---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 6408"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "6408"
heading: "Emergency assistance"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/6408"
units:
  - "Chapter 83 — Coral Reef Conservation"
---

# §6408. Emergency assistance

- (a) **In general—** Notwithstanding any other provision of law, from funds appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations under [section 6414 of this title](/usc/16/6414.md), the [Administrator](/usc/16/6415.md?p=1) may provide emergency assistance to any [covered State](/usc/16/6415.md?p=12) or [coral reef](/usc/16/6415.md?p=7) [stewardship](/usc/16/6415.md?p=23) partnership to respond to immediate harm to [coral reefs](/usc/16/6415.md?p=7) or [coral reef ecosystems](/usc/16/6415.md?p=8) arising from any of the exigent circumstances described in [subsection (b)](#b).
- (b) **Coral reef exigent circumstances—** The [Administrator](/usc/16/6415.md?p=1) shall develop a list of, and criteria for, circumstances that pose an exigent threat to [coral reefs](/usc/16/6415.md?p=7), including—
  - (1) new and ongoing outbreaks of disease;
  - (2) new and ongoing outbreaks of invasive or nuisance species;
  - (3) new and ongoing [coral](/usc/16/6415.md?p=5) bleaching events;
  - (4) natural disasters;
  - (5) industrial or mechanical incidents, such as vessel groundings, hazardous spills, or coastal construction accidents; and
  - (6) such other circumstances as the [Administrator](/usc/16/6415.md?p=1) determines appropriate.
- (c) **Annual report on exigent circumstances—** On February 1 of each year, the [Administrator](/usc/16/6415.md?p=1) shall submit to the [appropriate congressional committees](/usc/16/6415.md?p=3), the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report that—
  - (1) describes locations with exigent circumstances described in [subsection (b)](#b) that were considered but declined for emergency assistance, and the rationale for the decision; and
  - (2) with respect to each instance in which emergency assistance under this section was provided—
    - (A) the location and a description of the exigent circumstances that prompted the emergency assistance, the entity that received the assistance, and the current and expected outcomes from the assistance;
    - (B) a description of activities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that were curtailed as a result of providing the emergency assistance; and
    - (C) an assessment of whether further action is needed to restore the affected [coral reef](/usc/16/6415.md?p=7), recommendations for such [restoration](/usc/16/6415.md?p=19), and a cost estimate to implement such recommendations.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–562, title II, § 209, as added Pub. L. 117–263, div. J, title C, § 10001(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3940.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 6408, Pub. L. 106–562, title II, § 209, Dec. 23, 2000, 114 Stat. 2805, authorized appropriations, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 117–263, div. J, title C, § 10001(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3931.