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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 1442. Research program respecting possible long-range effects of pollution, overfishing, and man-induced changes of ocean ecosystems
(a) Secretary of Commerce
(1) The Secretary of Commerce, in close consultation with other
appropriate Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities
shall, within six months of October 23, 1972, initiate a
comprehensive and continuing program of research with respect to
the possible long-range effects of pollution, overfishing, and
man-induced changes of ocean ecosystems. These responsibilities
shall include the scientific assessment of damages to the natural
resources from spills of petroleum or petroleum products. In
carrying out such research, the Secretary of Commerce shall take
into account such factors as existing and proposed international
policies affecting oceanic problems, economic considerations
involved in both the protection and the use of the oceans, possible
alternatives to existing programs, and ways in which the health of
the oceans may best be preserved for the benefit of succeeding
generations of mankind.
(2) The Secretary of Commerce shall ensure that the program under
this section complements, when appropriate, the activities
undertaken by other Federal agencies pursuant to subchapter I of
this chapter and section 1443 of this title. That program shall
include but not be limited to -
(A) the development and assessment of scientific techniques to
define and quantify the degradation of the marine environment;
(B) the assessment of the capacity of the marine environment to
receive materials without degradation;
(C) continuing monitoring programs to assess the health of the
marine environment, including but not limited to the monitoring
of bottom oxygen concentrations, contaminant levels in biota,
sediments, and the water column, diseases in fish and shellfish,
and changes in types and abundance of indicator species;
(D) the development of methodologies, techniques, and equipment
for disposal of waste materials to minimize degradation of the
marine environment.
(3) The Secretary of Commerce shall ensure that the comprehensive
and continuing research program conducted under this subsection is
consistent with the comprehensive plan for ocean pollution research
and development and monitoring prepared under section 1703 (!1) of
this title.
(b) Action with other nations
In carrying out his responsibilities under this section, the
Secretary of Commerce, under the foreign policy guidance of the
President and pursuant to international agreements and treaties
made by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate,
may act alone or in conjunction with any other nation or group of
nations, and shall make known the results of his activities by such
channels of communication as may appear appropriate.
(c) Cooperation of other departments, agencies, and independent
instrumentalities
Each department, agency, and independent instrumentality of the
Federal Government is authorized and directed to cooperate with the
Secretary of Commerce in carrying out the purposes of this section
and, to the extent permitted by law, to furnish such information as
may be requested.
(d) Utilization of personnel, services, and facilities;
inter-agency agreements
The Secretary of Commerce, in carrying out his responsibilities
under this section, shall, to the extent feasible utilize the
personnel, services, and facilities of other Federal departments,
agencies, and instrumentalities (including those of the Coast Guard
for monitoring purposes), and is authorized to enter into
appropriate inter-agency agreements to accomplish this action.
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