30 USC 1905 - Authorization of appropriations

Collapse to view only § 1905. Authorization of appropriations

§ 1901. Definitions
§ 1902. Research program
§ 1903. Grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements
§ 1904. Marine mineral research centers
§ 1905. Authorization of appropriations

§ 1901. DefinitionsIn this chapter:

(1) The term “contract” has the same meaning as “procurement contract” in section 6303 of title 31.

(2) The term “cooperative agreement” has the same meaning as in section 6305 of title 31.

(3) The term “eligible entity” means—

(A) a research or educational entity chartered or incorporated under Federal or State law;

(B) an individual who is a United States citizen; or

(4) The term “grant” has the same meaning as “grant agreement” in section 6304 of title 31.

(5) The term “in-kind contribution” means a noncash contribution provided by a non-Federal entity that directly benefits and is related to a specific project or program. An in-kind contribution may include real property, equipment, supplies, other expendable property, goods, and services.

(6) The term “marine mineral resource” means—

(A) sand and aggregates;

(B) placers;

(D) manganese nodules;

(E) cobalt crusts;

(F) metal sulfides;

(G) for purposes of this section and sections 1902 through 1905 of this title only, methane hydrate; and

(H) other marine resources that are not—

(i) oil and gas;

(ii) fisheries; or

(iii) marine mammals.

(7) The term “methane hydrate” means—

(A) a methane clathrate that is in the form of a methane-water ice-like crystalline material and is stable and occurs naturally in deep-ocean and permafrost areas; and

(B) other natural gas hydrates found in association with deep-ocean and permafrost deposits of methane hydrate.

(8) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior.

(Pub. L. 91–631, title II, § 201, as added Pub. L. 104–325, § 2(3), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3994; amended Pub. L. 106–193, § 4, May 2, 2000, 114 Stat. 236.)

§ 1902. Research program

(a) In general

(b) Program goal

The goal of the program shall be to—

(1) promote research, identification, assessment, and exploration of marine mineral resources in an environmentally responsible manner;

(2) assist in developing domestic technologies required for efficient and environmentally sound development of marine mineral resources;

(3) coordinate and promote the use of technologies developed with Federal assistance, and the use of available Federal assets, for research, identification, assessment, exploration, and development of marine mineral resources; and

(4) encourage academia and industry to conduct basic and applied research, on a joint basis, through grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts with the Federal Government.

In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall—

(1) promote and coordinate partnerships between industry, government, and academia to research, identify, assess, and explore marine mineral resources in an environmentally sound manner;

(2) undertake programs to develop the basic information necessary to the long-term national interest in marine mineral resources (including seabed mapping) and to ensure that data and information are accessible and widely disseminated as needed and appropriate;

(3) identify, and promote cooperation among agency programs that are developing, technologies developed by other Federal programs that may hold promise for facilitating undersea applications related to marine mineral resources, including technologies related to vessels and other platforms, underwater vehicles, survey and mapping systems, remote power sources, data collection and transmission systems, and various seabed research systems; and

(4) foster communication and coordination between Federal and State agencies, universities, and private entities concerning marine mineral research on seabeds of the continental shelf, ocean basins, and arctic and cold water areas.

In carrying out these responsibilities, the Secretary shall ensure the participation of non-Federal users of technologies and data related to marine mineral resources in planning and priority setting.

(Pub. L. 91–631, title II, § 202, as added Pub. L. 104–325, § 2(3), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3995.)

§ 1903. Grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements

(a) Assistance and coordination

(1) In general

The Secretary shall award grants or contracts to, or enter into cooperative agreements with, eligible entities to support research for the development or utilization of—

(A) methods, equipment, systems, and components necessary for the identification, assessment, and exploration of marine mineral resources in an environmentally responsible manner;

(B) methods of detecting, monitoring, and predicting the presence of adverse environmental effects in the marine environment and remediating the environmental effects of marine mineral resource exploration, development, and production; and

(2) Cost-sharing for contracts or cooperative agreements

(A) Federal share

(B) Non-Federal share

The remaining non-Federal share of the cost of a project carried out under this section may be—

(i) in the form of cash or in-kind contributions, or both; and

(ii) comprised of funds made available under other Federal programs, except that non-Federal funds shall be used to defray at least 10 percent of the total cost of the project.

(b) Competitive review

(1) In general

An entity shall not be eligible to receive a grant or contract, or participate in a cooperative agreement, under subsection (a) unless—

(A) the entity submits a proposal to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may reasonably require; and

(B) the proposal has been evaluated by a competitive review panel under paragraph (3).

(2) Competitive review panels

(A) Composition

A competitive review panel shall be chaired by the Secretary or by the Secretary’s designee and shall be composed of members who meet the following criteria:

(i) Appointment

(ii) Experience

(iii) Interest

(B) No compensation

(3) Evaluation

A competitive review panel shall base an evaluation of a proposal on criteria developed by the Secretary that shall include—

(A) the merits of the proposal;

(B) the research methodology and costs of the proposal;

(C) the capability of the entity submitting the proposal and any other participating entity to perform the proposed work and provide in-kind contributions;

(D) the amount of matching funds provided by the entity submitting the proposal or provided by other Federal, State, or private entities;

(E) the extent of collaboration with other Federal, State, or private entities;

(F) in the case of a noncommercial entity, the existence of a cooperative agreement with a commercial entity that provides for collaboration in the proposed research;

(G) whether the proposal promotes responsible environmental stewardship; and

(H) such other factors as the Secretary considers appropriate.

(1) Administrative expenses

(2) Construction costs

(d) Reports

An eligible entity that receives a grant or contract or enters into a cooperative agreement under this section shall submit an annual progress report and a final technical report to the Secretary that—

(1) describes project activities, implications of the project, the significance of the project to marine mineral research, identification, assessment, and exploration, and potential commercial and economic benefits and effects of the project; and

(2) in the case of an annual progress report, includes a project plan for the subsequent year.

(Pub. L. 91–631, title II, § 203, as added Pub. L. 104–325, § 2(3), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3995.)

§ 1904. Marine mineral research centers

(a) In general

(b) Concentration

(1) administers a federally funded center for marine minerals research;

(2) matriculates students for advanced degrees in marine geological sciences, nonenergy natural resources, and related fields of science and engineering;

(3) is a United States university with established programs and facilities that primarily focus on marine mineral resources;

(4) has engaged in collaboration and cooperation with industry, governmental agencies, and other universities in the field of marine mineral resources;

(5) has demonstrated significant engineering, development, and design experience in two or more of the following areas; 1

1 So in original. The semicolon probably should be a colon.

(A) seabed exploration systems;

(B) marine mining systems; and

(6) has been designated by the Secretary as a State Mining and Mineral Resources Research Institute.

(d) Center activitiesA center shall—

(1) provide technical assistance to the Secretary concerning marine mineral resources;

(2) advise the Secretary on pertinent international activities in marine mineral resources development;

(3) engage in research, training, and education transfer associated with the characterization and utilization of marine mineral resources; and

(4) promote the efficient identification, assessment, exploration, and management of marine mineral resources in an environmentally sound manner.

(e) Allocation of funds

(f) Limitations

(1) Administrative expenses

(2) Construction costs

(Pub. L. 91–631, title II, § 204, as added Pub. L. 104–325, § 2(3), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3998.)

§ 1905. Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this chapter.

(Pub. L. 91–631, title II, § 205, as added Pub. L. 104–325, § 2(3), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3999.)