---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 1392"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "1392"
heading: "Monitoring ocean soundscapes"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/1392"
units:
  - "Chapter 31 — Marine Mammal Protection"
  - "Subchapter II — Conservation and Protection of Marine Mammals"
---

# §1392. Monitoring ocean soundscapes

- (a) **In general—** The Under [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) shall maintain and expand an ocean soundscape development program to—
  - (1) award grants to expand the deployment of Federal and non-Federal observing and data [management](/usc/16/1362.md?p=2) systems capable of collecting measurements of underwater sound for purposes of monitoring and analyzing baselines and trends in the underwater soundscape to protect and manage marine life;
  - (2) continue to develop and apply standardized forms of measurements to assess sounds produced by marine animals, physical processes, and anthropogenic activities; and
  - (3) after coordinating with the [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) of Defense, coordinate and make accessible to the public the datasets, modeling and analysis, and user-driven products and tools resulting from observations of underwater sound funded through grants awarded under [paragraph (1)](#a-1).
- (b) **Coordination—** The program described in [subsection (a)](#a) shall—
  - (1) include the Ocean Noise Reference Station Network of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National [Park](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-3) Service;
  - (2) use and coordinate with the Integrated Ocean Observing System; and
  - (3) coordinate with the Regional Ocean Partnerships and the Director of the [United States](/usc/16/1362.md?p=14) [Fish and Wildlife](/usc/16/3102.md?p=17) Service, as appropriate.
- (c) **Priority—** In awarding grants under [subsection (a)](#a), the Under [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) shall consider the geographic diversity of the recipients of such grants.
- (d) **Savings clause—** An activity may not be carried out under this section if the [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A) of Defense, in consultation with the Under [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A), determines that the activity would negatively impact the defense readiness or the national security of the [United States](/usc/16/1362.md?p=14).
- (e) **Funding—** From funds otherwise appropriated to the Under [Secretary](/usc/16/1362.md?p=12-A), $1,500,000 is authorized for each of fiscal years 2023 through 2028 to carry out this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–263, div. K, title CXIII, § 11305, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 4077.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 and also as part of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, and not as part of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 which comprises this chapter.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Definitions

For definitions of terms used in this section, see section 11301 of div. K of Pub. L. 117–263, set out as a note under section 1390 of this title.