118 STAT. 2933 PUBLIC LAW 108–447—DEC. 8, 2004 SEC. 903. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION OCEANS AND HUMAN HEALTH INITIATIVE. (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—As part of the interagency oceans and human health research program, the Secretary of Commerce is authorized to establish an Oceans and Human Health Initiative to coordinate and implement research and activities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration related to the role of the oceans, the coasts, and the Great Lakes in human health. In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall consult with other Federal agencies conducting integrated oceans and human health research and research in related areas, including the National Science Foundation. The Oceans and Human Health Initiative is authorized to provide support for— (1) centralized program and research coordination; (2) an advisory panel; (3) one or more National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration national centers of excellence; (4) research grants; and (5) distinguished scholars and traineeships. (b) ADVISORY PANEL.—The Secretary is authorized to establish an oceans and human health advisory panel to assist in the develop ment and implementation of the Oceans and Human Health Initia tive. Membership of the advisory group shall provide for balanced representation of individuals with multi disciplinary expertise in the marine and biomedical sciences. The Federal Advisory Com mittee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the oceans and human health advisory panel. (c) NATIONAL CENTERS.— (1) The Secretary is authorized to identify and provide financial support through a competitive process to develop, within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, for one or more centers of excellence that strengthen the capabilities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis tration to carry out its programs and activities related to the oceans’ role in human health. (2) The centers shall focus on areas related to agency missions, including use of marine organisms as indicators for marine environmental health, ocean pollutants, marine toxins and pathogens, harmful algal blooms, hypoxia, seafood testing, identification of potential marine products, and biology and pathobiology of marine mammals, and on disciplines including marine genomics, marine environmental microbiology, ecological chemistry and conservation medicine. (3) In selecting centers for funding, the Secretary will give priority to proposals with strong interdisciplinary scientific merit that encourage educational opportunities and provide for effective partnerships among the Administration, other Fed eral entities, State, academic, non profit research organizations, medical, and industry participants. (d) EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH GRANTS.— (1) The Secretary is authorized to provide grants of finan cial assistance to the scientific community for critical research and projects that explore the relationship between the oceans and human health and that complement or strengthen pro grams and activities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration related to the ocean’s role in human health. Officers and employees of Federal agencies may collaborate 33 USC 3102.
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