Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 112 Part 5.djvu/700

 112 STAT. 3458 PUBLIC LAW 105-384—NOV. 13, 1998 of such reduction to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives.". (b) OFFICER RESPONSIBLE FOR COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND VESSEL FLEET.— Section 24(a) of the Coast and Geodetic Survey Commissioned Officers' Act of 1948 (33 U.S.C. 853u(a)) is amended by inserting "One such position shall be appointed from the officers on the active duty promotion list serving in or above the grade of captain, and who shall be responsible for administration of the commissioned officers, and for oversight of the operation of the vessel fleet, of the Administration." before "An officer". (c) RELIEF FROM MORATORIUM ON NEW APPOINTMENTS.— The Secretary of Commerce immediately shall terminate the moratorium on new appointments of commissioned officers to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Corps. Northwest Straits Msirine Conservation Initiative Act. Records. TITLE IV—NORTHWEST STRAITS MARINE CONSERVATION INITIATIVE SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE. This title may be cited as the "Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Act". SEC. 402. ESTABLISHMENT. There is established a commission to be known as the Northwest Straits Advisory Commission (in this title referred to as the "Commission"). SEC. 403. ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION. The Commission shall be organized and operated in accordance with the provisions of the Northwest Straits Citizen's Advisory Commission Report of August 20, 1998, on file with the Secretary of Commerce (in this title referred to as the "Report"). SEC. 404. FUNDING. (a) IN GENERAL.— The Secretary of Commerce may, from amounts available to the Secretary to carry out the work of the Commission, provide assistance for use in accordance with the Report and the priorities of the Commission— (1) to collect marine resources data in the Northwest Straits; (2) to coordinate Federal, State, and local marine resources protection and restoration activities in the Northwest Straits; and (3) to carry out other activities identified in the Report as important to the protection and restoration of marine resources in the Northwest Straits. (b) PROVISION. —The Secretary may provide the assistance authorized by subsection (a) through the Director of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, unless the Governor of the State of Washington objects. If the Governor objects, then the Secretary may provide the assistance though the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

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