(c)
Chesapeake Bay fishery and habitat restoration small watershed grants program
(1)
In general
The Director of the Chesapeake Bay Office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (in this section referred to as the “Director”), in cooperation with the Chesapeake Executive Council, shall carry out a community-based fishery and habitat restoration small grants and technical assistance program in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
(2)
Projects
(A)
Support
The Director shall make grants under this subsection to pay the Federal share of the cost of projects that are carried out by entities eligible under paragraph (3) for the restoration of fisheries and habitats in the Chesapeake Bay.
(B)
Federal share
The Federal share under subparagraph (A) shall not exceed 75 percent.
(C)
Types of projects
Projects for which grants may be made under this subsection include—
(i)
the improvement of fish passageways;
(ii)
the creation of natural or artificial reefs or substrata for habitats;
(iii)
the restoration of wetland or sea grass;
(iv)
the production of oysters for restoration projects; and
(v)
the prevention, identification, and control of nonindigenous species.
(3)
Eligible entities
The following entities are eligible to receive grants under this subsection:
(A)
The government of a political subdivision of a State in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and the government of the District of Columbia.
(B)
An organization in the Chesapeake Bay watershed (such as an educational institution or a community organization)—
(i)
that is described in section
501
(c) of title
26 and is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of that title; and
(ii)
that will administer such grants in coordination with a government referred to in subparagraph (A).
(4)
Additional requirements
The Director may prescribe any additional requirements, including procedures, that the Director considers necessary to carry out the program under this subsection.
(d)
Chesapeake Executive Council
For purposes of this section, “Chesapeake Executive Council” means the representatives from the Commonwealth of Virginia, the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Environmental Protection Agency, the District of Columbia, and the Chesapeake Bay Commission, who are signatories to the Chesapeake Bay Agreement, and any future signatories to that Agreement.
(e)
Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Commerce for the Chesapeake Bay Office $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2006.