Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 116 Part 4.djvu/669

 PUBLIC LAW 107-372—DEC. 19, 2002 116 STAT. 3097 Director shall have knowledge and experience in research or resource management efforts in the Chesapeake Bay. "(3) The Director may appoint such additional personnel for the Office as the Director determines necessary to carry out this section. "(b) FUNCTIONS.— The Office, in consultation with the Chesapeake Executive Council, shall— "(1) provide technical assistance to the Administrator, to other Federal departments and agencies, and to State and local government agencies in— "(A) assessing the processes that shape the Chesapeake Bay system and affect its living resources; "(B) identifying technical and management alternatives for the restoration and protection of living resources and the habitats they depend upon; and "(C) monitoring the implementation and effectiveness of management plans; "(2) develop and implement a strategy for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that integrates the science, research, monitoring, data collection, regulatory, and management responsibilities of the Secretary of Commerce in such a manner as to assist the cooperative, intergovernmental Chesapesike Bay Program to meet the commitments of the Chesapeake Bay Agreement; "(3) coordinate the programs and activities of the vsirious organizations within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Chesapeake Bay Regional Sea Grant Programs, and the Chesapeake Bay units of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, including— "(A) programs and activities in— "(i) coastal and estuarine research, monitoring, and assessment; "(ii) fisheries research and stock assessments; "(iii) data management; "(iv) remote sensing; "(v) coastal management; "(vi) habitat conservation and restoration; and "(vii) atmospheric deposition; and "(B) programs and activities of the Cooperative Oxford Laboratory of the National Ocean Service with respect to— "(i) nonindigenous species; "(ii) estuarine and marine species pathology; "(iii) human- pathogens in estuarine and marine environments; and "(iv) ecosystem health; "(4) coordinate the activities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with the activities of the Environmental Protection Agency and other Federal, State, and local agencies; "(5) establish an effective mechanism which shall ensure that projects have undergone appropriate peer review and provide other appropriate means to determine that projects have acceptable scientific and technical merit for the purpose of achieving maximimi utilization of available funds and resources to benefit the Chesapeake Bay area;

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