---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 6603"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "6603"
heading: "Conservation assistance"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/6603"
units:
  - "Chapter 85 — Marine Turtle Conservation"
---

# §6603. Conservation assistance

- (a) **In general—** Subject to the availability of [funds](/usc/16/6602.md?p=4) and in consultation with other Federal officials, the [Secretary](/usc/16/6602.md?p=8) shall use amounts in the [Fund](/usc/16/6602.md?p=4) to provide financial assistance for [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) for the [conservation](/usc/16/6602.md?p=2) of [marine turtles](/usc/16/6602.md?p=6-A), [freshwater turtles](/usc/16/6602.md?p=3-A), or [tortoises](/usc/16/6602.md?p=10-A) for which [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) proposals are approved by the [Secretary](/usc/16/6602.md?p=8) in accordance with this section.
- (b) **Project proposals—**
  - (1) **Eligible applicants—** A proposal for a [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) for the [conservation](/usc/16/6602.md?p=2) of [marine turtles](/usc/16/6602.md?p=6-A), [freshwater turtles](/usc/16/6602.md?p=3-A), or [tortoises](/usc/16/6602.md?p=10-A) may be submitted to the [Secretary](/usc/16/6602.md?p=8) by—
    - (A) any wildlife management authority of a foreign country or [territory of the United States](/usc/16/6602.md?p=9) that has within its boundaries [marine turtle](/usc/16/6602.md?p=6-A), [freshwater turtle](/usc/16/6602.md?p=3-A), or [tortoise](/usc/16/6602.md?p=10-A) [habitat](/usc/16/6602.md?p=5), if the activities of the authority directly or indirectly affect [marine turtle](/usc/16/6602.md?p=6-A), [freshwater turtle](/usc/16/6602.md?p=3-A), or [tortoise](/usc/16/6602.md?p=10-A) [conservation](/usc/16/6602.md?p=2); or
    - (B) any other [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) or group with the demonstrated expertise required for the [conservation](/usc/16/6602.md?p=2) of [marine turtles](/usc/16/6602.md?p=6-A), [freshwater turtles](/usc/16/6602.md?p=3-A), or [tortoises](/usc/16/6602.md?p=10-A).
  - (2) **Required elements—** A [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) proposal shall include—
    - (A) a statement of the purposes of the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4);
    - (B) the name of the individual with overall responsibility for the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4);
    - (C) a description of the qualifications of the individuals that will conduct the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4);
    - (D) a description of—
      - (i) methods for [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) implementation and outcome assessment;
      - (ii) staff and community management for the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4); and
      - (iii) the logistics of the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4);
    - (E) an estimate of the [funds](/usc/16/6602.md?p=4) and time required to complete the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4);
    - (F) evidence of support for the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) by appropriate governmental entities of the countries in which the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) will be conducted, if the [Secretary](/usc/16/6602.md?p=8) determines that such support is required for the success of the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4);
    - (G) information regarding the source and amount of matching funding available for the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4); and
    - (H) any other information that the [Secretary](/usc/16/6602.md?p=8) considers to be necessary for evaluating the eligibility of the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) for funding under this chapter.
- (c) **Project review and approval—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/6602.md?p=8) shall—
    - (A) not later than 30 days after receiving a [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) proposal, provide a copy of the proposal to other Federal officials, as appropriate; and
    - (B) review each [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) proposal in a timely manner to determine whether the proposal meets the criteria specified in [subsection (d)](#d).
  - (2) **Consultation; approval or disapproval—** Not later than 180 days after receiving a [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) proposal, and subject to the availability of [funds](/usc/16/6602.md?p=4), the [Secretary](/usc/16/6602.md?p=8), after consulting with other Federal officials, as appropriate, shall—
    - (A) consult on the proposal with the government of each country and [territory of the United States](/usc/16/6602.md?p=9) in which the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) is to be conducted;
    - (B) after [taking](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) into consideration any comments resulting from the consultation, approve or disapprove the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) proposal; and
    - (C) provide written notification of the approval or disapproval to the [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) that submitted the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) proposal, other Federal officials, and each country and [territory of the United States](/usc/16/6602.md?p=9) described in [subparagraph (A)](#c-2-A).
- (d) **Criteria for approval—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/6602.md?p=8) may approve a [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) proposal under this section if the [Secretary](/usc/16/6602.md?p=8) determines that the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) will help to restore, recover, and sustain a viable population of [marine turtles](/usc/16/6602.md?p=6-A), [freshwater turtles](/usc/16/6602.md?p=3-A), or [tortoises](/usc/16/6602.md?p=10-A) in the wild by assisting efforts in a foreign country or [territory of the United States](/usc/16/6602.md?p=9) to implement a [marine turtle](/usc/16/6602.md?p=6-A), [freshwater turtle](/usc/16/6602.md?p=3-A), or [tortoise](/usc/16/6602.md?p=10-A) [conservation](/usc/16/6602.md?p=2) program.
- (e) **Project sustainability—** To the maximum extent practicable, in determining whether to approve [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) proposals under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/16/6602.md?p=8) shall give preference to [conservation](/usc/16/6602.md?p=2) [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) that are designed to ensure effective, long-term [conservation](/usc/16/6602.md?p=2) of [marine turtles](/usc/16/6602.md?p=6-A), [freshwater turtles](/usc/16/6602.md?p=3-A), or [tortoises](/usc/16/6602.md?p=10-A) and the [habitats](/usc/16/6602.md?p=5) of [marine turtles](/usc/16/6602.md?p=6-A), [freshwater turtles](/usc/16/6602.md?p=3-A), or [tortoises](/usc/16/6602.md?p=10-A).
- (f) **Matching funds—** In determining whether to approve [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) proposals under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/16/6602.md?p=8) shall give preference to [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) for which matching [funds](/usc/16/6602.md?p=4) are available.
- (g) **Project reporting—**
  - (1) **In general—** Each [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) that receives assistance under this section for a [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) shall submit to the [Secretary](/usc/16/6602.md?p=8) periodic reports (at such intervals as the [Secretary](/usc/16/6602.md?p=8) may require) that include all information that the [Secretary](/usc/16/6602.md?p=8), after consultation with other government officials, determines is necessary to evaluate the progress and success of the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) for the purposes of ensuring positive results, assessing problems, and fostering improvements.
  - (2) **Availability to the public—** Reports under [paragraph (1)](#g-1), and any other documents relating to [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) for which financial assistance is provided under this chapter, shall be made available to the public.
- (h) **Multiyear grants—**
  - (1) **Authorization—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/6602.md?p=8) may award to a [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) who is otherwise eligible for a grant under this section a multiyear grant of up to 5 years to carry out a [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) that the [person](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) demonstrates is an effective, long-term [conservation](/usc/16/6602.md?p=2) strategy for [marine turtles](/usc/16/6602.md?p=6-A), [freshwater turtles](/usc/16/6602.md?p=3-A), or [tortoises](/usc/16/6602.md?p=10-A) and the [habitat](/usc/16/6602.md?p=5) of [marine turtles](/usc/16/6602.md?p=6-A), [freshwater turtles](/usc/16/6602.md?p=3-A), or [tortoises](/usc/16/6602.md?p=10-A).
  - (2) **Effect—** Nothing in this subsection precludes the [Secretary](/usc/16/6602.md?p=8) from awarding a grant on an annual basis.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 108–266, § 4, July 2, 2004, 118 Stat. 793; Pub. L. 116–9, title VII, § 7001(c)(3)(C), Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 787; Pub. L. 118–159, div. E, title LIII, § 5307(a), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 2446.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2024—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 118–159 added subsec. (h).

2019—Pub. L. 116–9, § 7001(c)(3)(C)(i), struck out “Marine turtle” before “Conservation” in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–9, § 7001(c)(3)(C)(ii), inserted “, freshwater turtles, or tortoises” after “marine turtles”.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 116–9, § 7001(c)(3)(C)(iii)(I), inserted “, freshwater turtles, or tortoises” after “marine turtles” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 116–9, § 7001(c)(3)(C)(iii)(II), added subpar. (A) and struck out former subpar. (A) which read as follows: “any wildlife management authority of a foreign country that has within its boundaries marine turtle nesting habitat if the activities of the authority directly or indirectly affect marine turtle conservation; or”.

Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 116–9, § 7001(c)(3)(C)(iii)(III), inserted “, freshwater turtles, or tortoises” after “marine turtles”.

Subsec. (c)(2)(A), (C). Pub. L. 116–9, § 7001(c)(3)(C)(iv), inserted “and territory of the United States” after “each country”.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 116–9, § 7001(c)(3)(C)(v), added subsec. (d) and struck out former subsec. (d). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Secretary may approve a project proposal under this section if the project will help recover and sustain viable populations of marine turtles in the wild by assisting efforts in foreign countries to implement marine turtle conservation programs.”

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 116–9, § 7001(c)(3)(C)(vi), substituted “marine turtles, freshwater turtles, or tortoises and the habitats of marine turtles, freshwater turtles, or tortoises” for “marine turtles and their nesting habitats”.