‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—There is established the
National Coastal Reserve System. The System shall
consist of—
‘‘(A) each estuarine sanctuary designated
under this section as in effect before April 7,
1986; and
‘‘(B) each estuarine area designated as a
national coastal reserve under subsection (b).
‘‘(2) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the System
and of each reserve is to improve the understanding,
stewardship, and management of coastal and estua-
rine resources.
‘‘(3) DESIGNATION OF EXISTING SANCTUARIES
AS RESERVES.—Each estuarine sanctuary referred
to in paragraph (1)(A) is hereby designated as a na-
tional coastal reserve.
‘‘(b) DESIGNATION
OF NATIONAL COASTAL RE-
SERVES.—The Secretary may designate an estuarine area
as a national coastal reserve if—
‘‘(1) the Government of the coastal State in
which the area is located nominates the area for that
designation; and
‘‘(2) the Secretary finds that—
‘‘(A) the estuarine area is a representative
estuarine ecosystem that is suitable for long-
term research and contributes to the biogeo-
graphical and typological balance of the System;
‘‘(B) the law of the coastal State provides
long-term protection for reserve resources to en-
sure a stable environment for research, edu-
cation, and resource stewardship;
‘‘(C) designation of the area as a reserve
will serve to enhance public awareness and un-
derstanding of coastal and estuarine resources,
and provide suitable opportunities for edu-
cation, interpretation, training, and demonstra-
tion projects to improve management of coastal
and estuarine resources; and
‘‘(D) the coastal State in which the area is
located has complied with the requirements of
any regulations issued by the Secretary to im-
plement this section.
‘‘(c) ESTUARINE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND RE-
SOURCE STEWARDSHIP GUIDELINES.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall develop
guidelines for the conduct of research, education,
and resource stewardship within the System that
shall include—
‘‘(A) a mechanism for identifying, and es-
tablishing priorities among, the coastal and es-
tuarine management issues that should be ad-
dressed through coordinated research, edu-
cation, and resource stewardship within the
System;
‘‘(B) the establishment of common prin-
ciples and objectives to guide the development
of research, education, and resource steward-
ship programs within the System;
‘‘(C) the identification of uniform research
methodologies which will ensure comparability
of data, the broadest application of research re-
sults, and the maximum use of the System for
research purposes;
‘‘(D) the establishment of performance
standards upon which the effectiveness of the
research, education, and resource stewardship
efforts and the value of reserves within the Sys-
tem in addressing the coastal and estuarine
management issues identified in subparagraph
(A) may be measured; and
‘‘(E) the consideration of sources of funds
for estuarine research, education, and resource
stewardship in addition to the funds authorized
under this title, and strategies for encouraging
the use of such funds within the System, with
particular emphasis on mechanisms established
under subsection (d).
‘‘(2) CONSULTATION.—In developing the guide-
lines under this section, the Secretary shall consult
with prominent members of the coastal and estua-
rine research, education, and resource stewardship
community.
‘‘(d) PROMOTION AND COORDINATION OF ESTUA-
RINE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND RESOURCE STEWARD-
SHIP.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall take
such actions as are necessary to promote and coordi-
nate the use of the System for coastal and estuarine
research, education, and resource stewardship pur-
poses.
‘‘(2) REQUIRED ACTIONS.—Actions under this
subsection shall include the following:
‘‘(A) Requiring that research, education,
and resource stewardship activities adminis-
tered or supported by the Secretary and relat-
ing to coastal and estuarine resources give pri-
ority consideration to activities that use the
System.
‘‘(B) Consulting with other Federal and
State agencies to promote use of one or more
reserves within the System by such agencies
when conducting coastal and estuarine research,
education, and resource stewardship activities.
‘‘(C) Establishing partnerships with other
Federal and State coastal and estuarine man-
agement programs to coordinate and collaborate
on estuarine research, education, and resource
stewardship.
‘‘(e) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may, in ac-
cordance with such rules and regulations as the Sec-
retary shall promulgate, make grants—
‘‘(A) to a coastal State—
‘‘(i) for purposes of acquiring such
lands and waters, and any property inter-
ests therein, as are necessary to ensure the
appropriate long-term management of an
area as a reserve and constructing appro-
priate reserve facilities;
‘‘(ii) for purposes of operating or
managing a reserve; or
‘‘(iii) for purposes of conducting re-
source stewardship, educational, or inter-
pretive activities at a reserve; and
‘‘(B) to any coastal State or public or pri-
vate person for purposes of—
‘‘(i) supporting research and moni-
toring within a reserve that are consistent
with the research guidelines developed
under subsection (c); or
‘‘(ii) conducting educational, interpre-
tive, or training activities for a reserve that
are consistent with the education guide-
lines developed under subsection (c).
‘‘(2) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—Financial as-
sistance provided under paragraph (1) shall be sub-
ject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary
considers necessary or appropriate to protect the in-
terests of the United States, including requiring
coastal States to execute suitable title documents
setting forth the property interest or interests of the
United States in any lands and waters acquired in
whole or part with such financial assistance.
‘‘(3) 
AMOUNT
OF
ASSISTANCE.—(A) 
The
amount of the financial assistance provided under
paragraph (1)(A)(i) with respect to the acquisition
of lands and waters, or interests therein, for any one
national estuarine reserve may not exceed an
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate information regarding—
‘‘(1) the designation of new reserves;
‘‘(2) the expansion of existing reserves;
‘‘(3) the status of the research, education, and
resource stewardship program being conducted with-
in the System; and
‘‘(4) a summary of the evaluations made under
subsection (f).
‘‘(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
‘‘(1) ESTUARINE AREA.—The term ‘estuarine
area’ means a coastal protected area, which may in-
clude any part or all of an estuary and any island,
transitional area, and upland in, adjoining, or adja-
cent to the estuary, that constitutes to the extent
feasible a natural unit, to provide long-term opportu-
nities for conducting scientific studies and edu-
cational and training programs that improve the un-
derstanding, stewardship, and management of estu-
aries.
‘‘(2) RESERVE.—The term ‘reserve’ means a
National Coastal Reserve designated under sub-
section (a)(3) or (b).
‘‘(3) SYSTEM.—The term ‘System’ means the
National Coastal Reserve System established by this
Act.’’.
SEC. 203. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 318(a) of such Act (16 U.S.C. 1464(a)) is
amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(2) for grants under section 315, such sums
as may be necessary for fiscal years 2004, 2005, and
2006; and
‘‘(3) for grants for construction projects at re-
serves designated under section 315 and land acqui-
sition directly related to such construction, such
sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years
2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006.’’.
SEC. 204. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.
Section 304(8) of such Act (16 U.S.C. 1453(8)) is
amended to read as follows:
‘‘(8) The terms ‘national coastal reserve’ and ‘re-
serve’ mean an area that is designated as a national coast-
al reserve under section 315.’’.
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