PUBLIC LAW 102-567—OCT. 29, 1992 106 STAT. 4285

Chesapeake Bay Executive Council. Any individual appointed as
Director shall have knowledge and experience in research or
resource management efforts in the Chesapeake Bay.

(3) The Director may appoint such additional personnel for
the Office as the Director determines necessary to carry out this
section.

(b) FUNCTIONS.—The Office, in consultation with the Chesa-
peake Bay Executive Council, shall—

(1) provide technical assistance to the Administrator, to
other Federal departments and agencies, and to State and
local government agencies in—

(A) assessing the processes that shape the Chesapeake
Bay system and affect its living resources;

(B) identifying technical and management alternatives
for the restoration and protection of living resources and
the habitats they depend upon; and

(C) monitoring the implementation and effectiveness
of management plans;

(2) develop ana implement a strategy for the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that integrates the
science, research, monitoring, data collection, regulatory, and
management responsibilities of the Secretary of Commerce in
such a manner as to assist the cooperative, intergovernmental
Chesapeake Bay Program to meet the commitments of the
Chesapeake Bay Agreement;

(3) coordinate the programs and activities of the various
organizations within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration and the Chesapeake Bay Regional Sea Grant
Programs (including programs and activities in coastal and
estuarine research, monitoring, and assessment; fisheries
research and stock assessments; data management; remote
sensing; coastal management; and habitat conservation);

(4) coordinate the activities of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration with the activities of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency and other Federal, State, and local
agencies;

(5) establish an effective mechanism which shall ensure
that projects have undergone appropriate peer review and pro-
vide other appropriate means to determine that projects have
acceptable scientific and technical merit for the purpose of
achieving maximum utilization of available funds and resources
to benefit the Chesapeake Bay area;

(6) remain cognizant of ongoing research, monitoring, and
management projects and assist hi the dissemination of the
results and findings of those projects; and

(7) submit a biennial report to the Congress and the Sec- Reports.
retary of Commerce with respect to the activities of the Office

and on the progress made in protecting and restoring the
living resources and habitat of the Chesapeake Bay.

(c) BUDGET LINE ITEM.—The Secretary of Commerce shall iden-
tify, hi the President's annual budget to the Congress, the funding
request for the Office.

(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 2 of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Fisheries
Program Authorization Act (Public Law 98-210; 97 Stat. 1409),
as amended by section 302 of this Act, is further amended by
adding at the end the following new subsection: