Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2022”.
Coastal Communities Ocean Acidification Act of 2022
A BILL
To amend the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 to require the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to collaborate with State and local governments and Indian Tribes on vulnerability assessments related to ocean acidification, research planning, and similar activities, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Definitions
Section 12403 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3702) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(6) Indian Tribe—The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
“(7) United States—The term United States means the States, collectively.”
Sec. 3 Ocean acidification collaboration improvement
Ongoing input mechanism— Section 12404(c)(2) of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3703(c)(2)) is amended—
in subparagraph (B), by striking “; and” and inserting a semicolon;
in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(D) establish and maintain an ongoing mechanism to engage affected industry members, stakeholders, non-Federal resource managers, community acidification networks, indigenous knowledge groups, and scientific experts not employed by the Federal Government to provide input on research, data, and monitoring that is necessary to support on-the-ground management, decision making, and adaptation related to ocean acidification and its impacts.”
Collaboration on vulnerability assessments, research planning, and similar activities—
Report— Section 12404(e)(4)(A) of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3703(c)(4)(A)) is amended—
by redesignating clauses (ix) and (x) as clauses (x) and (xi), respectively; and
by inserting after clause (viii) the following:
“(ix) identifies the efforts of the Secretary to collaborate with State and local governments and Indian Tribes on community vulnerability assessments, research planning, and similar activities, pursuant to section 12406(c);”
Improving collaboration— Section 12406 of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3705) is amended—
in subsection (c)(2)—
by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C);
in subparagraph (A), by striking “or” at the end; and
by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
“(B) on ocean acidification research, data, and monitoring from affected industry members, coastal stakeholders, non-Federal resource managers, coastal acidification networks, indigenous knowledge groups, and scientists not employed by the Federal government; or”
by adding at the end the following:
“(e) Better collaboration on vulnerability assessments, research planning, and similar activities
“(1) In general—In carrying out the Program, and in support of vulnerability assessments transmitted under section 12404(e)(4) and recommendations included in the strategic research plan described in section 12405(b)(10), the Secretary shall build upon existing activities and collaborate with State and local governments and Indian Tribes that are conducting or have completed vulnerability assessments, research planning, climate action plans, or other similar activities related to ocean acidification and coastal acidification and their impacts of ocean acidification on coastal communities, for the purpose of—
“(A) supporting collaborative interagency relationships and information sharing at the State, local, and Tribal levels; and
“(B) assisting State and local governments and Indian Tribes in—
“(i) improving existing systems and programs to better address ocean acidification and coastal acidification; and
“(ii) identifying whether such activities can be used as a model for other communities.
“(2) Priority—In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall prioritize underserved populations and entities in the use of resources of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.”