16 USC 8203 - National Fish Habitat Board

U.S Code last checked for updates: May 06, 2024

§ 8203.

National Fish Habitat Board

(a)

Establishment

(1)

Fish Habitat Board

There is established a board, to be known as the “National Fish Habitat Board”, whose duties are—

(A)

to promote, oversee, and coordinate the implementation of this chapter;

(B)

to establish national goals and priorities for fish habitat conservation;

(C)

to recommend to Congress entities for designation as Partnerships; and

(D)

to review and make recommendations regarding fish habitat conservation projects.

(2)

Membership

The Board shall be composed of 26 members, of whom—

(A)

1 shall be a representative of the Department of the Interior;

(B)

1 shall be a representative of the United States Geological Survey;

(C)

1 shall be a representative of the Department of Commerce;

(D)

1 shall be a representative of the Department of Agriculture;

(E)

1 shall be a representative of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies;

(F)

4 shall be representatives of State agencies, 1 of whom shall be nominated by a regional association of fish and wildlife agencies from each of the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, and Western regions of the United States;

(G)

2 shall be representatives of either—

(i)

Indian Tribes in the State of Alaska; or

(ii)

Indian Tribes in States other than the State of Alaska;

(H)

1 shall be a representative of either—

(i)

the Regional Fishery Management Councils established under section 1852 of this title; or

(ii)

a representative of the Marine Fisheries Commissions;

(I)

1 shall be a representative of the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council;

(J)

7 shall be representatives selected from at least one from each of the following:

(i)

the recreational sportfishing industry;

(ii)

the commercial fishing industry;

(iii)

marine recreational anglers;

(iv)

freshwater recreational anglers;

(v)

habitat conservation organizations; and

(vi)

science-based fishery organizations;

(K)

1 shall be a representative of a national private landowner organization;

(L)

1 shall be a representative of an agricultural production organization;

(M)

1 shall be a representative of local government interests involved in fish habitat restoration;

(N)

2 shall be representatives from different sectors of corporate industries, which may include—

(i)

natural resource commodity interests, such as petroleum or mineral extraction;

(ii)

natural resource user industries; and

(iii)

industries with an interest in fish and fish habitat conservation; and

(O)

1 shall be an individual in a leadership position in the private sector or landowner representative of an active partnership.

(3)

Compensation

(4)

Travel expenses

(b)

Appointment and terms

(1)

In general

(2)

Initial Board membership

(A)

In general

(B)

Remaining members

(C)

Tribal representatives

(3)

Staggered terms

Of the members described in subsection (a)(2)(J) initially appointed to the Board—

(A)

two shall be appointed for a term of 1 year;

(B)

two shall be appointed for a term of 2 years; and

(C)

three shall be appointed for a term of 3 years.

(4)

Vacancies

(A)

In general

(B)

Tribal representatives

(5)

Continuation of service

(6)

Removal

If a member of the Board described in any of subparagraphs (H) through (O) of subparagraph (a)(2) misses three consecutive regularly scheduled Board meetings, the members of the Board may—

(A)

vote to remove that member; and

(B)

appoint another individual in accordance with paragraph (4).

(c)

Chairperson

(1)

In general

(2)

Term

(d)

Meetings

(1)

In general

The Board shall meet—

(A)

at the call of the Chairperson; but

(B)

not less frequently than twice each calendar year.

(2)

Public access

(e)

Procedures

(1)

In general

The Board shall establish procedures to carry out the business of the Board, including—

(A)

a requirement that a quorum of the members of the Board be present to transact business;

(B)

a requirement that no recommendations may be adopted by the Board, except by the vote of two-thirds of all members;

(C)

procedures for establishing national goals and priorities for fish habitat conservation for the purposes of this chapter;

(D)

procedures for designating Partnerships under section 8204 of this title; and

(E)

procedures for reviewing, evaluating, and making recommendations regarding fish habitat conservation projects.

(2)

Quorum

(Pub. L. 116–188, title II, § 203, Oct. 30, 2020, 134 Stat. 926.)

cite as: 16 USC 8203