(D) individuals who are representatives of 
organizations involved in southern sea otter res-
cue, rehabilitation, and release; and 
(E) individuals who are representatives of 
scientific and educational organizations. 
(2) CHAIRMAN.—The Team shall elect a mem-
ber of the Team as chairman of the Team for a 
term of 3 years. A member of the Team may not 
serve more than 2 terms as chairman. 
(d) CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.—A member of the 
Team who participated in the development of a proposal 
may not participate in the review and recommendation of 
grants under section 4(c) with respect to the proposal by 
the Team. 
(e) STAFFING AND ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may 
make available to the Team any staff, information, admin-
istrative services, or assistance the Secretary determines 
is reasonably required to enable the Team to carry out 
its function. 
(f) ADMINISTRATION.—
(1) 
INTERNAL
ADMINISTRATIVE
REGULA-
TIONS.—The Team shall adopt rules, procedures, 
and other internal administrative regulations as may 
be necessary to carry out its functions.
(2) SUBSIDIARY BODIES.—The Team may es-
tablish such subsidiary bodies as it considers nec-
essary to carry out its functions. 
(g) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND PROCEDURAL MAT-
TERS.—The following apply with respect to the conduct 
of business meetings of the Team: 
(1) Each meeting shall be open to the public, 
and interested persons shall be allowed to present 
oral or written statements on items on the agenda. 
(2) Regular business meetings of the Team 
shall occur at least once a year. Other extraordinary 
meetings of the Team may be held at the call of the 
chairman. 
(3) Timely notice of each meeting, including the 
time, place, and agenda of the meeting, shall be pub-
lished locally and in the Federal Register. 
(4) Minutes of each meeting shall be kept, and 
shall contain a summary of attendees and matters 
discussed. 
SEC. 6. SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 
the Southern Sea Otter Recovery Scientific Advisory Com-
mittee (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Advisory Com-
mittee’’). The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 App. 
U.S.C.) shall not apply to the Advisory Committee.
(b) FUNCTIONS.—The Advisory Committee shall—
(1) evaluate the scientific merit and quality of 
southern sea otter research proposals submitted for 
funding in response to a request by the Secretary for 
proposals, based on the research goals established by 
the Secretary; and 
(2) make recommendations to the Southern Sea 
Otter Recovery Implementation Team established by 
section 5 regarding funding of such proposals. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.—The Advisory Committee shall 
have balanced representation, and shall consist of no more 
than 11 members appointed by the Secretary from among 
individuals with a doctorate or equivalent education de-
gree. The Secretary shall, in consultation with the Marine 
Mammal Commission and the Sea Otter Recovery Imple-
mentation Team established under section 5, appoint 
members of the Team from among—
(1) representatives of Federal, State, or local 
agencies with expertise in sea otter management; 
(2) representatives of local marine user groups; 
(3) representatives of marine conservation and 
other public interest organizations; 
(4) representatives of organizations involved in 
southern sea otter rescue, rehabilitation, and release; 
and
(5) representatives of scientific and educational 
organizations. 
(d) TERMS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the term of a member of the Advisory 
Committee shall be 3 years. 
(2) INITIAL APPOINTMENTS.—Of the members 
first appointed as members of the Advisory Com-
mittee—
(A) 3 shall be appointed to an initial term 
of 1 year; and 
(B) 3 shall be appointed to an initial term 
of 2 years. 
(e) CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.—A member of the Ad-
visory Committee who participated in the development of 
a proposal may not participate in the review and rec-
ommendation of grants under section 4(c) with respect to 
the proposal by the Advisory Committee. 
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary of the Interior to carry out this 
Act $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 
2009, of which $2,000,000 each fiscal year shall be for 
grants under section 4.
(b) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—Of amounts avail-
able each fiscal year to carry out section 6, the Secretary 
may expend not more than 6 percent or $80,000, which-
ever is greater, to pay the administrative expenses nec-
essary to carry out section 6.
Æ