Guarding Our Great Lakes Act - Requires the Chief of Engineers, the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and each other applicable federal agency to take actions to prevent the transfer of aquatic invasive species, with a focus on Asian carp species, through the Brandon Road Lock and Dam on the Illinois River.
Directs the Chief to: (1) construct measures to prevent the upstream transfer of swimming aquatic invasive species through the Lock and Dam; and (2) submit a cost estimate for, and schedule for completion of, measures to be constructed.
Requires the Director of the USFWS to implement all appropriate measures in compliance with applicable state and federal law around the Lock and Dam to prevent the upstream and downstream transfer of swimming and floating aquatic invasive species, with a focus on Asian carp species.
Authorizes the Chief, the Director of the USFWS, and the Director of the USGS to acquire real estate to carry out this Act.
Directs the EPA Administrator, acting through the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force, to coordinate with the governor of Illinois, the city of Chicago, and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago to carry out engineering and construction of flood mitigation and water quality measures on the Chicago Area Waterway System related to permanent prevention of the transfer of aquatic nuisance species between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins. Permits the federal share of the cost of a project to be up to 100%.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5861 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5861
To control the spread of aquatic invasive species between the Great
Lakes basin and the Mississippi River basin, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 11, 2014
Mr. Camp (for himself, Ms. Slaughter, Mrs. Miller of Michigan, Mr.
Walberg, Mr. Dingell, Mr. Upton, Mr. Huizenga of Michigan, Mr.
Benishek, Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania, Mr. Higgins, Mr. Thompson of
Pennsylvania, and Mr. Peters of Michigan) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of
the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To control the spread of aquatic invasive species between the Great
Lakes basin and the Mississippi River basin, and for other purposes.
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 ``Guarding Our Great Lakes Act''.
SEC. 2. AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL ZONE AT BRANDON ROAD LOCK AND
DAM, JOLIET ILLINOIS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of the Army, acting through the
Chief of Engineers, the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the
Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the
Director of the United States Geological Survey, the Administrator of
the Environmental Protection Agency, and each other applicable Federal
agency shall take actions to prevent the transfer of aquatic invasive
species, with a focus on Asian carp species, through the Brandon Road
Lock and Dam.
(b) Construction.--
(1) Required measures.--The Chief of Engineers shall
construct measures to improve the Brandon Road Lock and Dam to
prevent the upstream transfer of swimming aquatic invasive
species through the lock and dam, including--
(A) an engineered channel in the approach from the
Mississippi River direction, as outlined in the report
issued pursuant to section 1538 of Public Law 112-141;
(B) adding additional structures necessary for
aquatic invasive species control; and
(C) the construction and operation of electric
dispersal barriers.
(2) Cost estimate and schedule.--Not later than 6 months
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Chief of Engineers
shall submit to Congress a cost estimate for, and schedule for
completion of, measures to be constructed under this
subsection.
(c) Other Measures.--The Director of the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service, in consultation with the Director of the United
States Geological Survey, the Chief of Engineers, the Commandant of the
United States Coast Guard, the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency, and the heads of other relevant agencies, shall
implement all appropriate measures in compliance with applicable State
and Federal law around the Brandon Road Lock and Dam on the Illinois
River to prevent the upstream and downstream transfer of swimming and
floating aquatic invasive species, with a focus on Asian carp species,
including--
(1) implementing existing Asian carp monitoring and control
strategies at the Brandon Road location, as applicable;
(2) using the Brandon Road location to the greatest extent
possible to test new aquatic invasive species control
technologies;
(3) implementing all control strategies identified through
this testing necessary to fulfill the objectives of this
section; and
(4) developing best management practices to mitigate
aquatic invasive species transfer by boat and barge operators
on the Illinois River and Chicago Sanitary and Shipping Canal
and working with operators to implement them.
(d) Administration.--
(1) Acquisition of real estate.--The Chief of Engineers,
the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service,
and the Director of the United States Geological Survey may
acquire any real estate necessary to carry out this section.
(2) Cooperation.--In carrying out this section, the Chief
of Engineers, the Director of the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service, and the Director of the United States
Geological Survey shall coordinate with each other and--
(A) the Governors of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,
Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin;
(B) the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of
Greater Chicago;
(C) the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee;
(D) the Great Lakes Commission;
(E) the Great Lakes Fishery Commission;
(F) the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities
Initiative; and
(G) any other applicable State, local, or
international government entity.
SEC. 3. ACTIONS RELATED TO PERMANENT PREVENTION OF AQUATIC INVASIVE
SPECIES TRANSFER BETWEEN THE GREAT LAKES AND MISSISSIPPI
RIVER BASINS.
(a) Construction.--The Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency, acting through the Great Lakes Interagency Task
Force, shall coordinate with the Governor of Illinois, the City of
Chicago, and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater
Chicago to carry out engineering and construction of flood mitigation
and water quality measures on the Chicago Area Waterway System related
to permanent prevention of the transfer of aquatic nuisance species
between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins.
(b) Requirements.--In carrying out subsection (a), the
Administrator shall--
(1) coordinate with Chicago and the Metropolitan Water
Reclamation District of Greater Chicago to combine
infrastructure to the greatest extent practicable with the
Tunnel and Reservoir Plan of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation
District of Greater Chicago;
(2) ensure flood mitigation in the vicinity of the Chicago
Area Waterway System is not degraded;
(3) ensure water quality is protected in the Great Lakes
and Chicago Waterway System, consistent with the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.);
(4) provide for continued commercial and recreational
watercraft traffic on the Chicago Area Waterway System to the
greatest practical extent, which may include new infrastructure
to minimize the impact of physical barriers necessary for
aquatic invasive species control; and
(5) prioritize efforts to prevent the transfer of the
highest risk aquatic invasive species, including Asian carp.
(c) Administration.--
(1) Consultation.--In carrying out this section, the
Administrator shall consult with the Asian Carp Regional
Coordinating Committee.
(2) Assistance from corps.--The Chief of Engineers shall
provide to the Administrator all documentation relating to the
report issued pursuant to section 1538 of Public Law 112-141
and technical and other assistance, as requested by the
Administrator.
(3) Delegation.--In carrying out this section, the
Administrator may delegate parts of the project to any of the
non-Federal entities referred to in this Act.
(4) Identification of partners.--In carrying out this
section, the Administrator shall work to identify non-Federal
cost-share partners when applicable.
(5) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of a
project carried out under this section may be up to 100
percent.
(d) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report
describing the progress made, and a plan for further actions to be
taken, under this section.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water and Power.
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