1. Short Title
This Act may be cited as the “Marine Disease Emergency Act of 2014”.
Marine Disease Emergency Act of 2014
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Commerce to identify, declare, and respond to marine disease emergencies, and for other purposes.
2. Definitions
In this Act:
Coordinator— The term coordinator means an individual designated to coordinate the response to a marine disease emergency under section 3(d).
Data Repository— The term Data Repository means the National Data Repository for Marine Diseases Research and Services established under section 6.
Exclusive Economic Zone— The term exclusive economic zone means the exclusive economic zone of the United States established by Presidential Proclamation No. 5030, of March 10, 1983.
Fund— The term Fund means the Marine Disease Emergency Fund established under section 5.
Marine Disease— The term marine disease means a pathological condition that—
is caused by a living organism;
occurs in a population of marine species; and
appears to be infectious.
Marine Disease Emergency— The term marine disease emergency means an event that—
affects the marine environment;
is caused by a marine disease or environmental stressor;
is likely to threaten the sustainability of a marine species or the health of a marine ecosystem; and
is likely to expand in geographic scope.
Marine Environment— The term marine environment means those areas of coastal, ocean, and estuarine waters over which the United States has jurisdiction, including the exclusive economic zone, consistent with international law.
Marine Species— The term marine species means finfish, mollusks, crustaceans, and all other forms of marine animal and plant life other than marine mammals and birds.
Secretary— The term Secretary means the Secretary of Commerce acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
State— The term State means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, and any other Commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States, and each federally recognized Indian tribe.
Working Group— The term Working Group means the Marine Disease Emergency Working Group established under section 4.
3. Declaration of Marine Disease Emergency and Response
In General— The Secretary may declare a marine disease emergency in accordance with subsection (b).
Declaration Procedure— After receiving notice that a marine disease emergency may be occurring, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable—
not later than 24 hours after receiving such notice, contact members of the Working Group for guidance on whether the event is a marine disease emergency; and
not later than 7 days after receiving such notice, declare whether the event is a marine disease emergency.
Effect of Declaration—
Powers of Secretary— Upon declaring a marine disease emergency under subsection (b), and subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary may take such actions as may be appropriate to respond to the emergency, including making grants, providing awards for expenses, entering into contracts and conducting and supporting investigations into the cause, treatment, or prevention of the emergency.
Response Activities— As soon as possible after declaring a marine disease emergency, the Secretary shall carry out the activities described in subsections (d) and (e) with respect to the emergency.
Designation of Coordinator—
In General— The Secretary shall designate an individual to coordinate the response to each marine disease emergency declared under subsection (b).
Duties of Coordinator— The coordinator, under the supervision of the Secretary, shall lead a response to the emergency that may include Federal, State, regional, and local agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and other persons as appropriate.
Assistant Coordinators— The Secretary may designate one or more individuals to assist the coordinator in carrying out the duties described in paragraph (2).
Development of Response Plan—
In General— Not later than 21 days after declaring a marine disease emergency under subsection (b) the Secretary shall, in consultation with the Working Group and coordinator, develop a written response plan for each marine disease emergency.
Contents— The plan described in paragraph (1) shall include, at minimum—
a list of persons at appropriate Federal, regional, State, and local agencies who can assist the Secretary in implementing a coordinated and effective response to the marine disease emergency;
a description of the steps necessary to diagnose the cause of the marine disease emergency;
training, mobilization, and utilization procedures for personnel, facilities, and other resources necessary to conduct a rapid and effective response to the marine disease emergency;
an assessment of the potential effects of the marine disease emergency on populations of marine species; and
strategies to minimize morbidity and mortality in marine species and minimize transmission of the disease.
Publication— Not later than 21 days after declaring a marine disease emergency under subsection (b) the Secretary shall publish a summary of the plan on a publicly accessible Internet website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Termination of Marine Disease Emergency—
In General— A marine disease emergency declared under subsection (b) shall terminate on the date on which the Secretary declares that the emergency no longer exists, or upon the expiration of the 120-day period beginning on the date on which the declaration is made by the Secretary under subsection (b), whichever occurs first.
Renewal of Declaration— A declaration that terminates under paragraph (1) may be renewed by the Secretary and the time limitations in paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to each such renewal.
Report— Not later than 90 days after the termination of a marine disease emergency declared under subsection (b), the Secretary shall—
submit to Congress a report describing—
the cause and environmental impact of the marine disease emergency;
the response to the marine disease emergency and recommendations, if any, for improving responses to future marine disease emergencies; and
recommendations, if any, for preventing future marine disease emergencies; and
publish the report on a publicly accessible Internet website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
4. Marine Disease Emergency Working Group
Establishment— There is established in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration a Working Group to be known as the “Marine Disease Emergency Working Group”.
Duties— The Working Group shall—
advise the Secretary on risk assessment, preparation, monitoring, research, and response to marine diseases that may significantly impact the health and sustainability of marine species and ecosystems;
advise the Secretary in determining whether a marine disease emergency should be declared or terminated;
assist the Secretary in drafting response plans under section 3(e);
assist the Secretary in drafting reports under section 3(g); and
consult with the Director of the Data Repository established under section 6 to ensure the quality and availability of the data contained therein.
Membership—
Composition— Subject to paragraph (3), the Working Group shall be composed of 7 members as follows:
The Secretary or the Secretary’s designee.
The Administrator of the United States Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service or the Administrator’s designee.
The Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service or the Director’s designee.
The Director of the United States Geological Survey or the Director’s designee.
Three members, appointed by the President, who have specialized knowledge and expertise in epidemiology, ecology, or microbiology, or expertise in responding to disease outbreaks or ecological disasters.
Limitation— A member appointed under paragraph (1)(E) shall not be an employee of an agency (as defined in section 551 of title 5, United States Code). If any such member becomes an employee of an agency, that member may continue as a member for not longer than the 30-day period beginning on the date the member becomes an employee of an agency.
Temporary Members— The Secretary may appoint additional members to the Working Group to serve during a marine disease emergency declared under section (3)(b).
Terms—
Non-Agency Members— Each member appointed under paragraph (1)(E) shall be appointed for a term of 2 years and may be reappointed thereafter by the President.
Temporary Members— The term of each member appointed under paragraph (3) shall expire 90 days after the date on which the marine disease emergency for which that member was appointed is terminated under section 3(f).
Vacancies— A vacancy in the Working Group shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
Basic Pay— Members of the Working Group shall serve without pay.
Travel Expenses— Subject to the availability of appropriations, each member of the Working Group shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.
Chairperson— The Secretary, or a designee of the Secretary, shall be the Chairperson of the Working Group.
Meetings— The Secretary shall convene the Working Group not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. Thereafter, the Working Group shall meet not less than annually and may also meet at the call of the Chairperson or a majority of its members.
Staffing and assistance— The Secretary shall make available to the Working Group any staff, information, administrative services, or assistance the Secretary considers reasonably required to enable the Working Group to carry out its duties.
Termination— Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply with respect to the Working Group.
5. Establishment of marine disease emergency fund
Establishment— There is established in the Treasury a fund to be known as the “Marine Disease Emergency Fund” which shall be administered by the Secretary. Amounts in the fund shall be made available without fiscal year limitation, and subject to appropriations, to carry out this Act.
Amounts— The Fund shall consist of—
amounts appropriated to the Fund; and
amounts received by the Secretary as donations, gifts, or contributions for the purpose of addressing marine disease emergencies.
Use of Fund— Amounts in the Fund shall be used only to respond to a marine disease emergency declared under section 3(b).
Supplement Not Supplant— Amounts from the Fund shall be used to supplement and not supplant other Federal, State, regional, and local public funds provided for activities under this Act.
6. National Data Repository for Marine Diseases Research and Services
In general— The Secretary shall establish a National Data Repository for Marine Diseases Research and Services. Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary shall enter into a contract with an entity eligible under subsection (c) to develop and administer such repository.
Purpose— The purpose of the Data Repository shall be to—
collect, store, and disseminate information regarding research, data, findings, and technical assistance materials related to marine diseases;
facilitate the development, coordination, and rapid dissemination of research on marine diseases; and
collect epidemiological, environmental impact, timeline, global positioning system registered location, and ecological consequence data regarding marine diseases, linking different datasets across the country to assist researchers in developing strategies for addressing marine diseases.
Eligibility— To be eligible for the contract under subsection (a), an entity shall—
be a public or private nonprofit entity;
have experience—
collecting data;
developing systems to store data in a secure manner;
developing Internet web portals and other means of communicating with a wide audience; and
making information available to the public; and
meet such other criteria as the Secretary considers appropriate.
Data Repository Director— As a condition of receiving the contract under subsection (a), an entity shall agree to employ a director of the Data Repository chosen in accordance with guidance issued by the Secretary. The Director, in consultation with the Secretary and Working Group, shall—
collect information and research methodologies from individuals, agencies, and organizations engaged in the research of marine diseases;
ensure research methods are standardized whenever possible to ensure data comparability across regions;
securely store and maintain information in the Data Repository;
make information in the Data Repository accessible through an Internet website or other appropriate means of sharing information; and
ensure that the information contained in the Data Repository is accessible to members of the public, marine disease researchers, and persons responding to marine disease emergencies.
7. Marine Disease Emergency for Sea Star Wasting Syndrome
In General— The marine mortality event affecting species of sea stars commonly referred to as “sea star wasting syndrome” is deemed to be a marine disease emergency declared by the Secretary under section 3(b). Beginning on the effective date of this section, the Secretary shall immediately carry out the activities described in subsections (d) and (e) of section 3 with respect to such marine disease emergency.
Effective Date— This section shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
8. Authorization of Appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $15,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2015 through 2020.