
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC1511d]

 
                      TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
 
                   CHAPTER 40--DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
 
Sec. 1511d. Chesapeake Bay Estuarine Resources Office


(a) Establishment

    (1) The Secretary of Commerce shall establish, within the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an office to be known as the 
Chesapeake Bay Estuarine Resources Office (hereinafter referred to as 
the ``Office'').
    (2) The Office shall be headed by a Director who shall be appointed 
by the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Chesapeake Bay 
Executive Council. Any individual appointed as Director shall have 
knowledge and experience in research or resource management efforts in 
the Chesapeake Bay.
    (3) The Director may appoint such additional personnel for the 
Office as the Director determines necessary to carry out this section.

(b) Functions

    The Office, in consultation with the Chesapeake Bay Executive 
Council, shall--
        (1) provide technical assistance to the Administrator, to other 
    Federal departments and agencies, and to State and local government 
    agencies in--
            (A) assessing the processes that shape the Chesapeake Bay 
        system and affect its living resources;
            (B) identifying technical and management alternatives for 
        the restoration and protection of living resources and the 
        habitats they depend upon; and
            (C) monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of 
        management plans;

        (2) develop and implement a strategy for the National Oceanic 
    and Atmospheric Administration that integrates the science, 
    research, monitoring, data collection, regulatory, and management 
    responsibilities of the Secretary of Commerce in such a manner as to 
    assist the cooperative, intergovernmental Chesapeake Bay Program to 
    meet the commitments of the Chesapeake Bay Agreement;
        (3) coordinate the programs and activities of the various 
    organizations within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
    Administration and the Chesapeake Bay Regional Sea Grant Programs 
    (including programs and activities in coastal and estuarine 
    research, monitoring, and assessment; fisheries research and stock 
    assessments; data management; remote sensing; coastal management; 
    and habitat conservation);
        (4) coordinate the activities of the National Oceanic and 
    Atmospheric Administration with the activities of the Environmental 
    Protection Agency and other Federal, State, and local agencies;
        (5) establish an effective mechanism which shall ensure that 
    projects have undergone appropriate peer review and provide other 
    appropriate means to determine that projects have acceptable 
    scientific and technical merit for the purpose of achieving maximum 
    utilization of available funds and resources to benefit the 
    Chesapeake Bay area;
        (6) remain cognizant of ongoing research, monitoring, and 
    management projects and assist in the dissemination of the results 
    and findings of those projects; and
        (7) submit a biennial report to the Congress and the Secretary 
    of Commerce with respect to the activities of the Office and on the 
    progress made in protecting and restoring the living resources and 
    habitat of the Chesapeake Bay.

(c) Budget line item

    The Secretary of Commerce shall identify, in the President's annual 
budget to the Congress, the funding request for the Office.

(d) Omitted

(e) Chesapeake Executive Council

    For purposes of this section, ``Chesapeake Executive Council'' means 
the representatives from the Commonwealth of Virginia, the State of 
Maryland, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Environmental Protection 
Agency, the District of Columbia, and the Chesapeake Bay Commission, who 
are signatories to the Chesapeake Bay Agreement, and any future 
signatories to that Agreement.

(Pub. L. 102-567, title III, Sec. 307, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4284.)

                          Codification

    Section is comprised of section 307 of Pub. L. 102-567. Subsec. (d) 
of section 307 of Pub. L. 102-567 amended section 2 of Pub. L. 98-210, 
97 Stat. 1409, which is not classified to the Code.
