COAST Research Act of 2019

To amend the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 to establish an Ocean Acidification Advisory Board, to expand and improve the research on Ocean Acidification and Coastal Acidification, to establish and maintain a data archive system for Ocean Acidification data and Coastal Acidification data, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Coastal and Ocean Acidification Stressors and Threats Research Act of 2019 COAST Research Act 2. Purposes (a) In general Section 12402(a) of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 ( 33 U.S.C. 3701(a) (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking development and coordination coordination and implementation (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking acidification on marine organisms acidification and coastal acidification on marine organisms (C) in subparagraph (B), by striking establish maintain and advise an interagency research, monitoring, and public outreach program on ocean acidification and coastal acidification; (2) in paragraph (2), by striking establishment maintenance (3) in paragraph (3), by inserting and coastal acidification ocean acidification (4) in paragraph (4), by inserting and coastal acidification that take into account other environmental and anthropogenic stressors ocean acidification (b) Technical and conforming amendment Section 12402 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 ( 33 U.S.C. 3701(a) (a) 3. Definitions Section 12403 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 ( 33 U.S.C. 3702 (1) in paragraph (1), by striking of the Earth’s oceans and changes in the water chemistry of the Earth’s oceans, coastal estuaries, and waterways caused by carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and the breakdown of organic matter (2) in paragraph (3), by striking Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology of the National Science and Technology Council National Science and Technology Council Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology (3) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), respectively; (4) by inserting before paragraph (2), as so redesignated, the following new paragraph: (1) Coastal Acidification The term coastal acidification ; and (5) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (5) State The term State . 4. Interagency working group Section 12404 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 ( 33 U.S.C. 3703 (1) in the heading, by striking subcommittee working group (2) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (1), by striking Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology of the National Science and Technology Council shall coordinate Federal activities on ocean acidification and Subcommittee shall (B) in paragraph (2), by striking Wildlife Service, Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of State, the Department of Energy, the Department of the Navy, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Smithsonian Institution, (C) in paragraph (3), in the heading, by striking Chairman Chair (3) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting , including the efforts of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to facilitate such implementation of the plan (B) in paragraph (2)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting and coastal acidification ocean acidification (ii) in subparagraph (B), by inserting and coastal acidification ocean acidification (C) in paragraph (4), by striking ; and (D) in paragraph (5)— (i) by striking developed and coastal acidification developed (ii) by striking the period at the end and inserting and coastal acidification; and (E) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (6) ensure that each of the Federal agencies represented on the interagency working group— (A) participates in the Ocean Acidification Information Exchange established under paragraph (5); and (B) delivers data and information to support the data archive system established under section 12406(d). ; (4) in subsection (c), in paragraph (2)— (A) by inserting , and to the Office of Management and Budget, House of Representatives (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the interagency research interagency strategic research (5) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and (6) by inserting after subsection (b) the following: (c) Advisory Board (1) Establishment The Chair of the Subcommittee shall establish an Ocean Acidification Advisory Board. (2) Duties The Advisory Board shall— (A) not later than 180 days before the Subcommittee submits the most recent report under subsection (d)(2)— (i) review such report; (ii) submit an analysis of such report to the Subcommittee for consideration in the final report submitted under subsection (d)(2); and (iii) concurrently with the Subcommittee’s final submission of the report under subsection (d)(2), the Advisory Board shall submit a copy of the analysis provided to the Subcommittee to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; (B) not later than 180 days before the Subcommittee submits the most recent strategic research plan under subsection (d)(3) to Congress— (i) review such plan; (ii) submit an analysis of such plan and the implementation thereof to the Subcommittee for consideration in the final strategic research plan submitted under subsection (d)(3); and (iii) concurrently with the Subcommittee’s final submission of the strategic research plan under subsection (d)(3), the Advisory Board shall submit a copy of the analysis provided to the Subcommittee to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; (C) provide ongoing advice to the Subcommittee and the interagency working group on matters related to Federal activities on ocean acidification and coastal acidification; (D) advise the Subcommittee and the interagency working group on— (i) efforts to coordinate research and monitoring activities related to ocean acidification and coastal acidification; and (ii) the best practices for the standards developed for data archiving under section 12406(e); (E) publish in the Federal Register a charter; (F) provide the Library of Congress with— (i) the charter described in subparagraph (E); (ii) any schedules and minutes for meetings of the Advisory Board; (iii) any documents that are approved by the Advisory Board; and (iv) any reports and analysis prepared by the Advisory Board; and (G) establish a publicly accessible web page on the website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, that contains the information described in clauses (i) through (iv) of subparagraph (F). (3) Membership The Advisory Board shall consist of 24 members as follows: (A) 2 representatives of the shellfish and crab industry. (B) 1 representative of the finfish industry. (C) 1 representative of seafood processors. (D) 3 representatives from academia, including both natural and social sciences. (E) 1 representative of recreational fishing. (F) 1 representative of relevant nongovernmental organizations. (G) 6 representatives from relevant State, local, and Tribal governments. (H) 1 representative from the Alaska Ocean Acidification Network. (I) 1 representative from the California Current Acidification Network. (J) 1 representative from the Northeast Coastal Acidification Network. (K) 1 representative from the Southeast Coastal Acidification Network. (L) 1 representative from the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Acidification Network. (M) 1 representative from the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Acidification Network. (N) 1 representative from the Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System or similar entity representing the island territories and possessions of the United States in the Pacific Ocean, and the State of Hawaii. (O) 1 representative from the Caribbean Regional Association for Coastal Ocean Observing or a similar entity representing Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. (P) 1 representative from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Advisory Board without a vote. (4) Appointment of members The Chair of the Subcommittee shall— (A) appoint members to the Advisory Board (taking into account the geographical interests of each individual to be appointed as a member of the Advisory Board to ensure that an appropriate balance of geographical interests are represented by the members of the Advisory Board) who— (i) represent the interest group for which each seat is designated; (ii) demonstrate expertise on ocean acidification or coastal acidification and its scientific, economic, industry, cultural, and community impacts; and (iii) have a record of distinguished service with respect to ocean acidification or coastal acidification, and such impacts; (B) give consideration to nominations and recommendations from the members of the interagency working group and the public for such appointments; and (C) ensure that an appropriate balance of scientific, industry, and geographical interests are represented by the members of the Advisory Board. (5) Term of membership Each member of the Advisory Board— (A) shall be appointed for a 5-year term; and (B) may be appointed to more than one term. (6) Chair The Chair of the Subcommittee shall appoint one member of the Advisory Board to serve as the Chair of the Advisory Board. (7) Meetings Not less than once each calendar year, the Advisory Board shall meet at such times and places as may be designated by the Chair of the Advisory Board, in consultation with the Chair of the Subcommittee and the Chair of the interagency working group. (8) Briefing The Chair of the Advisory Board shall brief the Subcommittee and the interagency working group on the progress of the Advisory Board as necessary. (9) Federal Advisory Committee Act Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act shall not apply to the Advisory Board. . 5. Strategic research plan Section 12405 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 ( 33 U.S.C. 3704 (1) in subsection (a)— (A) by striking acidification acidification and coastal acidification (B) in the first sentence— (i) by inserting , and not later than every 5 years thereafter the date of enactment of this Act (ii) by inserting address the socioeconomic impacts of ocean acidification and coastal acidification and to mitigation strategies to (iii) by striking marine ecosystems ecosystems (C) in the second sentence, by inserting and recommendations made by the Advisory Board in the review of the plan required under section 12404(c)(2)(B)(i) subsection (d) (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting and social sciences among the ocean sciences (B) in paragraph (2)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking impacts impacts, including trends of changes in ocean chemistry, (ii) in subparagraph (B)— (I) by striking improve the ability to assess the assess the short-term and long-term (II) by striking ; and (iii) by amending subparagraph (C) to read as follows: (C) provide information for the— (i) development of adaptation and mitigation strategies to address the socioeconomic impacts of ocean acidification and coastal acidification; (ii) conservation of marine organisms and ecosystems; and (iii) assessment of the effectiveness of such adaptation and mitigation strategies; and ; and (iv) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (D) improve research on— (i) ocean acidification and coastal acidification; (ii) the interactions between and effects of multiple combined stressors including changes in water chemistry, changes in sediment delivery, hypoxia, and harmful algal blooms, on ocean acidification and coastal acidification; and (iii) the effect of environmental stressors on marine resources and ecosystems; ; (C) in paragraph (3)— (i) in subparagraph (F), by striking database development data management (ii) in subparagraph (H) by striking and (iii) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs: (J) assessment of adaptation and mitigation strategies; and (K) education and outreach activities; ; (D) in paragraph (4), by striking set forth ensure an appropriate balance of contribution in establishing (E) in paragraph (5), by striking reports the best available peer-reviewed scientific reports (F) in paragraph (6)— (i) by inserting and coastal acidification ocean acidification (ii) by striking of the United States within the United States (G) in paragraph (7), by striking outline budget requirements estimate costs associated for full implementation of each element of the plan by fiscal year (H) in paragraph (8)— (i) by inserting and coastal acidification ocean acidification (ii) by striking its their (iii) by striking ; and (I) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (J) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (10) describe monitoring needs necessary to support potentially affected industry members, coastal stakeholders, fishery management councils and commissions, non-Federal resource managers, and scientific experts on decision-making and adaptation related to ocean acidification and coastal acidification. ; (3) in subsection (c)— (A) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking surface (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting and coastal acidification ocean acidification (C) in paragraph (3)— (i) by striking input, and inputs, (ii) by inserting , marine food webs, marine ecosystems (iii) by inserting , and modeling that supports fisheries management marine organisms (D) in paragraph (5), by inserting and coastal acidification ocean acidification (E) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (6) Research to understand related and cumulative stressors and other biogeochemical processes occurring in conjunction with ocean acidification and coastal acidification. ; and (4) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following: (e) Advisory Board evaluation Not later than 180 days before a plan is submitted to Congress, the Subcommittee shall provide the Advisory Board established under section 12404(c) a copy of the plan for purposes of review under paragraph (2)(B)(i) of such section. (f) Publication and public comment Not later than 90 days before the strategic research plan, or any revision thereof, is submitted to Congress, the Subcommittee shall publish the plan in the Federal Register and provide an opportunity for submission of public comments for a period of not less than 60 days. . 6. NOAA ocean acidification activities Section 12406 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 ( 33 U.S.C. 3705 (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting coordination, research, monitoring, (B) in paragraph (1)— (i) in subparagraph (B)— (I) by inserting including the Integrated Ocean Observing System and the ocean observing assets of other Federal and State agencies, ocean observing assets, (II) by inserting and agency and department missions, prioritizing the location of monitoring instruments, assets, and projects to maximize the efficiency of resources and to optimize understanding of socioeconomic impacts and ecosystem health research program (ii) in subparagraph (C)— (I) by striking adaptation adaptation and mitigation (II) by inserting and supporting socioeconomically vulnerable communities and industries marine ecosystems (iii) in subparagraph (E), by striking its impacts their respective impacts (iv) in subparagraph (F), by striking monitoring and impacts research research, monitoring, and adaptation and mitigation strategies (v) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (G) research to improve understanding of the effect of— (i) other environmental stressors on ocean acidification and coastal acidification; (ii) multiple environmental stressors on living marine resources and coastal ecosystems; and (iii) adaptation and mitigation strategies to address the socioeconomic impacts of ocean acidification and coastal acidification. ; (C) in paragraph (2), by striking critical research projects that explore critical research and education projects that explore and communicate (D) in paragraphs (1) and (2), by striking acidification acidification and coastal acidification (2) by adding at the end the following new subsections: (c) Relationship to interagency working group The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall serve as the lead Federal agency responsible for coordinating the Federal response to ocean acidification and coastal acidification, by— (1) leading the interagency working group in implementing the strategic research plan under section 12405; (2) coordinating monitoring and research efforts among Federal agencies in cooperation with State, local, and Tribal government and international partners; (3) maintaining an Ocean Acidification Information Exchange described under section 12404(b)(5) to allow for information to be electronically accessible, including information— (A) on ocean acidification developed through or used by the ocean acidification program described under section 12406(a); or (B) that would be useful to State governments, local governments, Tribal governments, resource managers, policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders in mitigating or adapting to the impacts of ocean acidification and coastal acidification; and (4) establishing and maintaining the data archive system under subsection (d). (d) Data archive system (1) Management The Secretary, in coordination with members of the interagency working group, shall provide for the long-term stewardship of, and access to, data relating to ocean acidification and coastal acidification by establishing and maintaining a data archive system that the National Center for Environmental Information uses to process, store, archive, provide access to, and incorporate to the extent possible, such data collected— (A) through relevant federally-funded research; and (B) by a Federal agency, State agency, local agency, Tribe, academic scientist, citizen scientist, or industry organization. (2) Existing global or national data assets In establishing and maintaining the data archive system under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure that existing global or national data assets (including the data assets maintained by the National Centers for Environmental Information, the Integrated Ocean Observing System, and other existing data systems within Federal agencies) are incorporated to the greatest extent possible. (e) Standards, protocols, and procedures With respect to the data described in subsection (d), the Secretary, in coordination with members of the interagency working group, shall establish and revise as necessary the standards, protocols, or procedures for— (1) processing, storing, archiving, and providing access to such data; (2) the interoperability and intercalibration of such data; (3) the collection of any metadata underlying such data; and (4) sharing such data with State, local, and Tribal government programs, potentially affected industry members, coastal stakeholders, fishery management councils and commissions, non-Federal resource managers, and academia. (f) Dissemination of ocean acidification data and coastal acidification data The Secretary, in coordination with members of the interagency working group, shall disseminate the data described under subsection (d) to the greatest extent practicable by sharing such data on full and open access exchanges, including the Ocean Acidification Information Exchange described in section 12404(b)(5). (g) Requirement Recipients of grants from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under this subtitle that collect data described under subsection (d) shall— (1) collect such data in accordance with the standards, protocols, or procedures established pursuant to subsection (e); and (2) submit such data to the data archive system under subsection (d), in accordance with any rules promulgated by the Secretary. . 7. NSF ocean acidification activities Section 12407 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 ( 33 U.S.C. 3706 (1) by striking ocean acidification ocean acidification and coastal acidification (2) in subsection (a)— (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)— (i) by striking continue which shall (ii) by striking proposals for research proposals for the researching (iii) by striking its impacts their respective impacts (B) in paragraph (1), by striking marine ecosystems ecosystems (C) in paragraph (2), by striking ; and (D) in paragraph (3)— (i) by striking and its impacts and their respective impacts (ii) by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (E) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (4) adaptation and mitigation strategies to address socioeconomic effects of ocean acidification and coastal acidification. ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (d) Requirement Recipients of grants from the National Science Foundation under this subtitle that collect data described under section 12406(d) shall— (1) collect data in accordance with the standards, protocols, or procedures established pursuant to section 12406(e); and (2) submit such data to the Director and the Secretary, in accordance with any rules promulgated by the Director or the Secretary. . 8. NASA ocean acidification activities Section 12408 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 ( 33 U.S.C. 3707 (1) by striking ocean acidification ocean acidification and coastal acidification (2) in subsection (a), by striking its impacts their respective impacts (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (d) Requirement Researchers from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under this subtitle that collect data described under section 12406(d) shall— (1) collect such data in accordance with the standards, protocols, or procedures established pursuant to section 12406(e); and (2) submit such data to the Administrator and the Secretary, in accordance with any rules promulgated by the Administrator or the Secretary. . 9. Authorization of appropriations Section 12409 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 ( 33 U.S.C. 3708 (1) in subsection (a), by striking subtitle— subtitle $30,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 2020 through 2024. (2) in subsection (b), by striking subtitle— subtitle $20,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2020 through 2024. May 28, 2019 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Summary: Coastal and Ocean Acidification Stressors and Threats Research Act of 2019 or the COAST Research Act of 2019 This bill addresses the effects of ocean and coastal acidification on marine organisms and ecosystems. Specifically, the bill reauthorizes through FY2024 and revises the Ocean Acidification Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the ocean acidification grant program of the National Science Foundation. The bill expands those programs, as well as the ocean acidification activities of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), to include efforts to research and monitor the effects of coastal acidification.