---
kind: "range"
citation: "30 U.S.C. §§ 1902–1905"
title: "30"
from: "1902"
to: "1905"
count: 4
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/30/1902..1905"
---

# §1902. Research program

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8) shall establish and carry out a program of research on [marine mineral resources](/usc/30/1901.md?p=6).
- (b) **Program goal—** The goal of the program shall be to—
  - (1) promote research, identification, assessment, and exploration of [marine mineral resources](/usc/30/1901.md?p=6) in an environmentally responsible manner;
  - (2) assist in developing domestic technologies required for efficient and environmentally sound development of [marine mineral resources](/usc/30/1901.md?p=6);
  - (3) coordinate and promote the use of technologies developed with Federal assistance, and the use of available Federal assets, for research, identification, assessment, exploration, and development of [marine mineral resources](/usc/30/1901.md?p=6); and
  - (4) encourage academia and industry to conduct basic and applied research, on a joint basis, through [grants](/usc/30/1901.md?p=4), [cooperative agreements](/usc/30/1901.md?p=2), or [contracts](/usc/30/1901.md?p=1) with the Federal Government.
- (c) **Responsibilities of Secretary—** In carrying out the program, the [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8) shall—
  - (1) promote and coordinate partnerships between industry, government, and academia to research, identify, assess, and explore [marine mineral resources](/usc/30/1901.md?p=6) in an environmentally sound manner;
  - (2) undertake programs to develop the basic information necessary to the long-term national interest in [marine mineral resources](/usc/30/1901.md?p=6) (including seabed mapping) and to ensure that data and information are accessible and widely disseminated as needed and appropriate;
  - (3) identify, and promote cooperation among agency programs that are developing, technologies developed by other Federal programs that may hold promise for facilitating undersea applications related to [marine mineral resources](/usc/30/1901.md?p=6), including technologies related to vessels and other platforms, underwater vehicles, survey and mapping systems, remote power sources, data collection and transmission systems, and various seabed research systems; and
  - (4) foster communication and coordination between Federal and State agencies, universities, and private entities concerning marine mineral research on seabeds of the continental shelf, ocean basins, and arctic and cold water areas.

  In carrying out these responsibilities, the [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8) shall ensure the participation of non-Federal users of technologies and data related to [marine mineral resources](/usc/30/1901.md?p=6) in planning and priority setting.


# §1903. Grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements

- (a) **Assistance and coordination—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8) shall award [grants](/usc/30/1901.md?p=4) or [contracts](/usc/30/1901.md?p=1) to, or enter into [cooperative agreements](/usc/30/1901.md?p=2) with, [eligible entities](/usc/30/1901.md?p=3) to support research for the development or utilization of—
    - (A) methods, equipment, systems, and components necessary for the identification, assessment, and exploration of [marine mineral resources](/usc/30/1901.md?p=6) in an environmentally responsible manner;
    - (B) methods of detecting, monitoring, and predicting the presence of adverse environmental effects in the marine environment and remediating the environmental effects of [marine mineral resource](/usc/30/1901.md?p=6) exploration, development, and production; and
    - (C) education and training material in marine mineral research and resource management.
  - (2) **Cost-sharing for contracts or cooperative agreements—**
    - (A) **Federal share—** Except as provided in [subparagraph (B)(ii)](#a-2-B-ii), the Federal share of the cost of a [contract](/usc/30/1901.md?p=1) or [cooperative agreement](/usc/30/1901.md?p=2) carried out under this subsection shall not be greater than 80 percent of the total cost of the project.
    - (B) **Non-Federal share—** The remaining non-Federal share of the cost of a project carried out under this section may be—
      - (i) in the form of cash or [in-kind contributions](/usc/30/1901.md?p=5), or both; and
      - (ii) comprised of [funds](/usc/30/1291.md?p=7) made available under other Federal programs, except that non-Federal [funds](/usc/30/1291.md?p=7) shall be used to defray at least 10 percent of the total cost of the project.
    - (C) **Consultation—** Not later than 180 days after October 19, 1996, the [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8) shall establish, after consultation with other Federal agencies, terms and conditions under which Federal funding will be provided under this subsection that are consistent with the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures referred to in [section 3511(d)(12) of title 19](/usc/19/3511.md?p=d-12).
- (b) **Competitive review—**
  - (1) **In general—** An entity shall not be eligible to receive a [grant](/usc/30/1901.md?p=4) or [contract](/usc/30/1901.md?p=1), or participate in a [cooperative agreement](/usc/30/1901.md?p=2), under [subsection (a)](#a) unless—
    - (A) the entity submits a proposal to the [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8) at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8) may reasonably require; and
    - (B) the proposal has been evaluated by a competitive review panel under [paragraph (3)](#b-3).
  - (2) **Competitive review panels—**
    - (A) **Composition—** A competitive review panel shall be chaired by the [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8) or by the [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8)’s [designee](/usc/30/1702.md?p=24) and shall be composed of members who meet the following criteria:
      - (i) **Appointment—** The members shall be appointed by the [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8).
      - (ii) **Experience—** Not less than 50 percent of the members shall represent or be employed by private marine resource companies that are involved in exploration of the marine environment or development of [marine mineral resources](/usc/30/1901.md?p=6).
      - (iii) **Interest—** None of the members may have an interest in a [grant](/usc/30/1901.md?p=4), [contract](/usc/30/1901.md?p=1), or [cooperative agreement](/usc/30/1901.md?p=2) being evaluated by the panel.
    - (B) **No compensation—** A review panel member who is not otherwise a Federal employee shall receive no compensation for performing duties under this section, except that, while engaged in the performance of duties away from the home or regular place of business of the member, the member may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as a person employed intermittently in the Government service under [section 5703 of title 5](/usc/5/5703.md).
  - (3) **Evaluation—** A competitive review panel shall base an evaluation of a proposal on criteria developed by the [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8) that shall include—
    - (A) the merits of the proposal;
    - (B) the research methodology and costs of the proposal;
    - (C) the capability of the entity submitting the proposal and any other participating entity to perform the proposed work and provide [in-kind contributions](/usc/30/1901.md?p=5);
    - (D) the amount of matching [funds](/usc/30/1291.md?p=7) provided by the entity submitting the proposal or provided by other Federal, State, or private entities;
    - (E) the extent of collaboration with other Federal, State, or private entities;
    - (F) in the case of a noncommercial entity, the existence of a [cooperative agreement](/usc/30/1901.md?p=2) with a commercial entity that provides for collaboration in the proposed research;
    - (G) whether the proposal promotes responsible environmental stewardship; and
    - (H) such other factors as the [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8) considers appropriate.
- (c) **Limitations—**
  - (1) **Administrative expenses—** Not more than 10 percent of the amount made available to carry out this section during a fiscal year may be used by the [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8) for expenses associated with administration of the program authorized by this section.
  - (2) **Construction costs—** None of the [funds](/usc/30/1291.md?p=7) made available under this section may be used for the construction of a new building or the acquisition, expansion, remodeling, or alteration of an existing building (including site grading and improvement and architect fees).
- (d) **Reports—** An [eligible entity](/usc/30/1901.md?p=3) that receives a [grant](/usc/30/1901.md?p=4) or [contract](/usc/30/1901.md?p=1) or enters into a [cooperative agreement](/usc/30/1901.md?p=2) under this section shall submit an annual progress report and a final technical report to the [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8) that—
  - (1) describes project activities, implications of the project, the significance of the project to marine mineral research, identification, assessment, and exploration, and potential commercial and economic benefits and effects of the project; and
  - (2) in the case of an annual progress report, includes a project plan for the subsequent year.

# §1904. Marine mineral research centers

- (a) **In general—** No later than 90 days after October 19, 1996, the [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8) shall designate 3 centers for marine mineral research and related activities.
- (b) **Concentration—** One center shall concentrate primarily on research in the continental shelf regions of the United States, 1 center shall concentrate primarily on research in deep seabed and near-shore environments of islands, and 1 center shall concentrate primarily on research in arctic and cold water regions.
- (c) **Criteria—** In designating a center under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8) shall give priority to a university that—
  - (1) administers a federally funded center for marine minerals research;
  - (2) matriculates students for advanced degrees in marine geological sciences, nonenergy natural resources, and related fields of science and engineering;
  - (3) is a United States university with established programs and facilities that primarily focus on [marine mineral resources](/usc/30/1901.md?p=6);
  - (4) has engaged in collaboration and cooperation with industry, governmental agencies, and other universities in the field of [marine mineral resources](/usc/30/1901.md?p=6);
  - (5) has demonstrated significant engineering, development, and design experience in two or more of the following areas;[^1]
    - (A) seabed exploration systems;
    - (B) marine mining systems; and
    - (C) marine mineral processing systems; and
  - (6) has been designated by the [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8) as a State Mining and Mineral Resources Research Institute.
- (d) **Center activities—** A center shall—
  - (1) provide technical assistance to the [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8) concerning [marine mineral resources](/usc/30/1901.md?p=6);
  - (2) advise the [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8) on pertinent international activities in [marine mineral resources](/usc/30/1901.md?p=6) development;
  - (3) engage in research, training, and education transfer associated with the characterization and utilization of [marine mineral resources](/usc/30/1901.md?p=6); and
  - (4) promote the efficient identification, assessment, exploration, and management of [marine mineral resources](/usc/30/1901.md?p=6) in an environmentally sound manner.
- (e) **Allocation of funds—** In distributing [funds](/usc/30/1291.md?p=7) to the centers designated under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8) shall, to the extent practicable, allocate an equal amount to each center.
- (f) **Limitations—**
  - (1) **Administrative expenses—** Not more than 5 percent of the amount made available to carry out this section during a fiscal year may be used by the [Secretary](/usc/30/1901.md?p=8) for expenses associated with administration of the program authorized by this section.
  - (2) **Construction costs—** None of the [funds](/usc/30/1291.md?p=7) made available under this section may be used for the construction of a new building or the acquisition, expansion, remodeling, or alteration of an existing building (including site grading and improvement and architect fees).

# §1905. Authorization of appropriations


There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this chapter.