16 U.S.C. § 6603
Subject to the availability of funds and in consultation with other Federal officials, the Secretary shall use amounts in the Fund to provide financial assistance for projects for the conservation of marine turtles, freshwater turtles, or tortoises for which project proposals are approved by the Secretary in accordance with this section.
A proposal for a project for the conservation of marine turtles, freshwater turtles, or tortoises may be submitted to the Secretary by-
A project proposal shall include-
The Secretary shall-
Not later than 180 days after receiving a project proposal, and subject to the availability of funds, the Secretary, after consulting with other Federal officials, as appropriate, shall-
The Secretary may approve a project proposal under this section if the Secretary determines that the project will help to restore, recover, and sustain a viable population of marine turtles, freshwater turtles, or tortoises in the wild by assisting efforts in a foreign country or territory of the United States to implement a marine turtle, freshwater turtle, or tortoise conservation program.
To the maximum extent practicable, in determining whether to approve project proposals under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to conservation projects that are designed to ensure effective, long-term conservation of marine turtles, freshwater turtles, or tortoises and the habitats of marine turtles, freshwater turtles, or tortoises.
In determining whether to approve project proposals under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to projects for which matching funds are available.
Each person that receives assistance under this section for a project shall submit to the Secretary periodic reports (at such intervals as the Secretary may require) that include all information that the Secretary, after consultation with other government officials, determines is necessary to evaluate the progress and success of the project for the purposes of ensuring positive results, assessing problems, and fostering improvements.
Reports under paragraph (1), and any other documents relating to projects for which financial assistance is provided under this chapter, shall be made available to the public.
16 U.S.C. § 6603
EDITORIAL NOTES
AMENDMENTS2019- Pub. L. 116-9, §7001(c)(3)(C)(i), struck out "Marine turtle" before "Conservation" in section catchline.Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116-9, §7001(c)(3)(C)(ii), inserted ", freshwater turtles, or tortoises" after "marine turtles".Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 116-9, §7001(c)(3)(C)(iii)(I), inserted ", freshwater turtles, or tortoises" after "marine turtles" in introductory provisions. Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 116-9, §7001(c)(3)(C)(iii)(II), added subpar. (A) and struck out former subpar. (A) which read as follows: "any wildlife management authority of a foreign country that has within its boundaries marine turtle nesting habitat if the activities of the authority directly or indirectly affect marine turtle conservation; or". Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 116-9, §7001(c)(3)(C)(iii)(III), inserted ", freshwater turtles, or tortoises" after "marine turtles".Subsec. (c)(2)(A), (C). Pub. L. 116-9, §7001(c)(3)(C)(iv), inserted "and territory of the United States" after "each country".Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 116-9, §7001(c)(3)(C)(v), added subsec. (d) and struck out former subsec. (d). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "The Secretary may approve a project proposal under this section if the project will help recover and sustain viable populations of marine turtles in the wild by assisting efforts in foreign countries to implement marine turtle conservation programs." Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 116-9, §7001(c)(3)(C)(vi), substituted "marine turtles, freshwater turtles, or tortoises and the habitats of marine turtles, freshwater turtles, or tortoises" for "marine turtles and their nesting habitats".
- Fund
- The term "Fund" means the Marine Turtle Conservation Fund established by section 6604 of this title.
- Secretary
- The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior.
- conservation
- The term "conservation" means the use of all methods and procedures necessary to protect marine turtles, freshwater turtles, and tortoises, and the habitats of marine turtles, freshwater turtles, and tortoises, in foreign countries and territories of the United States under the jurisdiction of United States Fish and Wildlife Service programs, including-(A) protection, restoration, and management of habitats;(B) onsite research and monitoring of populations, habitats, annual reproduction, and species population trends;(C) assistance in the development, implementation, and improvement of national and regional management plans for habitat ranges;(D) enforcement and implementation of CITES and laws of foreign countries-(i) to protect and manage populations and habitats; and(ii) to prevent illegal trade of marine turtles;(E) training of local law enforcement officials in the interdiction and prevention of-(i) the illegal killing of marine turtles, freshwater turtles, and tortoises; and(ii) illegal trade in marine turtles;(F) initiatives to resolve conflicts between humans and marine turtles, freshwater turtles, and tortoises over habitats used by marine turtles, freshwater turtles, and tortoises;(G) community outreach and education; and(H) strengthening of the ability of local communities to implement population and habitat conservation programs.
- habitat
- The term "habitat" means any marine turtle, freshwater turtle, or tortoise habitat (including a nesting habitat) that is under the jurisdiction of United States Fish and Wildlife Service programs.
- territory of the United States
- The term "territory of the United States" means-(A) American Samoa;(B) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;(D) Guam;(E) the United States Virgin Islands; and(F) any other territory or possession of the United States.