I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION H. R. 10491 
To require the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration to establish a Blue Carbon Program to conserve and restore 
blue carbon ecosystems, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 18, 2024 
Mr. HUFFMAN (for himself, Ms. BONAMICI, Ms. NORTON, Ms. PINGREE, and 
Ms. MATSUI) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To require the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration to establish a Blue Carbon 
Program to conserve and restore blue carbon ecosystems, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Blue Carbon Protec-
tion Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. BLUE CARBON PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator shall es-
tablish and maintain a Blue Carbon Program for the pur-
poses of conserving and restoring fish and wildlife habitat 
and improving coastal resilience, including developing 
ways to incorporate ecosystem services from coastal and 
marine carbon storage into domestic and international 
policies, programs, and activities. 
(b) ACTIVITIES.—In carrying out the Program, the 
Administrator shall carry out the following activities: 
(1) Collaborate with Federal agencies, State 
agencies, Indian Tribes, and non-governmental orga-
nizations with regard to research, restoration, and 
protection efforts relating to blue carbon ecosystems. 
(2) Develop a database of blue carbon stocks, 
inputs, and storage potential trends in the United 
States. 
(3) Explore the feasibility of using market- 
based financing mechanisms, such as a blue carbon 
credit market, as tools to support protection and res-
toration initiatives for blue carbon ecosystems, in-
cluding research on types of such mechanism, devel-
opment of protocols, and the efficacy of each such 
mechanism as a tool for protecting blue carbon eco-
systems. 
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(4) Raise awareness of blue carbon ecosystems 
as a tool to further conservation objectives through 
education and extension activities. 
(5) Use existing models or develop new models 
to assess the blue carbon storage potential of eco-
systems, including best practices for quantification, 
verification, storage trends, and storage permanence. 
(6) Quantify current total and net carbon se-
questration and carbon storage in coastal and ma-
rine areas. 
(7) Project future total and net blue carbon 
storage and sequestration under different scenarios 
influenced by human population growth, sea level 
rise, and other system-wide changes. 
(8) Protect and restore habitats, waters, and 
organisms that are long-term carbon sinks and will 
be subject to habitat change as a result of climate 
change and development. 
(9) Quantify co-benefits of protecting and re-
storing blue carbon ecosystems, including— 
(A) flood risk reduction; 
(B) habitat for and benefit to— 
(i) endangered and threatened species; 
and 
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(ii) commercial and recreational fish-
eries; 
(C) improved water quality; 
(D) cycling of nutrients other than carbon; 
and 
(E) any other economic or societal benefit 
the Administrator determines appropriate. 
(10) Assess regional and national environmental 
and socioeconomic impacts of blue carbon sequestra-
tion and storage. 
(11) Research innovative techniques for effec-
tive, long-term natural blue carbon sequestration 
and storage, including variability in effectiveness and 
risk of reversal. 
(12) Identify coastal and marine areas of par-
ticularly high potential for carbon sequestration and 
high rates of carbon storage. 
(13) Assess legal issues of landownership and 
leases in blue carbon markets and develop guidelines 
to help landowners navigate the requirements of blue 
carbon markets. 
(14) Assess the impacts of protection and res-
toration efforts in blue carbon ecosystems on meth-
ane emissions. 
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SEC. 3. BLUE CARBON PARTNERSHIP GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator shall es-
tablish a competitive grant program, to be known as the 
‘‘Blue Carbon Partnership Grant Program’’, to award 
amounts to eligible entities to carry out projects that pro-
tect, restore, or research blue carbon stocks or blue carbon 
ecosystems and increase the long-term carbon sequestra-
tion and carbon storage of marine and coastal ecosystems. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out the grant pro-
gram, the Administrator shall develop— 
(1) criteria for the selection of eligible entities 
to be awarded amounts under the grant program; 
(2) guidelines for the use by eligible entities of 
awarded amounts and any contracts relating to the 
use of such amounts; 
(3) reporting requirements for eligible entities 
that are awarded amounts under the grant program; 
and 
(4) metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of the 
use by eligible entities of any awarded amounts. 
(c) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible for a grant under 
this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Adminis-
trator an application in such form, at such time, and con-
taining such information as the Administrator determines 
appropriate. 
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(d) PRIORITY.—In awarding amounts under the 
grant program, the Administrator shall give priority to ap-
plications from eligible entities that propose projects that 
the Administrator determines will result in long-term pro-
tection and sequestration of carbon stored in coastal and 
marine environments, and would— 
(1) protect key habitats for fish, wildlife, and 
the maintenance of biodiversity; 
(2) provide coastal protection from develop-
ment, storms, flooding, and land-based pollution; 
(3) protect coastal resources of national, histor-
ical, or cultural significance; 
(4) benefit communities of color, low-income 
communities, Tribal or Indigenous communities, or 
rural communities; or 
(5) capitalize on public-private partnerships es-
tablished before the date of the enactment of this 
section. 
(e) ACREAGE GOAL.—To the maximum extent pos-
sible, the Administrator shall award amounts under the 
grant program to eligible entities to carry out projects to 
protect and restore blue carbon ecosystems on at least 
1,500,000 acres over 10 years. 
(f) REPORT.—The Administrator shall annually sub-
mit to Congress, and make available to the public, a report 
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regarding the grant program, including an analysis, by 
State, of the— 
(1) total number of acres of land and water 
protected or restored through fee title acquisition, 
easement, restoration, or other activities carried out 
under the grant program; 
(2) status of each project carried out using 
amounts awarded under the grant program; and 
(3) amount of blue carbon captured or pro-
tected over a 100-year time period as a result of the 
grant program. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to 
carry out this section $300,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2025 to 2029. 
SEC. 4. BLUE CARBON AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall, based on 
the guidelines established under subsection (b), identify 
for designation as a blue carbon area of significance under 
subsection (c) each area that— 
(1) is within the— 
(A) coastal zone; 
(B) territorial waters of the United States; 
or 
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(C) exclusive economic zone of the United 
States; 
(2) contains water, a substrate, or an ecosystem 
that provides for significant amounts of long-term 
carbon sequestration and carbon storage and— 
(A) limits erosion and facilitates future 
landward migration of coastal wetlands; 
(B) provides a buffer against storm surge, 
especially for communities of color, low-income 
communities, and Tribal and Indigenous com-
munities; or 
(C) provides a spawning, breeding, feeding, 
or nesting habitat for fish or wildlife; and 
(3) is not exclusive of coastal or other resources 
that are significant in for mitigating or adapting to 
climate change. 
(b) GUIDELINES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of the enactment of this section, the Admin-
istrator shall, by regulation and based on the best 
available science, establish guidelines to describe and 
identify— 
(A) blue carbon areas of significance; and 
(B) measures to ensure the protection of 
blue carbon areas of significance. 
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(2) REVIEW AND UPDATE.—The Administrator 
shall review and update the guidelines established 
under paragraph (1) not less frequently than once 
every 5 years or when new information warrants 
such a review and update. 
(c) DESIGNATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall des-
ignate as a blue carbon area of significance each 
area identified under subsection (a). 
(2) INITIAL DESIGNATIONS.—Not later than 1 
year after the date on which the guidelines required 
under subsection (b) are established, the Adminis-
trator shall make initial designations of any blue 
carbon area of significance in each coastal State. 
(d) SCHEDULE.—The Administrator shall establish a 
schedule— 
(1) for the identification of blue carbon areas of 
significance under subsection (a); 
(2) to review and update the guidelines estab-
lished under subsection (b); and 
(3) to make designations under subsection (c). 
(e) RECOMMENDATIONS
AND INFORMATION.—The 
Administrator shall, with respect to each blue carbon area 
of significance, provide recommendations and information 
regarding— 
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(1) adverse impacts and threats to the carbon 
storage, ecosystem services, and habitat capacity of 
the blue carbon area of significance; and 
(2) the actions that should be considered to 
avoid such adverse impacts and threats and ensure 
the conservation and enhancement of the blue car-
bon area of significance. 
(f) REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A Federal agency that pro-
poses an action that has the potential to cause an 
adverse impact to the carbon storage, carbon seques-
tration, ecosystem services, or habitat capacity of a 
blue carbon area of significance shall notify the Ad-
ministrator of such proposed action. 
(2) DETERMINATION
OF
ADVERSE
IMPACT.— 
Upon notification under paragraph (1), the Adminis-
trator, in consultation with the head of the notifying 
Federal agency, shall determine whether the pro-
posed action that is the subject of the notification 
will cause an adverse impact described in that para-
graph to a blue carbon area of significance. 
(3) ALTERNATIVE ACTION.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—If the Administrator 
determines, under paragraph (2), that a pro-
posed action that is the subject of a notification 
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under paragraph (1) will cause an adverse im-
pact described in that paragraph to a blue car-
bon area of significance, the head of the noti-
fying Federal agency, in consultation with the 
Administrator, shall determine whether there is 
an available alternative action that will prevent 
the adverse impact and fulfill the purpose of the 
proposed action. 
(B) ALTERNATIVE ACTION AVAILABLE.—If 
the head of the notifying Federal agency deter-
mines, under subparagraph (A) that there is an 
available alternative action described in that 
subparagraph, the notifying Federal agency 
may not take the proposed action. 
(C) ALTERNATIVE
ACTION
NOT
AVAIL-
ABLE.—If the head of the notifying Federal 
agency determines, under subparagraph (A) 
that there is no available alternative action de-
scribed in that subparagraph, the notifying 
Federal agency shall— 
(i) in consultation with the Adminis-
trator, take measures to mitigate the ad-
verse impact; 
(ii) take such action as the Adminis-
trator determines necessary to create a 
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marine blue carbon and blue carbon eco-
system storage offset that, taken in con-
junction with the proposed action, will re-
sult in a long-term net increase in carbon 
storage, lasting an equivalent time period 
as the carbon storage lost by the adverse 
impact; 
(iii) demonstrate quantitatively, using 
the best available science, that the carbon 
storage offset created under clause (ii)— 
(I) will result in a net increase in 
biological carbon storage; and 
(II) is located in close proximity 
to the original site to keep the af-
fected communities whole; and 
(iv) maintain such carbon storage off-
set for a period of time to be determined 
by the Administrator that is not less than 
100 years. 
(g) REQUIRED RESTRICTIONS.—A Federal agency 
may only enter into a lease, easement, right-of-way, or sale 
that involves an area designated as a blue carbon area of 
significance if the Federal agency attaches such restric-
tions to the use of the area as the Administrator deter-
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