Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2006 - Amends the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990 to require the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to implement fish and wildlife restoration proposals and regional projects if funding is available. Defines "regional projects" as authorized activities of FWS related to fish and wildlife resource protection, restoration, maintenance, and enhancement that benefit the Great Lakes basin.
Requires the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Proposal Review Committee to operate under the guidance of FWS (currently, under the guidance of the Council of Lake Committees of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission) and revises Committee membership requirements.
Revises the goals of FWS programs related to the Great Lakes fish and wildlife resources to include restoring and maintaining self-sustaining fish and wildlife resources.
Requires the Great Lakes Coordination Office to: (1) ensure that information acquired under such Act is made available to the public; and (2) report to the FWS Director of Region Three, Great Lakes Big Rivers.
Includes within the responsibilities of the Lower Great Lakes Fishery Resources Office and the Upper Great Lakes Fishery Resources Offices FWS operational activities related to fishery resource protection, restoration, maintenance, and enhancement in the offices' respective regions.
Requires the Director to: (1) submit annual reports to the eight Great Lakes States and Indian Tribes; and (2) conduct a comprehensive study of the status, assessment, management, and restoration needs of the fish and wildlife resources of the Great Lakes Basin. Authorizes appropriations.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4953 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4953
To amend the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990 to
provide for implementation of recommendations of the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service contained in the Great Lakes Fishery Resources
Restoration Study.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 14, 2006
Mr. Kildee (for himself and Mr. Kirk) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990 to
provide for implementation of recommendations of the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service contained in the Great Lakes Fishery Resources
Restoration Study.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife
Restoration Act of 2006''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) the Great Lakes have fish and wildlife communities that
are structurally and functionally changing;
(2) successful fish and wildlife management focuses on the
lakes as ecosystems, and effective management requires the
coordination and integration of efforts of many partners;
(3) it is in the national interest to undertake activities
in the Great Lakes Basin that support sustainable fish and
wildlife resources of common concern provided under the
recommendations of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration
authorized under Executive Order 13340 (69 Fed. Reg. 29043;
relating to the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force);
(4) additional actions and better coordination are needed
to protect and effectively manage the fish and wildlife
resources, and the habitats upon which the resources depend, in
the Great Lakes Basin;
(5) as of the date of enactment of this Act, actions are
not funded that are considered essential to meet the goals and
objectives in managing the fish and wildlife resources, and the
habitats upon which the resources depend, in the Great Lakes
Basin; and
(6) the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act (16
U.S.C. 941 et seq.) allows Federal agencies, States, and tribes
to work in an effective partnership by providing the funding
for restoration work.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
Section 1004 of the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act
of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 941b) is amended--
(1) by striking paragraphs (1), (4), and (12);
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), (5), (6), (7),
(8), (9), (10), (11), (13), and (14) as paragraphs (1), (2),
(3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (9), (10), (11), and (12),
respectively;
(3) in paragraph (4) (as redesignated by paragraph (2)), by
inserting before the semicolon at the end the following: ``,
and that has Great Lakes fish and wildlife management authority
in the Great Lakes Basin''; and
(4) by inserting after paragraph (7) (as redesignated by
paragraph (2)) the following:
``(8) the term `regional project' means authorized
activities of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
related to fish and wildlife resource protection, restoration,
maintenance, and enhancement that benefit the Great Lakes
basin;''.
SEC. 4. IDENTIFICATION, REVIEW, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PROPOSALS.
Section 1005 of the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act
of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 941c) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 1005. IDENTIFICATION, REVIEW, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PROPOSALS
AND REGIONAL PROJECTS.
``(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b)(2), the Director--
``(1) shall encourage the development and, subject to the
availability of appropriations, the implementation of fish and
wildlife restoration proposals and regional projects; and
``(2) in cooperation with the State Directors and Indian
Tribes, shall identify, develop, and, subject to the
availability of appropriations, implement regional projects in
the Great Lakes Basin to be administered by Director in
accordance with this section.
``(b) Identification of Proposals and Regional Projects.--
``(1) Request by the director.--The Director shall annually
request that State Directors and Indian Tribes, in cooperation
or partnership with other interested entities and in accordance
with subsection (a), submit proposals or regional projects for
the restoration of fish and wildlife resources.
``(2) Requirements for proposals and regional projects.--A
proposal or regional project under paragraph (1) shall be--
``(A) submitted in the manner and form prescribed
by the Director; and
``(B) consistent with--
``(i) the goals of the Great Lakes Water
Quality Agreement, as amended;
``(ii) the 1954 Great Lakes Fisheries
Convention;
``(iii) the 1980 Joint Strategic Plan for
Management of Great Lakes Fisheries, as revised
in 1997, and Fish Community Objectives for each
Great Lake and connecting water as established
under the Joint Strategic Plan;
``(iv) the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance
Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C.
4701 et seq.);
``(v) the North American Waterfowl
Management Plan and joint ventures established
under the plan; and
``(vi) the strategies outlined through the
Great Lakes Regional Collaboration authorized
under Executive Order 13340 (69 Fed. Reg.
29043; relating to the Great Lakes Interagency
Task Force).
``(3) Sea lamprey authority.--The Great Lakes Fishery
Commission shall retain authority and responsibility to
formulate and implement a comprehensive program to eradicate or
minimize sea lamprey populations in the Great Lakes Basin.
``(c) Review of Proposals.--
``(1) Establishment of committee.--There is established the
Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Proposal Review
Committee, which shall operate under the guidance of the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service.
``(2) Membership and appointment.--
``(A) In general.--The Committee shall consist of 2
representatives of each of the State Directors and
Indian Tribes, of whom--
``(i) 1 representative shall be the
individual appointed by the State Director or
Indian Tribe to the Council of Lake Committees
of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission; and
``(ii) 1 representative shall have
expertise in wildlife management.
``(B) Appointments.--Each representative shall
serve at the pleasure of the appointing State Director
or Tribal Chair.
``(C) Observer.--The Great Lakes Coordinator of the
United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall
participate as an observer of the Committee.
``(D) Recusal.--A member of the Committee shall
recuse himself or herself from consideration of
proposals that the member, or the entity that the
member represents, has submitted.
``(3) Functions.--The Committee shall--
``(A) meet at least annually;
``(B) review proposals and special projects
developed in accordance with subsection (b) to assess
the effectiveness and appropriateness of the proposals
and special projects in fulfilling the purposes of this
title; and
``(C) recommend to the Director any of those
proposals and special projects that should be funded
and implemented under this section.
``(d) Implementation of Proposals and Regional Projects.--
``(1) In general.--After considering recommendations of the
Committee and the goals specified in section 1006, the Director
shall--
``(A) select proposals and regional projects to be
implemented; and
``(B) subject to the availability of appropriations
and subsection (e), fund implementation of the
proposals and regional projects.
``(2) Selection criteria.--In selecting and funding
proposals and regional projects, the Director shall take into
account the effectiveness and appropriateness of the proposals
and regional projects in fulfilling the purposes of other laws
applicable to restoration of the fish and wildlife resources
and habitat of the Great Lakes Basin.
``(e) Cost Sharing.--
``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and
(4), not less than 25 percent of the cost of implementing a
proposal selected under subsection (d) (excluding the cost of
establishing sea lamprey barriers) shall be paid in cash or in-
kind contributions by non-Federal sources.
``(2) Regional projects.--Regional projects selected under
subsection (d) shall be exempt from cost sharing if the
Director determines that the authorization for the project does
not require a non-Federal cost-share.
``(3) Exclusion of federal funds from non-federal share.--
The Director may not consider the expenditure, directly or
indirectly, of Federal funds received by any entity to be a
contribution by a non-Federal source for purposes of this
subsection.
``(4) Effect on certain indian tribes.--Nothing in this
subsection affects an Indian tribe affected by an alternative
applicable cost sharing requirement under the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et
seq.).''.
SEC. 5. GOALS OF UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE PROGRAMS
RELATED TO GREAT LAKES FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES.
Section 1006 of the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act
of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 941d) is amended by striking paragraph (1) and
inserting the following:
``(1) Restoring and maintaining self-sustaining fish and
wildlife resources.''.
SEC. 6. ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICES.
Section 1007 of the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act
of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 941e) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
``(a) Great Lakes Coordination Office.--
``(1) In general.--The Director shall establish a centrally
located facility for the coordination of all United States Fish
and Wildlife Service activities in the Great Lakes Basin, to be
known as the `Great Lakes Coordination Office'.
``(2) Functional responsibilities.--The functional
responsibilities of the Great Lakes Coordination Office shall
include--
``(A) intra- and interagency coordination;
``(B) information distribution; and
``(C) public outreach.
``(3) Requirements.--The Great Lakes Coordination Office
shall--
``(A) ensure that information acquired under this
Act is made available to the public; and
``(B) report to the Director of Region 3, Great
Lakes Big Rivers.'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the first sentence, by striking ``The
Director'' and inserting the following:
``(1) In general.--The Director'';
(B) in the second sentence, by striking ``The
office'' and inserting the following:
``(2) Name and location.--The office''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Responsibilities.--The responsibilities of the Lower
Great Lakes Fishery Resources Office shall include operational
activities of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
related to fishery resource protection, restoration,
maintenance, and enhancement in the Lower Great Lakes.''; and
(3) in subsection (c)--
(A) in the first sentence, by striking ``The
Director'' and inserting the following:
``(1) In general.--The Director'';
(B) in the second sentence, by striking ``The
office'' and inserting the following:
``(2) Name and location.--The office''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Responsibilities.--The responsibilities of the Upper
Great Lakes Fishery Resources Offices shall include operational
activities of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
related to fishery resource protection, restoration,
maintenance, and enhancement in the Upper Great Lakes.''.
SEC. 7. REPORTS.
Section 1008 of the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act
of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 941f) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 1008. REPORTS.
``(a) In General.--Not later than December 31, 2011, the Director
shall submit to the Committee on Resources of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of
the Senate a report that describes--
``(1) actions taken to solicit and review proposals under
section 1005;
``(2) the results of proposals implemented under section
1005; and
``(3) progress toward the accomplishment of the goals
specified in section 1006.
``(b) Annual Reports.--Not later than December 31 of each of fiscal
years 2007 through 2012, the Director shall submit to the 8 Great Lakes
States and Indian Tribes a report that describes--
``(1) actions taken to solicit and review proposals under
section 1005;
``(2) the results of proposals implemented under section
1005;
``(3) progress toward the accomplishment of the goals
specified in section 1006;
``(4) the priorities proposed for funding in the annual
budget process under this title; and
``(5) actions taken in support of the recommendations of
the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration authorized under
Executive Order 13340 (69 Fed. Reg. 29043; relating to the
Great Lakes Interagency Task Force).
``(c) Study.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than December 16, 2009, the
Director, in consultation with State fish and wildlife resource
management agencies, Indian Tribes, and the Great Lakes Fishery
Commission, shall--
``(A) conduct a comprehensive study of the status,
and the assessment, management, and restoration needs,
of the fish and wildlife resources of the Great Lakes
Basin, including a comprehensive review of the
accomplishments that have been achieved under this
title through fiscal year 2008; and
``(B) submit to the President of the Senate and the
Speaker of the House of Representatives--
``(i) the study described in subparagraph
(A); and
``(ii) a comprehensive report on the
findings of the study.
``(d) Report.--Not later than June 30, 2006, the Director shall
submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate
and the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives the 2002
report required under this section as in effect on the day before the
date of enactment of the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act
of 2006.''.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 1009 of the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act
of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 941g) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 1009. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``There are authorized to be appropriated to the Director for each
of fiscal years 2007 through 2012--
``(1) $12,000,000, of which--
``(A) $11,400,000 shall be allocated to implement
fish and wildlife restoration proposals as selected by
the Director under section 1005(e); and
``(B) the lesser of 5 percent or $600,000 shall be
allocated to the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service to cover costs incurred in administering the
proposals by any entity;
``(2) $6,000,000, which shall be allocated to implement
regional projects by the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service, as selected by the Director under section 1005(e); and
``(3) $2,000,000, which shall be allocated for the
activities of the Great Lake Coordination Office in East
Lansing, Michigan, of the Upper Great Lakes Fishery Resources
Office, and the Lower Great Lakes Fishery Resources Office
under section 1007.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries and Oceans.
Executive Comment Requested from Interior.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
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