42 U.S.C. § 17272: Assessment of carbon sequestration and methane and nitrous oxide emissions from ecosystems

to increase the sequestration capabilities of covered greenhouse gases of any ecosystem; or to reduce the emissions of covered greenhouse gases from any ecosystem. The term “assessment” means the national assessment authorized under subsection (b). The term “covered greenhouse gas” means carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane gas. The term “ecosystem” means any terrestrial, freshwater aquatic, or coastal ecosystem, including an estuary. The term “native plant species” means any noninvasive, naturally occurring plant species within an ecosystem. The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior. the quantity of carbon stored in and released from ecosystems, including from man-caused and natural fires; and the annual flux of covered greenhouse gases in and out of ecosystems. determine the processes that control the flux of covered greenhouse gases in and out of each ecosystem; estimate the potential for increasing carbon sequestration in natural and managed ecosystems through management activities or restoration activities in each ecosystem; to enhance the sequestration of carbon in each ecosystem; to reduce emissions of covered greenhouse gases from ecosystems; and to adapt to climate change; and estimate the annual carbon sequestration capacity of ecosystems under a range of policies in support of management activities to optimize sequestration. In developing restoration activities under subsection (c)(2) and management strategies and adaptation strategies under subsection (c)(3), the Secretary shall emphasize the use of native plant species (including mixtures of many native plant species) for sequestering covered greenhouse gas in each ecosystem. the Secretary of Energy; the Secretary of Agriculture; the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere; and the heads of other relevant agencies. In carrying out this section with respect to ocean and coastal ecosystems (including estuaries), the Secretary shall work jointly with the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere. Not later than 1 year after December 19, 2007 , the Secretary shall develop a methodology for conducting the assessment. determine the method for measuring, monitoring, and quantifying covered greenhouse gas emissions and reductions; estimate the total capacity of each ecosystem to sequester carbon; and estimate the ability of each ecosystem to reduce emissions of covered greenhouse gases through management practices; and may employ economic and other systems models, analyses, and estimates, to be developed in consultation with each of the individuals described in subsection (e). publish the proposed methodology; the public; and heads of affected Federal and State agencies; with expertise in the matters described in subsections (c) and (d); and that are, as appropriate, representatives of Federal agencies, institutions of higher education, nongovernmental organizations, State organizations, industry, and international organizations; and on completion of the review under subparagraph (C), publish in the Federal Register the revised final methodology. based on the assessment, prescribe the data, information, and analysis needed to establish a scientifically sound estimate of the carbon sequestration capacity of relevant ecosystems; and not later than 180 days after the date on which the assessment is completed, submit to the heads of applicable Federal agencies and the appropriate committees of Congress a report that describes the results of the assessment. On completion of the assessment, the Secretary shall incorporate the results of the assessment into a web-accessible database for public use. There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.