To amend the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act to establish an expedited award process for grants to address marine debris emergencies, and for other purposes.

Summary: Marine Debris Emergency Act of 2012 - Amends the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act to authorize the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to declare a marine debris emergency upon determining that marine debris: (1) is an immediate threat to living marine resources, the marine environment, navigation safety, or public health of the United States; and (2) requires federal resources to supplement the state and local resources available to alleviate such threat.

Authorizes: (1) a governor of a state to request that the Administrator declare such an emergency in such state or a region that includes such state; and (2) the Administrator to request that the governor provide information on the nature and immediacy of the threat and the nature and amount of state and local resources that have been or will be committed to alleviating it. Directs the Administrator, within 30 days after receiving a governor's request, to either grant the request or explain why it was not granted.

Directs the Administrator: (1) in evaluating marine debris grant applications, to give preference to projects to address marine debris emergencies, including projects to address marine debris that has introduced or is likely to introduce marine invasive species into the United States; and (2) within 60 days after receipt of an application for such a grant, to approve or disapprove the application and to disperse funds to an approved grantee.

Directs the Administrator to take steps to encourage marine debris grant recipients to: (1) educate staff and volunteers who are engaged in marine debris response efforts on the potential threats that marine debris and marine invasive species may pose to the United States with respect to living marine resources, the marine environment, navigation, and public health; and (2) coordinate their response efforts with relevant federal, state, local, and nongovernmental entities.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Marine Debris Emergency Act of 
2012''.

SEC. 2. MARINE DEBRIS EMERGENCIES.

    Section 3 of the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1952) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Marine Debris Emergency.--
            ``(1) Declaration of a marine debris emergency.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Administrator may declare a 
                marine debris emergency if the Administrator determines 
                that marine debris--
                            ``(i) is an immediate threat to the United 
                        States with respect to--
                                    ``(I) living marine resources;
                                    ``(II) the marine environment;
                                    ``(III) navigation safety; or
                                    ``(IV) public health; and
                            ``(ii) requires Federal resources to 
                        supplement the State and local resources 
                        available to alleviate such threat.
                    ``(B) Request for a declaration.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Governor of a State 
                        may request that the Administrator declare a 
                        marine debris emergency in such State or a 
                        region that includes such State.
                            ``(ii) Administrator may request 
                        information.--In response to a Governor's 
                        request under clause (i), the Administrator may 
                        request that the Governor provide information 
                        on--
                                    ``(I) the nature and immediacy of 
                                the threat; and
                                    ``(II) the nature and amount of 
                                State and local resources that have 
                                been or will be committed to 
                                alleviating the threat.
                    ``(C) Response to governor's request.--Within 30 
                days after a Governor submits a request under 
                subparagraph (B)(i), the Administrator shall either--
                            ``(i) grant that Governor's request; or
                            ``(ii) submit a response to that Governor, 
                        explaining why the Administrator has not 
                        granted the Governor's request.
            ``(2) Preference for marine debris emergencies in marine 
        debris grants.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In evaluating applications for 
                grants under section 3(c), the Administrator shall give 
                preference to projects to address marine debris 
                emergencies, including projects to address marine 
                debris that has introduced or is likely to introduce 
                marine invasive species into the United States.
                    ``(B) Expedited grant award process.--Not later 
                than 60 days after receipt of an application under 
                subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall, to the 
                extent feasible--
                            ``(i) approve or disapprove such 
                        application; and
                            ``(ii) if such application is approved, 
                        disperse the approved funds to the grantee.
            ``(3) Marine invasive species.--In this section, the term 
        `marine invasive species' means a marine nonindigenous species 
        (as defined in section 4702 of the Nonindigenous Aquatic 
        Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4702)) 
        the introduction of which to the United States will, or is 
        likely to, cause economic or environmental harm, threaten the 
        diversity or abundance of native species or the ecological 
        stability of infested waters, or disrupt commercial, 
        agricultural, aquacultural, or recreational activities 
        dependent on such waters.''.

SEC. 3. GUIDANCE FOR GRANT RECIPIENTS ENGAGED IN MARINE DEBRIS RESPONSE 
              EFFORTS.

    Section 3 of the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1952) is further amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(e) Guidance for Grant Recipients Engaged in Marine Debris 
Response Efforts.--The Administrator shall take appropriate steps to 
encourage grant recipients under this section to--
            ``(1) educate staff and volunteers who are engaged in 
        marine debris response efforts on the potential threats that 
        marine debris and marine invasive species (as defined in 
        subsection (d)(3)) may pose to the United States with respect 
        to living marine resources, the marine environment, navigation, 
        and public health; and
            ``(2) coordinate their marine debris response efforts with 
        relevant Federal, State, local, and non-governmental 
        entities.''.