I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2717 
To modify the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring Act 
of 2009, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 10, 2015 
Mr. FARR (for himself, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, and Mrs. CAPPS) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, 
and Technology 
A BILL 
To modify the Federal Ocean Acidification Research and 
Monitoring Act of 2009, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Ocean Acidifi-
cation Research and Monitoring Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSES. 
Section 12402(a) of the Federal Ocean Acidification 
Research and Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3701(a)) 
is amended— 
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(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘development 
and coordination’’ and inserting ‘‘coordination and 
implementation’’; 
(2) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ‘‘ocean 
chemistry and’’ after ‘‘ocean acidification on’’; 
(3) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ‘‘establish 
an interagency research and monitoring’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘maintain and advise an interagency research, 
monitoring, and public outreach’’; and 
(4) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘establish-
ment’’ and inserting ‘‘maintenance’’. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 12403 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Re-
search and Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3702) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and changes in ocean’’ 
and inserting ‘‘, estuaries, and the Great Lakes 
and changes in their’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘from the atmosphere, in-
cluding carbon dioxide’’ and inserting ‘‘, includ-
ing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘Joint’’. 
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SEC. 4. INTERAGENCY SUBCOMMITTEE. 
Section 12404 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Re-
search and Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3703) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Joint Subcommittee 
on Ocean Science and Technology of the 
National Science and Technology Council’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Subcommittee, with the as-
sistance of the interagency working group 
described in paragraph (2),’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘on ocean acidifica-
tion’’ after ‘‘working group’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘United 
States Geological Survey, the United States 
Fish and Wildlife Service, and such other Fed-
eral agencies as appropriate’’ and inserting 
‘‘Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the 
Department of Agriculture, the Department of 
State, the Environmental Protection Agency, 
the United States Geological Survey, the United 
States Fish and Wildlife Service, the United 
States Navy, the Department of Energy, and 
such other Federal agencies as the Sub-
committee considers appropriate’’; 
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(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of 
subparagraph (A); 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘and’’ at the end of 
subparagraph (B); and 
(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subparagraph: 
‘‘(C) adaptation and mitigation strategies 
to address socioeconomic impacts resulting from 
ocean acidification;’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of para-
graph (4); 
(C) by redesignating paragraph (5) as 
paragraph (6); 
(D) by inserting after paragraph (4) the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) ensure that each of the agencies rep-
resented on the interagency working group delivers 
data and information to support the Information 
Exchange described in paragraph (6) and the data 
archive established under section 12406(c)(1); and’’; 
and 
(E) in paragraph (6), as so redesignated 
by subparagraph (C) of this paragraph— 
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(i) by inserting ‘‘through the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
in collaboration with the other agency 
members of the interagency working group, 
and in consultation with the Advisory 
Board established under subsection (d),’’ 
before ‘‘establish or designate’’; 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘create a platform for 
community coordination and to’’ after 
‘‘Exchange to’’; and 
(iii) by inserting ‘‘State, local, and 
tribal governments,’’ after ‘‘useful to pol-
icymakers,’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘Not later than 2 years 
after the delivery of the initial report 
under paragraph (1) and every 2 years 
thereafter, the Subcommittee’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘Not later than 3 years after publica-
tion of the most recent strategic research 
plan under section 12405, the Sub-
committee, in consultation with the Advi-
sory Board established under subsection 
(d),’’; 
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(ii) by inserting ‘‘, and to the Office 
of 
Management 
and 
Budget,’’ 
after 
‘‘House of Representatives’’; and 
(iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘the interagency research plan developed 
by the Subcommittee under section 12405’’ 
and inserting ‘‘such strategic research 
plan’’; and 
(B) by striking paragraph (3); and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(d) ADVISORY BOARD.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Chairman of the 
Subcommittee shall establish an Ocean Acidification 
Advisory Board. 
‘‘(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Advisory Board shall 
have 15 members, with a reasonable cross-sectional 
representation of the United States coastal, island, 
and Great Lakes regions, including— 
‘‘(A) 2 representatives of the shellfish and 
crab industry; 
‘‘(B) 1 representative of the finfish indus-
try; 
‘‘(C) 1 representative of seafood proc-
essors; 
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‘‘(D) 3 representatives from academia, in-
cluding both natural and social sciences; 
‘‘(E) 1 representative of relevant non-
governmental organizations; 
‘‘(F) 6 representatives from relevant State, 
local, and tribal governments and Federal agen-
cies; and 
‘‘(G) 1 additional qualified member. 
‘‘(3) APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS.—The Chair-
man of the Subcommittee shall appoint members to 
5-year terms, giving consideration to ensuring an ap-
propriate balance of scientific, industry, and geo-
graphical interests, and ensuring representation 
from all relevant sectors. A member may be ap-
pointed to more than one term. 
‘‘(4) APPLICATION.—The Chairman of the Sub-
committee shall seek and give due consideration to 
applications from members of the public for seats on 
the Advisory Board. 
‘‘(5) NOMINATION.—The Chairman of the Sub-
committee shall seek and give due consideration to 
nominations and recommendations from the public 
and the members of the interagency working group 
for the appointments to the Advisory Board. 
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‘‘(6) MEMBER EXPERTISE.—Selection of indi-
viduals for the Advisory Board shall be based on 
their demonstrated expertise on ocean acidification 
and its scientific, economic, industry, and commu-
nity impacts, and their record of distinguished serv-
ice in relation to this issue. Their perspectives shall 
broadly represent the interest group for which the 
seat is designated. 
‘‘(7) CHAIRMAN.—The Chairman of the Sub-
committee shall appoint one member of the Advisory 
Board to serve as Chairman. 
‘‘(8) MEETINGS.—The Advisory Board shall 
meet at such times and places as may be designated 
by the Chairman of the Advisory Board, in consulta-
tion with the Chairman of the Subcommittee. 
‘‘(9) DUTIES.—The Advisory Board shall— 
‘‘(A) not later than 6 months after trans-
mittal of a report by the Subcommittee under 
subsection 
(c)(2), 
transmit 
to 
the 
Sub-
committee, 
the 
Committee 
on 
Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
of the House of Representatives, and the Com-
mittee on Natural Resources of the House of 
Representatives an analysis of such report; 
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‘‘(B) not later than 6 months after publi-
cation of the most recent strategic research 
plan under section 12405, transmit to the Sub-
committee, 
the 
Committee 
on 
Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
of the House of Representatives, and the Com-
mittee on Natural Resources of the House of 
Representatives an analysis of such strategic re-
search plan and the implementation thereof; 
‘‘(C) provide ongoing advice to the Sub-
committee and the interagency working group 
on matters related to Federal activities on 
ocean acidification taken pursuant to this sub-
title; 
‘‘(D) advise the Subcommittee and the 
interagency working group on the content and 
design of the Information Exchange described 
in subsection (b)(6); 
‘‘(E) advise the Subcommittee and the 
interagency working group on the standards de-
veloped for data archiving as required under 
section 12406(c); 
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‘‘(F) establish a publicly accessible web 
page, hosted by the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration, that includes— 
‘‘(i) the charter required under section 
9(c) of the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. App.); 
‘‘(ii) schedules and minutes for meet-
ings of the Advisory Board; 
‘‘(iii) any documents described in sub-
sections (b) and (c) of section 9 of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act that are 
created by the Advisory Board; and 
‘‘(iv) any reports prepared by the Ad-
visory Board; 
‘‘(G) publish in the Federal Register the 
charter described in subparagraph (F)(i); and 
‘‘(H) provide to the Library of Congress 
any charter or document described in subpara-
graph (F)(i) or (iii). 
‘‘(10) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.— 
The Federal Advisory Committee Act shall not apply 
to the Advisory Board, except for section 9(b) and 
(c) and section 10(a) through (d).’’. 
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SEC. 5. STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN. 
Section 12405 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Re-
search and Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3704) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘and not later than 5 
years after publication of the most recent plan 
under this section,’’ after ‘‘enactment of this 
Act,’’; 
(B) by inserting ‘‘address socioeconomic 
impacts and’’ after ‘‘mitigation strategies to’’; 
and 
(C) by striking ‘‘National Academy of 
Sciences in the review of the plan required 
under subsection (d)’’ and inserting ‘‘Advisory 
Board’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘and so-
cial’’ after ‘‘among the ocean’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ‘‘im-
prove the ability to’’; 
(C) in paragraph (2)(C), by inserting ‘‘ad-
dress socioeconomic impacts and’’ after ‘‘miti-
gation strategies to’’; 
(D) in paragraph (3)(F), by inserting ‘‘and 
management’’ after ‘‘database development’’; 
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(E) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of para-
graph (3)(H); 
(F) by redesignating subparagraph (I) of 
paragraph (3) as subparagraph (J); 
(G) by inserting after paragraph (3)(H) 
the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(I) education and outreach activities; 
and’’; 
(H) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘set 
forth’’ and inserting ‘‘ensure an appropriate 
balance of contribution in setting forth’’; and 
(I) by amending paragraph (7) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(7) estimate budget requirements by fiscal 
year for full implementation of each element of the 
plan over the course of the 10 years of the plan;’’; 
(3) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking ‘‘sur-
face’’; 
(B) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘input’’ and inserting 
‘‘inputs’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘, marine food webs,’’ 
after ‘‘marine ecosystems’’; 
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(C) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘on 
moorings and autonomous floats’’ and inserting 
‘‘for monitoring and research’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(6) Research to understand related and cumu-
lative stressors and other biogeochemical processes 
occurring in conjunction with ocean acidification, in-
cluding hypoxia and harmful algal blooms.’’; and 
(4) by striking subsections (d) and (e) and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(d) PUBLICATION
AND PUBLIC COMMENT.—Not 
later than 90 days before the strategic research plan, or 
any revision thereof, is transmitted to Congress, the Sub-
committee shall publish the plan in the Federal Register 
and provide an opportunity for submission of public com-
ments for a period of not less than 60 days.’’. 
SEC. 6. NOAA OCEAN ACIDIFICATION ACTIVITIES. 
Section 12406 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Re-
search and Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3705) is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘coordination,’’ after ‘‘re-
search, monitoring,’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1)— 
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(i) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) by inserting ‘‘including the 
Integrated Ocean Observing System 
and the ocean observing assets of 
other agencies,’’ after ‘‘ocean observ-
ing assets,’’; and 
(II) by inserting ‘‘and agency 
and department missions, prioritizing 
co-location of monitoring instruments, 
assets, and projects for efficient use of 
resources and to optimize under-
standing of socioeconomic impacts and 
ecosystem health’’ after ‘‘research 
program’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by inserting 
‘‘and protecting impacted industries and 
communities’’ after ‘‘marine ecosystems’’; 
and 
(iii) in subparagraph (F), by striking 
‘‘monitoring and impacts research’’ and in-
serting ‘‘research, monitoring, and adapta-
tion strategies’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘projects 
that explore’’ and inserting ‘‘and education 
projects that explore and communicate’’; and 
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(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(c) DATA ARCHIVE, ACCESS, AND AVAILABILITY.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary, in co-
ordination with members of the interagency working 
group, shall establish data processing, storage, and 
archive facilities and procedures to provide for the 
long-term stewardship of environmental data, prod-
ucts, and information necessary for carrying out this 
subtitle. 
‘‘(2) ACTIVITIES.—Activities under this sub-
section shall include— 
‘‘(A) archiving environmental data col-
lected by Federal, State, and local agencies, 
academic scientists, citizen scientists, industry 
and tribal organizations, and federally funded 
research; 
‘‘(B) promoting widespread availability and 
dissemination of environmental data and infor-
mation through full and open access exchange 
to the greatest extent possible, including in elec-
tronic format on the Internet through resources 
such as the Information Exchange described in 
section 12404(b)(6); 
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