(10) The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine
Environment, established in 1989 by the States of
Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire and the
Canadian Provinces of New Brunswick and Nova
Scotia (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Gulf of Maine
Council’’), is well-equipped to assist in the coordina-
tion of policies and activities of the multiple agencies
and scientific, environmental, fishing, and marine
trade organizations active in the Gulf of Maine re-
gion. It has laid a cooperative, regionally based foun-
dation for future efforts to protect, conserve, and
sustainably develop the Gulf of Maine.
(11) The Gulf of Maine Council has developed
innovative and constructive strategies and programs
to maintain and enhance marine environmental qual-
ity and to allow for sustainable resource use, such
as the Gulf of Maine Action Plan 1991–2000 and
the Gulf of Maine Environmental Quality Monitoring
Plan.
SEC. 3. POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States that—
(1) United States Government activities relat-
ing to conserving the natural resources of the Gulf
of Maine and encouraging sustainable development
in the region should be maintained and strength-
ened; and
(2) the environmental and economic interests of
the American people are well-served by United
States Government cooperation and coordination
with the Gulf of Maine Council.
SEC. 4. GULF OF MAINE INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The President shall establish
a Gulf of Maine Inter-Agency Task Force (in this
Act referred to as the ‘‘Task Force’’).
(2) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Task Force
is to provide a vehicle for improved interagency co-
operation and coordination, and to improve and en-
hance the efficiency and effectiveness of Federal ac-
tivities conducted for the purpose of the conservation
and sustainable development of the natural resources
of the Gulf of Maine.
(3) DUTIES.—The duties of the Task Force in-
clude the following:
(A) Meeting on a regular basis, but not
less than 2 times each year.
(B) Sharing among Task Force members
information about agency programs operating
in the Gulf of Maine region.
(C) Providing updates on agency programs
and activities relating to the natural resources
of the Gulf of Maine, including scientific re-
search activities and programs.
(D) Identifying opportunities for inter-
agency cooperation and coordination to further
the purpose of the Task Force.
(E) Developing plans, to the maximum ex-
tent practicable, for interagency cooperation
and coordination efforts that will further the
purpose of the Task Force, and for joint pro-
grams, activities, and initiatives among agencies
of the United States, the Gulf of Maine Coun-
cil, States, and the Government of Canada.
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—
(1) SPECIFIED
AGENCY
REPRESENTATIVES.—
The Task Force shall consist of the following mem-
bers:
(A) 2 members appointed by the Secretary
of Commerce;
(B) 1 member appointed by the Secretary
of the Interior;
(C) 1 member appointed by the Adminis-
trator of the Environmental Protection Agency;
and
(D) 1 member appointed by the Secretary
of the Army from among personnel of the Corps
of Engineers.
(2) OTHER
AGENCY
REPRESENTATIVES.—The
Task Force may also include a representative ap-
pointed by the President to represent any other Fed-
eral department or agency, on a temporary or per-
manent basis.
(3) DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE REPRESENTA-
TIVES.—At least 1 of the members of the Task
Force appointed by the Secretary of Commerce shall
be selected from personnel of the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, and one of those
members shall be selected from personnel of an of-
fice or agency related to sustainable economic devel-
opment.
(c) GULF
OF MAINE COORDINATOR.—The Task
Force shall be chaired by the Gulf of Maine Coordinator,
who shall be designated by the Secretary of Commerce
from among the members of the Task Force. The term
of a member as the Gulf of Maine Coordinator shall be
2 years. The Secretary may not designate for consecutive
terms as the Gulf of Maine Coordinator any member, or
any members appointed under subsection (b)(1) by the
same official. The duties of the Coordinator shall be as
follows:
(1) The Gulf of Maine Coordinator (or a des-
ignee of the Coordinator) shall, upon invitation by
the Gulf of Maine Council, attend meetings of the
Gulf of Maine Council, and report on Federal activi-
ties and programs relating to the Gulf of Maine
Council.
(2) The Task Force may authorize the Gulf of
Maine Coordinator (or a designee of the Coordina-
tor) to represent the Task Force and the officials
who appoint members of the Task Force under sub-
section (b), in negotiations with the Gulf of Maine
Council on agreements, memoranda of understand-
ing, a sustainable development strategy, or other co-
operative activities and programs.
(d) ANNUAL REPORT.—Each year, the Secretary of
Commerce shall submit to the Congress, in consultation
with the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of the
Army, and the Administrator of the Environmental Pro-
tection Agency, a report on the meetings, findings, activi-
ties, recommendations, initiatives, and plans of the Task
Force. The report may also describe other examples of co-
operation and coordination among agencies in the Gulf of
Maine.
SEC. 5. FEDERAL COOPERATION AND COORDINATION WITH
THE GULF OF MAINE COUNCIL ON THE MA-
RINE ENVIRONMENT.
(a) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—Each of the officials
who appoint a member of the Task Force under section
4(b) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, cooperate
and coordinate their activities related to natural resources
of the Gulf of Maine with the Gulf of Maine Council on
the Marine Environment.
(b) AUTHORITY FOR AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary
of Commerce, after consultation with the officials who ap-
point a member of the Task Force under section 4(b), may
enter into agreements and memoranda of understanding
with the Gulf of Maine Council to enhance efforts to con-
serve the natural resources of the Gulf of Maine.
(c) SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY.—The
Secretary of Commerce, after consultation with other Fed-
eral natural resource agencies, and upon a request by the
Gulf of Maine Council, may work with the Gulf of Maine
Council, industry representatives, representatives of orga-
nized labor groups, fishing groups, community organiza-
tions, environmental organizations, State and local public
officials, and others to develop a sustainable development
strategy for the Gulf of Maine.
(d) CONSISTENCY OF FEDERAL ACTIVITIES WITH
COUNCIL AND STATE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.—Each
the grant. In determining the amount of the non-
Federal contribution for purposes of this paragraph,
the Secretary shall include the value of in-kind con-
tributions from non-Federal sources.
(3) LIMIT ON USE FOR ADMINISTRATION.—Not
more than 10 percent of the amount of a grant
under this section may be used for administrative
expenses.
(4) LIMIT ON TOTAL ANNUAL GRANTS.—The
total amount of grants under this subsection in any
fiscal year before fiscal year 2000 may not exceed
$1,000,000.
SEC. 6. GULF OF MAINE RESEARCH.
(a) NEW AUTHORITY.—The Regional Marine Re-
search Board for the Gulf of Maine region shall cooperate
with the Gulf of Maine Council and the States bordering
the Gulf of Maine in efforts to promote the environmental
and economic health of the Gulf of Maine region.
(b) REGIONAL MARINE RESEARCH PLANS.—The Re-
gional Marine Research Board for the Gulf of Maine re-
gion may, in consultation with the Gulf of Maine Council
and subject to the approval of the Secretary of Commerce,
revise schedules for the development of research plans
under section 404 of the Marine Protection, Research, and
Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1447c) as appropriate
to ensure the effective coordination of the plans and pro-
grams carried out under such section with the activities
and plans carried out under this Act.
SEC. 7. RELATION TO MAGNUSON FISHERY CONSERVATION
AND MANAGEMENT ACT.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to modify or
supersede any authority or requirement established under
the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act
(16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).
Æ