§6405 Coral reef stewardship partnerships

Summary

Creates coral reef stewardship partnerships so local groups can help care for coral reefs that are on Federal or non‑Federal lands. The Administrator must make rules to identify individual reefs and important reef areas. The Administrator must also make a fair process to choose among competing applicants so stewardship areas do not overlap. These partnerships are not covered by the Federal Advisory Committee Act. If a reef is fully or partly managed by a Federal agency listed in section 6402(c), the partnership must include that Federal agency (its representative will be the chair), the State or county resource agency if the reef is in their area, a coral reef research center designated under section 6411(b), a nongovernmental organization, any covered Native entity tied to the reef, and other appropriate members like stakeholders. If the reef is not under those Federal agencies, the partnership must at least include a State or county resource agency or a covered Native entity (who will be chair), the designated research center, a nongovernmental organization, and other members as needed. Federal agencies may join non‑Federal partnerships if they ask and the chair agrees.