ticipation; conflict resolution initiatives; and commu-
nity outreach and education.
(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Di-
rector of the Office of Restoration and Response.
SEC. 4. CORAL REEF CONSERVATION ASSISTANCE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, subject to the
availability of funds, shall provide grants of financial as-
sistance for projects for the conservation of coral reefs for
which final project proposals are approved by the Sec-
retary in accordance with this section.
(b) PROJECT PROPOSAL.—Any relevant natural re-
source management authority of a State or territory of
the United States or other government jurisdiction with
coral reefs whose activities directly or indirectly affect
coral reefs, or any nongovernmental organization or indi-
vidual with demonstrated expertise in the conservation or
restoration of coral reefs, may submit to the Secretary a
project proposal under this section. Each proposal shall
include the following:
(1) The name of the individual responsible for
conducting the project.
(2) A succinct statement of the purposes of the
project.
(3) A description of the qualifications of the in-
dividuals who will conduct the project.
(4) An estimate of the funds and time required
to complete the project.
(5) Evidence of support of the project by appro-
priate representatives of States or territories of the
United States or other government jurisdictions in
which the project will be conducted, if the Secretary
determines that the support is required for the suc-
cess of the project.
(6) Information regarding the source and
amount of matching funding available to the appli-
cant.
(7) Any other information the Secretary con-
siders to be necessary for evaluating the eligibility of
the project for funding under this Act.
(c) PROJECT REVIEW AND APPROVAL.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall review
each final project proposal to determine if it meets
the criteria set forth in subsection (d).
(2) 
CONSULTATION; 
APPROVAL
OR
DIS-
APPROVAL.—Not later than 6 months after receiving
a final project proposal, and subject to the avail-
ability of funds, the Secretary shall—
(A) request written comments on the pro-
posal from each State or territory of the United
States or other government jurisdiction, includ-
ing the relevant regional fishery management
councils established under the Magnuson-Ste-
vens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), within which the
project is to be conducted;
(B) provide for the merit-based peer review
of the proposal and require standardized docu-
mentation of that peer review;
(C) after reviewing any written comments
and recommendations based on merit review,
approve or disapprove the proposal; and
(D) provide written notification of that ap-
proval or disapproval to the person who sub-
mitted the proposal, and each of those States,
territories, and other government jurisdictions.
(d) CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL.—The Secretary may
approve a final project proposal under this section if the
project will enhance programs for conservation or restora-
tion of coral reefs by assisting efforts to—
(1) implement conservation or restoration pro-
grams;
(2) address the conflicts arising from the use of
environments near coral reefs or from the use of cor-
als, species associated with coral reefs, and coral
products;
(3) enhance compliance with laws that prohibit
or regulate the taking of corals, species associated
with coral reefs, and coral products or regulate the
use and management of coral reef ecosystems;
(4) develop sound scientific information on the
condition of coral reef ecosystems or the threats to
such ecosystems; or
(5) promote cooperative projects on coral reef
conservation or restoration that involve affected local
communities, nongovernmental organizations, or oth-
ers in the private sector.
(e) PROJECT
SUSTAINABILITY.—In determining
whether to approve project proposals under this section,
the Secretary shall give priority to projects which promote
sustainable development and ensure effective, long-term
conservation or restoration of coral reefs.
(f) PROJECT REPORTING.—Each grantee under this
section shall provide periodic reports, as the Secretary
considers necessary, to the Secretary. Each report shall
include all information required by the Secretary for evalu-
ating the progress and success of the project.
(g) MATCHING FUNDS.—The Secretary may not ap-
prove a project proposal under this section unless the Sec-
retary determines that there are non-Federal matching
funds available to pay at least 50 percent of the total cost
of the project.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary to carry out this Act $10,000,000
for each of fiscal years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004
which may remain available until expended.
(b) LIMITATION ON USE FOR ADMINISTRATION AND
OVERHEAD.—No more than 10 percent of the amounts
appropriated under the authority provided in subsection
(a) may be used to pay for program administration or for
overhead costs incurred by the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration or the Department of Com-
merce and assessed as an administrative charge.
Æ