TITLE I—CONGRESSIONAL DEC-
LARATION 
OF 
NATIONAL 
OCEANS POLICY 
SEC. 101. NATIONAL OCEANS POLICY. 
(a) POLICY.—The Congress declares that it is the 
continuing policy of the United States to protect, main-
tain, and restore the health of marine ecosystems in order 
to fulfill the social, economic, and other requirements of 
present and future generations of Americans. 
(b) RESPONSIBILITY
OF FEDERAL GOVERNANCE 
SYSTEM.—In order to carry out the policy set forth in this 
Act, the President, acting through the Administrator of 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
and top officials of other Federal agencies and depart-
ments, shall—
(1) protect, maintain, and restore marine bio-
logical diversity and the functioning of marine eco-
systems; 
(2) require that ocean resources be used in a 
manner that is ecologically sustainable; 
(3) manage covered actions affecting the oceans 
on an ecosystem basis; 
(4) exercise precaution in support of protecting, 
restoring, and maintaining the health of marine eco-
systems in the case of uncertain or inadequate infor-
mation; 
(5) use the best available scientific, social, and 
economic information to make decisions; 
(6) support research and education to improve 
basic understanding of marine ecosystems and their 
management and restoration; 
(7) promote and support international collabo-
ration on research of marine ecosystems and the 
conservation of healthy marine ecosystems; 
(8) adapt in a timely manner to new informa-
tion on the health of marine ecosystems and the ef-
fectiveness of management decisions; 
(9) be equitable and transparent, and promote 
cooperation among all stakeholders; and 
(10) provide accountability. 
TITLE II—NATIONAL 
STANDARDS 
SEC. 201. NATIONAL STANDARDS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF STANDARDS.—To the fullest 
extent possible the policies, regulations, and Public Laws 
of the United States shall be interpreted and administered 
in accordance with the following national standards: 
(1) Covered actions affecting United States 
ocean waters or ocean resources must be conducted
in a manner that is consistent with the protection 
and maintenance of healthy marine ecosystems and, 
where appropriate, the restoration of degraded ma-
rine ecosystems. 
(2) Any covered action that may significantly 
affect United States ocean waters or ocean resources 
may proceed only if the covered action, individually 
and in combination with other covered actions—
(A) is not likely to significantly harm the 
health of any marine ecosystem; and 
(B) is not likely to significantly impede the 
restoration of the health of any marine eco-
system. 
(3) In the case of incomplete or inconclusive in-
formation as to the effects of a covered action on 
United States ocean waters or ocean resources, deci-
sions shall be made in such a way as will ensure pro-
tection, maintenance, and restoration of healthy ma-
rine ecosystems. 
(4) To the extent practicable, and consistent 
with other provisions of this Act, including the other 
National Standards under this subsection, adverse 
social and economic impacts on communities that 
are significantly resource dependent shall be mini-
mized. Consideration of impacts on resource depend-
ent communities shall include, but not be limited to, 
cumulative impacts. 
(b) RULEMAKING.—
(1) APPLICATION OF NATIONAL STANDARDS TO 
COVERED
ACTIONS.—Within 12 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, 
in consultation with the National Oceans Council, 
shall issue regulations that shall govern the applica-
tion of the national standards set forth in subsection 
(a) with respect to covered actions. 
(2) OTHER REGULATIONS.—The Administrator 
may issue other regulations regarding implementa-
tion of subsection (a) as the Administrator considers 
necessary. 
SEC. 202. DETERMINATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH NA-
TIONAL 
OCEANS 
POLICY 
AND 
NATIONAL 
STANDARDS. 
(a) REQUIREMENT.—Any determination of whether a 
covered action complies with section 201 shall be made 
in accordance with 
(1) regulations issued under section 201; and 
(2) any applicable Regional Ocean Ecosystem 
Plan that is approved or prepared by the Adminis-
trator under this Act.
(b) APPLICATION OF NATIONAL STANDARDS NOT AF-
FECTED.—This section shall not be construed as limiting 
the application of section 201 before the approval or 
issuance of a Regional Ocean Ecosystem Plan by the Ad-
ministrator. 
(c) GUIDANCE.—Within 12 months after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consulta-
tion with the National Oceans Council, shall issue detailed 
guidance to the Regional Ocean Councils, based on the 
national standards listed in section 201, for the issuance 
of Regional Ocean Ecosystem Plans under title VII. The 
guidance shall address—
(1) assessing and monitoring the health of ma-
rine ecosystems; 
(2) how to apply the definition of ‘‘marine eco-
system health’’ at the regional level, including estab-
lishing marine ecosystem health criteria and indica-
tors; 
(3) predicting the likely effects of proposed cov-
ered actions on the health of marine ecosystems, and 
determining whether those effects are significant; 
(4) facilitating ecosystem-based management of 
United States ocean waters and ocean resources; 
and