33 U.S.C. § 3701: Purposes

monitor and conduct research on the processes and consequences of ocean acidification and coastal acidification on marine organisms and ecosystems; and maintain and advise an interagency research, monitoring, and public outreach program on ocean acidification and coastal acidification; maintenance of an ocean acidification program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; assessment and consideration of regional and national ecosystem and socioeconomic impacts of increased ocean acidification and coastal acidification; and research adaptation strategies and mitigating the impacts of ocean and coastal acidification and related co-stressors on marine ecosystems.