(b) CONTENTS.—Each Plan prepared by a Partner-
ship shall include such information as the following: 
(1) An assessment of the ocean region in order 
to guide management decisions, including consider-
ation of ecological, economic, educational, social, cul-
tural nutritional, and recreational factors. 
(2) Identification of multiple indicators that 
measure ecosystem health and the effectiveness of 
current management efforts, and an analysis of their 
current status. 
(3) Identification of important ecological areas 
within the region and recommendations for a long- 
term monitoring plan of such areas. 
(4) Determination of priority issues within the 
region and adjoining inland regions and an assess-
ment of the capacity of existing governance mecha-
nisms to address those issues. 
(5) Determination of solutions and specific poli-
cies to address the priority problems that take an 
adaptive, ecosystem-based approach. 
(6) Identification of short and long-term eco-
system goals, responsibilities for taking actions to 
implement solutions to priority problems and to 
achieve those ecosystem goals, and the necessary re-
sources. 
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(7) An analysis of the gaps in authority, coordi-
nation, and resources, including funding, that must 
be filled in order to fully achieve the Plan’s goals. 
(8) Identification of model programs whose ex-
isting infrastructure aid in implementation of the 
Plan. 
(c) MEETINGS.—Each Partnership shall meet— 
(1) at least twice each year— 
(A) during the development of the Plan; 
and 
(B) after completion of such plan to mon-
itor the implementation of the plan’s goals and 
objectives and develop strategies for adaptive 
management; and 
(2) at other times at the call of the Adminis-
trator. 
(d) AMENDING PLANS.—Each approved Plan shall be 
reviewed and revised by the relevant Partnership at least 
once every four years. Any proposed amendments to the 
plan shall be transmitted to the Administrator for review 
pursuant to this section. 
(e) ACTION BY ADMINISTRATOR.— 
(1) REVIEW OF PLANS.— 
(A) COMMENCEMENT OF REVIEW.—Within 
10 days after transmittal of a Plan by a Part-
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nership to the Administrator and the Com-
mittee on Ocean Policy, or any amendment to 
such a Plan, the Administrator in consultation 
with the Committee on Ocean Policy shall com-
mence a review of the Plan or amendment. 
(B) PUBLIC NOTICE AND COMMENT.—Im-
mediately after receipt of such a Plan, the Ad-
ministrator shall publish in the Federal Reg-
ister a notice stating that the plan or amend-
ment is available and that public comments 
may be submitted to the Administrator within 
60 days after the date the notice is published. 
(C) REQUIREMENTS FOR APPROVAL.—Be-
fore approving a Regional Ocean Strategic 
Plan, or any amendments to such a Plan, sub-
mitted by a Regional Ocean Partnership, the 
Administrator, in consultation with the Com-
mittee on Ocean Policy, must find that the 
Plan— 
(i) is consistent with the policy and 
standards set forth in section 101, and 
(ii) adequately addresses the required 
elements under subsection (a) of this sec-
tion. 
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(D) DEADLINE FOR REVIEW.—Within 120 
days after transmittal by the Partnership to the 
Administrator of a Regional Ocean Strategic 
Plan, or an amendment to such a Plan, the Ad-
ministrator in consultation with the Committee 
on Ocean Policy shall approve or disapprove the 
plan by written notice. If the Administrator dis-
approves a Plan or amendment, the Adminis-
trator in consultation with the Committee on 
Ocean Policy shall make conforming rec-
ommendations to the Partnership. Within 60 
days of receiving the recommendations, the 
Partnership shall submit a revised Plan or 
amendment(s) to the Administrator and the 
Committee on Ocean Policy for review under 
this title. 
(2) GRANTS.—The Administrator, subject to 
the availability of funds in the Ocean and Great 
Lakes Conservation Trust Fund established in sec-
tion 501, may award grants to members of a Part-
nership, other than representatives of the Federal 
Government, to cover appropriate expenses incurred 
in developing a draft Ocean Strategic plan or to im-
plement an approved plan. 
(f) IMPLEMENTATION.— 
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100 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Indian tribes, States, Com-
monwealths, territories and possessions of the 
United States with a representative on a Regional 
Ocean Partnership, and the Federal Government 
shall, to the maximum extent practicable, implement 
an approved Regional Ocean Strategic Plan con-
sistent with existing legal authorities. 
(2) 
RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR
MORE
RE-
SOURCES.—If existing legal authority is inadequate 
or other resources are needed to successfully imple-
ment an approved Regional Ocean Strategic Plan in 
consultation with the Committee on Ocean Policy, 
the representatives of Indian tribes, States, Com-
monwealths, territories and possessions of the 
United States, and of the Federal Government serv-
ing on a Regional Ocean Partnership shall make rec-
ommendations to the Congress and States regarding 
necessary changes. 
SEC. 404. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES STUDY OF RE-
GIONAL OCEANS GOVERNANCE. 
(a) STUDY REQUIRED.—Not later than 1 year after 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator and the Com-
mittee on Ocean Policy shall enter into an arrangement 
with the National Research Council of the National Acad-
emy of Sciences to carry out a study of existing regional 
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