Regional Ocean Partnerships

In this section: The term “Administrator” means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The term “coastal State” has the meaning given the term “Coastal state” 11 So in original. Probably should be “ ‘coastal state’ ” as it appears in section 1453 of this title. in section 1453 of this title. The term “Indian Tribe” has the meaning given that term in section 5304 of title 25. The term “Regional Ocean Partnership” means a Regional Ocean Partnership designated under subsection (b). A coastal State or Indian Tribe may form a partnership with— States— A partnership formed under paragraph (1) may apply for designation as a Regional Ocean Partnership in such time and manner as determined appropriate by the Secretary if the partnership— The following entities are designated as Regional Ocean Partnerships: A partnership established under this section for the purposes described in subsection (d) with respect to a Great Lake may be known as a “Regional Coastal Partnership” or a “Regional Great Lakes Partnership”. A Regional Ocean Partnership shall have a governing body that— A Regional Ocean Partnership may perform the following functions: Promote coordination of the actions of the agencies of governments participating in the partnership with the actions of the appropriate officials of Federal agencies, State governments, and Indian Tribes in developing strategies— A Regional Ocean Partnership shall maintain mechanisms for coordination, consultation, and engagement with the following: Nothing in paragraph (1)(B) may be construed as affecting any requirement to consult with Indian Tribes under Executive Order 13175 (25 U.S.C. 5301 note; relating to consultation and coordination with Indian Tribal Governments) or any other applicable law or policy. A Regional Ocean Partnership may, in coordination with existing Federal, State, and Tribal management programs, from amounts made available to the partnership by the Administrator or the head of another Federal agency, subject to appropriations for such purpose, provide grants and enter into contracts for the purposes described in paragraph (2). The purposes described in this paragraph include any of the following: Researching and addressing the effects of natural and human-induced environmental changes on— Developing and executing cooperative strategies that— Not later than 5 years after December 23, 2022, the Administrator, in coordination with the Regional Ocean Partnerships, shall submit to Congress a report on the partnerships. The report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following: Such recommendations as the Administrator may have for improving— In addition to amounts made available to the Regional Ocean Partnerships by the Administrator under this section, the head of any other Federal agency may provide grants to, enter into contracts with, or otherwise provide funding to such partnerships, subject to availability of appropriations for such purposes. Nothing in this section establishes any new legal or regulatory authority of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or of the Regional Ocean Partnerships, other than— There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator the following amounts to be made available to the Regional Ocean Partnerships or designated fiscal management entities of such partnerships to carry out activities of such partnerships under this title: Amounts made available under this subsection shall be divided evenly among the Regional Ocean Partnerships. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2027 to be distributed to Indian Tribes for purposes of participation in or engagement with the Regional Ocean Partnerships.