There is established in the Treasury an interest bearing fund to be known as the “Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Event Fund”, which shall consist of amounts deposited into the Fund under subsection (c).

Amounts in the Fund—

Amounts in the Fund—

(A) shall be available only for use by the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior— (i) to compensate persons for special costs incurred in acting in accordance with the contingency plan issued under section 1421c(b) of this title or under the direction of an Onsite Coordinator for an unusual mortality event; (ii) for reimbursing any stranding network participant for costs incurred in preparing and transporting tissues collected with respect to an unusual mortality event for the Tissue Bank; and (iii) for care and maintenance of marine mammal seized under section 1374(c)(2)(D) of this title; and

(B) shall remain available until expended.

(2) Pending claims If sufficient amounts are not available in the Fund to satisfy any authorized pending claim, such claim shall remain pending until such time as sufficient amounts are available. All authorized pending claims shall be satisfied in the order received.

There shall be deposited into the Fund—

(1) amounts appropriated to the Fund;

(2) other amounts appropriated to the Secretary for use with respect to unusual mortality events; and

(3) amounts received by the United States in the form of gifts, devises, and bequests under subsection (d).

For purposes of carrying out this subchapter and section 1374(c)(2)(D) of this title, the Secretary may accept, solicit, and use the services of volunteers, and may accept, solicit, receive, hold, administer, and use gifts, devises, and bequests.

(Pub. L. 92–522, title IV, § 405, formerly title III, § 305, as added Pub. L. 102–587, title III, § 3003(a), Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5064; renumbered title IV, § 405, and amended Pub. L. 103–238, §§ 6, 16(b), 24(b), (c)(2), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 542, 559, 565, 566.)