‘‘(d) GREAT LAKES RESEARCH COUNCIL.—
‘‘(1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this subsection:
‘‘(A) COUNCIL.—The term ‘Council’ means
the Great Lakes Research Council established
under paragraph (2).
‘‘(B) GREAT
LAKES.—The term ‘Great
Lakes’ means—
‘‘(i) Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake
Michigan, Lake Ontario, and Lake Supe-
rior;
‘‘(ii) the connecting waters of the
lakes listed in clause (i), including the St.
Mary’s River, the St. Clair River, Lake St.
Clair, the Detroit River, and the Niagara
River; and
‘‘(iii) the St. Lawrence River.
‘‘(C) GREAT LAKES RESEARCH.—The term
‘Great Lakes research’ means the application of
scientific or engineering expertise to explain,
understand, and predict the physical, chemical,
biological, and socioeconomic processes, and
their interactions, in the Great Lakes eco-
system.
‘‘(2) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a
Great Lakes Research Council.
‘‘(3) DUTIES OF THE COUNCIL.—The Council
shall—
‘‘(A) not later than 12 months after the
date of enactment of this subparagraph, pre-
pare and provide to Congress and other inter-
ested parties, a report that—
‘‘(i) promotes the coordination of Fed-
eral research activities to avoid unneces-
sary duplication and ensure greater effec-
tiveness in achieving protection of the eco-
system of the Great Lakes and the goals of
the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement;
‘‘(ii) assesses the research activities
needed to fulfill the Great Lakes Water
Quality Agreement goals;
‘‘(iii) assesses Federal expertise and
capabilities existing on the date of enact-
ment of this clause in activities needed to
fulfill the Great Lakes Water Quality
Agreement goals, including an inventory of
existing Federal Great Lakes research pro-
grams, projects, facilities, and personnel;
‘‘(iv) 
recommends 
long-term 
and
short-term research priorities for Federal
research on the Great Lakes, based on a
comparison of the assessments conducted
under clauses (ii) and (iii), and programs
existing on the date of enactment of this
clause; and
‘‘(v) describes coordination efforts
with Canada;
‘‘(B) identify topics for, and participate in,
meetings, workshops, symposia, and conferences
on Great Lakes research issues;
‘‘(C) make recommendations for the uni-
form collection and storage of data for enhanc-
ing research and management protocols relating
to the protection and restoration of the phys-
ical, biological, and chemical integrity of the
Great Lakes ecosystem;
‘‘(D) consider and make recommendations
with respect to the establishment of a com-
prehensive, multimedia database for the Great
Lakes ecosystem; and
‘‘(E) ensure that the results, findings, and
information regarding Great Lakes research
programs conducted or sponsored by the Fed-
eral Government be disseminated in a timely
manner, and in useful forms, to interested per-
sons, using as much as possible existing mecha-
nisms such as the Great Lakes Research Inven-
tory prepared by the International Joint Com-
mission.
‘‘(4) MEMBERSHIP OF THE COUNCIL.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Council shall be
comprised of 1 research manager with extensive
knowledge, scientific expertise, and experience
in the Great Lakes ecosystem from each of the
following organizations:
‘‘(i) The Environmental Protection
Agency.
‘‘(ii) The National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration.
‘‘(iii) The Fish and Wildlife Service.
‘‘(iv) The Coast Guard.
‘‘(v) Any other relevant Federal de-
partment, agency, or instrumentality, as
determined by the Council membership.
‘‘(B) NON-VOTING MEMBERS.—Any other
person who is not a Federal employee may
serve as a non-voting member of the Council, at
the request of the Council membership.
‘‘(5) CHAIRPERSON.—The members of the
Council shall elect a Chairperson from among the
members of the Council appointed pursuant to para-
graphs (4)(A) (i), (ii), and (iii). The Chairperson
shall serve a term of 2 years but may not serve for
more than 2 consecutive terms.
‘‘(6) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of the
Council who is not an employee of the Federal Gov-
ernment shall be allowed travel expenses, including
per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized
for employees under subchapter I of chapter 57 of
title 5, United States Code, while away from the
home or regular place of business of the member in
the performance of services for the Council.
‘‘(7) INTERAGENCY COOPERATION.—The head
of each department, agency, or other instrumentality
of the Federal Government that is represented on
the Council—
‘‘(A) may, upon written request of the
Chairperson, make available, on a reimbursable
basis or otherwise, personnel, services, or facili-
ties as may be necessary to assist the Council
in achieving the purposes of this subsection;
and
‘‘(B) shall, upon written request from the
Chairperson, furnish data or other information
necessary to achieve the purposes of this sub-
section.
‘‘(8) EFFECT
ON
OTHER
LAWS.—Nothing in
this subsection is intended to amend, restrict, or
otherwise alter the authority of any Federal depart-
ment, agency, or instrumentality, under any law, to
undertake Great Lakes research activities.’’.
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