120 STAT. 2140
Reports.
VerDate 14-DEC-2004
13:05 Jul 12, 2007
PUBLIC LAW 109–364—OCT. 17, 2006
(1) IDENTIFICATION OF HAZARDS.—The Secretary of Defense shall provide available information to the Secretary of Commerce to assist the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in preparing nautical charts and other navigational materials for coastal waters that identify known or potential hazards posed by disposed military munitions to private activities, including commercial shipping and fishing operations. (2) CONTINUATION OF INFORMATION ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary of Defense shall continue activities to inform potentially affected users of the ocean environment, particularly fishing operations, of the possible hazards from contact with disposed military munitions and the proper methods to mitigate such hazards. (c) RESEARCH.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall continue to conduct research on the effects on the ocean environment and those who use it of military munitions disposed of in coastal waters. (2) SCOPE.—Research under paragraph (1) shall include— (A) the sampling and analysis of ocean waters and sea beds at or adjacent to military munitions disposal sites selected pursuant to paragraph (3) to determine whether the disposed military munitions have caused or are causing contamination of such waters or sea beds; (B) investigation into the long-term effects of seawater exposure on disposed military munitions, particularly effects on chemical munitions; (C) investigation into the impacts any such contamination may have on the ocean environment and those who use it, including public health risks; (D) investigation into the feasibility of removing or otherwise remediating the military munitions; and (E) the development of effective safety measures for dealing with such military munitions. (3) RESEARCH CRITERIA.—In conducting the research required by this subsection, the Secretary shall ensure that the sampling, analysis, and investigations are conducted at representative sites, taking into account factors such as depth, water temperature, nature of the military munitions present, and relative proximity to onshore populations. In conducting such research, the Secretary shall select at least two representative sites each in the areas of the Atlantic coast, the Pacific coast (including Alaska), and the Hawaiian Islands. (4) AUTHORITY TO MAKE GRANTS AND ENTER INTO COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—In conducting research under this subsection, the Secretary may make grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements with, qualified research entities. (d) MONITORING.—If the historical review required by subsection (a) or the research required by subsection (c) indicates that contamination is being released into the ocean waters from disposed military munitions at a particular site or that the site poses a significant public health or safety risk, the Secretary of Defense shall institute appropriate monitoring mechanisms at that site and report to the congressional defense committees on any additional measures that may be necessary to address the release or risk, as applicable. (e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
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