[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2750 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2750
To establish an Interagency Working Group on Coastal Blue Carbon, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 22, 2021
Ms. Bonamici (for herself, Mr. Posey, Mr. Beyer, and Mr. Mast)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Science, Space,
and Technology, and House Administration, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish an Interagency Working Group on Coastal Blue Carbon, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Blue Carbon for Our Planet Act''.
SEC. 2. INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.
(a) Establishment.--The National Science and Technology Council
Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology shall establish an
Interagency Working Group on Coastal Blue Carbon.
(b) Purposes.--The Interagency Working Group on Coastal Blue Carbon
shall oversee the development of a national map of coastal blue carbon
ecosystems, establish national coastal blue carbon ecosystem protection
and restoration priorities, assess the biophysical, social, and
economic impediments to coastal blue carbon ecosystem restoration,
study the effects of climate change, environmental stressors, and human
stressors on carbon sequestration rates, and preserve the continuity of
coastal blue carbon data.
(c) Membership.--The Interagency Working Group on Coastal Blue
Carbon shall be comprised of senior representatives from the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Environmental Protection
Agency, the National Science Foundation, the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, the United States Geological Survey, the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, the Bureau
of Indian Affairs, the Smithsonian Institution, the Army Corps of
Engineers, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Energy, the
Department of Defense, the Department of Transportation, the Department
of State, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Council on
Environmental Quality.
(d) Chair.--The Interagency Working Group shall be chaired by the
Administrator.
(e) Responsibilities.--The Interagency Working Group shall--
(1) oversee the development, update, and maintenance of a
national map and inventory of coastal blue carbon ecosystems,
including habitat types with a regional focus in analysis that
is usable for local level protection planning and restoration;
(2) develop a strategic assessment of the biophysical,
chemical, social, statutory, regulatory, and economic
impediments to protection and restoration of coastal blue
carbon ecosystems;
(3) develop a national strategy for foundational science
necessary to study, synthesize, and evaluate the effects of
climate change, environmental, and human stressors on
sequestration rates and capabilities of coastal blue carbon
ecosystems protection;
(4) establish national coastal blue carbon ecosystem
protection and restoration priorities, including an assessment
of current Federal funding being used for restoration efforts;
(5) ensure the continuity, use, and interoperability of
data assets through the Smithsonian Environmental Research
Center's Coastal Carbon Data Clearinghouse; and
(6) assess current legal authorities to protect and restore
blue carbon ecosystems.
(f) Reports to Congress.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Interagency Working Group shall
provide to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of
the House of Representatives, the Committee on Natural
Resources of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report
containing the following:
(A) A summary of federally funded coastal blue
carbon ecosystem research, monitoring, preservation,
and restoration activities, including the budget for
each of these activities and describe the progress in
advancing the national priorities established in
section 4(a)(4)(A).
(B) An assessment of biophysical, social, and
economic impediments to coastal blue carbon ecosystem
restoration, including the vulnerability of coastal
blue carbon ecosystems to climate impacts, such as sea-
level rise, ocean and coastal acidification, and other
environmental and human stressors.
(2) Strategic plan.--
(A) In general.--The Interagency Working group
shall create a strategic plan for Federal investments
in basic research, development, demonstration, long-
term monitoring and stewardship, and deployment of
coastal blue carbon ecosystem projects for the 5-year
period beginning at the start of the first fiscal year
after the date on which the budget assessment is
submitted under paragraph (1). The plan shall include
an assessment of the use of existing Federal programs
to protect and preserve coastal blue carbon ecosystems
and identify the need for any additional authorities or
programs.
(B) Timing.--The Interagency Working Group shall--
(i) submit the strategic plan under
paragraph (A) to the Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives, the Committee on Natural
Resources of the House of Representatives, and
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate on a date that is
not later than one year after the enactment of
this Act and not earlier than the date on which
the report under paragraph (1) is submitted to
such committees of Congress; and
(ii) submit a revised version of such plan
not less than quinquennially thereafter.
(C) Federal register.--Not later than 90 days
before the strategic plan under this paragraph, or any
revision thereof, is submitted under subparagraph (B),
the Interagency Working Group shall publish such plan
in the Federal Register and provide an opportunity for
submission of public comments for a period of not less
than 60 days.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL MAP OF COASTAL BLUE CARBON ECOSYSTEMS.
(a) National Map.--The Interagency Working Group shall--
(1) produce, update at least once every five years, and
maintain a national level map and inventory of coastal blue
carbon ecosystems, including--
(A) the species and types of habitats and species
in the ecosystem;
(B) the condition of such habitats including
whether a habitat is degraded, drained, eutrophic, or
tidally restricted;
(C) type of public or private ownership and any
protected status;
(D) the size of the ecosystem;
(E) the salinity boundaries;
(F) the tidal boundaries;
(G) an assessment of carbon sequestration
potential, methane production, and net greenhouse gas
reductions including consideration of--
(i) quantification;
(ii) verifiability;
(iii) comparison to a historical baseline,
as available; and
(iv) permanence of those benefits;
(H) an assessment of cobenefits of ecosystem and
carbon sequestration;
(I) the potential for landward migration as a
result of sea level rise;
(J) any upstream restrictions detrimental to the
watershed process and conditions such as dams, dikes,
and levees;
(K) the conversion of coastal blue carbon
ecosystems to other land uses and the cause of such
conversion; and
(L) a depiction of the effects of climate change,
including sea level rise, environmental stressors, and
human stressors on the sequestration rate, carbon
storage, and potential of coastal blue carbon
ecosystems; and
(2) in carrying out paragraph (1)--
(A) incorporate, to the extent possible, existing
data collected through federally funded research and by
a Federal agency, State agency, local agency, Tribe,
including data collected from the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration Coastal Change Analysis
Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National
Wetlands Inventory, United States Geological Survey
LandCarbon program, Federal Emergency Management Agency
LiDAR information coordination and knowledge program,
Department of Energy Biological and Environmental
Research program, and Department of Agriculture
National Coastal Blue Carbon Assessment; and
(B) engage regional technical experts in order to
accurately account for regional differences in coastal
blue carbon ecosystems.
(b) Use.--The Interagency Working Group shall use the national map
and inventory--
(1) to assess the carbon sequestration potential of
different coastal blue carbon habitats, and account for any
regional differences;
(2) to assess and quantify emissions from degraded and
destroyed coastal blue carbon ecosystems;
(3) to develop regional assessments and to provide
technical assistance to regional, State, Tribal, and local
government agencies, and regional information coordination
entities as defined in section 123030(6) of the Integrated
Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act (33 U.S.C. 3602);
(4) to assess degraded coastal blue carbon ecosystems and
their potential for restoration, including developing scenario
modeling to identify vulnerable areas where management,
protection, and restoration efforts should be focused;
(5) produce future predictions of coastal blue carbon
ecosystems and carbon sequestration rates in the context of
climate change, environmental stressors, and human stressors;
and
(6) use such map to inform the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency's creation of the annual
Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks.
SEC. 4. RESTORATION AND PROTECTIONS FOR EXISTING COASTAL BLUE CARBON
ECOSYSTEMS.
(a) In General.--The Administrator shall--
(1) lead the Interagency Working Group in implementing the
strategic plan under section 2(e)(2);
(2) coordinate monitoring and research efforts among
Federal agencies in cooperation with State, local, and Tribal
government and international partners and nongovernmental
organizations;
(3) establish a national goal for conserving ocean and
coastal blue carbon ecosystems within the territory of the
United States, and as appropriate setting targets for
restoration of degraded coastal blue carbon ecosystems;
(4) in coordination with the Interagency Working Group and
as informed by the report under section 2(e) on current Federal
expenditures on coastal blue carbon ecosystem restoration,
identify--
(A) national coastal blue carbon ecosystem
protection and restoration priorities that would
produce the highest rate of carbon sequestration and
greatest ecosystem benefits such as flood protection,
soil and beach retention, erosion reduction,
biodiversity, water purification, and nutrient cycling
in the context of other environmental stressors and
climate change; and
(B) ways to improve coordination and to prevent
unnecessary duplication of effort among Federal
agencies and departments with respect to research on
coastal blue carbon ecosystems through existing and new
coastal management networks; and
(5) in coordination with State, local, and Tribal
governments and coastal stakeholders, develop integrated pilot
programs to restore degraded coastal blue carbon ecosystems in
accordance with subsection (b).
(b) Integrated Pilot Programs To Restore and Protect Degraded
Coastal Blue Carbon Ecosystems.--In carrying out subsection (a)(5), the
Administrator shall--
(1) establish integrated pilot programs that develop best
management practices, including design criteria and performance
functions for coastal blue carbon ecosystem restoration and
protection, nature-based adaptation strategies, restoration
areas that intersect with the built environments as green-gray
infrastructure projects, management practices for landward
progression or migration of coastal blue carbon ecosystems, and
identify potential barriers to restoration efforts, and
increase long-term carbon sequestration and storage;
(2) ensure that the pilot programs cover geographically and
ecologically diverse locations with significant ecological,
economic, and social benefits, such as flood protection, soil
and beach retention, erosion reduction, biodiversity, water
purification, and nutrient cycling to reduce hypoxic
conditions, and maximum potential for greenhouse gas emission
reduction;
(3) establish a procedure for reviewing applications for
the pilot program, taking into account--
(A) quantification;
(B) verifiability;
(C) additionality as compared to a historical
baseline, when feasible; and
(D) permanence of those benefits;
(4) ensure, through consultation with the Interagency
Working Group, that the goals and metrics for the pilot
programs are communicated to the appropriate State, Tribe, and
local governments, and to the general public;
(5) coordinate with relevant Federal agencies on the
Interagency Working Group to prevent unnecessary duplication of
effort among Federal agencies and departments with respect to
restoration and protection programs;
(6) give priority to proposed eligible restoration
activities that would--
(A) result in long-term protection and
sequestration of carbon stored in coastal and marine
environments;
(B) protect key habitats for fish, wildlife, and
the maintenance of biodiversity;
(C) provide coastal protection from development,
storms, flooding, and land-based pollution;
(D) protect coastal resources of national,
historical, and cultural significance; and
(E) benefit communities of color, low-income
communities, Tribal or Indigenous communities, or rural
communities; and
(7) report to the Interagency Working Group, and Committee
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives, the Committee on Natural Resources of the
House of Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate on the total number
of acres of land or water protected or restored through the
program, the status of restoration projects, and the blue
carbon sequestration potential of each restoration pilot
project.
SEC. 5. COASTAL CARBON DATA CLEARINGHOUSE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of the Smithsonian, in coordination
with the Administrator and members of the Interagency Working Group,
shall provide for the long-term stewardship of, and access to, data
relating to coastal blue carbon ecosystems and national mapping, by
supporting the maintenance of the Coastal Carbon Data Clearinghouse.
(b) Coastal Carbon Data Clearinghouse Duties.--Acting through the
Coastal Carbon Data Clearinghouse, the Secretary of the Smithsonian in
coordination with the Administrator and members of the Interagency
Working Group shall process, store, archive, provide access to, and
incorporate to the extent possible, all data collected through
federally funded research by a Federal agency, State, local agency,
Tribe, academic scientist, or any other relevant entity.
(c) Global and National Data Assets.--The Secretary of the
Smithsonian in coordination with the Administrator and members of the
Interagency Working Group shall ensure that existing global and
national data assets are incorporated into the Coastal Carbon Data
Clearinghouse to the greatest extent possible.
(d) Establishment of Standards, Protocols, and Procedures.--The
Secretary of the Smithsonian in coordination with the Administrator and
members of the Interagency Working Group, shall establish standards,
protocols, and procedures for the processing, storing, archiving, and
providing access to data in the Coastal Carbon Data Clearinghouse and
best practices for sharing such data with State, local, and Tribal
governments, coastal stakeholders, non-Federal resource managers, and
academia. The Administrator shall work to disseminate such data to the
greatest extent practicable.
(e) Digital Tools and Resources.--The Secretary of the Smithsonian,
in coordination with the Administrator and members of the Interagency
Working Group, shall develop digital tools and resources to support the
public use of the Coastal Carbon Data Clearinghouse.
SEC. 6. NAS ASSESSMENT OF CONTAINMENT OF CARBON DIOXIDE IN DEEP
SEAFLOOR ENVIRONMENT.
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Administrator shall seek to enter into an agreement with the
National Academy of Sciences to conduct a comprehensive assessment on
the long-term effects of geologic stores of carbon dioxide in a deep
seafloor environment, including impacts on marine species and
ecosystems.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration to carry out this Act $15,000,000 for each
of the fiscal years 2022 through 2026.
SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere in the
Under Secretary's capacity as the Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(2) Coastal blue carbon ecosystem.--The term ``coastal blue
carbon ecosystem'' refers to vegetated coastal habitats
including mangroves, tidal marshes, seagrasses, kelp forests,
and other tidal, freshwater, or salt-water wetlands, and their
ability to sequester carbon from the atmosphere, accumulate it
in biomass for years to decades, and store it in soils for
centuries to millennia. Coastal blue carbon ecosystems include
both autochthonous carbon and allochthonous carbon.
(3) State.--The term ``State'' means each State of the
United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands of the United
States, and any other territory or possession of the United
States.
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