16 U.S.C. § 1447b : US Code - Section 1447B: Regional Marine Research Boards

Search 16 U.S.C. § 1447b : US Code - Section 1447B: Regional Marine Research Boards

(a) Establishment
A Regional Marine Research board (!1) shall be established for
each of the following regions:
(1) the Gulf of Maine region, comprised of the marine and
coastal waters off the State of Maine, New Hampshire, and
Massachusetts (north of Cape Cod);
(2) the greater New York bight region, comprised of the marine
and coastal waters off the States of Massachusetts (south of Cape
Cod), Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey, from
Cape Cod to Cape May;
(3) the mid-Atlantic region, comprised of the marine and
coastal waters off the States of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland,
Virginia, and North Carolina, from Cape May to Cape Fear;
(4) the South Atlantic region, comprised of the marine and
coastal waters off the States of North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia, and Florida, from Cape Fear to the Florida Keys,
including the marine and coastal waters off Puerto Rico and the
United States Virgin Islands;
(5) the Gulf of Mexico region, comprised of the marine and
coastal waters off the States of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi,
Louisiana, and Texas, along the Gulf coast from the Florida Keys
to the Mexican border;
(6) the California region, comprised of the marine and coastal
waters off the State of California, from Point Reyes to the
Mexican border;
(7) the North Pacific region, comprised of the marine and
coastal waters off the States of California, Oregon, and
Washington, from Point Reyes to the Canadian border;
(8) the Alaska region, comprised of the marine and coastal
waters off the State of Alaska; and
(9) insular Pacific region, comprised of the marine and coastal
waters off the State of Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The Great Lakes Research Office authorized under section 1268(d) of
title 33 shall be responsible for research in the Great Lakes
region and shall be considered the Great Lakes counterpart to the
research program established pursuant to this chapter.
(b) Membership
(1) Composition
Each Board shall be comprised of 11 members of which -
(A) 3 members shall be appointed by the Administrator of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including 1
member who shall be a Sea Grant Program Director from a State
within such region, who shall serve as chairman of the board;
(!1)
(B) 2 members shall be appointed by the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency; and
(C) 6 members shall be appointed by Governors of States
located within the region.
(2) Qualifications
Each individual appointed as a member of a Board shall possess
expertise, pertinent to the region concerned, in scientific
research, coastal zone management, fishery management, water
quality management, State and local government, or any other area
which is directly relevant to the functions of the Board. A
majority of the members of each Board shall be trained in a field
of marine or aquatic science and shall be currently engaged in
research or research administration.
(3) Terms
Each appointed member of a Board shall serve for a term of 4
years.
(4) Vacancies
In the event of a vacancy, a replacement member shall be
appointed in the same manner and in accordance with the same
requirements as the member being replaced and shall serve the
remainder of the term of the replaced member.
(5) Reimbursement of expenses
Each appointed member of a Board may be paid actual travel
expenses, and per diem in lieu of subsistence expenses when away
from the member's usual place of residence, in accordance with
section 5703 of title 5, when engaged in the actual performance
of Board duties.
(c) Functions
Each Board shall, in accordance with the provisions of this
chapter -
(1) develop and submit to the Administrators of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental
Protection Agency a marine research plan, including periodic
amendments thereto, that meets the requirements of section 1447c
of this title;
(2) provide a forum for coordinating research among research
institutions and agencies;
(3) provide for review and comment on research plans by
affected users and interests, such as the commercial and
recreational fishing industries, other marine industries, State
and local government entities, and environmental organizations;
(4) ensure that the highest quality of research projects will
be conducted to carry out the comprehensive plan; and
(5) prepare, for submission to Congress, a periodic report on
the marine environmental research issues and activities within
the region in accordance with section 1447e of this title.
(d) Powers
Each Board shall be authorized to -
(1) cooperate with Federal agencies, with States and with local
government entities, interstate and regional agencies, other
public agencies and authorities, nonprofit institutions,
laboratories, and organizations, or other appropriate persons, in
the preparation and support of marine research in the region;
(2) enter into contracts, cooperative agreements or grants to
State and local governmental entities, other public agencies or
institutions, and non-profit institutions and organizations for
purposes of carrying out the provisions of this chapter;
(3) collect and make available through publications and other
appropriate means, the results of, and other information
pertaining to, the research conducted in the region;
(4) call conferences on regional marine research and assessment
issues, giving opportunity for interested persons to be heard and
present papers at such conferences;
(5) develop and stimulate, in consultation with the Department
of State, joint marine research projects with foreign nations;
(6) utilize facilities and personnel of existing Federal
agencies, including scientific laboratories and research
facilities;
(7) accept, and for all general purposes of this Act, utilize
funds from other sources, including but not limited to State and
local funds, university funds, and donations; and
(8) acquire secret processes, inventions, patent applications,
patents, licenses, and property rights, by purchase, license,
lease, or donation.
(e) Administration
(1) Practices and procedures
Each Board shall determine its organization, and prescribe its
practices and procedures for carrying out its functions under
this chapter. Each Board should use existing research
administrative capability to the extent practicable.
(2) Committees and subcommittees
Each Board shall establish such committees and subcommittees as
are appropriate in the performance of its functions.
(3) Staff and support
Each Board is authorized to hire such staff as are necessary to
carry out the functions of the Board.
(f) Termination
Each Board shall cease to exist on October 1, 1999, unless
extended by Congress.