---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 1447d"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "1447d"
heading: "Research grant program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/1447d"
units:
  - "Chapter 32A — Regional Marine Research Programs"
---

# §1447d. Research grant program

- (a) **Program administration—** The [Administrator](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=a) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall administer a grant program to support the administrative functions of each [Board](/usc/16/1447a.md?p=1).
- (b) **Research grants—**
  - (1) Each [Board](/usc/16/1447a.md?p=1) may annually submit a grant application to the [Administrator](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=a) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to fund [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) aimed at achieving the research priorities set forth in each research plan, including amendments thereto, developed and approved pursuant to [section 1447c of this title](/usc/16/1447c.md).
  - (2) [Projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) eligible for funding under this section shall include research, investigations, studies, surveys, or demonstrations with respect to—
    - (A) baseline assessment of marine environmental quality, including chemical, physical, and biological indicators of environmental quality;
    - (B) effects or potential effects of contaminants, including nutrients, toxic chemicals and heavy metals, on the environment, including marine and aquatic organisms;
    - (C) effects of modification of habitats, including coastal wetlands, seagrass beds and reefs, on the environment, including marine organisms;
    - (D) assessment of impacts of pollutant sources and pollutant discharges into the coastal environment;
    - (E) transport, dispersion, transformation, and fate and effect of contaminants in the marine environment;
    - (F) marine and estuarine habitat assessment and restoration;
    - (G) methods and techniques for modeling environmental quality conditions and trends;
    - (H) methods and techniques for sampling of water, sediment, marine and aquatic organisms, and demonstration of such methods and techniques;
    - (I) the effects on human health and the environment of contaminants or combinations of contaminants at various levels, whether natural or anthropogenic, that are found in the marine environment;
    - (J) environmental assessment of potential effects of major coastal and offshore development [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) in the [region](/usc/16/1447a.md?p=6);
    - (K) assessment of the effects of climate change on marine resources in the [region](/usc/16/1447a.md?p=6); and
    - (L) analysis and interpretation of research data for the benefit of [State](/usc/16/1447a.md?p=7) and local environmental protection and resource management agencies in the [region](/usc/16/1447a.md?p=6).
  - (3) Grant applications submitted pursuant to this subsection shall include—
    - (A) a description of the specific research [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) to be conducted;
    - (B) identification of the organization responsible for each [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) and the principal investigator directing the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4);
    - (C) a budget statement for each [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4);
    - (D) a schedule of milestones and interim products for each research [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4);
    - (E) a description of the relationship of the proposed [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) to the goals, objectives, and priorities of the research plan for the [region](/usc/16/1447a.md?p=6) and to other research [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4); and
    - (F) any other information which may be required by the [Administrator](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=a).
- (c) **Review and approval of project proposals—**
  - (1) The [Administrator](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=a) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall review the annual grant application and, with the concurrence of the [Administrator](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=a) of the Environmental Protection Agency, approve such grant application with such conditions as are determined to be appropriate based on peer reviews conducted pursuant to [paragraph (2)](#c-2).
  - (2) The [Administrator](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=a) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall develop a system of peer review of grant applications which shall ensure that only the highest quality research is approved for funding and that each [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) is reviewed by research scientists outside the [region](/usc/16/1447a.md?p=6) concerned.
- (d) **Reporting—** Any recipient of a grant under this section shall report to the appropriate [Board](/usc/16/1447a.md?p=1), not later than 18 months after award of the grant, on the activities of such recipient conducted pursuant to this subsection. Such report shall include narrative summaries and technical data in such form as the [Administrator](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=a) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration may require.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 92–532, title IV, § 405, as added Pub. L. 101–593, title III, § 301, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 2967.)