§4729 Coastal Aquatic Invasive Species Mitigation Grant Program and Mitigation Fund

Summary

Creates a joint grant program run by the Secretary of Commerce and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to pay for projects that study, prevent, control, or clean up aquatic invasive species in the coastal zone and the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone. Grants go to States, local governments, Indian Tribes, nonprofit groups, and colleges or universities. Money can pay for things like prevention and detection programs (including ballast water work), habitat restoration, new ballast treatment technology, and ways to protect plants, animals, and infrastructure. Grants may not be used for lawsuits. Recipients must provide matching funds equal to at least 25 percent of the project cost. The Foundation had to set application, review, approval, and monitoring rules within 90 days after December 4, 2018, and those approval rules must include consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the Administrator. A special trust in the U.S. Treasury called the Coastal Aquatic Invasive Species Mitigation Fund holds the money for grants. Each year the Fund may receive an amount equal to penalties assessed for violations of subsection (p) of section 1322 of title 33 from the prior fiscal year, plus $5,000,000. Funds are available to the Secretary and the Foundation to make grants, subject to appropriations. Defined terms used: coastal zone (as defined in law), eligible entity (who can get grants), Exclusive Economic Zone (as set by Presidential Proclamation 5030 on March 10, 1983), Foundation (National Fish and Wildlife Foundation), Fund (the trust fund), Program (the grant program), and Secretary (Secretary of Commerce).