114 STAT. 2763A-176 PUBLIC LAW 106-554 —APPENDIX D and Atmospheric Research to study the impact of ocean climate shifts on the North Pacific and Bering Sea fish and marine mammal species composition, of which $2,000,000 shall be available only for the National Ocean Service to study predator/prey relationships as they relate to the decline of the western population of Steller sea lions, and of which $2,000,000 shall be available only for the North Pacific Fishery Management Council for an independent analysis of Steller sea lion science and other work related to such litigation". SEC. 207. (a) In addition to amounts appropriated or otherwise made available under the heading "Operations, Research, and Facilities, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration" in the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001, $7,500,000 is appropriated for disaster assistance for communities affected by the 2000 western Alaska salmon disaster for which the Secretary of Commerce declared a fishery failure under section 312(a) of the Magnuson Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act. (b) Funds appropriated by this section shall be made available as direct lump sum payments no later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, as follows: $3,500,000 to the Tanana Chiefs Conference, $3,500,000 to the Association of Village Council Presidents, and $500,000 to Kawerak. (c) Such funds shall be used to provide personal assistance with priority given to: (1) food; (2) energy needs; (3) housing assistance; (4) transportation fuel including for subsistence activities; and (5) other urgent community needs. (d) Not more than 5 percent of such funds may be used for administrative expenses. (e) The President of the Tanana Chiefs Conference, the President of the Association of Village Council Presidents, and the President of Kawerak shall disburse all funds no later than May 1, 2000 and shall submit a report to the Secretary of Commerce detailing the expenditure of funds, including the number of persons and households served and the amount of administrative costs, by the end of the fiscal year. SEC. 208. In addition to amounts appropriated or otherwise made available by this or any other Act, $3,000,000 is appropriated to enable the Secretary of Commerce to provide economic assistance to fishermen and fishing communities affected by Federal closures and fishing restrictions in the Hawaii long line fishery, to remain available until expended. SEC. 209. IMPLEMENTATION OF STELLER SEA LION PROTECTIVE MEASURES.— (a) FINDINGS.— The Congress finds that— (1) the western population of Steller sea lions has substantially declined over the last 25 years. (2) scientists should closely research and analyze all possible factors relating to such decline, including the possible interactions between commercial fishing and Steller sea lions and the localized depletion hypothesis; (3) the authority to manage commercial fisheries in Federal waters lies with the regional councils and the Secretary of Commerce (hereafter in this section "Secretary") pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (hereafter in this section "Magnuson-Stevens Act"); and
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