IB 
Union Calendar No. 248 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1205 
[Report No. 110–394, Part I] 
To reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 27, 2007 
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA (for himself, Ms. BORDALLO, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, and 
Mr. ABERCROMBIE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee 
on Science and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined 
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
OCTOBER 22, 2007 
Additional sponsors: Mr. GILCHREST, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. KLEIN of 
Florida, and Mr. FORTUN˜O 
OCTOBER 22, 2007 
Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources with an amendment 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
OCTOBER 22, 2007 
Committee on Science and Technology discharged; committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be 
printed 
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[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on February 27, 2007] 
A BILL 
To reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, 
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 ‘‘Coral Reef Conservation 
Amendments Act of 2007’’. 
SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF CORAL REEF CONSERVATION PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) PROJECT DIVERSITY.—Section 204(d) of the Coral 
Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6403(d)) is 
amended— 
(1) in the heading by striking ‘‘GEOGRAPHIC 
AND BIOLOGICAL’’ and inserting ‘‘PROJECT’’; and 
(2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(3) Remaining funds shall be awarded for— 
‘‘(A) projects (with priority given to com-
munity-based local action strategies) that ad-
dress emerging priorities or threats, including 
international 
and 
territorial 
priorities, 
or 
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threats identified by the Administrator in con-
sultation with the Coral Reef Task Force; and 
‘‘(B) other appropriate projects, as deter-
mined by the Administrator, including moni-
toring and assessment, research, pollution reduc-
tion, education, and technical support.’’. 
(b) APPROVAL CRITERIA.—Section 204(g) of that Act 
(16 U.S.C. 6403(g)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘or’’ after the semicolon in para-
graph (9); 
(2) by striking paragraph (10); and 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (9) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(10) promoting activities designed to minimize 
the likelihood of vessel impacts on coral reefs, particu-
larly those areas identified under section 210(b), in-
cluding the promotion of ecologically sound naviga-
tion and anchorages near coral reefs; or 
‘‘(11) promoting and assisting entities to work 
with local communities, and all appropriate govern-
mental and nongovernmental organizations, to sup-
port community-based planning and management 
initiatives for the protection of coral reef ecosystems.’’. 
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SEC. 3. EMERGENCY RESPONSE. 
Section 206 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 
(16 U.S.C. 6405) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 206. EMERGENCY RESPONSE ACTIONS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator may under-
take or authorize action necessary— 
‘‘(1) to minimize the destruction or loss of, or in-
jury to, a coral reef from— 
‘‘(A) vessel impacts, derelict fishing gear, 
vessel anchors, and anchor chains; and 
‘‘(B) from unforeseen or disaster-related cir-
cumstances; and 
‘‘(2) to stabilize, repair, recover, or restore such 
coral reef. 
‘‘(b) VESSEL REMOVAL; RESTABILIZATION.—Action 
authorized by subsection (a) includes vessel removal and 
emergency restabilization of the vessel or any impacted 
coral reef. 
‘‘(c) PARTNERING WITH OTHER FEDERAL AGEN-
CIES.—When possible, action by the Administrator under 
this section should— 
‘‘(1) be conducted in partnership with other gov-
ernment agencies as appropriate, including— 
‘‘(A) the Coast Guard, the Federal Emer-
gency Management Agency, the Army Corps of 
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Engineers, and the Department of the Interior; 
and 
‘‘(B) agencies of States and territories of the 
United States; and 
‘‘(2) leverage resources of other agencies. 
‘‘(d) EMERGENCY RESPONSE ASSISTANCE BY OTHER 
FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The head of any other Fed-
eral agency may assist the Administrator in emer-
gency response actions under this section, using funds 
available for operations of the agency concerned. 
‘‘(2) 
REIMBURSEMENT.—The 
Administrator, 
subject to the availability of appropriations, may re-
imburse a Federal agency for assistance provided 
under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(e) LIABILITY FOR COSTS AND DAMAGES TO CORAL 
REEFS.— 
‘‘(1) TREATMENT OF CORAL REEFS UNDER NA-
TIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES ACT.—For purposes of 
the provisions set forth in paragraph (2), and subject 
to paragraph (3), each of the terms ‘sanctuary re-
sources’, ‘resource’, ‘sanctuary resource managed 
under law or regulations for that sanctuary,’ ‘na-
tional marine sanctuary’, ‘sanctuary resources of the 
national marine sanctuary’, and ‘sanctuary resources 
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of other national marine sanctuaries’ is deemed to in-
clude any coral reef that is subject to the jurisdiction 
of the United States or any State, without regard to 
whether such coral reef is located in a national ma-
rine sanctuary. 
‘‘(2) APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF NATIONAL MA-
RINE SANCTUARIES ACT.—The provisions referred to 
in paragraph (1) are the following provisions of the 
National Marine Sanctuaries Act: 
‘‘(A) Paragraphs (6) and (7) of section 302 
(16 U.S.C. 1432). 
‘‘(B) Paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) of 
section 306 (16 U.S.C. 1436). 
‘‘(C) Section 307 (16 U.S.C. 1437). 
‘‘(D) Section 312 (16 U.S.C. 1443). 
‘‘(3) STATE CONSENT REQUIRED.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—This subsection shall 
not apply to any coral reef that is subject to the 
jurisdiction of a State unless the Governor of 
that State notifies the Secretary that the State 
consents to that application. 
‘‘(B) REVOCATION OF CONSENT.—The gov-
ernor of a State may revoke consent under sub-
paragraph (A) by notifying the Secretary of such 
revocation. 
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‘‘(4) CONSISTENCY
WITH
INTERNATIONAL
LAW 
AND TREATIES.—Any action taken under the author-
ity of this subsection must be consistent with other-
wise applicable international law and treaties. 
‘‘(5) ACTIONS AUTHORIZED WITH RESPECT TO 
VESSELS.—Actions authorized under this subsection 
include vessel removal, and emergency re-stabilization 
of a vessel and any coral reef that is impacted by a 
vessel 
‘‘(6) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary may issue 
regulations necessary to implement this subsection.’’. 
SEC. 4. NATIONAL PROGRAM. 
(a) PURPOSE OF ACT.—Section 202 of the Coral Reef 
Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6401) is amended— 
(1) by amending paragraph (3) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(3) to develop sound scientific information on 
the condition of coral reef ecosystems and the threats 
to such ecosystems including large-scale threats re-
lated to climate change, to benefit local communities 
and the Nation, and to the extent practicable support 
and enhance coral reef research capabilities at local 
academic institutions;’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon at the 
end of paragraph (5), by striking the period at the 
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end of paragraph (6) and inserting ‘‘; and’’, and by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(7) to recognize the benefits of healthy coral 
reefs to island and coastal communities and to en-
courage Federal action to ensure, to the maximum ex-
tent practicable, the continued availability of those 
benefits.’’. 
(b) GOALS
AND OBJECTIVES
OF NATIONAL CORAL 
REEF ACTION STRATEGY.—Section 203(b)(8) of the Coral 
Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6402(b)(8)) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(8) conservation, including the consideration of 
island and local traditions and practices.’’. 
(c) AMENDMENTS RELATING TO ACTIVITIES TO CON-
SERVE CORAL REEFS AND CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEMS.— 
Section 207(b) of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 
(16 U.S.C. 6406) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3) by striking ‘‘and’’ after the 
semicolon; 
(2) in paragraph (4)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘cooperative conservation’’ 
and inserting ‘‘cooperative research, conserva-
tion,’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘partners.’’ and inserting 
‘‘partners, including academic institutions lo-
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cated in those States, territories, and freely asso-
ciated States referred to in section 212; and’’; 
and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(5) activities designed to minimize the likeli-
hood of vessel impacts or other physical damage to 
coral reefs, including those areas identified in section 
210(b).’’. 
SEC. 5. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 
Section 208 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 
(16 U.S.C. 6407) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 208. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 
‘‘Not later than March 1, 2010, and every 3 years 
thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
Representatives a report describing all activities under-
taken to implement the strategy, including— 
‘‘(1) a description of the funds obligated by each 
participating Federal agency to advance coral reef 
conservation during each of the 3 fiscal years next 
preceding the fiscal year in which the report is sub-
mitted; 
‘‘(2) a description of Federal interagency and co-
operative efforts with States, United States territories, 
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freely associated States, and non-governmental part-
ner organizations to prevent or address overhar-
vesting, coastal runoff, or other anthropogenic im-
pacts on coral reef ecosystems, including projects un-
dertaken with the Department of the Interior, the De-
partment of Agriculture, the Environmental Protec-
tion Agency, and the Army Corps of Engineers; 
‘‘(3) a summary of the information contained in 
the vessel grounding inventory established under sec-
tion 210, including additional authorization or fund-
ing, needed for response and removal of such vessels; 
‘‘(4) a description of Federal disaster response 
actions taken pursuant to the National Response Plan 
to address damage to coral reefs and coral reef eco-
systems; and 
‘‘(5) an assessment of the condition of United 
States coral reefs, accomplishments under this Act, 
and the effectiveness of management actions to ad-
dress threats to coral reefs, including actions taken to 
address large-scale threats to coral reef ecosystems re-
lated to climate change.’’. 
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SEC. 6. FUND; GRANTS; GROUNDING INVENTORY; COORDI-
NATION. 
(a) FUND; GRANTS; GROUNDING INVENTORY; COORDI-
NATION.—The Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 
U.S.C. 6401 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) in section 205(a) (16 U.S.C. 6404(a)), by 
striking ‘‘organization solely’’ and all that follows 
and inserting ‘‘organization— 
‘‘(1) to support partnerships between the public 
and private sectors that further the purposes of this 
Act and are consistent with the national coral reef 
strategy under section 203; and 
‘‘(2) to address emergency response actions under 
section 206.’’; 
(2) by adding at the end of section 205(b) (16 
U.S.C. 6404(b)) ‘‘The organization is encouraged to 
solicit funding and in-kind services from the private 
sector, including nongovernmental organizations, for 
emergency response actions under section 206 and for 
activities to prevent damage to coral reefs, including 
areas identified in section 210(b)(2).’’; 
(3) in section 205(c) (16 U.S.C. 6404(c)), by 
striking ‘‘the grant program’’ and inserting ‘‘any 
grant program or emergency response action’’; 
(4) by redesignating sections 209 and 210 as sec-
tions 213 and 214, respectively; and 
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(5) by inserting after section 208 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 209. COMMUNITY-BASED PLANNING GRANTS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator may make 
grants to entities that are eligible to receive grants under 
section 204(c) to provide additional funds to such entities 
to work with local communities and through appropriate 
Federal and State entities to prepare and implement plans 
for the increased protection of coral reef areas identified by 
the community and scientific experts as high priorities for 
focused attention. The plans shall— 
‘‘(1) support attainment of 1 or more of the cri-
teria described in section 204(g); 
‘‘(2) be developed at the community level; 
‘‘(3) utilize where applicable watershed-based or 
ecosystem-based approaches; 
‘‘(4) provide for coordination with Federal and 
State experts and managers; 
‘‘(5) build upon local approaches or models, in-
cluding traditional or island-based resource manage-
ment concepts; and 
‘‘(6) complement local action strategies or re-
gional plans for coral reef conservation. 
‘‘(b) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—The provisions of sub-
sections (b), (d), (f), and (h) of section 204 apply to grants 
under subsection (a), except that, for the purpose of apply-
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ing section 204(b)(1) to grants under this section, ‘75 per-
cent’ shall be substituted for ‘50 percent’. 
‘‘SEC. 210. VESSEL GROUNDING INVENTORY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator, in coordina-
tion with other Federal agencies, may maintain an inven-
tory of all vessel grounding incidents involving coral reefs, 
including a description of— 
‘‘(1) the impacts to such resources; 
‘‘(2) vessel and ownership information, if avail-
able; 
‘‘(3) the estimated cost of removal, mitigation, or 
restoration; 
‘‘(4) the response action taken by the owner, the 
Administrator, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, 
or other Federal or State agency representatives; 
‘‘(5) the status of the response action, including 
the dates of vessel removal and mitigation or restora-
tion and any actions taken to prevent future ground-
ing incidents; and 
‘‘(6) recommendations for additional naviga-
tional aids or other mechanisms for preventing future 
grounding incidents. 
‘‘(b) IDENTIFICATION OF AT-RISK REEFS.—The Ad-
ministrator may— 
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‘‘(1) use information from any inventory main-
tained under subsection (a) or any other available in-
formation source to identify all coral reef areas that 
have a high incidence of vessel impacts, including 
groundings and anchor damage; and 
‘‘(2) identify appropriate measures, including 
action by other agencies, to reduce the likelihood of 
such impacts. 
‘‘SEC. 211. REGIONAL COORDINATION. 
‘‘The Administrator shall work in coordination and 
collaboration with other Federal agencies, States, and 
United States territorial governments to implement the na-
tional coral reef action strategy developed under section 
203, including regional and local strategies, to address mul-
tiple threats to coral reefs and coral reef ecosystems such 
as coastal runoff, vessel impacts, overharvesting, and factors 
attributed to climate change. 
‘‘SEC. 212. UNITED STATES CORAL REEF TASK FORCE. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is hereby established the 
United States Coral Reef Task Force. 
‘‘(b) GOAL.—The goal of the Task Force shall be to 
lead, coordinate, and strengthen Federal Government ac-
tions to better preserve and protect coral reef ecosystems. 
‘‘(c) DUTIES.—The duties of the Task Force shall be— 
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‘‘(1) to coordinate, in cooperation with State, 
territory, freely associated State, commonwealth, and 
local government partners, academic, and nongovern-
mental partners if appropriate, activities regarding 
the mapping, monitoring, research, conservation, 
mitigation, restoration of coral reefs and coral reef 
ecosystems; 
‘‘(2) to monitor and advise regarding implemen-
tation of the policy and Federal agency responsibil-
ities set forth in Executive Order 13089 and the na-
tional coral reef action strategy developed under sec-
tion 203; and 
‘‘(3) to work with the Secretary of State and the 
Administrator of the Agency for International Devel-
opment, and in coordination with the other members 
of the Task Force, to— 
‘‘(A) assess the United States role in inter-
national trade and protection of coral species; 
and 
‘‘(B) encourage implementation of appro-
priate strategies and actions to promote con-
servation and sustainable use of coral reef re-
sources worldwide. 
‘‘(d) MEMBERSHIP, GENERALLY.—The Task Force 
shall be comprised of— 
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‘‘(1) the Secretary of Commerce, acting through 
the Administrator of the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration, and the Secretary of the 
Interior, who shall be co-chairs of the Task Force; 
‘‘(2) the Administrator of the Agency of Inter-
national Development; 
‘‘(3) the Secretary of Agriculture; 
‘‘(4) the Secretary of Defense; 
‘‘(5) the Secretary of the Army, acting through 
the Corps of Engineers; 
‘‘(6) the Secretary of Homeland Security; 
‘‘(7) the Attorney General; 
‘‘(8) the Secretary of State; 
‘‘(9) the Secretary of Transportation; 
‘‘(10) the Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency; 
‘‘(11) the Administrator of the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration; 
‘‘(12) the Director of the National Science Foun-
dation; 
‘‘(13) the Governor, or a representative of the 
Governor, of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mar-
iana Islands; 
‘‘(14) the Governor, or a representative of the 
Governor, of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; 
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‘‘(15) the Governor, or a representative of the 
Governor, of the State of Florida; 
‘‘(16) the Governor, or a representative of the 
Governor, of the State of Hawaii; 
‘‘(17) the Governor, or a representative of the 
Governor, of the Territory of Guam; 
‘‘(18) the Governor, or a representative of the 
Governor, of the Territory of American Samoa; and 
‘‘(19) the Governor, or a representative of the 
Governor, of the Virgin Islands. 
‘‘(e) NONVOTING MEMBERS.—The President, or a rep-
resentative of the President, of each of the Freely Associated 
States of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic 
of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau may 
appoint a nonvoting member of the Task Force. 
‘‘(f) RESPONSIBILITIES OF FEDERAL AGENCY MEM-
BERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Federal agency members 
of the Task Force shall— 
‘‘(A) identify the actions of their agencies 
that may affect coral reef ecosystems; 
‘‘(B) utilize the programs and authorities of 
their agencies to protect and enhance the condi-
tions of such ecosystems; and 
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‘‘(C) assist in the implementation of the Na-
tional Action Plan to Conserve Coral Reefs, the 
national coral reef action strategy developed 
under section 203, the local action strategies, 
and any other coordinated efforts approved by 
the Task Force. 
‘‘(2) CO-CHAIRS.—In addition to their respon-
sibilities under paragraph (1), the co-chairs of the 
Task Force shall administer performance of the func-
tions of the Task Force and facilitate the coordination 
of the Federal agency members of the Task Force. 
‘‘(g) WORKING GROUPS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The co-chairs of the Task 
Force may establish working groups as necessary to 
meet the goals and duties of this Act. The Task Force 
may request the co-chairs to establish such a working 
group. 
‘‘(2) PARTICIPATION BY NONGOVERNMENTAL OR-
GANIZATIONS.—The co-chairs may allow a nongovern-
mental organization or academic institution to par-
ticipate in such a working group. 
‘‘(h) FACA.—The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Task Force.’’. 
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(b) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—Section 204 of the 
Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 6403) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(k) MULTIYEAR COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—The 
Administrator may enter into multiyear cooperative agree-
ments with the heads of other Federal agencies, States, terri-
tories, other freely associated States, local governments, aca-
demic institutions, and non-governmental organizations to 
carry out the activities of the national coral reef action 
strategy developed under section 203 and to implement re-
gional strategies developed pursuant to section 211.’’. 
SEC. 7. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF THE 
INTERIOR PROGRAM. 
(a) AMENDMENTS AND CLARIFICATIONS TO DEFINI-
TIONS.— 
(1) FISH AND WILDLIFE COORDINATION ACT.— 
Section 8 of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act 
(16 U.S.C. 666b) is amended by inserting before the 
period at the end the following: ‘‘, including coral reef 
ecosystems (as such term is defined in section 214 of 
the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000)’’. 
(2) FISH AND WILDLIFE ACT OF 1956 AND FISH 
AND WILDLIFE IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1978.—With re-
spect to the authorities under the Fish and Wildlife 
Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a et. seq) and the authori-
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ties under the Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act of 
1978 (16 U.S.C. 742l), references in such Acts to 
‘‘wildlife’’ and ‘‘fish and wildlife’’ shall be construed 
to include coral reef ecosystems (as such term is de-
fined in section 214 of the Coral Reef Conservation 
Act of 2000, as amended by this Act). 
(b) CORAL REEF CONSERVATION ASSISTANCE.—The 
Secretary of the Interior may provide technical assistance 
and, subject to the availability of appropriations, financial 
assistance to coastal States (as that term is defined in the 
Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, as amended by this 
Act). 
SEC. 8. CLARIFICATION OF DEFINITIONS. 
Section 214 of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 
2000, as redesignated by section 6(a) of this Act (relating 
to definitions; 16 U.S.C. 6409), is further amended— 
(1) by amending paragraph (2) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(2) CONSERVATION.—The term ‘conservation’ 
means the use of methods and procedures that are 
necessary to preserve or sustain coral reefs and associ-
ated species as diverse, viable, and self-perpetuating 
coral reef ecosystems, including— 
‘‘(A) all activities associated with resource 
management, such as assessment, conservation, 
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protection, restoration, sustainable use, and 
management of habitat; 
‘‘(B) mapping; 
‘‘(C) monitoring of coral reef ecosystems; 
‘‘(D) assistance in the development of man-
agement strategies for marine protected area or 
networks thereof and marine resources consistent 
with the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 
U.S.C. 1431 et seq.) and the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 
U.S.C. 1801 et seq.); 
‘‘(E) law enforcement; 
‘‘(F) conflict resolution initiatives; 
‘‘(G) community outreach and education; 
and 
‘‘(H) activities that promote safe and eco-
logically sound navigation.’’; 
(2) by amending paragraph (3) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(3) CORAL.—The term ‘coral’ means species of 
the phylum Cnidaria, including— 
‘‘(A) all species of the orders Antipatharia 
(black 
corals), 
Scleractinia 
(stony 
corals), 
Gorgonacea 
(horny 
corals), 
Stolonifera 
(organpipe corals and others), Alcyonacea (soft 
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corals), and Helioporacea (blue coral), of the 
class Anthozoa; and 
‘‘(B) all species of the families Milleporidae 
(fire 
corals) 
and 
Stylasteridae 
(stylasterid 
hydrocorals), of the class Hydrozoa.’’; 
(3) by amending paragraph (4) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(4) CORAL REEF.—The term ‘coral reef’ means 
a limestone structure composed in whole or in part of 
living zooxanthellate stony corals (Class Anthozoa, 
Order Scleractinia), their skeletal remains, or both.’’; 
and 
(4) by amending paragraph (7) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’— 
‘‘(A) except as provided in subparagraph 
(B), means the Secretary of Commerce; and 
‘‘(B) in sections 203, 206(e), and 209, 
means— 
‘‘(i) the Secretary of the Interior, with 
respect to any coral reef or component 
thereof that is located in— 
‘‘(I) the National Wildlife Refuge 
System; 
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