[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 130, 114th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


Public Law 114-162
114th Congress

An Act


 
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the
National Estuary Program, 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. COMPETITIVE AWARDS.

Section 320(g) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C.
1330(g)) is amended 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.--In selecting award
recipients under this paragraph, the Administrator shall
select recipients that are best able to address urgent
and challenging issues that threaten the ecological and
economic well-being of coastal areas. Such issues shall
include--
``(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.''.
SEC. 2. <> AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

Section 320 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C.
1330) is amended by striking subsection (i) and inserting the following:
``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--

[[Page 410]]

``(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to
the Administrator $26,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2017
through 2021 for--
``(A) expenses relating to the administration of
grants or awards by the Administrator under this
section, including the award and oversight of grants and
awards, except that such expenses may not exceed 5
percent of the amount appropriated under this subsection
for a fiscal year; and
``(B) making grants and awards under subsection (g).
``(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 to provide grant assistance for the
development, implementation, and monitoring of each of
the conservation and management plans 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 described in subsection
(g)(4).''.

Approved May 20, 2016.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 1523:
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SENATE REPORTS: No. 114-161 (Comm. on Environment and Public Works).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
Vol. 161 (2015):
Aug. 5, considered and passed
Senate.
Vol. 162 (2016):
Apr. 26, considered and passed
House, amended.
May 12, Senate concurred in House
amendment.