[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 15, Volume 3]

[Revised as of January 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 15CFR917.21]



[Page 82-84]

 

                  TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND FOREIGN TRADE

 

CHAPTER IX--NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT 

                               OF COMMERCE

 

PART 917_NATIONAL SEA GRANT PROGRAM FUNDING REGULATIONS--Table of Contents

 

                       Subpart C_National Projects

 

Sec. 917.21  National needs and problems.



    (a) The Administrator will, periodically, publish in the Federal 

Register the identified national needs and problems with respect to 

ocean and coastal resources at a given point in time.

    (b) Suggestions from the general public as to the identity of 

national needs and problems may be submitted to the Office of Sea Grant 

at any time. These suggestions will be reviewed by the Office of Sea 

Grant and the Sea Grant Review Panel, and those receiving a



[[Page 83]]



positive critique will be forwarded to the Administrator. In addition, 

suggestions concerning the identification of national needs and problems 

will be requested from the Sea Grant Program Directors.

    (c) The Administrator has identified the following as currently 

being national needs and problems with respect to ocean and coastal 

resources:global and regional climate and primary productivity.

    (1) Improve the prediction of extreme natural events and their 

effects on ocean coastal and continental shelf locations as well as 

analogous regions of the Great Lakes.

    (2) Improve the predictability of global sea-level change and 

determine the impact of this change on coastal areas.

    (3) Define the processes that determine ocean variability on the 

time scale of a few weeks to a few years, and the relationship to 

fluctuations in global and regional climate, primary productivity, and 

fisheries production.

    (4) Improve understanding of the flow fields and mixing processes on 

the continental shelves of the United States.

    (5) Develop an increased understanding of the arctic and antarctic 

environment and a capability to predict the special hazards posed to 

transportation and resource development.

    (6) Develop and increased capability to characterize the engineering 

properties of ocean botton sediments.

    (7) Reduce the recurring economic loss due to corrosion of 

structures, vessels, and other devices in the marine environment.

    (8) Gain a fundamental understanding of the processes by which 

biological fouling and associated corrosion are initiated upon material 

surfaces exposed to seawater.

    (9) Investigate methods to improve man's underwater capability to 

conduct undersea research and perform useful work.

    (10) Investigate the wider application of remotely operated and 

artificial intelligence techniques for vehicles for undersea activities.

    (11) Expand/improve remote sensing technologies for use on the ocean 

and Great Lakes.

    (12) Advance knowledge of acoustics in the ocean and ocean bottom in 

order to exploit the burgeoning acoustics technologies.

    (13) Develop techniques for in-situ monitoring of biological, 

chemical, and physical processes in the Great Lakes, oceans, and their 

connecting waterways which are cost effective and provide data in real 

time.

    (14) Improve the position of the U.S. seafood industry in world 

seafood markets.

    (15) Design more efficient mechanisms to allocate U.S. fish 

resources to achieve optimum yield and minimize industry dislocations.

    (16) Gain a fundamental understanding of the biological productivity 

of estuarine and coastal waters.

    (17) Conduct research leading to the restoration and/or enhancement 

of heavily exploited fishery stocks.

    (18) Improve the capability for stock assessment, predicting yield, 

age-class strength, and long-term population status of important 

fisheries.

    (19) Conduct research to increase the economic potential of low-

value, high-volume fish products.

    (20) Develop productive and profitable aquaculture industries in the 

United States and technology that can be exported to less developed 

nations of the world with different climate, cultural, and economic 

constraints.

    (21) Explore marine biochemicals as source of chemical feedstocks, 

enzymes, pharmacological substance, and other bioactive agents such as 

pesticides.

    (22) Apply modern biotechnology to exploiting marine plants, 

animals, and microorganisms for good and services.

    (23) Develop rapid, efficient, and specific methods for assaying the 

potential of marine organisms to communicate disease to humans.

    (24) Develop innovations that would promote safe, nondestructive, 

recreational access to and use of marine and Great Lakes water.

    (25) Re-examine the ocean as an appropriate place for the disposal 

of wastes from land-based society.

    (26) Develop an increased understanding of the impacts of low 

density, nonbiodegradable, solid wastes on marine and Great Lakes 

species.



[[Page 84]]



    (27) Conduct research for realizing the economic potential of the 

nonliving resources of the U.S. 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone.

    (28) Investigate the effect of seafloor hydrothermal systems on the 

seafloor, oceans, and atmosphere.

    (29) Develop a better understanding of the value the marine sector 

contributes to the U.S. economy and culture.

    (30) Improve the competitive position of American ports in the face 

of rapid technological and social change.

    (31) Improve the capability of developing nations to address their 

marine resource needs.

    (32) Develop eductional programs to increase application of marine 

sector research.

    (33) Develop syntheses of and better access to existing 

multidisciplinary marine and Great Lakes information.



[43 FR 15307, Apr. 11, 1978, as amended at 51 FR 35210, Oct. 2, 1986]