IB 
Union Calendar No. 103 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 860 
[Report No. 111–196] 
To reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 4, 2009 
Ms. BORDALLO (for herself, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. 
ABERCROMBIE, Mr. FARR, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. HINCHEY, Mrs. 
CHRISTENSEN, Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. HONDA, Mr. KIRK, Ms. LEE of Cali-
fornia, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. 
KLEIN of Florida, and Mr. SABLAN) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
JULY 10, 2009 
Additional sponsors: Ms. CASTOR of Florida, Mr. PIERLUISI, and Mr. BACA 
JULY 10, 2009 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on February 4, 2009] 
A BILL 
To reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, 
and for other purposes. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Coral Reef Conservation Act Reauthorization and En-
hancement Amendments of 2009’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title. 
Sec. 2. Amendment of Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000. 
TITLE I—AMENDMENTS TO THE CORAL REEF CONSERVATION ACT 
Sec. 101. Short title. 
Sec. 102. Expansion of Coral Reef Conservation Program. 
Sec. 103. Emergency response. 
Sec. 104. National program. 
Sec. 105. Report to Congress. 
Sec. 106. Fund; grants; grounding inventory; coordination. 
Sec. 107. Clarification of definitions. 
Sec. 108. Authorization of appropriations. 
TITLE II—UNITED STATES CORAL REEF TASK FORCE 
Sec. 201. United States Coral Reef Task Force. 
TITLE III—DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR CORAL REEF 
AUTHORITIES 
Sec. 301. Amendments relating to Department of the Interior program. 
Sec. 302. Clarification of definitions. 
SEC. 2. AMENDMENT OF CORAL REEF CONSERVATION ACT 
OF 2000. 
Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in 
this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of 
an amendment to or repeal of a section or other provision, 
the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or 
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other provision of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 
(16 U.S.C. 6401 et seq.). 
TITLE I—AMENDMENTS TO THE 
CORAL REEF CONSERVATION 
ACT 
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Coral Reef Conservation 
Amendments Act of 2009’’. 
SEC. 102. EXPANSION OF CORAL REEF CONSERVATION PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) PROJECT DIVERSITY.—Section 204(d) (16 U.S.C. 
6403(d)) is amended— 
(1) in the heading by striking ‘‘GEOGRAPHIC 
AND BIOLOGICAL’’ and inserting ‘‘PROJECT’’; and 
(2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(3) Remaining funds shall be awarded for— 
‘‘(A) projects (with priority given to com-
munity-based local action strategies) that ad-
dress emerging priorities or threats, including 
international 
and 
territorial 
priorities, 
or 
threats identified by the Administrator in con-
sultation with the United States Coral Reef Task 
Force; and 
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‘‘(B) other appropriate projects, as deter-
mined by the Administrator, including moni-
toring and assessment, research, pollution reduc-
tion, education, and technical support.’’. 
(b) APPROVAL CRITERIA.—Section 204(g) (16 U.S.C. 
6403(g)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘or’’ after the semicolon in para-
graph (9); 
(2) by striking paragraph (10); and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (9) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(10) promoting activities designed to minimize 
the likelihood of vessel impacts on coral reefs, particu-
larly those areas identified under section 210(b), in-
cluding the promotion of ecologically sound naviga-
tion and anchorages near coral reefs; or 
‘‘(11) promoting and assisting entities to work 
with local communities, and all appropriate govern-
mental and nongovernmental organizations, to sup-
port community-based planning and management 
initiatives for the protection of coral reef ecosystems.’’. 
SEC. 103. EMERGENCY RESPONSE. 
Section 206 (16 U.S.C. 6405) is amended to read as 
follows: 
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‘‘SEC. 206. EMERGENCY RESPONSE ACTIONS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator may under-
take or authorize action necessary— 
‘‘(1) to minimize the destruction of or injury to 
a coral reef, or loss of an ecosystem function of a coral 
reef, from— 
‘‘(A) vessel impacts, derelict fishing gear, 
vessel anchors, and anchor chains; and 
‘‘(B) from unforeseen or disaster-related cir-
cumstances as a result of human activities; and 
‘‘(2) to stabilize, repair, recover, or restore a 
coral reef that is destroyed or injured, or that has in-
curred the loss of an ecosystem function, as described 
in paragraph (1). 
‘‘(b) VESSEL REMOVAL; STABILIZATION.—Action au-
thorized by subsection (a) includes vessel removal and emer-
gency stabilization of the vessel or any impacted coral reef. 
‘‘(c) PARTNERING WITH OTHER FEDERAL AND STATE 
AGENCIES.—When possible, action by the Administrator 
under this section should— 
‘‘(1) be conducted in partnership with other Gov-
ernment agencies as appropriate, including— 
‘‘(A) the Coast Guard, the Federal Emer-
gency Management Agency, the Army Corps of 
Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agen-
cy, and the Department of the Interior; and 
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‘‘(B) agencies of States; and 
‘‘(2) leverage resources of other agencies. 
‘‘(d) EMERGENCY RESPONSE ASSISTANCE BY OTHER 
FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The head of any other Fed-
eral or State agency may assist the Administrator in 
emergency response actions under this section, using 
funds available for operations of the agency con-
cerned. 
‘‘(2) 
REIMBURSEMENT.—The 
Administrator, 
subject to the availability of appropriations, may re-
imburse a Federal or State agency for assistance pro-
vided under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(e) LIABILITY FOR COSTS AND DAMAGES TO CORAL 
REEFS.— 
‘‘(1) TREATMENT OF CORAL REEFS UNDER NA-
TIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES ACT.—For purposes of 
the provisions set forth in paragraph (2), and subject 
to paragraph (5), each of the terms ‘sanctuary re-
sources’, ‘resource’, ‘sanctuary resource managed 
under law or regulations for that sanctuary’, ‘na-
tional marine sanctuary’, ‘sanctuary resources of the 
national marine sanctuary’, and ‘sanctuary resources 
of other national marine sanctuaries’ is deemed to in-
clude any coral reef that is subject to the jurisdiction 
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of the United States or any State, without regard to 
whether such coral reef is located in a national ma-
rine sanctuary. 
‘‘(2) APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF NATIONAL MA-
RINE SANCTUARIES ACT.—The provisions referred to 
in paragraph (1) are the following provisions of the 
National Marine Sanctuaries Act: 
‘‘(A) Paragraphs (6) and (7) of section 302 
(16 U.S.C. 1432). 
‘‘(B) Paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) of 
section 306 (16 U.S.C. 1436). 
‘‘(C) Section 307 (16 U.S.C. 1437). 
‘‘(D) Section 312 (16 U.S.C. 1443). 
‘‘(3) EXEMPTIONS.—The destruction, loss, or in-
jury of a coral reef or any component thereof is not 
unlawful if it was— 
‘‘(A) caused by the use of fishing gear in a 
manner that is not prohibited under the Magnu-
son-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Manage-
ment Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) or other Fed-
eral or State law; or 
‘‘(B) caused by an activity that is author-
ized by Federal or State law, including any law-
ful discharge from a vessel of graywater, cooling 
water, engine exhaust, ballast water, or sewage 
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from a marine sanitation device, unless the de-
struction, loss, or injury is a result of a vessel 
grounding, a vessel scraping, anchor damage, or 
excavation that is not authorized by a Federal or 
State permit; 
‘‘(C) the necessary result of bona fide ma-
rine scientific research (including marine sci-
entific research activities approved by Federal, 
State, or local permits), other than— 
‘‘(i) sampling or collecting; and 
‘‘(ii) destruction, loss, or injury that is 
a result of a vessel grounding, a vessel 
scraping, anchor damage, or excavation 
that is not authorized by a Federal or State 
permit; or 
‘‘(D)(i) caused by a Federal Government 
agency in— 
‘‘(I) an emergency that posed an 
unacceptable threat to human health or 
safety or to the marine environment; 
‘‘(II) an emergency that posed a 
threat to national security; or 
‘‘(III) an activity necessary for 
law enforcement purposes or search 
and rescue; and 
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‘‘(ii) could not be avoided. 
‘‘(4) CLARIFICATION OF LIABILITY.—A person is 
not liable under this subsection if that person estab-
lishes that— 
‘‘(A) the destruction or loss of, or injury to, 
the coral reef or coral reef ecosystem was caused 
solely by an act of God, an act of war, or an act 
of omission of a third party, and the person 
acted with due care; 
‘‘(B) the destruction, loss, or injury was 
caused by an activity authorized by Federal or 
State law; or 
‘‘(C) the destruction, loss, or injury was 
negligible. 
‘‘(5) STATE CONSENT REQUIRED.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—This subsection shall 
not apply to any coral reef that is subject to the 
jurisdiction of a State unless the Governor of 
that State notifies the Secretary that the State 
consents to that application. 
‘‘(B) REVOCATION OF CONSENT.—The gov-
ernor of a State may revoke consent under sub-
paragraph (A) by notifying the Secretary of such 
revocation. 
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‘‘(6) CONSISTENCY WITH INTERNATIONAL LAWS 
AND TREATIES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Any action taken under 
the authority of this subsection must be con-
sistent with otherwise applicable international 
laws and treaties. 
‘‘(B) ACTIONS AUTHORIZED WITH RESPECT 
TO
VESSELS.—For purposes of subparagraph 
(A), actions authorized under this subsection in-
clude vessel removal, and emergency re-stabiliza-
tion of a vessel and any coral reef that is im-
pacted by a vessel. 
‘‘(7) LIABILITY
UNDER
OTHER
PROVISIONS.— 
Nothing in this title shall alter the liability of any 
person under any other provision of law.’’. 
SEC. 104. NATIONAL PROGRAM. 
(a) PURPOSE OF ACT.—Section 202 (16 U.S.C. 6401) 
is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (6) 
as paragraphs (3) through (7), respectively, and by 
inserting after paragraph (1) the following: 
‘‘(2) to promote the resilience of coral reef eco-
systems;’’. 
(2) by amending paragraph (4), as so redesig-
nated, to read as follows: 
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‘‘(4) to develop sound scientific information on 
the condition of coral reef ecosystems and the threats 
to such ecosystems including large-scale threats re-
lated to climate change, such as ocean acidification, 
to benefit local communities and the Nation, and to 
the extent practicable to support and enhance man-
agement and research capabilities at local manage-
ment agencies and local research and academic insti-
tutions;’’; and 
(3) by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon at the 
end of paragraph (6), as so redesignated, by striking 
the period at the end of paragraph (7), as so redesig-
nated, and inserting ‘‘; and’’, and by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(8) to recognize the benefits of healthy coral 
reefs to island and coastal communities and to en-
courage Federal action to ensure, to the maximum ex-
tent practicable, the continued availability of those 
benefits.’’. 
(b) GOALS
AND OBJECTIVES
OF NATIONAL CORAL 
REEF ACTION STRATEGY.—Section 203(b)(8) (16 U.S.C. 
6402(b)(8)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(8) conservation, including resilience and the 
consideration of island and local traditions and prac-
tices.’’. 
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(c) AMENDMENTS RELATING TO ACTIVITIES TO CON-
SERVE CORAL REEFS AND CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEMS.— 
Section 207(b) (16 U.S.C. 6406(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘and’’ after the 
semicolon; 
(2) in paragraph (4)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘cooperative conservation’’ 
and inserting ‘‘cooperative research, conserva-
tion,’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘partners.’’ and inserting 
‘‘partners, including academic institutions lo-
cated in States;’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) improving and promoting the resilience of 
coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems; and 
‘‘(6) activities designed to minimize the likeli-
hood of vessel impacts or other physical damage to 
coral reefs, including those areas identified in section 
210(b).’’. 
(d) CRITERIA
FOR APPROVAL
OF PROJECT PRO-
POSALS.—Section 204(g) (16 U.S.C. 6403(g)) is further 
amended by striking ‘‘or’’ after the semicolon at the end 
of paragraph (10), by redesignating paragraph (11) as 
paragraph (12), and by inserting after paragraph (10) the 
following: 
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‘‘(11) improving and promoting the resilience of 
coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems; or’’. 
(e) DATA ARCHIVE, ACCESS, AND AVAILABILITY.—Sec-
tion 207 (16 U.S.C. 6406) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b) (as amended by subsection 
(b) of this section) by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semi-
colon at the end of paragraph (5), by striking the pe-
riod at the end of paragraph (6) and inserting ‘‘; 
and’’, and by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(7) centrally archiving, managing, and distrib-
uting data sets and providing coral reef ecosystem as-
sessments and services to the general public with 
local, regional, or international programs and part-
ners.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(c) DATA ARCHIVE, ACCESS, AND AVAILABILITY.— 
The Secretary, in coordination with similar efforts at other 
Departments and agencies shall provide for the long-term 
stewardship of environmental data, products, and informa-
tion via data processing, storage, and archive facilities pur-
suant to this title. The Secretary may— 
‘‘(1) archive environmental data collected by 
Federal, State, local agencies and tribal organizations 
and federally funded research; 
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‘‘(2) promote widespread availability and dis-
semination of environmental data and information 
through full and open access and exchange to the 
greatest extent possible, including in electronic format 
on the Internet; 
‘‘(3) develop standards, protocols and procedures 
for sharing Federal data with State and local govern-
ment programs and the private sector or academia; 
and 
‘‘(4) develop metadata standards for coral reef 
ecosystems in accordance with Federal Geographic 
Data Committee guidelines.’’. 
SEC. 105. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 
Section 208 (16 U.S.C. 6407) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘SEC. 208. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 
‘‘Not later than March 1, 2010, and every 5 years 
thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
Representatives a report describing all activities under-
taken to implement the strategy, including— 
‘‘(1) a description of the funds obligated by each 
participating Federal agency to advance coral reef 
conservation during each fiscal year of the 5-fiscal- 
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year period preceding the fiscal year in which the re-
port is submitted; 
‘‘(2) a description of Federal interagency and co-
operative efforts with States and non-governmental 
partner organizations to prevent or address overhar-
vesting, coastal runoff, or other anthropogenic im-
pacts on coral reef ecosystems, including projects un-
dertaken with the Department of the Interior, the De-
partment of Agriculture, the Environmental Protec-
tion Agency, and the Army Corps of Engineers; 
‘‘(3) a summary of the information contained in 
the vessel grounding inventory established under sec-
tion 210, including additional authorization or fund-
ing, needed for response and removal of such vessels; 
‘‘(4) a description of Federal disaster response 
actions taken pursuant to the National Response Plan 
to address damage to coral reefs and coral reef eco-
systems; and 
‘‘(5) an assessment of the condition of United 
States coral reefs, accomplishments under this Act, 
and the effectiveness of management actions to ad-
dress threats to coral reefs, including actions taken to 
address large-scale threats to coral reef ecosystems re-
lated to climate change.’’. 
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(5) by inserting after section 208 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 209. COMMUNITY-BASED PLANNING GRANTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator may make 
grants to entities that are eligible to receive grants under 
section 204(c) to provide additional funds to such entities 
to work with local communities and through appropriate 
Federal and State entities to prepare and implement plans 
for the increased protection of coral reef areas identified by 
the community and scientific experts as high priorities for 
focused attention. The plans shall— 
‘‘(1) support attainment of one or more of the 
criteria described in section 204(g); 
‘‘(2) be developed at the community level; 
‘‘(3) utilize where applicable watershed-based or 
ecosystem-based approaches; 
‘‘(4) provide for coordination with Federal and 
State experts and managers; 
‘‘(5) build upon local approaches or models, in-
cluding traditional or island-based resource manage-
ment concepts; and 
‘‘(6) complement local action strategies or re-
gional plans for coral reef conservation. 
‘‘(b) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—The provisions of sub-
sections (b), (d), (f), and (h) of section 204 apply to grants 
under subsection (a), except that, for the purpose of apply-
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ing section 204(b)(1) to grants under this section, ‘75 per-
cent’ shall be substituted for ‘50 percent’. 
‘‘SEC. 210. VESSEL GROUNDING INVENTORY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator, in coordina-
tion with other Federal agencies, may maintain an inven-
tory of all vessel grounding incidents involving coral reefs, 
including a description of— 
‘‘(1) the impacts to such resources; 
‘‘(2) vessel and ownership information, if avail-
able; 
‘‘(3) the estimated cost of removal, mitigation, or 
restoration; 
‘‘(4) the response action taken by the owner, the 
Administrator, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, 
or other Federal or State agency representatives; 
‘‘(5) the status of the response action, including 
the dates of vessel removal and mitigation or restora-
tion and any actions taken to prevent future ground-
ing incidents; and 
‘‘(6) recommendations for additional naviga-
tional aids or other mechanisms for preventing future 
grounding incidents. 
‘‘(b) IDENTIFICATION OF AT-RISK REEFS.—The Ad-
ministrator may— 
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‘‘(1) use information from any inventory main-
tained under subsection (a) or any other available in-
formation source to identify all coral reef areas that 
have a high incidence of vessel impacts, including 
groundings and anchor damage; 
‘‘(2) identify appropriate measures, including 
action by other agencies, to reduce the likelihood of 
such impacts; and 
‘‘(3) develop a strategy and timetable to imple-
ment such measures, including cooperative actions 
with other Government agencies and non-govern-
mental partners. 
‘‘SEC. 211. REGIONAL, STATE, AND TERRITORIAL COORDI-
NATION. 
‘‘(a) REGIONAL COORDINATION.—The Secretary and 
other Federal members of the United States Coral Reef Task 
Force shall work in coordination and collaboration with 
other Federal agencies and States to implement the strate-
gies developed under section 203, including regional and 
local strategies, to address multiple threats to coral reefs 
and coral reef ecosystems such as coastal runoff, vessel im-
pacts, and overharvesting. 
‘‘(b) RESPONSE AND RESTORATION ACTIVITIES.—The 
Secretary shall enter into written agreements with any 
States in which coral reefs are located regarding the man-
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ner in which response and restoration activities will be con-
ducted within the affected State’s waters. Nothing in this 
subsection shall be construed to limit Federal response and 
restoration activity authority before any such agreement is 
final. 
‘‘(c) COOPERATIVE ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENTS.—All 
cooperative enforcement agreements in place between the 
Secretary and States affected by this title shall be updated 
to include enforcement of this title where appropriate. 
‘‘SEC. 212. AGREEMENTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator may execute 
and perform such contracts, leases, grants, or cooperative 
agreements as may be necessary to carry out the purposes 
of this title. 
‘‘(b) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—In addition to the 
general authority provided by subsection (a), the Adminis-
trator may enter into, extend, or renegotiate agreements 
with universities and research centers with established man-
agement-driven national or regional coral reef research in-
stitutes to conduct ecological research and monitoring ex-
plicitly aimed at building capacity for more effective re-
source management. Pursuant to any such agreements these 
institutes shall— 
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‘‘(1) collaborate directly with governmental re-
source management agencies, non-profit organiza-
tions, and other research organizations; 
‘‘(2) build capacity within resource management 
agencies to establish research priorities, plan inter-
disciplinary research projects and make effective use 
of research results; and 
‘‘(3) conduct public education and awareness 
programs for policy makers, resource managers, and 
the general public on coral reef ecosystems, best prac-
tices for coral reef and ecosystem management and 
conservation, their value, and threats to their sustain-
ability. 
‘‘(c) USE OF OTHER AGENCIES’ RESOURCES.—For 
purposes related to the conservation, preservation, protec-
tion, restoration, or replacement of coral reefs or coral reef 
ecosystems and the enforcement of this title, the Adminis-
trator is authorized to use, with their consent and with or 
without reimbursement, the land, services, equipment, per-
sonnel, and facilities of any Department, agency, or instru-
mentality of the United States, or of any State, local gov-
ernment, or Indian tribal government, or of any political 
subdivision thereof, or of any foreign government or inter-
national organization. 
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‘‘SEC. 213. INTERNATIONAL CORAL REEF CONSERVATION 
STRATEGY. 
‘‘(a) INTERNATIONAL
CORAL
REEF
ECOSYSTEM 
STRATEGY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of the Coral Reef Conservation 
Act Reauthorization and Enhancement Amendments 
of 2009, the Secretary shall submit to the Senate 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation and the House of Representatives Committee 
on Natural Resources, and publish in the Federal 
Register, an international coral reef ecosystem strat-
egy, consistent with the purposes of this title and the 
national strategy required pursuant to section 203(a). 
The Secretary shall periodically review and revise 
this strategy as necessary. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—The strategy developed by the 
Secretary under paragraph (1) shall— 
‘‘(A) identify coral reef ecosystems through-
out the world that are of high value for United 
States marine resources, that support high-seas 
resources of importance to the United States such 
as fisheries, or that support other interests of the 
United States; 
‘‘(B) summarize existing activities by Fed-
eral agencies and entities described in subsection 
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(b) to address the conservation of coral reef eco-
systems identified pursuant to subparagraph 
(A); 
‘‘(C) establish goals, objectives, and specific 
targets for conservation of priority international 
coral reef ecosystems; 
‘‘(D) describe appropriate activities to 
achieve the goals and targets for international 
coral reef conservation, in particular those that 
leverage activities already conducted under this 
title; 
‘‘(E) develop a plan to coordinate imple-
mentation of the strategy with entities described 
in subsection (b) in order to leverage current ac-
tivities under this title and other conservation ef-
forts globally; 
‘‘(F) identify appropriate partnerships, 
grants, or other funding and technical assistance 
mechanisms to carry out the strategy; and 
‘‘(G) develop criteria for prioritizing part-
nerships under subsection (c). 
‘‘(b) COORDINATION.—In carrying out this section, the 
Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of State, the Ad-
ministrator of the Agency for International Development, 
the Secretary of the Interior, and other relevant Federal 
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agencies, and relevant United States stakeholders, and shall 
take into account coral reef ecosystem conservation initia-
tives of other nations, international agreements, and inter-
governmental and nongovernmental organizations so as to 
provide effective cooperation and efficiencies in inter-
national coral reef conservation. The Secretary may consult 
with the United States Coral Reef Task Force in carrying 
out this subsection. 
‘‘(c) INTERNATIONAL CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEM PART-
NERSHIPS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may establish 
an international coral reef ecosystem partnership pro-
gram to provide support, including funding and tech-
nical assistance, for activities that implement the 
strategy developed pursuant to subsection (a). 
‘‘(2) MECHANISMS.—The Secretary shall provide 
such support through existing authorities, working in 
collaboration with the entities described in subsection 
(b). 
‘‘(3) CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL.—The Secretary 
may not approve a partnership proposal under this 
section unless the partnership is consistent with the 
international coral reef conservation strategy devel-
oped pursuant to subsection (a), and meets the cri-
teria specified in that strategy. 
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‘‘(d) PRIORITY FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS CONDUCTED 
BY STATES.—In implementing this section, the Secretary 
shall give priority consideration to regional initiatives and 
projects that States are participating in with other nations. 
‘‘SEC. 214. PERMITS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator may, in ac-
cordance with this section and regulations issued under this 
title, issue a permit authorizing the conduct of bona fide 
research. 
‘‘(b) EXEMPT ACTIVITIES.—No permit under this sec-
tion is required for an activity that is exempt from liability 
under section 206(e). 
‘‘(c) TERMS
AND CONDITIONS.—The Administrator 
may place any terms and conditions on a permit issued 
under this section that the Administrator deems reasonable. 
‘‘(d) FEES.— 
‘‘(1) ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION.—Subject to 
regulations issued under this title, the Administrator 
may assess and collect fees as specified in this sub-
section. 
‘‘(2) AMOUNT.—Any fee assessed shall be equal to 
the sum of— 
‘‘(A) all costs incurred, or expected to be in-
curred, by the Administrator in processing the 
permit application, including indirect costs; and 
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‘‘(B) if the permit is approved, all costs in-
curred, or expected to be incurred, by the Admin-
istrator as a direct result of the conduct of the 
activity for which the permit is issued. 
‘‘(3) USE OF FEES.—Amounts collected by the 
Administrator in the form of fees under this section 
shall be collected and available for use only to the ex-
tent provided in advance in appropriations acts and 
may be used by the Administrator for issuing and ad-
ministering permits under this section. 
‘‘(4) WAIVER OR REDUCTION OF FEES.—For any 
fee assessed under paragraph (2) of this subsection, 
the Administrator may— 
‘‘(A) accept in-kind contributions in lieu of 
a fee; or 
‘‘(B) waive or reduce the fee. 
‘‘(e) FISHING.—Nothing in this section shall be consid-
ered to require a person to obtain a permit under this sec-
tion for the conduct of any fishing activity that is not pro-
hibited by this title or regulations issued under this title. 
‘‘SEC. 215. REGULATIONS; APPLICATION IN ACCORDANCE 
WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW. 
‘‘(a) REGULATIONS.—The Administrator may issue 
such regulations as are necessary and appropriate to carry 
out the purposes of sections 206 and 214. 
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