‘‘(3) maintaining and expanding diverse mem-
bership and partner organizations; 
‘‘(4) expanding partnerships with governments 
of Indian tribes and continuing to foster respect for 
tribal cultures and treaties; and 
‘‘(5) recognizing the importance of economic 
and social benefits that are dependent on marine en-
vironments and sustainable marine resources. 
‘‘(b) DUTIES.—The duties of the Commission are the 
following: 
‘‘(1) To provide resources and technical support 
for marine resources committees established under 
section 408. 
‘‘(2) To work with such marine resources com-
mittees and appropriate entities of Federal and 
State governments and Indian tribes to develop pro-
grams to monitor the overall health of the marine 
ecosystem of the Northwest Straits. 
‘‘(3) To identify factors adversely affecting or 
preventing the restoration of the health of the ma-
rine ecosystem and coastal economies of the North-
west Straits. 
‘‘(4) To develop scientifically sound restoration 
and protection recommendations, informed by local 
priorities, that address such factors. 
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‘‘(5) To assist in facilitating the successful im-
plementation of such recommendations by developing 
broad support among appropriate authorities, stake-
holder groups, and local communities. 
‘‘(6) To develop and implement regional 
projects based on such recommendations to protect 
and restore the Northwest Straits ecosystem. 
‘‘(7) To serve as a public forum for the discus-
sion of policies and actions of Federal, State, or 
local government, an Indian tribe, or the Govern-
ment of Canada with respect to the marine eco-
system of the Northwest Straits. 
‘‘(8) To inform appropriate authorities and 
local communities about the marine ecosystem of the 
Northwest Straits and about issues relating to the 
marine ecosystem of the Northwest Straits. 
‘‘(9) To consult with all affected Indian tribes 
in the region of the Northwest Straits to ensure that 
the work of the Commission does not violate tribal 
treaty rights. 
‘‘(c) BENCHMARKS.—The Commission shall carry out 
its duties in a manner that promotes the achieving of the 
benchmarks described in subsection (f)(2). 
‘‘(d) COORDINATION
AND
COLLABORATION.—The 
Commission shall carry out the duties described in sub-
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section (b) in coordination and collaboration, when appro-
priate, with Federal, State, and local governments and In-
dian tribes. 
‘‘(e) REGULATORY AUTHORITY.—The Commission 
shall have no power to issue regulations. 
‘‘(f) ANNUAL REPORT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each year, the Commission 
shall prepare, submit to the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, 
the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
House of Representatives, and the Under Secretary 
for Oceans and Atmosphere, and make available to 
the public an annual report describing— 
‘‘(A) the activities carried out by the Com-
mission during the preceding year; and 
‘‘(B) the progress of the Commission in 
achieving the benchmarks described in para-
graph (2). 
‘‘(2) 
BENCHMARKS.—The 
benchmarks 
de-
scribed in this paragraph are the following: 
‘‘(A) Protection and restoration of marine, 
coastal, and nearshore habitats. 
‘‘(B) Prevention of loss and achievement of 
a net gain of healthy habitat areas. 
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‘‘(C) Protection and restoration of marine 
populations to healthy, sustainable levels. 
‘‘(D) Protection of the marine water qual-
ity of the Northwest Straits region and restora-
tion of the health of marine waters. 
‘‘(E) Collection of high-quality data and 
promotion of the use and dissemination of such 
data. 
‘‘(F) Promotion of stewardship and under-
standing of Northwest Straits marine resources 
through education and outreach. 
‘‘SEC. 407. COMMISSION PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTRATIVE 
MATTERS. 
‘‘(a) DIRECTOR.—The Manager of the Shorelands 
and Environmental Assistance Program of the Depart-
ment of Ecology of the State of Washington may, upon 
the recommendation of the Commission and the Director 
of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, 
appoint and terminate a Director of the Commission. The 
employment of the Director shall be subject to confirma-
tion by the Commission. 
‘‘(b) STAFF.—The Director may hire such other per-
sonnel as may be appropriate to enable the Commission 
to perform its duties. Such personnel shall be hired 
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through the personnel system of the Department of Ecol-
ogy of the State of Washington. 
‘‘(c) ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.—If the Governor of 
the State of Washington makes available to the Commis-
sion the administrative services of the State of Wash-
ington Department of Ecology and Padilla Bay National 
Estuarine Research Reserve, the Commission shall use 
such services for employment, procurement, grant and fis-
cal management, and support services necessary to carry 
out the duties of the Commission. 
‘‘SEC. 408. MARINE RESOURCES COMMITTEES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The government of each of the 
counties referred to in subparagraphs (A) through (G) of 
section 405(a)(1) may establish a marine resources com-
mittee that— 
‘‘(1) complies with the requirements of this sec-
tion; and 
‘‘(2) receives from such government the mis-
sion, direction, expert assistance, and financial re-
sources necessary— 
‘‘(A) to address issues affecting the marine 
ecosystems within its county; and 
‘‘(B) to work to achieve the benchmarks 
described in section 406(f)(2). 
‘‘(b) MEMBERSHIP.— 
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‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Each marine resources 
committee established pursuant to this section shall 
be composed of— 
‘‘(A) members with relevant scientific ex-
pertise; and 
‘‘(B) members that represent balanced rep-
resentation, including representation of— 
‘‘(i) local governments, including plan-
ning staff from counties and cities with 
marine shorelines; 
‘‘(ii) affected economic interests, such 
as ports and commercial fishers; 
‘‘(iii) affected recreational interests, 
such as sport fishers; and 
‘‘(iv) conservation and environmental 
interests. 
‘‘(2) TRIBAL
MEMBERS.—With respect to a 
county referred to in subparagraph (A) through (G) 
of section 405(a)(1), each Indian tribe with usual 
and accustomed fishing rights in the waters of such 
county and each Indian tribe with reservation lands 
in such county, may appoint one member to the ma-
rine resources committee for such county. Such 
member may be appointed by the respective tribal 
authority. 
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‘‘(3) CHAIRPERSON.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Each marine re-
sources committee established pursuant to this 
section shall select a chairperson from among 
members by a majority vote of the members of 
the committee. 
‘‘(B) ROTATING POSITION.—Each marine 
resources committee established pursuant to 
this section shall select a new chairperson at a 
frequency determined by the county charter of 
the marine resources committee to create a di-
versity of representation in the leadership of the 
marine resources committee. 
‘‘(c) DUTIES.—The duties of a marine resources com-
mittee established pursuant to this section are the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(1) To assist in assessing marine resource 
problems in concert with governmental agencies, 
tribes, and other entities. 
‘‘(2) To assist in identifying local implications, 
needs, and strategies associated with the recovery of 
Puget Sound salmon and other species in the region 
of the Northwest Straits listed under the Endan-
gered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) 
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in coordination with Federal, State, and local gov-
ernments, Indian tribes, and other entities. 
‘‘(3) To work with other entities to enhance the 
scientific baseline and monitoring program for the 
marine environment of the Northwest Straits. 
‘‘(4) To identify local priorities for marine re-
source conservation and develop new projects to ad-
dress those needs. 
‘‘(5) To work closely with county leadership to 
implement local marine conservation and restoration 
initiatives. 
‘‘(6) To coordinate with the Commission on ma-
rine ecosystem objectives. 
‘‘(7) To educate the public and key constitu-
encies regarding the relationship between healthy 
marine habitats, harvestable resources, and human 
activities. 
‘‘SEC. 409. NORTHWEST STRAITS MARINE CONSERVATION 
FOUNDATION. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Director of the Com-
mission and the Director of the Padilla Bay National Es-
tuarine Research Reserve may enter into an agreement 
with an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a nonprofit 
foundation to support the Commission and the marine re-
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sources committees established under section 408 in car-
rying out their duties under this Act. 
‘‘(b) DESIGNATION.—The foundation authorized by 
subsection (a) shall be known as the ‘Northwest Straits 
Marine Conservation Foundation’. 
‘‘(c) RECEIPT OF GRANTS.—The Northwest Straits 
Marine Conservation Foundation may, if eligible, apply 
for, accept, and use grants awarded by Federal agencies, 
States, local governments, regional agencies, interstate 
agencies, corporations, foundations, or other persons to 
assist the Commission and the marine resources commit-
tees in carrying out their duties under this Act. 
‘‘(d) TRANSFER OF FUNDS.—The Northwest Straits 
Marine Conservation Foundation may transfer funds to 
the Commission or the marine resources committees to as-
sist them in carrying out their duties under this Act.’’. 
Æ 
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