(a) In general
To further community-based stewardship of coral reefs, coral reef stewardship partnerships for Federal and non-Federal coral reefs may be established in accordance with this section.
(b) Standards and proceduresThe Administrator shall develop and adopt—
(1)
standards for identifying individual coral reefs and ecologically significant units of coral reefs; and
(2)
processes for adjudicating multiple applicants for stewardship of the same coral reef or ecologically significant unit of a reef to ensure no geographic overlap in representation among stewardship partnerships authorized by this section.
(c) Membership for Federal coral reefsA coral reef stewardship partnership that has identified, as the subject of its stewardship activities, a coral reef or ecologically significant unit of a coral reef that is fully or partially under the management jurisdiction of any Federal agency specified in section 6402(c) of this title shall, at a minimum, include the following:
(1)
That Federal agency, a representative of which shall serve as chairperson of the coral reef stewardship partnership.
(5)
A covered Native entity culturally affiliated with the subject reef or ecologically significant unit, if any.
(6)
Such other members as the partnership considers appropriate, such as interested stakeholder groups and covered Native entities.
(d) Membership for non-Federal coral reefs
(1) In generalA coral reef stewardship partnership that has identified, as the subject of its stewardship activities, a coral reef or ecologically significant component of a coral reef that is not under the management jurisdiction of any Federal agency specified in section 6402(c) of this title shall, at a minimum, include the following:
(A)
A State or county’s resource management agency or a covered Native entity, a representative of which shall serve as the chairperson of the coral reef stewardship partnership.
(D)
Such other members as the partnership considers appropriate, such as interested stakeholder groups.
(2) Additional members
(A) In general
Subject to subparagraph (B), a coral reef stewardship partnership described in paragraph (1) may also include representatives of one or more Federal agencies.
(B) Requests; approvalA representative of a Federal agency described in subparagraph (A) may become a member of a coral reef stewardship partnership described in paragraph (1) if—
(e) Nonapplicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act
The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) [1] shall not apply to coral reef stewardship partnerships under this section.
(Pub. L. 106–562, title II, § 206, as added Pub. L. 117–263, div. J, title C, § 10001(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3937.)