Pub. L. 108-199, div. B, tit. II, sec. 210

Sec. 210. (a) The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to operate a marine laboratory in South Carolina in accordance with a memorandum of agreement, including any future amendments, among the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the State of South Carolina, the Medical University of South Carolina, and the College of Charleston as a partnership for collaborative, interdisciplinary marine scientific research.(b) To carry out subsection (a), the agencies that are partners in the Laboratory may accept, apply for, use, and spend Federal, State, private and grant funds as necessary to further the mission of the Laboratory without regard to the source or of the period of availability of these funds and may apply for and hold patents, as well as share personnel, facilities, and property. Any funds collected or accepted by any partner may be used to offset all or portions of its costs, including overhead, without regard to 31 U.S.C. 143302(b); to reimburse other participating agencies for all or portions of their costs; and to fund research and facilities expansion. Funds for management and operation of the Laboratory may 118 STAT. 75 be used to sustain basic laboratory operations for all participating entities. The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to charge fees and enter into contracts, grants, cooperative agreements and other arrangements with Federal, State, private entities, and other entities, domestic and foreign, to further the mission of the Laboratory. Any funds collected from such fees or arrangements shall be used to support cooperative research, basic operations, and facilities enhancement at the Laboratory.