117 HR 9027 IH: Ocean Restoration Research and Development Act of 2022
U.S. House of Representatives
2022-09-29
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I
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9027
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 29, 2022
Mr. McKinley (for himself, Mr. Michael F. Doyle of Pennsylvania, and Mr. Carter of Georgia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a pilot program on ocean restoration research and development, and for other purposes.
1.

Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Ocean Restoration Research and Development Act of 2022”.
2.

Ocean fertilization research and development pilot program
(a)

Establishment
The Secretary of Energy shall establish a pilot program for the research and development of ocean replenishment and restoration technologies and techniques that have the potential to achieve regional-to-global scale ocean restoration, enhancement of fisheries, conservation of marine mammals, and emissions reductions.
(b)

Requirements
The pilot program established under subsection (a) shall include—
(1)
a research and development program;
(2)
demonstration projects, including pilot projects; and
(3)
front-end engineering, design, and economic analysis.
(c)

Consultation
In carrying out the pilot program established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult and collaborate with, as necessary—
(1)
the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, including—
(A)
the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
(B)
the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency;
(C)
the Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management; and
(D)
the Director of the National Science Foundation;
(2)
institutions of higher education;
(3)
the National Oceanographic Partnership Program; and
(4)
representatives from other relevant private and public sector organizations.
(d)

Program goals and objectives
In consultation with the entities described in subsection (c), the Secretary shall develop goals and objectives for the pilot program established under subsection (a) to be applied to the transformational technologies and practices developed under such program, taking into consideration—
(1)
the acceleration of the development of technologies and practices that have transformational ocean restoration, carbon removal, or carbon storage characteristics;
(2)
the utilization of, to the maximum extent practicable, environmental data collected by—
(A)
the entities described in subsection (c);
(B)
the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency through the Ocean of Things program;
(C)
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration through the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem mission; and
(D)
the United States Navy through the Marine Mammal Program;
(3)
support for sites for safe testing and demonstration;
(4)
the need to enter into cooperative agreements to carry out and expedite small-scale demonstration projects;
(5)
compliance with relevant international laws and treaties; and
(6)
any benefits or barriers to the commercial deployment of any such technologies and practices.
(e)

Priorities
In carrying out the pilot program established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, prioritize activities that—
(1)
take place in pelagic waters; and
(2)
will not stimulate phytoplankton production that causes or accelerates harmful algal blooms in coastal waters.
(f)

Report to Congress
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing—
(1)
the program goals and objectives adopted under subsection (d);
(2)
the effectiveness of the pilot program established under subsection (a) on reducing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and recommendations for improving such program;
(3)
any results, successes, and related co-benefits to marine mammals and fisheries, and failures of carrying out the pilot program established under subsection (a);
(4)
the potential to undertake large-scale demonstration projects and utilize international waters for demonstration projects; and
(5)
any other information the Secretary considers relevant.
(g)

Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $33,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027.
(h)

Definitions
In this section:
(1)

Coastal Waters
The term “coastal waters” means the land and sea areas bordering the shoreline where hypoxic conditions exist or are likely to occur due to excess nutrients.
(2)

Ocean restoration
The term “ocean restoration” includes the research and development of technologies and techniques that support the addition of nutrients to the upper layers of the ocean for the purpose of stimulating phytoplankton activity.
(3)

Pelagic waters
The term “pelagic waters” means the part of the open sea or ocean other than coastal waters.