[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 16USC1421]
TITLE 16--CONSERVATION
CHAPTER 31--MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION
SUBCHAPTER V--MARINE MAMMAL HEALTH AND STRANDING RESPONSE
Sec. 1421. Establishment of Program
(a) Establishment
The Secretary shall, in consultation with the Secretary of the
Interior, the Marine Mammal Commission, and individuals with knowledge
and experience in marine science, marine mammal science, marine mammal
veterinary and husbandry practices, and marine conservation, including
stranding network participants, establish a program to be known as the
``Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program''.
(b) Purposes
The purposes of the Program shall be to--
(1) facilitate the collection and dissemination of reference
data on the health of marine mammals and health trends of marine
mammal populations in the wild;
(2) correlate the health of marine mammals and marine mammal
populations, in the wild, with available data on physical, chemical,
and biological environmental parameters; and
(3) coordinate effective responses to unusual mortality events
by establishing a process in the Department of Commerce in
accordance with section 1421c of this title.
(Pub. L. 92-522, title IV, Sec. 401, formerly title III, Sec. 301, as
added Pub. L. 102-587, title III, Sec. 3003(a), Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat.
5060; renumbered title IV, Sec. 401, and amended Pub. L. 103-238,
Sec. 24(b), (c)(1), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 565, 566.)
Amendments
1994--Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 103-238, Sec. 24(c)(1), made technical
amendment to reference to section 1421c of this title to reflect
renumbering of corresponding section of original act.
Findings
Section 3002 of Pub. L. 102-587 provided that: ``The Congress finds
the following:
``(1) Current stranding network participants have performed an
undeniably valuable and ceaseless job of responding to marine mammal
strandings over the last 15 years.
``(2) Insufficient understanding of the connection between
marine mammal health and the physical, chemical, and biological
parameters of their environment prevents an adequate understanding
of the causes of marine mammal unusual mortality events.
``(3) An accurate assessment of marine mammal health, health
trends in marine mammal populations in the wild, and causes of
marine mammal unusual mortality events cannot be made without
adequate reference data on marine mammals and the environment in
which they live.
``(4) A systematic assessment of the sources, presence, levels,
and effects of potentially harmful contaminants on marine mammals
would provide a better understanding of some of the causes of marine
mammal unusual mortality events and may serve as an indicator of the
general health of our coastal and marine environments.
``(5) Responses to marine mammal unusual mortality events are
often uncoordinated, due to the lack of sufficient contingency
planning.
``(6) Standardized methods for the reporting of dying, dead, or
otherwise incapacitated marine mammals in the wild would greatly
assist in the determination of the causes of marine mammal unusual
mortality events and enhance general knowledge of marine mammal
species.
``(7) A formal system for collection, preparation, and archiving
of, and providing access to, marine mammal tissues will enhance
efforts to investigate the health of marine mammals and health
trends of marine mammal populations, and to develop reference data.
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