1998 Year of the Ocean Perspectives on Marine Environmental Quality 



Specifically, a regional marine research board is to be established for each region, consisting of 

 eleven members ~ three appointed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

 (NOAA), two by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and six by governors of states 

 located within the region. Each board is to develop and submit to NOAA and EPA for approval a 

 comprehensive marine research plan for the region, to be updated at least every four years. Each 

 board is also to: 1) provide a forum for coordinating research among research institutions and 

 agencies, 2) provide for review and comment on its research plan by affected users and interests, 3) 

 ensure that the highest quality of research projects will be conducted to carry out the plan; and 4) 

 prepare, for transmittal to Congress by NOAA and EPA, a periodic report on the marine 

 environmental research issues and activities within the region. 



Each marine research plan is to include: 1) an overview of the environmental quality conditions in 

 the coastal and marine waters of the region and expected trends in these conditions; 2) a 

 comprehensive inventory and description of all marine research related to water quality and 

 ecosystem health expected to be conducted during the four-year term of the plan; 3) a statement and 

 explanation of the marine research needs and priorities applicable to the marine and coastal waters 

 of the region over the upcoming ten-year period with emphasis on the upcoming three-to-five-year 

 period; 4) an assessment of how the plan will incorporate existing marine, coastal and estuarine 

 research and management in the region; and 5) a general description of marine research and 

 monitoring objectives and timetables for achievement through the funding of projects under this 

 title so as to meet the priorities specified in the plan in accordance with 3) above. 



Each board may annually submit a grant application to NOAA to fund projects aimed at achieving 

 the research priorities set forth in the relevant research plan. The title provides that the boards shall 

 cease to exist on October 1, 1999, unless extended by Congress. Authorization of appropriations for 

 the title expired at the end of fiscal year 1996. 



Other Statutes Relating to Marine Environmental Quality: 



• Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, 16 U.S.C. §§ 1531 et seg.: See Ocean Living 

 Resources Year of the Ocean Discussion Paper. 



• Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, as amended, 16 U.S.C. §§ 

 1801 et sec[.: See Ocean Living Resources Year of the Ocean Discussion Paper. 



• Marine Mammal Protection Act, as amended, 16 U.S.C. §§ 1361 et seq .: See Ocean Living 

 Resources Year of the Ocean Discussion Paper. 



• Outer ConUnental Shelf Lands Act, as amended, 43 U.S.C. §§ 1331 et seq.: See Ocean 

 Energy and Mineral Resources Year of the Ocean Discussion Paper. 



• Hazardous Materials Transportation acts, as amended, 49 U.S.C. §§ 5101 et seq.. inter alia , 

 which, inter alia, implement Annex III of MARPOL (prevention of pollution by harmful 



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