---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 7505"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "7505"
heading: "Grants"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/7505"
units:
  - "Chapter 94 — National Oceans and Coastal Security"
---

# §7505. Grants

- (a) **Administration of grants—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not later than 90 days after [funds](/usc/16/7501.md?p=4) are deposited into the [Fund](/usc/16/7501.md?p=4) and made available to the [Foundation](/usc/16/7501.md?p=3) for administrative purposes, the [Foundation](/usc/16/7501.md?p=3) shall establish the following:
    - (A) Application and review procedures for the awarding of grants under this section, including requirements ensuring that any amounts awarded under such subsections may only be used for an eligible use described under [section 7504 of this title](/usc/16/7504.md).
    - (B) Selection procedures and criteria for the awarding of grants under this section that—
      - (i) require consultation with the [Administrator](/usc/16/7501.md?p=6) and the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of the Interior; and
      - (ii) prioritize the [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) or activities where non-Federal partners have committed to share the cost of the [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4).
    - (C) Eligibility criteria for awarding grants—
      - (i) under [subsection (b)](#b) to [coastal States](/usc/16/7501.md?p=2); and
      - (ii) under [subsection (c)](#c) to—
        - (I) entities including [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r), local governments, and [Indian tribes](/usc/16/544.md?p=g); and
        - (II) the research and restoration work of associations, nongovernmental organizations, public-private partnerships, and academic institutions.
    - (D) Performance accountability and monitoring measures for programs and activities funded by a grant awarded under subsection [(b)](#b) or [(c)](#c).
    - (E) Procedures and methods to ensure accurate accounting and appropriate administration of grants awarded under this section, including standards of recordkeeping.
    - (F) Procedures to carry out audits of the [Fund](/usc/16/7501.md?p=4) as necessary, but not less frequently than once every year if grants have been awarded in that year.
    - (G) Procedures to carry out audits of the recipients of grants under this section.
    - (H) Procedures to make publicly available on the Internet a list of all [projects](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) funded by the [Fund](/usc/16/7501.md?p=4), that includes at a minimum the grant recipient, grant amount, [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) description, and [project](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-4) status.
  - (2) **Approval—** The [Foundation](/usc/16/7501.md?p=3) shall submit to the [Administrator](/usc/16/7501.md?p=6) for approval each procedure, measure, method, and standard established under [paragraph (1)](#a-1).
- (b) **Grants to coastal States—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Administrator](/usc/16/7501.md?p=6) and the [Foundation](/usc/16/7501.md?p=3) may award grants according to the procedures established in [subsection (a)](#a) to [coastal States](/usc/16/7501.md?p=2) and United States territories to support activities consistent with [section 7503](/usc/16/7503.md)[^1] of this title. In determining distribution of grants, the [Foundation](/usc/16/7501.md?p=3) may—
    - (A) consider for each [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a)—
      - (i) percent of total United States shoreline miles;
      - (ii) coastal population density; and
      - (iii) other factors;
    - (B) establish criteria for [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r), including the requirement for a [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) to establish a plan to distribute the [funds](/usc/16/7501.md?p=4); and
    - (C) establish a maximum and minimum percentage of funding to be awarded to each [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) or United States territory.
  - (2) **Indian tribes—** As a condition on receipt of a grant under this subsection, a [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) that receives a grant under this subsection shall ensure that [Indian tribes](/usc/16/544.md?p=g) in the [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) are eligible to participate in any competitive grants established in this chapter.
- (c) **National grants for oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Administrator](/usc/16/7501.md?p=6) and the [Foundation](/usc/16/7501.md?p=3) may award grants according to the procedures established in [subsection (a)](#a) to support activities consistent with [section 7504 of this title](/usc/16/7504.md).
  - (2) **Advisory panel—**
    - (A) **In general—** The [Foundation](/usc/16/7501.md?p=3) may establish an advisory panel to conduct reviews of applications for grants under [paragraph (1)](#c-1) and the [Foundation](/usc/16/7501.md?p=3) may consider the recommendations of the advisory panel with respect to such applications.
    - (B) **Membership—** The advisory panel described under [subparagraph (A)](#c-2-A) shall include [persons](/usc/16/450rr–1.md?p=b) representing—
      - (i) ocean and coastal dependent industries;
      - (ii) geographic regions as defined by the [Foundation](/usc/16/7501.md?p=3); and
      - (iii) academic institutions.

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 114–113, div. O, title IX, § 906, Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 3032.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 7503 of this title, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original “section 904”, meaning section 904 of div. O of Pub. L. 114–113, which is classified to section 7503 of this title, but probably should have been a reference to section 905 of div. O of Pub. L. 114–113, which is classified to section 7504 of this title. See subsec. (c)(1) of this section.