IB 

Union Calendar No. 248 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1205 

[Report No. 110–394, Part I] 

To reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 27, 2007 

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA (for himself, Ms. BORDALLO, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, and 

Mr. ABERCROMBIE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 

the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee 

on Science and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined 

by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 

within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

OCTOBER 22, 2007 

Additional sponsors: Mr. GILCHREST, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. KLEIN of 

Florida, and Mr. FORTUN ̃O

OCTOBER 22, 2007 

Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources with an amendment 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

OCTOBER 22, 2007 

Committee on Science and Technology discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be 

printed 


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[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on February 27, 2007] 

A BILL 

To reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, 

and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Coral Reef Conservation 

5 Amendments Act of 2007’’. 

6 SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF CORAL REEF CONSERVATION PRO7 GRAM. 

8 (a) PROJECT DIVERSITY.—Section 204(d) of the Coral 

9 Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6403(d)) is 

10 amended— 

11 (1) in the heading by striking ‘‘GEOGRAPHIC

12 AND BIOLOGICAL’’ and inserting ‘‘PROJECT’’; and 

13 (2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the 

14 following: 

15 ‘‘(3) Remaining funds shall be awarded for— 

16 ‘‘(A) projects (with priority given to com17 munity-based local action strategies) that ad18 dress emerging priorities or threats, including 

19 international and territorial priorities, or 


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1 threats identified by the Administrator in con2 sultation with the Coral Reef Task Force; and 

3 ‘‘(B) other appropriate projects, as deter4 mined by the Administrator, including moni5 toring and assessment, research, pollution reduc6 tion, education, and technical support.’’. 

7 (b) APPROVAL CRITERIA.—Section 204(g) of that Act 

8 (16 U.S.C. 6403(g)) is amended— 

9 (1) by striking ‘‘or’’ after the semicolon in para10 graph (9); 

11 (2) by striking paragraph (10); and 

12 (3) by inserting after paragraph (9) the fol13 lowing: 

14 ‘‘(10) promoting activities designed to minimize 

15 the likelihood of vessel impacts on coral reefs, particu16 larly those areas identified under section 210(b), in17 cluding the promotion of ecologically sound naviga18 tion and anchorages near coral reefs; or 

19 ‘‘(11) promoting and assisting entities to work 

20 with local communities, and all appropriate govern21 mental and nongovernmental organizations, to sup22 port community-based planning and management 

23 initiatives for the protection of coral reef ecosystems.’’. 


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1 SEC. 3. EMERGENCY RESPONSE. 

2 Section 206 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 

3 (16 U.S.C. 6405) is amended to read as follows: 

4 ‘‘SEC. 206. EMERGENCY RESPONSE ACTIONS. 

5 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator may under6 take or authorize action necessary— 

7 ‘‘(1) to minimize the destruction or loss of, or in8 jury to, a coral reef from— 

9 ‘‘(A) vessel impacts, derelict fishing gear, 

10 vessel anchors, and anchor chains; and 

11 ‘‘(B) from unforeseen or disaster-related cir12 cumstances; and 

13 ‘‘(2) to stabilize, repair, recover, or restore such 

14 coral reef. 

15 ‘‘(b) VESSEL REMOVAL; RESTABILIZATION.—Action 

16 authorized by subsection (a) includes vessel removal and 

17 emergency restabilization of the vessel or any impacted 

18 coral reef. 

19 ‘‘(c) PARTNERING WITH OTHER FEDERAL AGEN20 CIES.—When possible, action by the Administrator under 

21 this section should— 

22 ‘‘(1) be conducted in partnership with other gov23 ernment agencies as appropriate, including— 

24 ‘‘(A) the Coast Guard, the Federal Emer25 gency Management Agency, the Army Corps of 


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1 Engineers, and the Department of the Interior; 

2 and 

3 ‘‘(B) agencies of States and territories of the 

4 United States; and 

5 ‘‘(2) leverage resources of other agencies. 

6 ‘‘(d) EMERGENCY RESPONSE ASSISTANCE BY OTHER

7 FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 

8 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The head of any other Fed9 eral agency may assist the Administrator in emer10 gency response actions under this section, using funds 

11 available for operations of the agency concerned. 

12 ‘‘(2) REIMBURSEMENT.—The Administrator, 

13 subject to the availability of appropriations, may re14 imburse a Federal agency for assistance provided 

15 under paragraph (1). 

16 ‘‘(e) LIABILITY FOR COSTS AND DAMAGES TO CORAL

17 REEFS.— 

18 ‘‘(1) TREATMENT OF CORAL REEFS UNDER NA19 TIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES ACT.—For purposes of 

20 the provisions set forth in paragraph (2), and subject 

21 to paragraph (3), each of the terms ‘sanctuary re22 sources’, ‘resource’, ‘sanctuary resource managed 

23 under law or regulations for that sanctuary,’ ‘na24 tional marine sanctuary’, ‘sanctuary resources of the 

25 national marine sanctuary’, and ‘sanctuary resources 


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1 of other national marine sanctuaries’ is deemed to in2 clude any coral reef that is subject to the jurisdiction 

3 of the United States or any State, without regard to 

4 whether such coral reef is located in a national ma5 rine sanctuary. 

6 ‘‘(2) APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF NATIONAL MA7 RINE SANCTUARIES ACT.—The provisions referred to 

8 in paragraph (1) are the following provisions of the 

9 National Marine Sanctuaries Act: 

10 ‘‘(A) Paragraphs (6) and (7) of section 302 

11 (16 U.S.C. 1432). 

12 ‘‘(B) Paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) of 

13 section 306 (16 U.S.C. 1436). 

14 ‘‘(C) Section 307 (16 U.S.C. 1437). 

15 ‘‘(D) Section 312 (16 U.S.C. 1443). 

16 ‘‘(3) STATE CONSENT REQUIRED.— 

17 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—This subsection shall 

18 not apply to any coral reef that is subject to the 

19 jurisdiction of a State unless the Governor of 

20 that State notifies the Secretary that the State 

21 consents to that application. 

22 ‘‘(B) REVOCATION OF CONSENT.—The gov23 ernor of a State may revoke consent under sub24 paragraph (A) by notifying the Secretary of such 

25 revocation. 


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1 ‘‘(4) CONSISTENCY WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW

2 AND TREATIES.—Any action taken under the author3 ity of this subsection must be consistent with other4 wise applicable international law and treaties. 

5 ‘‘(5) ACTIONS AUTHORIZED WITH RESPECT TO

6 VESSELS.—Actions authorized under this subsection 

7 include vessel removal, and emergency re-stabilization 

8 of a vessel and any coral reef that is impacted by a 

9 vessel 

10 ‘‘(6) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary may issue 

11 regulations necessary to implement this subsection.’’. 

12 SEC. 4. NATIONAL PROGRAM. 

13 (a) PURPOSE OF ACT.—Section 202 of the Coral Reef 

14 Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6401) is amended— 

15 (1) by amending paragraph (3) to read as fol16 lows: 

17 ‘‘(3) to develop sound scientific information on 

18 the condition of coral reef ecosystems and the threats 

19 to such ecosystems including large-scale threats re20 lated to climate change, to benefit local communities 

21 and the Nation, and to the extent practicable support 

22 and enhance coral reef research capabilities at local 

23 academic institutions;’’; and 

24 (2) by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon at the 

25 end of paragraph (5), by striking the period at the 


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1 end of paragraph (6) and inserting ‘‘; and’’, and by 

2 adding at the end the following: 

3 ‘‘(7) to recognize the benefits of healthy coral 

4 reefs to island and coastal communities and to en5 courage Federal action to ensure, to the maximum ex6 tent practicable, the continued availability of those 

7 benefits.’’. 

8 (b) GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF NATIONAL CORAL

9 REEF ACTION STRATEGY.—Section 203(b)(8) of the Coral 

10 Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6402(b)(8)) is 

11 amended to read as follows: 

12 ‘‘(8) conservation, including the consideration of 

13 island and local traditions and practices.’’. 

14 (c) AMENDMENTS RELATING TO ACTIVITIES TO CON15 SERVE CORAL REEFS AND CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEMS.— 

16 Section 207(b) of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 

17 (16 U.S.C. 6406) is amended— 

18 (1) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘and’’ after the 

19 semicolon; 

20 (2) in paragraph (4)— 

21 (A) by striking ‘‘cooperative conservation’’ 

22 and inserting ‘‘cooperative research, conserva23 tion,’’; and 

24 (B) by striking ‘‘partners.’’ and inserting 

25 ‘‘partners, including academic institutions loVerDate Aug 31 2005 00:07 Oct 23, 2007 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H1205.RH H1205

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1 cated in those States, territories, and freely asso2 ciated States referred to in section 212; and’’; 

3 and 

4 (3) by adding at the end the following: 

5 ‘‘(5) activities designed to minimize the likeli6 hood of vessel impacts or other physical damage to 

7 coral reefs, including those areas identified in section 

8 210(b).’’. 

9 SEC. 5. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 

10 Section 208 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 

11 (16 U.S.C. 6407) is amended to read as follows: 

12 ‘‘SEC. 208. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 

13 ‘‘Not later than March 1, 2010, and every 3 years 

14 thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee 

15 on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 

16 and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 

17 Representatives a report describing all activities under18 taken to implement the strategy, including— 

19 ‘‘(1) a description of the funds obligated by each 

20 participating Federal agency to advance coral reef 

21 conservation during each of the 3 fiscal years next 

22 preceding the fiscal year in which the report is sub23 mitted; 

24 ‘‘(2) a description of Federal interagency and co25 operative efforts with States, United States territories, 


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1 freely associated States, and non-governmental part2 ner organizations to prevent or address overhar3 vesting, coastal runoff, or other anthropogenic im4 pacts on coral reef ecosystems, including projects un5 dertaken with the Department of the Interior, the De6 partment of Agriculture, the Environmental Protec7 tion Agency, and the Army Corps of Engineers; 

8 ‘‘(3) a summary of the information contained in 

9 the vessel grounding inventory established under sec10 tion 210, including additional authorization or fund11 ing, needed for response and removal of such vessels; 

12 ‘‘(4) a description of Federal disaster response 

13 actions taken pursuant to the National Response Plan 

14 to address damage to coral reefs and coral reef eco15 systems; and 

16 ‘‘(5) an assessment of the condition of United 

17 States coral reefs, accomplishments under this Act, 

18 and the effectiveness of management actions to ad19 dress threats to coral reefs, including actions taken to 

20 address large-scale threats to coral reef ecosystems re21 lated to climate change.’’. 


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1 SEC. 6. FUND; GRANTS; GROUNDING INVENTORY; COORDI2 NATION. 

3 (a) FUND; GRANTS; GROUNDING INVENTORY; COORDI4 NATION.—The Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 

5 U.S.C. 6401 et seq.) is amended— 

6 (1) in section 205(a) (16 U.S.C. 6404(a)), by 

7 striking ‘‘organization solely’’ and all that follows 

8 and inserting ‘‘organization— 

9 ‘‘(1) to support partnerships between the public 

10 and private sectors that further the purposes of this 

11 Act and are consistent with the national coral reef 

12 strategy under section 203; and 

13 ‘‘(2) to address emergency response actions under 

14 section 206.’’; 

15 (2) by adding at the end of section 205(b) (16 

16 U.S.C. 6404(b)) ‘‘The organization is encouraged to 

17 solicit funding and in-kind services from the private 

18 sector, including nongovernmental organizations, for 

19 emergency response actions under section 206 and for 

20 activities to prevent damage to coral reefs, including 

21 areas identified in section 210(b)(2).’’; 

22 (3) in section 205(c) (16 U.S.C. 6404(c)), by 

23 striking ‘‘the grant program’’ and inserting ‘‘any 

24 grant program or emergency response action’’; 

25 (4) by redesignating sections 209 and 210 as sec26 tions 213 and 214, respectively; and 


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1 (5) by inserting after section 208 the following: 

2 ‘‘SEC. 209. COMMUNITY-BASED PLANNING GRANTS. 

3 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator may make 

4 grants to entities that are eligible to receive grants under 

5 section 204(c) to provide additional funds to such entities 

6 to work with local communities and through appropriate 

7 Federal and State entities to prepare and implement plans 

8 for the increased protection of coral reef areas identified by 

9 the community and scientific experts as high priorities for 

10 focused attention. The plans shall— 

11 ‘‘(1) support attainment of 1 or more of the cri12 teria described in section 204(g); 

13 ‘‘(2) be developed at the community level; 

14 ‘‘(3) utilize where applicable watershed-based or 

15 ecosystem-based approaches; 

16 ‘‘(4) provide for coordination with Federal and 

17 State experts and managers; 

18 ‘‘(5) build upon local approaches or models, in19 cluding traditional or island-based resource manage20 ment concepts; and 

21 ‘‘(6) complement local action strategies or re22 gional plans for coral reef conservation. 

23 ‘‘(b) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—The provisions of sub24 sections (b), (d), (f), and (h) of section 204 apply to grants 

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1 ing section 204(b)(1) to grants under this section, ‘75 per2 cent’ shall be substituted for ‘50 percent’. 

3 ‘‘SEC. 210. VESSEL GROUNDING INVENTORY. 

4 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator, in coordina5 tion with other Federal agencies, may maintain an inven6 tory of all vessel grounding incidents involving coral reefs, 

7 including a description of— 

8 ‘‘(1) the impacts to such resources; 

9 ‘‘(2) vessel and ownership information, if avail10 able; 

11 ‘‘(3) the estimated cost of removal, mitigation, or 

12 restoration; 

13 ‘‘(4) the response action taken by the owner, the 

14 Administrator, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, 

15 or other Federal or State agency representatives; 

16 ‘‘(5) the status of the response action, including 

17 the dates of vessel removal and mitigation or restora18 tion and any actions taken to prevent future ground19 ing incidents; and 

20 ‘‘(6) recommendations for additional naviga21 tional aids or other mechanisms for preventing future 

22 grounding incidents. 

23 ‘‘(b) IDENTIFICATION OF AT-RISK REEFS.—The Ad24 ministrator may— 


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1 ‘‘(1) use information from any inventory main2 tained under subsection (a) or any other available in3 formation source to identify all coral reef areas that 

4 have a high incidence of vessel impacts, including 

5 groundings and anchor damage; and 

6 ‘‘(2) identify appropriate measures, including 

7 action by other agencies, to reduce the likelihood of 

8 such impacts. 

9 ‘‘SEC. 211. REGIONAL COORDINATION. 

10 ‘‘The Administrator shall work in coordination and 

11 collaboration with other Federal agencies, States, and 

12 United States territorial governments to implement the na13 tional coral reef action strategy developed under section 

14 203, including regional and local strategies, to address mul15 tiple threats to coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems such 

16 as coastal runoff, vessel impacts, overharvesting, and factors 

17 attributed to climate change. 

18 ‘‘SEC. 212. UNITED STATES CORAL REEF TASK FORCE. 

19 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established the 

20 United States Coral Reef Task Force. 

21 ‘‘(b) GOAL.—The goal of the Task Force shall be to 

22 lead, coordinate, and strengthen Federal Government ac23 tions to better preserve and protect coral reef ecosystems. 

24 ‘‘(c) DUTIES.—The duties of the Task Force shall be— 


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1 ‘‘(1) to coordinate, in cooperation with State, 

2 territory, freely associated State, commonwealth, and 

3 local government partners, academic, and nongovern4 mental partners if appropriate, activities regarding 

5 the mapping, monitoring, research, conservation, 

6 mitigation, restoration of coral reefs and coral reef 

7 ecosystems; 

8 ‘‘(2) to monitor and advise regarding implemen9 tation of the policy and Federal agency responsibil10 ities set forth in Executive Order 13089 and the na11 tional coral reef action strategy developed under sec12 tion 203; and 

13 ‘‘(3) to work with the Secretary of State and the 

14 Administrator of the Agency for International Devel15 opment, and in coordination with the other members 

16 of the Task Force, to— 

17 ‘‘(A) assess the United States role in inter18 national trade and protection of coral species; 

19 and 

20 ‘‘(B) encourage implementation of appro21 priate strategies and actions to promote con22 servation and sustainable use of coral reef re23 sources worldwide. 

24 ‘‘(d) MEMBERSHIP, GENERALLY.—The Task Force 

25 shall be comprised of— 


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1 ‘‘(1) the Secretary of Commerce, acting through 

2 the Administrator of the National Oceanic and At3 mospheric Administration, and the Secretary of the 

4 Interior, who shall be co-chairs of the Task Force; 

5 ‘‘(2) the Administrator of the Agency of Inter6 national Development; 

7 ‘‘(3) the Secretary of Agriculture; 

8 ‘‘(4) the Secretary of Defense; 

9 ‘‘(5) the Secretary of the Army, acting through 

10 the Corps of Engineers; 

11 ‘‘(6) the Secretary of Homeland Security; 

12 ‘‘(7) the Attorney General; 

13 ‘‘(8) the Secretary of State; 

14 ‘‘(9) the Secretary of Transportation; 

15 ‘‘(10) the Administrator of the Environmental 

16 Protection Agency; 

17 ‘‘(11) the Administrator of the National Aero18 nautics and Space Administration; 

19 ‘‘(12) the Director of the National Science Foun20 dation; 

21 ‘‘(13) the Governor, or a representative of the 

22 Governor, of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mar23 iana Islands; 

24 ‘‘(14) the Governor, or a representative of the 

25 Governor, of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; 


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1 ‘‘(15) the Governor, or a representative of the 

2 Governor, of the State of Florida; 

3 ‘‘(16) the Governor, or a representative of the 

4 Governor, of the State of Hawaii; 

5 ‘‘(17) the Governor, or a representative of the 

6 Governor, of the Territory of Guam; 

7 ‘‘(18) the Governor, or a representative of the 

8 Governor, of the Territory of American Samoa; and 

9 ‘‘(19) the Governor, or a representative of the 

10 Governor, of the Virgin Islands. 

11 ‘‘(e) NONVOTING MEMBERS.—The President, or a rep12 resentative of the President, of each of the Freely Associated 

13 States of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic 

14 of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau may 

15 appoint a nonvoting member of the Task Force. 

16 ‘‘(f) RESPONSIBILITIES OF FEDERAL AGENCY MEM17 BERS.— 

18 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Federal agency members 

19 of the Task Force shall— 

20 ‘‘(A) identify the actions of their agencies 

21 that may affect coral reef ecosystems; 

22 ‘‘(B) utilize the programs and authorities of 

23 their agencies to protect and enhance the condi24 tions of such ecosystems; and 


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1 ‘‘(C) assist in the implementation of the Na2 tional Action Plan to Conserve Coral Reefs, the 

3 national coral reef action strategy developed 

4 under section 203, the local action strategies, 

5 and any other coordinated efforts approved by 

6 the Task Force. 

7 ‘‘(2) CO-CHAIRS.—In addition to their respon8 sibilities under paragraph (1), the co-chairs of the 

9 Task Force shall administer performance of the func10 tions of the Task Force and facilitate the coordination 

11 of the Federal agency members of the Task Force. 

12 ‘‘(g) WORKING GROUPS.— 

13 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The co-chairs of the Task 

14 Force may establish working groups as necessary to 

15 meet the goals and duties of this Act. The Task Force 

16 may request the co-chairs to establish such a working 

17 group. 

18 ‘‘(2) PARTICIPATION BY NONGOVERNMENTAL OR19 GANIZATIONS.—The co-chairs may allow a nongovern20 mental organization or academic institution to par21 ticipate in such a working group. 

22 ‘‘(h) FACA.—The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 

23 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Task Force.’’. 


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1 (b) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—Section 204 of the 

2 Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6403) is 

3 amended by adding at the end the following: 

4 ‘‘(k) MULTIYEAR COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—The 

5 Administrator may enter into multiyear cooperative agree6 ments with the heads of other Federal agencies, States, terri7 tories, other freely associated States, local governments, aca8 demic institutions, and non-governmental organizations to 

9 carry out the activities of the national coral reef action 

10 strategy developed under section 203 and to implement re11 gional strategies developed pursuant to section 211.’’. 

12 SEC. 7. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF THE 

13 INTERIOR PROGRAM. 

14 (a) AMENDMENTS AND CLARIFICATIONS TO DEFINI15 TIONS.— 

16 (1) FISH AND WILDLIFE COORDINATION ACT.— 

17 Section 8 of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act 

18 (16 U.S.C. 666b) is amended by inserting before the 

19 period at the end the following: ‘‘, including coral reef 

20 ecosystems (as such term is defined in section 214 of 

21 the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000)’’. 

22 (2) FISH AND WILDLIFE ACT OF 1956 AND FISH

23 AND WILDLIFE IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1978.—With re24 spect to the authorities under the Fish and Wildlife 

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1 ties under the Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act of 

2 1978 (16 U.S.C. 742l), references in such Acts to 

3 ‘‘wildlife’’ and ‘‘fish and wildlife’’ shall be construed 

4 to include coral reef ecosystems (as such term is de5 fined in section 214 of the Coral Reef Conservation 

6 Act of 2000, as amended by this Act). 

7 (b) CORAL REEF CONSERVATION ASSISTANCE.—The 

8 Secretary of the Interior may provide technical assistance 

9 and, subject to the availability of appropriations, financial 

10 assistance to coastal States (as that term is defined in the 

11 Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as amended by this 

12 Act). 

13 SEC. 8. CLARIFICATION OF DEFINITIONS. 

14 Section 214 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 

15 2000, as redesignated by section 6(a) of this Act (relating 

16 to definitions; 16 U.S.C. 6409), is further amended— 

17 (1) by amending paragraph (2) to read as fol18 lows: 

19 ‘‘(2) CONSERVATION.—The term ‘conservation’ 

20 means the use of methods and procedures that are 

21 necessary to preserve or sustain coral reefs and associ22 ated species as diverse, viable, and self-perpetuating 

23 coral reef ecosystems, including— 

24 ‘‘(A) all activities associated with resource 

25 management, such as assessment, conservation, 


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1 protection, restoration, sustainable use, and 

2 management of habitat; 

3 ‘‘(B) mapping; 

4 ‘‘(C) monitoring of coral reef ecosystems; 

5 ‘‘(D) assistance in the development of man6 agement strategies for marine protected area or 

7 networks thereof and marine resources consistent 

8 with the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 

9 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.) and the Magnuson-Stevens 

10 Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 

11 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.); 

12 ‘‘(E) law enforcement; 

13 ‘‘(F) conflict resolution initiatives; 

14 ‘‘(G) community outreach and education; 

15 and 

16 ‘‘(H) activities that promote safe and eco17 logically sound navigation.’’; 

18 (2) by amending paragraph (3) to read as fol19 lows: 

20 ‘‘(3) CORAL.—The term ‘coral’ means species of 

21 the phylum Cnidaria, including— 

22 ‘‘(A) all species of the orders Antipatharia 

23 (black corals), Scleractinia (stony corals), 

24 Gorgonacea (horny corals), Stolonifera 

25 (organpipe corals and others), Alcyonacea (soft 


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1 corals), and Helioporacea (blue coral), of the 

2 class Anthozoa; and 

3 ‘‘(B) all species of the families Milleporidae 

4 (fire corals) and Stylasteridae (stylasterid 

5 hydrocorals), of the class Hydrozoa.’’; 

6 (3) by amending paragraph (4) to read as fol7 lows: 

8 ‘‘(4) CORAL REEF.—The term ‘coral reef’ means 

9 a limestone structure composed in whole or in part of 

10 living zooxanthellate stony corals (Class Anthozoa, 

11 Order Scleractinia), their skeletal remains, or both.’’; 

12 and 

13 (4) by amending paragraph (7) to read as fol14 lows: 

15 ‘‘(7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’— 

16 ‘‘(A) except as provided in subparagraph 

17 (B), means the Secretary of Commerce; and 

18 ‘‘(B) in sections 203, 206(e), and 209, 

19 means— 

20 ‘‘(i) the Secretary of the Interior, with 

21 respect to any coral reef or component 

22 thereof that is located in— 

23 ‘‘(I) the National Wildlife Refuge 

24 System; 


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1 ‘‘(II) the National Park System; 

2 or 

3 ‘‘(III) the waters surrounding 

4 Wake Island under the jurisdiction of 

5 the Secretary of the Interior, as set 

6 forth in Executive Order 11048 (27 

7 Fed. Reg. 8851), dated September 4, 

8 1962; or 

9 ‘‘(ii) the Secretary of Commerce, with 

10 respect to any other coral reef or component 

11 thereof.’’. 

12 SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

13 Section 213 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 

14 (formerly 16 U.S.C. 6408), as redesignated by section 4, is 

15 amended— 

16 (1) by amending subsection (a) to read as fol17 lows: 

18 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro19 priated to the Secretary of Commerce to carry out this title 

20 $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, $32,000,000 for fiscal year 

21 2009, $34,000,000 for fiscal year 2010 and $35,000,000 for 

22 fiscal years 2011 and 2012.’’; 

23 (2) in subsection (b) by striking ‘‘$1,000,000’’ 

24 and inserting ‘‘$2,000,000’’; 


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1 (3) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the 

2 following: 

3 ‘‘(c) COMMUNITY-BASED PLANNING GRANTS.—There is 

4 authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry 

5 out section 209, $8,000,000 for fiscal years 2008 through 

6 2012, to remain available until expended.’’; and 

7 (4) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the 

8 following: 

9 ‘‘(d) DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.—There is au10 thorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior 

11 to carry out this title $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 

12 2008 through 2012.’’. 

13 SEC. 10. FUNDING FOR MARINE FACILITIES, CORAL REEF 

14 RESEARCH, AND CORAL REEF INSTITUTES. 

15 (a) AMERICAN SAMOA COMMUNITY COLLEGE.—There 

16 is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 to the Secretary 

17 of Commerce, acting through the National Oceanic and At18 mospheric Administration, to provide funds to a research 

19 facility for coral reef research and protection, and coastal 

20 ecology and development, at the American Samoa Commu21 nity College. 

22 (b) UNIVERSITY OF GUAM.—There is authorized to be 

23 appropriated $1,000,000 to the Secretary of Commerce, act24 ing through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdminVerDate Aug 31 2005 00:07 Oct 23, 2007 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H1205.RH H1205

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25 

•HR 1205 RH

1 istration, to provide funds to the University of Guam for 

2 coral reef research and protection. 

3 (c) SUPPORT FOR CORAL REEF INSTITUTES.—The Ad4 ministrator, subject to the availability of appropriations 

5 specifically to carry out this subsection, may enter into, re6 negotiate, or extend a cooperative agreement with any uni7 versity or local academic institution or other research center 

8 with established programs that support coral reef conserva9 tion to accomplish the following: 

10 (1) Provide technical and other assistance to 

11 build capacity for effective resource management on a 

12 regional level and within local communities. 

13 (2) Facilitate interdisciplinary research regard14 ing coral reef ecosystems to improve resource manage15 ment and improve understanding of potential im16 pacts to such ecosystems attributed to climate change. 

17 (3) Conduct public education programs regard18 ing coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems to improve 

19 public awareness of the need to protect and conserve 

20 such resources. 

21 (4) To advance the purposes and policies set 

22 forth in the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000. 

23 (d) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section the 

24 definitions in section 214 of the Coral Reef Conservation 


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•HR 1205 RH

1 Act of 2000, as redesignated by section 6(a) of this Act and 

2 amended by section 8 of this Act, apply. 


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bajohnson on PRODPC61 with BILLS
Union Calendar No. 248 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1205 

[Report No. 110

–394, Part I] 

A BILL 

To reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 

2000, and for other purposes. 

OCTOBER 22, 2007 

Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources with 

an amendment 

OCTOBER 22, 2007 

Committee on Science and Technology discharged; comState of the Union and ordered to be printed mitted to the Committee of the Whole House on the 


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