View all text of Chapter 83 [§ 6401 - § 6415]
§ 6408. Emergency assistance
(a) In general
(b) Coral reef exigent circumstancesThe Administrator shall develop a list of, and criteria for, circumstances that pose an exigent threat to coral reefs, including—
(1) new and ongoing outbreaks of disease;
(2) new and ongoing outbreaks of invasive or nuisance species;
(3) new and ongoing coral bleaching events;
(4) natural disasters;
(5) industrial or mechanical incidents, such as vessel groundings, hazardous spills, or coastal construction accidents; and
(6) such other circumstances as the Administrator determines appropriate.
(c) Annual report on exigent circumstancesOn February 1 of each year, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report that—
(1) describes locations with exigent circumstances described in subsection (b) that were considered but declined for emergency assistance, and the rationale for the decision; and
(2) with respect to each instance in which emergency assistance under this section was provided—
(A) the location and a description of the exigent circumstances that prompted the emergency assistance, the entity that received the assistance, and the current and expected outcomes from the assistance;
(B) a description of activities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that were curtailed as a result of providing the emergency assistance; and
(C) an assessment of whether further action is needed to restore the affected coral reef, recommendations for such restoration, and a cost estimate to implement such recommendations.
(Pub. L. 106–562, title II, § 209, as added Pub. L. 117–263, div. J, title C, § 10001(a), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3940.)