Overview
Title
To direct the Secretary of Energy to establish a pilot program on ocean fertilization and restoration research and development, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
The bill wants to set up a special program to help the ocean and the air by using science to make the ocean healthier and remove harmful carbon gases, with a lot of money planned for these projects over the next few years.
Summary AI
The bill, titled the Ocean Restoration Research and Development Act, directs the Secretary of Energy to set up a pilot program focused on ocean fertilization and restoration research. This program aims to explore techniques, like ocean iron fertilization, that may help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and boost ocean ecosystems. The legislation outlines goals for collaboration and data sharing across agencies and firms, ensuring environmental impacts are monitored. An initial fund of $33 million per year from 2025 to 2030 is authorized for this initiative.
Published
Keywords AI
Sources
Bill Statistics
Size
Language
Complexity
AnalysisAI
Overview of H.R. 7797
H.R. 7797, titled the "Ocean Restoration Research and Development Act," was introduced in the House of Representatives on March 22, 2024. The bill seeks to authorize the Secretary of Energy to initiate a pilot program focused on ocean fertilization and restoration research and development. Central to the bill's goals is the reduction of atmospheric carbon dioxide by leveraging ocean-based carbon dioxide removal techniques (marine CDR). These techniques include ocean iron fertilization, which aims to enhance carbon capture while potentially boosting ocean productivity and marine life.
Key Issues with the Bill
Authority and Oversight
One of the significant concerns lies in Section 3(j), which gives the Secretary of Energy considerable discretion to waive legal requirements. This provision is criticized for potentially undermining existing regulatory and oversight mechanisms, raising the possibility of unchecked actions that could threaten environmental and public safety.
Financial Accountability
The financial structure of the bill outlines an allocation of $33 million annually from 2025 to 2030 for the program's initiatives (Section 3(l)). However, the absence of clear benchmarks and evaluation metrics to assess the efficiency and impact of this substantial investment raises concerns about fiscal responsibility and efficacy.
Participation Limitations
Section 3(e) introduces a requirement for participating entities to cover 51% of project costs with non-federal funds. This condition could inherently favor large, well-funded entities, potentially excluding smaller organizations or startups that might bring innovative solutions yet lack financial resources.
Ambiguity in Definitions
The bill's definition of "marine CDR techniques" in Section 3(m)(5) as being non-exhaustive presents potential ambiguities. This open-ended nature could lead to varied interpretations and potential misapplications regarding the program's scope, complicating project execution and goal alignment.
With State and Tribal Engagement
The involvement of states and tribes is generally encouraged but lacks specificity (Section 3(f)), which might lead to confusion around roles, responsibilities, and collaborative effectiveness. Clearer guidelines could enhance coordination and the ability to meet program objectives.
Implications for the Public and Stakeholders
Broad Public Impact
The potential environmental benefits of such a program are substantial, offering pathways to effectively combat rising greenhouse gas levels. If successful, it could bolster efforts against climate change and improve ocean health with broader ecological benefits. However, to truly realize these benefits, the bill must ensure robust safeguards and accountability measures.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
From an industry perspective, entities with the financial capability to meet cost-sharing mandates may benefit from new opportunities and potentially lucrative research contracts. Conversely, smaller organizations that might offer innovative approaches could find themselves excluded, undermining diversity in expertise and innovation.
Environmental groups may be wary of the significant authority granted to the Secretary of Energy to waive legal requirements, fearing inadequate oversight and unintended ecological consequences. Conversely, proponents may argue that such measures are necessary to expedite critical research and development.
Conclusion
H.R. 7797 undertakes an ambitious attempt to leverage oceanic processes to mitigate climate change impacts. Yet, the bill would benefit from clearer frameworks regarding oversight, fiscal accountability, and equitable participation to ensure effective and safe execution of its initiatives. Balancing these needs will be crucial in realizing its potential benefits while safeguarding stakeholder interests and public welfare.
Financial Assessment
The financial aspect of the Ocean Restoration Research and Development Act centers around the authorization of significant funds to support the proposed initiatives. Specifically, the bill authorizes $33 million annually from fiscal years 2025 through 2030 to carry out its objectives. This appropriation is primarily aimed at piloting programs that focus on ocean fertilization and restoration techniques with the goal of enhancing carbon sequestration and revitalizing marine ecosystems.
The appropriation of $33 million annually raises concerns regarding financial efficiency and accountability, as highlighted in one of the identified issues. The bill does not provide detailed benchmarks or evaluation metrics to assess the effectiveness of spending. This lack of specificity could result in funds being used ineffectively without a clear mechanism for accountability or measurement of success. In large-scale governmental programs, transparency and detailed planning are crucial to ensure that resources lead to desired outcomes, and the absence of such measures could lead to questions about how wisely the funds are being used.
Another financial consideration relates to the cost-sharing requirement in Section 3(e), which stipulates that entities must provide at least 51% of project costs from non-federal funds. While this requirement aims to leverage private funds and ensure investment from entities participating in the program, it could inadvertently limit participation to those with substantial resources. This financial constraint might exclude innovative smaller businesses or underfunded organizations that could contribute groundbreaking solutions but lack the requisite funds. This could hinder a diverse range of approaches and innovations in addressing climate issues.
Overall, while the bill proposes a substantial financial commitment to advancing ocean fertilization and restoration, the lack of detailed oversight and inclusive financial participation criteria could impact the program's overall effectiveness and the equitable distribution of opportunities within the project.
Issues
The waiver provision in Section 3(j) grants the Secretary of Energy wide-ranging authority to bypass legal requirements, which could lead to insufficient oversight and accountability, potentially undermining the regulatory processes meant to ensure environmental and public safety.
The substantial allocation of $33,000,000 annually from fiscal years 2025 through 2030 in Section 3(l) lacks detailed benchmarks and evaluation metrics to assess spending effectiveness, raising concerns about financial efficiency and accountability in the execution of the program.
The requirements for eligible entities in Section 3(e) necessitate a 51% cost-share from non-federal funds, which could limit participation to entities with significant resources, potentially excluding innovative small businesses or underfunded entities that may offer groundbreaking solutions.
The open-ended definition of 'marine CDR techniques' in Section 3(m)(5) as 'include, but are not limited to' poses ambiguity risks, possibly leading to broad and unclear interpretation and application of the program’s scope.
The lack of specifics regarding state and tribal involvement in Section 3(f) can result in confusion over roles and responsibilities, potentially complicating collaboration and effectiveness of actions taken by these bodies.
The bill lacks specified oversight or accountability measures for the proposed pilot projects in Section 2(b), which could lead to inefficiencies or misuse of resources without clear evaluation strategies and accountability structures.
The focus on ocean iron fertilization in Section 2 might inadvertently favor organizations or researchers already involved in this area, potentially limiting exploration and funding for other effective carbon sequestration methods.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the Act states that the official name of the legislation is the "Ocean Restoration Research and Development Act".
2. Findings; sense of Congress Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines Congress's findings that rising greenhouse gases harm the global environment, and highlights the potential of ocean-based methods like ocean iron fertilization to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and promote ocean life. It stresses the importance of researching these methods urgently to advance climate restoration.
3. Ocean fertilization research and development pilot program Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The proposed bill instructs the Secretary of Energy to create a pilot program for researching ocean iron fertilization and other methods to remove carbon dioxide from the ocean, with potential benefits like restoring ocean habitats and enhancing fisheries. The initiative includes funding, collaboration with various agencies and organizations, and setting guidelines to ensure safe and effective research practices, with a budget of $33 million each year from 2025 to 2030.
Money References
- (l) Authorization of Appropriations.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $33,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2030.