance with the standards,
protocols, or procedures established pursuant to section
12406(e); and
``(2) submit such data to the Director and the Secretary,
in accordance with any rules promulgated by the Director or the
Secretary.''.
SEC. 8. NASA OCEAN ACIDIFICATION ACTIVITIES.
Section 12408 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and
Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3707) is amended--
(1) by striking ``ocean acidification'' each place it
appears and inserting ``ocean acidification and coastal
acidification'';
(2) in subsection (a), by striking ``its impacts'' and
inserting ``their respective impacts''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(d) Requirement.--Researchers from the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration under this subtitle that collect data described
under section 12406(d) shall--
``(1) collect such data in accordance with the standards,
protocols, or procedures established pursuant to section
12406(e); and
``(2) submit such data to the Administrator and the
Secretary, in accordance with any rules promulgated by the
Administrator or the Secretary.''.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 12409 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and
Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3708) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``subtitle--'' and all
that follows through paragraph (4) and inserting the following:
``subtitle $30,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 2019
through 2023.''; and
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``subtitle--'' and all
that follows through paragraph (4) and inserting the following:
``subtitle $20,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2019
through 2023.''.
<all>