‘‘(2) assesses the status of knowledge on oil pol-
lution prevention, response, and mitigation tech-
nologies; 
‘‘(3) identifies regional oil pollution research 
needs and priorities for a coordinated program of re-
search at the regional level developed in consultation 
with State, local, and tribal governments; 
‘‘(4) assesses the status of spill response equip-
ment and determines areas in need of improvement, 
including amount, age, quality, effectiveness, or nec-
essary technological improvements; 
‘‘(5) assesses the status of real-time data avail-
able to mariners, researchers, and responders, in-
cluding weather, hydrographic data, and water con-
ditions, and the impact of incomplete and inacces-
sible data on preventing, detecting, or mitigating oil 
discharges; and 
‘‘(6) is subject to a 90-day public comment pe-
riod and shall address suggestions received and in-
corporate public input received, as appropriate.’’. 
SEC. 5. FEDERAL RESEARCH INTERAGENCY PLAN. 
Title VII of such Act (33 U.S.C. 2761) is further 
amended by inserting after section 7003 (as added by sec-
tion 4 of this Act) the following new section: 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
04:31 Jun 04, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2693.IH
H2693
jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
‘‘SEC. 7004. FEDERAL RESEARCH INTERAGENCY PLAN. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(1) PLAN.—Not later than 1 year after the 
submission of the assessment required under section 
7003, the Committee shall submit to Congress the 
plan that shall establish the priorities for Federal oil 
spill research and development. 
‘‘(2) RECOMMENDATIONS.—In the development 
of the plan, the Committee shall consider and utilize 
recommendations by the National Academy of 
Sciences and information from State, local, and trib-
al governments. 
‘‘(b) PLAN REQUIREMENTS.—The plan shall— 
‘‘(1) suggest changes to the program to improve 
the rates of oil recovery and spill mitigation; 
‘‘(2) make recommendations to improve tech-
nologies, practices, and procedures to provide for ef-
fective and direct response to oil spills; 
‘‘(3) make recommendations to improve the 
quality of real-time data available to mariners, re-
searchers, and responders; and 
‘‘(4) be subject to a 90-day public comment pe-
riod and address suggestions received and incor-
porate public input received, as appropriate.’’. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
04:31 Jun 04, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2693.IH
H2693
jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
SEC. 6. EXTRAMURAL GRANTS. 
Title VII of such Act (33 U.S.C. 2761) is further 
amended by inserting after section 7004 (as added by sec-
tion 5 of this Act) the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 7005. EXTRAMURAL GRANTS. 
‘‘In the execution of the program, the Secretary of 
Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall— 
‘‘(1) award competitive grants to institutions of 
higher education or other research institutions to 
carry out projects to advance research and develop-
ment and to demonstrate technologies for pre-
venting, detecting, or mitigating oil discharges that 
are relevant to the goals and priorities of the plan; 
and 
‘‘(2) incorporate a competitive, merit-based 
process for awarding grants that may be conducted 
jointly with other participating agencies.’’. 
SEC. 7. ANNUAL REPORT. 
Title VII of such Act (33 U.S.C. 2761) is further 
amended by inserting after section 7005 (as added by sec-
tion 6 of this Act) the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 7006. ANNUAL REPORT. 
‘‘Concurrent with the annual submission of the Presi-
dent’s budget to Congress, the Committee shall submit an 
annual report to Congress that describes the activities and 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
04:31 Jun 04, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2693.IH
H2693
jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
results of the program during the previous fiscal year and 
outlines the objectives for the next fiscal year.’’. 
SEC. 8. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE PARTICIPATION. 
The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Ad-
ministrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration, shall contract with the National Academy of 
Sciences to— 
(1) assess and evaluate, not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the status 
of Federal oil spill research and development as of 
the day before the date of enactment of this Act; 
(2) submit a report to the Federal oil spill re-
search 
committee 
established 
under 
section 
7001(a)(1) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and to 
Congress evaluating the conclusions and rec-
ommendations from the Federal research assessment 
under section 7003 of such Act to be utilized in the 
creation of the Federal oil spill research plan under 
section 7004 of such Act; and 
(3) submit a report to Congress, not later than 
1 year after the Federal oil spill research commit-
tee’s submission of such plan, evaluating the plan re-
quired by section 7004 of such Act. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
04:31 Jun 04, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2693.IH
H2693
jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
SEC. 9. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING CHANGES. 
(a) USE OF FUNDS.—Section 1012(a)(5) of the Oil 
Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2712(a)(5)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by adding ‘‘and’’ after 
the semicolon; and 
(2) by striking subparagraph (C). 
(b) NATIONAL ACADEMY.—Section 5001(c) of such 
Act (33 U.S.C. 2731(c)) is amended by striking paragraph 
(4). 
(c) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—Section 2 of such Act is 
amended by striking the items in the table of contents re-
lated to sections 7001 and 7002 and inserting the fol-
lowing: 
Sec. 7001. Federal oil spill research committee. 
Sec. 7002. Federal oil spill research program. 
Sec. 7003. Federal research assessment. 
Sec. 7004. Federal research interagency plan. 
Sec. 7005. Extramural grants. 
Sec. 7006. Annual report. 
Sec. 7007. Submerged oil program. 
Æ 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
04:31 Jun 04, 2009
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2693.IH
H2693
jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS