article: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Coral Reef Resource Conservation and Management Act of 1999''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. (a) Findings.--Congress finds that-- (1) coral reefs have great commercial, recreational, cultural, environmental, and aesthetic value; (2) coral reefs-- (A) provide habitat to \1/3\ of all marine fish species; (B) are essential building blocks for biodiversity; (C) are instrumental in forming tropical islands; (D) protect coasts from waves and storms; (E) contain an array of potential pharmaceuticals; and (F) support tourism and fishing industries in the United States worth billions of dollars; (3) studies indicate that coral reefs in the United States and around the world are being degraded and severely threatened by human and environmental impacts, including land-based pollution, overfishing, destructive fishing practices, vessel groundings, and climate change; (4) the Department of the Interior-- (A) manages extensive acreage that contains sensitive coral reef habitat and adjacent submerged land at 20 national wildlife refuges and 9 units of the National Park System-- (i) in the States of Hawaii and Florida; and (ii) in the territories of Guam, American Samoa, and the United States Virgin Islands; and (B) maintains oversight responsibility for additional significant coral reef resources under Federal jurisdiction in insular areas, territories, and surrounding territorial waters in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea; (5) few of the 4,200,000 acres of coral reefs of the United States have been mapped or have had their conditions assessed or characterized; (6) the Department of the Interior conducts scientific research and monitoring to determine the structure, function, status, and condition of the coral reefs of the United States; and (7) the Department of the Interior, in cooperation with public and private partners, provides technical assistance and engages in management and conservation activities for coral reef habitats. (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are-- (1) to conserve, protect, and restore the health of coral reef ecosystems and the species of fish, plants, and animals that depend on those ecosystems; (2) to support the monitoring, assessment, management, and protection of coral reef ecosystems over which the United States has jurisdiction (including coral reef ecosystems located in national wildlife refuges and units of the National Park System); (3) to augment and support the efforts of the Department of the Interior, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and other members of the Coral Reef Task Force; (4) to support research efforts that contribute to coral reef conservation; (5) to support education, outreach, and enforcement for coral reef conservation; (6) to provide financial resources and matching funds for partnership efforts to accomplish the purposes described in paragraphs (1) through (4); and (7) to coordinate with the Coral Reef Task Force and other agencies to address priorities identified by the Coral Reef Task Force. SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Coral.--The term ``coral'' means any species of the phylum Cnidaria, including-- (A) any species of the order Antipatharia (black corals), Scleractinia (stony corals), Gorgonacea (horny corals), Stolonifera (organpipe corals and others), Alcyanacea (soft corals), or Coenothecalia (blue corals), of the class Anthozoa; and (B) any species of the order Hydrocorallina (fire corals and hydrocorals) of the class Hydrozoa. (2) Coral reef.--The term ``coral reef'' means the species (including reef plants and coralline algae), habitats, and other natural resources associated with any reef or shoal composed primarily of corals within all maritime areas and zones subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, including Federal, State, territorial, or commonwealth waters in the south Atlantic, the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific Ocean. (3) Coral reef conservation project.--The term ``coral reef conservation project'' means an activity that contributes to or results in preserving, sustaining, or enhancing any coral reef ecosystem as a healthy, diverse, and viable ecosystem, including-- (A) any action to enhance or improve resource management of a coral reef, such as assessment, scientific research, protection, restoration and mapping; (B) habitat monitoring and any species survey or monitoring of a species; (C) any activity necessary for planning and development of a strategy for coral reef management; (D) community outreach and education on the importance and conservation of coral reefs; and (E) any activity in support of the enforcement of laws relating to coral reefs. (4) Coral reef task force.--The term ``Coral Reef Task Force'' means the task force established under Executive Order No. 13089 (June 11, 1998). (5) Foundation.--The term ``foundation'' means a foundation that is a registered nonprofit organization under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior. (7) State.--The term ``State'' means any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United States. SEC. 4. CORAL REEF RESOURCE CONSERVATION GRANT PROGRAM. (a) In General.--The Secretary shall provide grants for coral reef conservation projects in accordance with this section. (b) Eligibility.--The Secretary may award a grant under this section to-- (1) any appropriate natural resource management authority of a State-- (A) that has jurisdiction over coral reefs; or (B) the activities of which affect coral reefs; or (2) any educational or nongovernmental institution or organization with demonstrated expertise in marine science or coral reef conservation. (c) Matching Requirements.-- (1) Federal share.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), the Federal share of the cost of a coral reef conservation project that receives a grant under this section shall not exceed 75 percent of the total cost of the project. (2) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of the cost of a coral reef conservation project that receives a grant under this section may be provided in cash or in kind. (3) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive all or part of the matching requirement under paragraph (1) if-- (A) the cost of the project is $25,000 or less; or (B) the project is necessary to undertake, complete, or enhance planning and monitoring requirements for coral reef areas under-- (i) the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.); or (ii) the Act entitled ``An Act to establish a National Park Service, and for other purposes'', approved August 25, 1916 (16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.). (d) Allocation.--The Secretary shall award grants under this section so that-- (1) not less than 40 percent of the grant funds available are awarded for coral reef conservation projects in the Pacific Ocean; (2) not less than 40 percent of the grant funds available are awarded for coral reef conservation projects in the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea; and (3) the remaining grant funds are awarded for coral reef conservation projects that address emergency priorities or threats identified by the Secretary, in consultation with the Coral Reef Task Force. (e) Annual Funding Priorities.--After consultation with the Coral Reef Task Force, States, regional and local entities, and nongovernmental organizations involved in coral and marine conservation, the Secretary shall identify site-specific and comprehensive threats and constraints that-- (1) are known to affect coral reef ecosystems (including coral reef ecosystems in national wildlife refuges and units of the National Park System); and (2) shall be considered in establishing annual funding priorities for grants awarded under this subsection. (f) Project Review and Approval.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary shall review and rank coral reef conservation project proposals according to the criteria described in subsection (g). (2) Peer review.-- (A) In general.--For projects that have a cost of $25,000 or more, the Secretary shall-- (i) provide for merit-based peer review of the proposal; and (ii) require standardized documentation of the peer review. (B) Expedited process.--For projects that have a cost of less than $25,000, the Secretary shall provide an expedited peer review process. (C) Individual grants.--As part of the peer review process for individual grants, the Secretary shall request written comments from the appropriate bureaus or departments of the State or other government having jurisdiction over the area where the project is proposed to be conducted. (3) List.--At the beginning of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall make available a list describing projects selected during the previous fiscal year for funding under subsection (g). (g) Project Approval Criteria.--The Secretary shall evaluate and select project proposals for funding based on the degree to which each proposed project-- (1) is consistent with the purposes of this Act; and (2) would-- (A) promote the long-term protection, conservation, restoration, or enhancement of coral reef ecosystems in or adjoining areas under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior; (B) promote cooperative conservation projects with local communities, nongovernmental organizations, educational or private institutions, affected local governments, territories, or insular areas; (C) enhance public knowledge and awareness of coral reef resources and sustainable use through education and outreach; (D) develop sound scientific information on the condition of and threats to coral reef ecosystems through mapping, monitoring, research and analysis; and (E) increase compliance with laws relating to coral reefs. (h) Regulations.-- (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations to implement this Act. (2) Project approval.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations to implement subsection (f), including requirements for project proposals. (3) Consultation.--In developing regulations under this subsection, the Secretary shall identify priorities for coral reef resource protection and conservation in consultation with agencies and organizations involved in coral and marine conservation, including-- (A) the Coral Reef Task Force; (B) interested States; (C) regional and local entities; and (D) nongovernmental organizations. (i) Administration.-- (1) Foundation involvement.-- (A) Agreements.--The Secretary may enter into an agreement with 1 or more foundations to accept, receive, hold, transfer, solicit, and administer funds received or made available for a grant program under this Act (including funds received in the form of a gift or donation). (B) Funds.--A foundation that enters into an agreement described in subparagraph (A) shall-- (i) invest, reinvest, and otherwise administer funds described in subparagraph (A); and (ii) maintain the funds and any interest or revenues earned in a separate interest-bearing account that is-- (I)(aa) an insured depository institution, as the term is defined in section 3 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813); or (bb) an insured credit union, as the term is defined in section 101 of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1752); and (II) established by the foundation solely to support partnerships between the public and private sectors that further the purposes of this Act. (2) Review of performance.-- (A) In general.--Beginning in fiscal year 2000, and biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall conduct a review of each grant program administered by a foundation under this subsection. (B) Assessment.--Each review under subparagraph (A) shall include a written assessment describing the extent to which the foundation has implemented the goals and requirements of this section. (j) Transfers.-- (1) In general.--Under an agreement entered into under subsection (i)(1)(A), the Secretary may transfer funds appropriated under section 5(b) to a foundation. (2) Use of transferred funds.--Amounts received by a foundation under this subsection may be used for matching, in whole or in part, contributions (whether in currency, services, or property) made to the foundation by private persons and State and local government agencies. SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2000 through 2004, to remain available until expended. (b) Limitation on Administrative Funds.--Not more than 6 percent of the amounts appropriated under this section may be used for program management and administration under this Act.
summary: Limits the Federal share of project costs to 75 percent. Waives the matching requirement if the cost of the project is $25,000 or less or the project is necessary to undertake planning and monitoring requirements for coral reef areas under specified Federal laws. Allocates 40 percent of grant awards for projects in the Pacific Ocean, 40 percent for projects in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea, and the remainder for projects that address emergency priorities or threats. Sets forth procedures for project review and approval. Authorizes appropriations.