---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 2441"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "2441"
heading: "Federal agency cooperation"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/2441"
units:
  - "Chapter 44A — Antarctic Marine Living Resources Convention"
---

# §2441. Federal agency cooperation

- (a) **Responsibilities—**
  - (1) For the purpose of carrying out the policies and objectives of the [Convention](/usc/16/2432.md?p=4) or to implement any decision of the [Commission](/usc/16/2432.md?p=3)—
    - (A) the Director of the National Science [Foundation](/usc/16/450ss–1.md?p=1), in consultation with the Secretary of State and the heads of other appropriate departments and agencies of the United States, shall continue to support basic research investigations of the Antarctic marine ecosystem as a part of the United States Antarctic Program;
    - (B) the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Commerce, in consultation with the Director of the National Science [Foundation](/usc/16/450ss–1.md?p=1), the Secretary of State and the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, shall design and conduct the program of directed scientific research as set forth in paragraph 2 supplemental to and coordinated with the United States Antarctic Program; and
    - (C) the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Commerce and the Director of the National Science [Foundation](/usc/16/450ss–1.md?p=1), in consultation with the Secretary of State, may furnish facilities and personnel to the [Commission](/usc/16/2432.md?p=3) in order to assist the [Commission](/usc/16/2432.md?p=3) in carrying out its functions.
  - (2)
    - (A) The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Director of the National Science [Foundation](/usc/16/450ss–1.md?p=1), and other appropriate Federal officials, shall prepare a plan, which shall be updated annually, for conducting the directed research program required under [paragraph (1)(B)](#a-1-B) for each period of three consecutive fiscal years occurring during the period beginning on October 1, 1985, and ending on September 30, 1991. The plan shall—
      - (i) describe priority directed research needs for the implementation of the [Convention](/usc/16/2432.md?p=4);
      - (ii) identify which of those needs are to be fulfilled by the United States; and
      - (iii) specify the design of the research referred to in [paragraph (1)(B)](#a-1-B) and the funds, personnel, and facilities required for the research, including, in particular, the need for the cost of enhanced ship capacity.
    - (B) In preparing the plan referred to in [subparagraph (A)](#a-2-A), the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Commerce shall [take](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) into account, in [addition](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2) to any other matters the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) considers appropriate, the possibilities of securing productive results, the minimization of duplication, and the methods for monitoring and evaluating a [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4).
    - (C) The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Commerce shall submit to the Congress each year the plan required under [subparagraph (A)](#a-2-A). That part of the plan covering fiscal years 1986 through 1988 shall be submitted not later than October 1, 1985. That part of the plan covering each 3-fiscal-year period thereafter shall be submitted not later than the February 1 occurring before the beginning of the first fiscal year covered by that part of the plan.
- (b) **Consultation with other agencies—** In carrying out their functions under this section, the Secretary of State, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Commerce, and the Director of the National Science [Foundation](/usc/16/450ss–1.md?p=1) shall consult, as appropriate, with the Marine Mammal [Commission](/usc/16/2432.md?p=3) and with other departments and agencies of the United States.
- (c) **Icebreaking—** The Department of Homeland Security shall facilitate planning for the design, procurement, maintenance, deployment, and operation of icebreakers needed to provide a platform for Antarctic research. All funds necessary to support icebreaking operations, except for recurring incremental costs associated with specific [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4), shall be allocated to the United States Coast Guard.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–623, title III, § 312, Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3405; Pub. L. 109–241, title IX, § 902(h)(2), July 11, 2006, 120 Stat. 567.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2006—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 109–241 substituted “of Homeland Security” for “of Transportation”.