33 U.S.C. § 1126 : US Code - Section 1126: Sea grant colleges and sea grant institutes

Search 33 U.S.C. § 1126 : US Code - Section 1126: Sea grant colleges and sea grant institutes

(a) Designation
(1) A sea grant college or sea grant institute shall meet the
following qualifications -
(A) have an existing broad base of competence in fields related
to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources;
(B) make a long-term commitment to the objective in section
1121(b) of this title, as determined by the Secretary;
(C) cooperate with other sea grant colleges and institutes and
other persons to solve problems or meet needs relating to ocean,
coastal, and Great Lakes resources;
(D) have received financial assistance under section 1124 of
this title;
(E) be recognized for excellence in fields related to ocean,
coastal, and Great Lakes resources (including marine resources
management and science), as determined by the Secretary; and
(F) meet such other qualifications as the Secretary, in
consultation with the panel, considers necessary or appropriate.
(2) The Secretary may designate an institution, or an association
or alliance of two or more such institutions, as a sea grant
college if the institution, association, or alliance -
(A) meets the qualifications in paragraph (1); and
(B) maintains a program of research, advisory services,
training, and education in fields related to ocean, coastal, and
Great Lakes resources.
(3) The Secretary may designate an institution, or an association
or alliance of two or more such institutions, as a sea grant
institute if the institution, association, or alliance -
(A) meets the qualifications in paragraph (1); and
(B) maintains a program which includes, at a minimum, research
and advisory services.
(b) Existing designees
Any institution, or association or alliance of two or more such
institutions, designated as a sea grant college or awarded
institutional program status by the Director prior to March 6,
1998, shall not have to reapply for designation as a sea grant
college or sea grant institute, respectively, after March 6, 1998,
if the Director determines that the institution, or association or
alliance of institutions, meets the qualifications in subsection
(a) of this section.
(c) Suspension or termination of designation
The Secretary may, for cause and after an opportunity for
hearing, suspend or terminate any designation under subsection (a)
of this section.
(d) Duties
Subject to any regulations prescribed or guidelines established
by the Secretary, it shall be the responsibility of each sea grant
college and sea grant institute -
(1) to develop and implement, in consultation with the
Secretary and the panel, a program that is consistent with the
guidelines and priorities established under section 1123(c) of
this title; and
(2) to conduct a merit review of all proposals for grants and
contracts to be awarded under section 1124 of this title.
(e) Annual report on progress
(1) Report requirement
The Secretary shall report annually to the Committee on
Resources and the Committee on Science of the House of
Representatives, and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate, on efforts and progress made by
colleges, universities, institutions, associations, and alliances
to become designated under this section as sea grant colleges or
sea grant institutes, including efforts and progress made by sea
grant institutes in being designated as sea grant colleges.
(2) Territories and freely associated States
The report shall include description of -
(A) efforts made by colleges, universities, associations,
institutions, and alliances in United States territories and
freely associated States to develop the expertise necessary to
be designated as a sea grant institute or sea grant college;
(B) the administrative, technical, and financial assistance
provided by the Secretary to those entities seeking to be
designated; and
(C) the additional actions or activities necessary for those
entities to meet the qualifications for such designation under
subsection (a)(1) of this section.