16 U.S.C. § 1392 — Monitoring ocean soundscapes

(a) Program. The Under Secretary must maintain and expand an ocean-soundscape development program to: (1) award grants expanding Federal and non-Federal systems that observe and manage data about underwater sound, to monitor baselines and trends and protect and manage marine life; (2) continue developing and using standardized measurements of sounds made by marine animals, physical processes, and human activities; and (3) after coordinating with the Secretary of Defense, coordinate and publicly provide the data sets, models, analyses, and user-driven products and tools produced from grant-funded underwater-sound observations. (b) Coordination. The program must include NOAA’s and the National Park Service’s Ocean Noise Reference Station Network; use and coordinate with the Integrated Ocean Observing System; and coordinate, as appropriate, with Regional Ocean Partnerships and the Fish and Wildlife Service Director. (c) Priority. When awarding grants, the Under Secretary must consider the geographic diversity of recipients. (d) Defense exception. An activity may not be carried out if the Defense Secretary, consulting the Under Secretary, determines that it would harm U.S. defense readiness or national security. (e) Funding. Of funds otherwise appropriated to the Under Secretary, $1,500,000 is authorized for each fiscal year from 2023 through 2028.