This bill adds sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and response to programs in section 408 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It directs the Secretary of Commerce and the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to make grants for sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation, subject to specific appropriations. Grants must follow criteria similar to existing marine mammal rescue grants, be developed in consultation with the Fish and Wildlife Service, and consider rehabilitation of stranded sea turtles. Eligible applicants must submit an application, hold an authorization under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act or a cooperative agreement under section 6 of that Act for sea turtles, meet care standards set by the Secretary of the Interior when using facilities, and follow sea turtle stranding data reporting requirements. The bill creates an interest-bearing Sea Turtle Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Rapid Response Fund in the Treasury for emergency assistance. The authority to carry out the sea turtle grant program ends 7 years after enactment.
No publicly available information on total cost estimates or specific appropriation amounts. The bill does create an interest-bearing Sea Turtle Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Rapid Response Fund and says amounts in that fund are available for emergency assistance. Grants and fund use are subject to availability of appropriations.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.