Marine Debris Emergency Act of 2013

“(d) Severe marine debris events

“(1) Priority consideration and disbursement—Not later than 60 days after receiving an application for a grant under subsection (c) with respect to a severe marine debris event, the Administrator shall, to the extent feasible—

“(A) approve or disapprove the application; and

“(B) if approving the application, provide the approved grant funds to the grant recipient.

“(2) Preference—In evaluating applications for grants under subsection (c), the Administrator shall give preference to projects that address severe marine debris events, including projects that address a severe marine debris event that has introduced or is likely to introduce marine invasive species to the United States.

“(3) Request for a declaration

“(A) In general—The Governor of a State may request that the Administrator declare a severe marine debris event, in such State or a region that includes such State, for purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2).

“(B) Response to requests—Not later than 30 days after receiving a request under subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall either—

“(i) declare a severe marine debris event with respect to the request; or

“(ii) provide a response to the Governor who submitted the request, explaining why the Administrator has not declared a severe marine debris event with respect to the request.

“(e) Guidance—The Administrator shall take appropriate steps to encourage recipients of grants under this section to—

“(1) educate staff and volunteers engaged in marine debris response efforts on the potential threats that marine debris and marine invasive species may pose to the United States with respect to living marine resources, the marine environment, navigation, and public health; and

“(2) coordinate marine debris response efforts with appropriate Federal, State, and local government and nongovernmental entities.

“(f) Marine invasive species defined—In this section, the term marine invasive species means a marine nonindigenous species (as defined in section 1003 of the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4702)) the introduction of which to the United States will, or is likely to—

“(1) cause economic or environmental harm;

“(2) threaten the diversity or abundance of native species or the ecological stability of infested waters; or

“(3) disrupt commercial, agricultural, aquacultural, or recreational activities dependent on infested waters.”