I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6270 
To provide for a study by the Ocean Studies Board of the National Academies 
of Science examining the impact of ocean acidification and other stressors 
in estuarine environments. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 28, 2018 
Mr. POSEY (for himself, Mr. MAST, and Ms. BONAMICI) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, 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 com-
mittee concerned 
A BILL 
To provide for a study by the Ocean Studies Board of 
the National Academies of Science examining the impact 
of ocean acidification and other stressors in estuarine 
environments. 
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 ‘‘National Estuaries and 
Acidification Research Act of 2018’’ or the ‘‘NEAR Act 
of 2018’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:53 Jul 09, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6270.IH
H6270
dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Ocean acidification impacts human health, 
natural resources, and the environmental, economic 
and recreational uses of the coastline. 
(2) The current understanding of ocean acidifi-
cation impacts on estuarine ecosystems is inadequate 
to fully prepare and manage for changing environ-
mental conditions in nearshore locations. 
(3) While pH can be measured with high preci-
sion and accuracy in open ocean environments, more 
understanding of the carbonate system in estuarine 
ecosystems is needed for precise and accurate meas-
urements and observations. 
(4) The interaction of multiple stressors, includ-
ing salinity, pH, temperature, sea-level rise and nu-
trient-input, within estuarine ecosystems, is inad-
equately understood for managing the health, eco-
nomic, recreational and environmental impacts driv-
en by these interactions. 
(5) A better understanding is needed of how 
anthropogenic influences in coastal environments af-
fect estuarine ecosystems. 
(6) More integration and coordination is needed 
between regional, national, and global environmental 
observations in estuarine environments, supporting 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:53 Jul 09, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6270.IH
H6270
dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
prior investments in related topics such as nutrient 
loading, hypoxia, ocean acidification, and harmful 
algae bloom research and observational systems. 
SEC. 3. STUDY EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF OCEAN ACIDIFI-
CATION 
AND 
OTHER 
ENVIRONMENTAL 
STRESSORS ON ESTUARINE ENVIRONMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce 
shall make appropriate arrangements with the Ocean 
Studies Board of the National Academies under which the 
Board shall conduct a study that— 
(1) examines the existing science of ocean acidi-
fication in estuarine environments; 
(2) examines the challenges to studying ocean 
acidification and ocean acidification’s interactions 
with other environment stressors in estuarine envi-
ronments; 
(3) provides recommendations for improving fu-
ture research; and 
(4) identifies pathways for applying science in 
management and mitigation decisions. 
(b) CONTENTS
OF STUDY.—The study described 
under subsection (a) shall include— 
(1) the current state of data collection, inter-
pretation, storage, and retrieval and observational 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:53 Jul 09, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6270.IH
H6270
dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS
infrastructure of abiotic and biotic parameters in es-
tuarine ecosystems; 
(2) how environmental and anthropogenic 
changes or disturbances could affect abiotic and bi-
otic processes within estuaries; 
(3) how estuarine biotic and abiotic processes 
will be affected under predicted environmental 
changes; 
(4) the behavior of the carbonate system within 
estuarine environments; 
(5) the interactions of the carbonate system 
with other biotic and abiotic characteristics of estua-
rine ecosystems; 
(6) the gaps that exist in understanding the 
socio-economic and health impacts of ocean acidifica-
tion in estuaries; 
(7) future directions for scientific research; and 
(8) pathways for applying science in manage-
ment and mitigation decisions. 
(c) REPORT.—In entering into an arrangement under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall request that the Board 
transmit to Congress a report on the results of the study 
not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of 
this Act. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:53 Jul 09, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H6270.IH
H6270
dlhill on DSK3GLQ082PROD with BILLS