Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

16 U.S.C. § 6405

Coral reef stewardship partnerships

(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 procedures

The 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 reefs

section 6402(c) of this titleA 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 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.
(2)
A State or county’s resource management agency to the extent that such partnership covers a reef within such States or county’s jurisdiction.
(3)
section 6411(b) of this title A coral reef research center designated under .
(4)
A nongovernmental organization.
(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 general

section 6402(c) of this titleA 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 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.
(B)
section 6411(b) of this title A coral reef research center designated under .
(C)
A nongovernmental organization.
(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; approval

A representative of a Federal agency described in subparagraph (A) may become a member of a coral reef stewardship partnership described in paragraph (1) if—
(i)
the representative submits a request to become a member to the chairperson of the partnership referred to in paragraph (1)(A); and
(ii)
the chairperson consents to the request.
(e)

Nonapplicability of Federal Advisory Committee Act

1

1 See References in Text note below.
The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.)  shall not apply to coral reef stewardship partnerships under this section.

Pub. L. 106–562, title II, § 206Pub. L. 117–263, div. J, title C, § 10001(a)136 Stat. 3937(, as added , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 92–46386 Stat. 770Pub. L. 117–286136 Stat. 4197section 101 of Title 5The Federal Advisory Committee Act, referred to in subsec. (e), is , , , which was set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, and was substantially repealed and restated in chapter 10 (§ 1001 et seq.) of Title 5 by , §§ 3(a), 7, , , 4361. For disposition of sections of the Act into chapter 10 of Title 5, see Disposition Table preceding .

Prior Provisions

Pub. L. 106–562, title II, § 206114 Stat. 2804Pub. L. 117–263, div. J, title C, § 10001(a)136 Stat. 3931A prior section 6405, , , , related to emergency assistance, prior to repeal by , , .