A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the National Estuary Program, and for other purposes.
PL 114-162 (S.1523), enacted 05/20/2016

130 STAT. 409 
PUBLIC LAW 114–162—MAY 20, 2016 
Public Law 114–162 
114th Congress 
An Act 
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the National 
Estuary Program, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. COMPETITIVE AWARDS. 
Section 320(g) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 
U.S.C. 1330(g)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) COMPETITIVE AWARDS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Using the amounts made available 
under subsection (i)(2)(B), the Administrator shall make 
competitive awards under this paragraph. 
‘‘(B) APPLICATION
FOR
AWARDS.—The Administrator 
shall solicit applications for awards under this paragraph 
from State, interstate, and regional water pollution control 
agencies and entities, State coastal zone management agen-
cies, interstate agencies, other public or nonprofit private 
agencies, institutions, organizations, and individuals. 
‘‘(C) SELECTION
OF
RECIPIENTS.—In selecting award 
recipients under this paragraph, the Administrator shall 
select recipients that are best able to address urgent and 
challenging issues that threaten the ecological and eco-
nomic well-being of coastal areas. Such issues shall 
include— 
‘‘(i) extensive seagrass habitat losses resulting in 
significant impacts on fisheries and water quality; 
‘‘(ii) recurring harmful algae blooms; 
‘‘(iii) unusual marine mammal mortalities; 
‘‘(iv) invasive exotic species that may threaten 
wastewater systems and cause other damage; 
‘‘(v) jellyfish proliferation limiting community 
access to water during peak tourism seasons; 
‘‘(vi) flooding that may be related to sea level rise 
or wetland degradation or loss; and 
‘‘(vii) low dissolved oxygen conditions in estuarine 
waters and related nutrient management.’’. 
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 320 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 
U.S.C. 1330) is amended by striking subsection (i) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
Grants. 
May 20, 2016 
[S. 1523] 
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130 STAT. 410 
PUBLIC LAW 114–162—MAY 20, 2016 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 1523: 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 114–161 (Comm. on Environment and Public Works). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 161 (2015): Aug. 5, considered and passed Senate. 
Vol. 162 (2016): Apr. 26, considered and passed House, amended. 
May 12, Senate concurred in House amendment. 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appropriated 
to the Administrator $26,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2017 
through 2021 for— 
‘‘(A) expenses relating to the administration of grants 
or awards by the Administrator under this section, 
including the award and oversight of grants and awards, 
except that such expenses may not exceed 5 percent of 
the amount appropriated under this subsection for a fiscal 
year; and 
‘‘(B) making grants and awards under subsection (g). 
‘‘(2) ALLOCATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLANS.—Not less 
than 80 percent of the amount made available under this 
subsection for a fiscal year shall be used by the Adminis-
trator to provide grant assistance for the development, 
implementation, and monitoring of each of the conservation 
and management plans eligible for grant assistance under 
subsection (g)(2). 
‘‘(B) COMPETITIVE AWARDS.—Not less than 15 percent 
of the amount made available under this subsection for 
a fiscal year shall be used by the Administrator for making 
competitive awards described in subsection (g)(4).’’. 
Approved May 20, 2016. 
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