datamatters24/research-document-archive huggingface dataset:
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SEC. 7453. DEFINITIONS. 
In this chapter: 
(1) ECOLOGICAL PROCESSES.—The term ‘‘eco-
logical processes’’ means the biological, chemical, 
and physical interactions between the biotic and abi-
otic components of ecosystems, including nutrient 
cycling, pollination, predator-prey relationships, soil 
formation, gene flow, hydrologic cycling, decomposi-
tion, and disturbance regimes such as fire and flood-
ing. 
(2) HABITAT
LINKAGES.—The term ‘‘habitat 
linkages’’ means areas that connect wildlife habitat 
or potential wildlife habitat, and that facilitate the 
ability of wildlife to move within a landscape in re-
sponse to the effects of global warming. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(4) WILDLIFE.—The term ‘‘wildlife’’ means— 
(A) any species of wild, free-ranging fauna, 
including fish and other aquatic species; and 
(B) any fauna in a captive breeding pro-
gram the object of which is to reintroduce indi-
viduals of a depleted indigenous species into 
previously occupied range. 
(5) HABITAT.—The term ‘‘habitat’’ means the 
physical, chemical, and biological properties that are
419 
used by wildlife for growth, reproduction, and sur-
vival, including aquatic and terrestrial plant commu-
nities, food, water, cover, and space, on a tract of 
land, in a body of water, or in an area or region. 
SEC. 7454. NATIONAL STRATEGY. 
(a) REQUIREMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, within 
two years after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, on the basis of the best available science as pro-
vided by the science advisory board under section 
7455, and in cooperation with State fish and wildlife 
agencies and Indian tribes, promulgate a national 
strategy for assisting wildlife populations and their 
habitats in adapting to the impacts of global warm-
ing. 
(2) CONSULTATION AND COMMENT.—In devel-
oping the national strategy, the Secretary shall— 
(A) consult with the Secretary of Agri-
culture, the Secretary of Commerce, the Admin-
istrator of the Environmental Protection Agen-
cy, local governments, conservation organiza-
tions, scientists, and other interested stake-
holders; and 
(B) provide opportunity for public com-
ment.
420 
(b) CONTENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall include 
in the national strategy prioritized goals and meas-
ures to— 
(A) identify and monitor wildlife popu-
lations, including game species, likely to be ad-
versely affected by global warming, with par-
ticular emphasis on wildlife populations at 
greatest need for conservation; 
(B) identify and monitor coastal, marine, 
terrestrial, and freshwater habitat at greatest 
risk of being damaged by global warming; 
(C) assist species in adapting to the im-
pacts of global warming; 
(D) protect, acquire, and restore wildlife 
habitat to build resilience to global warming; 
(E) provide habitat linkages and corridors 
to facilitate wildlife movements in response to 
global warming; 
(F) restore and protect ecological processes 
that sustain wildlife populations vulnerable to 
global warming; and 
(G) incorporate consideration of climate 
change in, and integrate climate change adapta-
tion strategies for wildlife and its habitat into,
421 
the planning and management of Federal lands 
administered by the Department of the Interior 
and lands administered by the Forest Service. 
(2) COORDINATION
WITH
OTHER
PLANS.—In 
developing the national strategy, the Secretary shall 
to the maximum extent practicable— 
(A) take into consideration research and 
information in State comprehensive wildlife con-
servation plans, the North American Waterfowl 
Management Plan, the National Fish Habitat 
Action Plan, and other relevant plans; and 
(B) coordinate and integrate, to the extent 
consistent with the policy set forth in section 
7452, the goals and measures identified in the 
national strategy with goals and measures iden-
tified in such plans. 
(c) REVISION.—The Secretary shall revise the na-
tional strategy not later than five years after its initial 
promulgation, and not later than every ten years there-
after, to reflect new information on the impacts of global 
warming on wildlife and its habitat and advances in the 
development of strategies for adapting to or mitigating for 
such impacts. 
(d) IMPLEMENTATION.—
436 
remain in effect until such strategies expire or are revised 
in accordance with their terms. Except as specified in sec-
tion 7456(b) with respect to funds made available under 
such section, conservation and education activities con-
ducted or proposed to be conducted pursuant to such pre-
viously approved strategies shall remain authorized. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec-
essary to carry out this section. 
CHAPTER 5—OCEAN PROGRAMS 
SEC. 7471. OCEAN POLICY, GLOBAL WARMING, AND ACIDI-
FICATION PROGRAM. 
(a) DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Commerce, 
shall, within two years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, and on the basis of the best available 
science, develop and implement a national strategy 
using existing authorities and the authority provided 
in this section to support coastal State and Federal 
agency efforts to— 
(A) predict, plan for, and mitigate the im-
pacts on ocean and coastal ecosystems from 
global warming, relative sea level rise and ocean 
acidification; and
437 
(B) ensure the recovery, resiliency, and 
health of ocean and coastal ecosystems. 
(2) CONSULTATION
AND
COMMENT.—Before 
and during the development of the national strategy, 
the Secretary shall— 
(A) consult with the Secretary of the Inte-
rior, the Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency, the Regional Fishery Man-
agement Councils, coastal States, Indian tribes, 
local governments, conservation organizations, 
scientists, and other interested stakeholders; 
and 
(B) provide opportunities for public notice 
and comment. 
(b) CONTENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall include 
in the national strategy prioritized goals and meas-
ures to— 
(A) incorporate climate change adaptation 
strategies into the planning and management of 
ocean and coastal programs and resources ad-
ministered by the Department of Commerce; 
(B) support restoration, protection, and 
enhancement of natural processes that minimize
438 
the impacts of relative sea level rise, global 
warming, and ocean acidification; 
(C) minimize the impacts of global warm-
ing and ocean acidification on marine species 
and their habitats; 
(D) identify, protect, and restore ocean 
and coastal habitats needed to build healthy 
and resilient ecosystems; 
(E) support the development of climate 
change resiliency plans under the Coastal Zone 
Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et 
seq.); 
(F) provide technical assistance and train-
ing to other Federal agencies, States, local com-
munities, universities, and other stakeholders; 
and 
(G) identify additional research that is 
needed to better anticipate and plan for the im-
pacts of global warming and ocean acidification 
on ocean and coastal resources. 
(2) COORDINATION
WITH
OTHER
PLANS.—In 
developing the national strategy, the Secretary 
shall— 
(A) take into consideration research and 
information available in Federal, regional, and
439 
State management and restoration plans and 
any other relevant reports and information; and 
(B) encourage and take into account State 
and regional plans for protecting and restoring 
the health and resilience of ocean and coastal 
ecosystems. 
(c) REVISION.—The Secretary shall revise the na-
tional strategy not later than 5 years after its promulga-
tion, and not later than every 10 years thereafter, to re-
flect new information on the impacts of global warming, 
relative sea level rise, and acidification on ocean and coast-
al ecosystems and their resources and advances in the de-
velopment of strategies for adapting to or mitigating for 
such impacts. 
(d) SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD.— 
(1) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall con-
sult with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration’s Science Advisory Board in the devel-
opment and implementation of the strategy. 
(2) REVIEW INFORMATION.—The Science Advi-
sory Board shall periodically— 
(A) review new information on the impacts 
of global warming, relative sea level rise, and 
acidification on ocean and coastal ecosystems 
and their resources and advances in the devel-
440 
opment of strategies for adapting to or miti-
gating for such impacts; and 
(B) provide that information to the Sec-
retary. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to implement this section. Amounts appro-
priated shall be used for the exclusive purpose of carrying 
out the activities specified in this section. 
(f) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Copies of the strategy 
and implementation plan and any updates shall be pro-
vided to Congress. 
SEC. 7472. PLANNING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE 
COASTAL ZONE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Coastal Zone Management 
Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENCY PLANNING 
‘‘SEC. 320. (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
establish consistent with the national policies set forth in 
section 303 a coastal climate change resiliency planning 
and response program to— 
‘‘(1) provide assistance to coastal states to vol-
untarily develop coastal climate change resiliency 
plans pursuant to approved management programs 
approved under section 306, to minimize contribu-
441 
tions to climate change and to prepare for and re-
duce the negative consequences that may result from 
climate change in the coastal zone; and 
‘‘(2) provide financial and technical assistance 
and training to enable coastal states to implement 
plans developed pursuant to this section through 
coastal states’ enforceable policies. 
‘‘(b) GUIDELINES.—Within 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this section, the Secretary, in consultation 
with the coastal states, shall issue guidelines for the imple-
mentation of the grant program established under sub-
section (c). 
‘‘(c) CLIMATE
CHANGE
RESILIENCY
PLANNING 
GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, subject to 
the availability of appropriations, may make a grant 
to any coastal state for the purpose of developing cli-
mate change resiliency plans pursuant to guidelines 
issued by the Secretary under subsection (b). 
‘‘(2) PLAN CONTENT.—A plan developed with a 
grant under this section shall include the following: 
‘‘(A) Identification of public facilities and 
public services, coastal resources of national 
significance, coastal waters, energy facilities, or 
other water uses located in the coastal zone
442 
that are likely to be impacted by climate 
change. 
‘‘(B) Adaptive management strategies for 
land use to respond or adapt to changing envi-
ronmental conditions, including strategies to 
protect biodiversity and establish habitat buffer 
zones, migration corridors, and climate refugia. 
‘‘(C) Requirements to initiate and main-
tain long-term monitoring of environmental 
change to assess coastal zone resiliency and to 
adjust when necessary adaptive management 
strategies and new planning guidelines to attain 
the policies under section 303. 
‘‘(3) STATE
HAZARD
MITIGATION
PLANS.— 
Plans developed with a grant under this section shall 
be consistent with State hazard mitigation plans de-
veloped under State or Federal law. 
‘‘(4) ALLOCATION.—Grants under this section 
shall be available only to coastal states with manage-
ment programs approved by the Secretary under sec-
tion 306 and shall be allocated among such coastal 
states in a manner consistent with regulations pro-
mulgated pursuant to section 306(c). 
‘‘(5) PRIORITY.—In the awarding of grants 
under this subsection the Secretary may give priority
443 
to any coastal state that has received grant funding 
to develop program changes pursuant to paragraphs 
(1), (2), (3), (5), (6), (7), and (8) of section 309(a). 
‘‘(6) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary 
may provide technical assistance to a coastal state 
consistent with section 310 to ensure the timely de-
velopment of plans supported by grants awarded 
under this subsection. 
‘‘(7) FEDERAL APPROVAL.—In order to be eligi-
ble for a grant under subsection (d), a coastal state 
must have its plan developed under this section ap-
proved by the Secretary. 
‘‘(d) COASTAL RESILIENCY PROJECT GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, subject to 
the availability of appropriations, may make grants 
to any coastal state that has a climate change resil-
iency plan approved under subsection (c)(7), in 
order to support projects that implement strategies 
contained within such plans. 
‘‘(2) PROGRAM
REQUIREMENTS.—The Sec-
retary within 90 days after approval of the first plan 
approved under subsection (c)(7), shall publish in 
the Federal Register requirements regarding appli-
cations, allocations, eligible activities, and all terms 
and conditions for grants awarded under this sub-
444 
section. No less than 30 percent of the funds appro-
priated in any fiscal year for grants under this sub-
section shall be awarded through a merit-based com-
petitive process. 
‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE
ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary 
may award grants to coastal states to implement 
projects in the coastal zone to address stress factors 
in order to improve coastal climate change resiliency, 
including the following: 
‘‘(A) Activities to address physical disturb-
ances within the coastal zone, especially activi-
ties related to public facilities and public serv-
ices, tourism, sedimentation, and other factors 
negatively impacting coastal waters, and fish-
eries-associated habitat destruction or alter-
ation. 
‘‘(B) Monitoring, control, or eradication of 
disease organisms and invasive species. 
‘‘(C) Activities to address the loss, deg-
radation or fragmentation of wildlife habitat 
through projects to establish marine and terres-
trial habitat buffers, wildlife refugia or net-
works thereof, and preservation of migratory 
wildlife corridors and other transition zones.
445 
‘‘(D) Implementation of projects to reduce, 
mitigate, or otherwise address likely impacts 
caused by natural hazards in the coastal zone, 
including sea level rise, coastal inundation, 
coastal erosion and subsidence, severe weather 
events such as cyclonic storms, tsunamis and 
other seismic threats, and fluctuating Great 
Lakes water levels. 
‘‘(E) Provide technical training and assist-
ance to local coastal policy makers to increase 
awareness of science, management, and tech-
nology information related to climate change 
and adaptation strategies.’’. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
318(a) of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 
U.S.C. 1464) is further amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(4) for grants under section 320(c) and (d), 
such sums as are necessary.’’. 
(c) INTENT OF CONGRESS.—Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to require any coastal state to amend 
or modify its approved management program pursuant to 
section 306(e) of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 
1972 (16 U.S.C. 1455(e)), or to extend the enforceable 
policies of a coastal state beyond the coastal zone as iden-
446 
tified in the coastal state’s approved management pro-
gram. 
SEC. 7473. ENHANCING CLIMATE CHANGE PREDICTIONS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 
‘‘National Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation Act 
of 2007’’. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section are the 
following: 
(1) Establish a National Integrated Coastal and 
Ocean Observation System comprised of Federal and 
non-Federal components, coordinated at the national 
level by the National Ocean Research Leadership 
Council and at the regional level by a network of Re-
gional Information Coordination Entities, that in-
cludes in situ, remote, and other coastal and ocean 
observations, technologies, and data management 
and communication systems, to gather specific coast-
al and ocean data variables and to ensure the timely 
dissemination and availability of usable observation 
data— 
(A) to support national defense, marine 
commerce, energy production, scientific re-
search, ecosystem-based marine and coastal re-
source management, weather and marine fore-
447 
casting, public safety and public outreach train-
ing and education; and 
(B) to promote greater public awareness 
and stewardship of the Nation’s ocean, coastal, 
and Great Lakes resources and the general 
public welfare. 
(2) Improve the Nation’s capability to measure, 
track, explain, and predict events related directly 
and indirectly to weather and climate change, nat-
ural climate variability, and interactions between the 
oceanic and atmospheric environments, including the 
Great Lakes. 
(3) Authorize activities to promote basic and 
applied research to develop, test, and deploy innova-
tions and improvements in coastal and ocean obser-
vation technologies, modeling systems, and other sci-
entific and technological capabilities to improve our 
conceptual understanding of weather and climate, 
ocean atmosphere dynamics, global climate change, 
and physical, chemical, and biological dynamics of 
the ocean and coastal and Great Lakes environ-
ments. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Council’’ means the 
National Ocean Research Leadership Council re-
448 
ferred to in section 7902 of title 10, United States 
Code. 
(2) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
(3) FEDERAL ASSETS.—The term ‘‘Federal as-
sets’’ means all relevant nonclassified civilian coastal 
and ocean observations, technologies, and related 
modeling, research, data management, basic and ap-
plied technology research and development, and pub-
lic education and outreach programs, that are man-
aged by member agencies of the Council. 
(4) INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.—The term 
‘‘Interagency Working Group’’ means the Inter-
agency Working Group on Ocean Observations as es-
tablished by the U.S. Ocean Policy Committee Sub-
committee on Ocean Science and Technology pursu-
ant to Executive Order 13366 signed December 17, 
2004. 
(5) NON-FEDERAL
ASSETS.—The term ‘‘non- 
Federal assets’’ means all relevant coastal and ocean 
observations, technologies, related basic and applied 
technology research and development, and public 
education and outreach programs that are integrated 
into the System and are managed through States,
449 
regional organizations, universities, nongovernmental 
organizations, or the private sector. 
(6) REGIONAL
INFORMATION
COORDINATION 
ENTITIES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘Regional In-
formation Coordination Entity’’, subject to sub-
paragraphs (B) and (C), means an organiza-
tional body that is certified or established by 
the lead Federal agency designated in sub-
section (d)(3)(C)(iii) and coordinating State, 
Federal, local, and private interests at a re-
gional level with the responsibility of engaging 
the private and public sectors in designing, op-
erating, and improving regional coastal and 
ocean observing systems in order to ensure the 
provision of data and information that meet the 
needs of user groups from the respective re-
gions. 
(B) INCLUDED ASSOCIATIONS.—Such term 
includes Regional Associations as described by 
the System Plan. 
(C) LIMITATION.—Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to invalidate existing certifi-
cations, contracts, or agreements between Re-
450 
gional Associations and other elements of the 
System. 
(7) SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘System’’ means the 
National Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation 
System established under subsection (d). 
(8) SYSTEM PLAN.—The term ‘‘System Plan’’ 
means the plan contained in the document entitled 
‘‘Ocean.US Publication No. 9, The First Integrated 
Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Development 
Plan’’. 
(d) NATIONAL INTEGRATED COASTAL AND OCEAN 
OBSERVING SYSTEM.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The President, acting 
through the Council, shall establish a National Inte-
grated Coastal and Ocean Observation System to 
fulfill the purposes set forth in subsection (b) and 
the System plan and to fulfill the Nation’s inter-
national obligations to contribute to the global earth 
observation system of systems and the global ocean 
observing system. 
(2) SUPPORT OF PURPOSES.—The head of each 
agency that is a member of the Interagency Working 
Group shall support the purposes of this section. 
(3) AVAILABILITY OF DATA.—The head of each 
Federal agency that has administrative jurisdiction
451 
over a Federal asset shall make available data that 
are produced by that asset and that are not other-
wise restricted for integration, management, and dis-
semination by the System. 
(4) ENHANCING
ADMINISTRATION
AND
MAN-
AGEMENT.—The head of each Federal agency that 
has administrative jurisdiction over a Federal asset 
may take appropriate actions to enhance internal 
agency administration and management to better 
support, integrate, finance, and utilize observation 
data, products, and services developed under this 
section to further its own agency mission and re-
sponsibilities. 
(5) PARTICIPATION IN REGIONAL INFORMATION 
COORDINATION ENTITY.—The head of each Federal 
agency that has administrative jurisdiction over a 
Federal asset may participate in regional informa-
tion coordination entity activities. 
(6) NON-FEDERAL
ASSETS.—Non-Federal as-
sets shall be coordinated by the Interagency Work-
ing Group or by Regional Information Coordination 
Entities. 
(e) POLICY OVERSIGHT, ADMINISTRATION, AND RE-
GIONAL COORDINATION.—
452 
(1) NATIONAL OCEAN RESEARCH LEADERSHIP 
COUNCIL.—The National Ocean Research Leader-
ship Council shall be responsible for establishing 
broad coordination and long-term operations plans, 
policies, protocols, and standards for the System 
consistent with the policies, goals, and objectives 
contained in the System Plan, and coordination of 
the System with other earth observing activities. 
(2) 
INTERAGENCY
WORKING
GROUP.—The 
Interagency Working Group shall, with respect to 
the System, be responsible for— 
(A) implementation of operations plans 
and policies developed by the Council; 
(B) development of and transmittal to 
Congress at the time of submission of the 
President’s annual budget request an annual 
coordinated, comprehensive System budget; 
(C) identification of gaps in observation 
coverage or needs for capital improvements of 
both Federal assets and non-Federal assets; 
(D) establishment of data management 
and communication protocols and standards; 
(E) establishment of required observation 
data variables;
453 
(F) development of certification standards 
for all non-Federal assets or Regional Informa-
tion Coordination Entities to be eligible for in-
tegration into the System; 
(G) subject to the availability of appropria-
tions, establish through one or more partici-
pating Federal agencies, in consultation with 
the System Advisory Committee established 
under paragraph (5), a competitive matching 
grant or other program to promote research 
and development of innovative observation tech-
nologies including testing and field trials; and 
(H) periodically review and recommend to 
the Council revisions to the System Plan. 
(3) LEAD
FEDERAL
AGENCY.—The Adminis-
trator shall function as the lead Federal agency for 
the System. The Administrator may establish an 
Interagency Program Coordinating Office to facili-
tate the Administrator’s responsibilities as the lead 
Federal agency for System oversight and manage-
ment. The Administrator shall— 
(A) implement policies, protocols, and 
standards established by the Council and dele-
gated by the Interagency Working Group;