Delaware River Basin Conservation Act of 2013 - Requires the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to establish a Delaware River Basin restoration program, under which the Director shall: (1) draw on management plans for the Basin or portions of the Basin and work in consultation with applicable management entities, including representatives of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, the Delaware River Basin Commission, the federal government, other state and local governments, and regional and nonprofit organizations, to identify, prioritize, and implement restoration and protection activities within the Basin; and (2) adopt a Basin-wide strategy that supports the implementation of a shared set of science-based restoration and protection activities, targets cost-effective conservation projects, supports measurable conservation efforts, and maximizes conservation outcomes with no net gain of federal full-time equivalent employees.
Defines "Basin" as the four-state Delaware Basin region, including all of Delaware Bay and portions of Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania located in the Delaware River watershed.
Requires the Director to establish the Delaware River Basin restoration grant program to provide competitive matching grants to carry out the restoration program. Requires the Director to develop criteria to ensure that funded activities: (1) restore or protect fish and wildlife and their habitats; (2) improve or protect water quality by reducing pollutants and restoring headwater areas and drinking water basins; (3) improve the management of water volume and mitigation of flood damage to support the ecological needs of fish and wildlife and their habitats; (4) include priority needs or actions identified in the Basin-wide strategy; and/or (5) include restoration and protection activities with multiple benefits in the Basin, including habitat, water quality, and flood damage mitigation. Limits the federal share of the total cost of a funded project to 50%. Authorizes the Director to contract with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation or another organization that offers grant management services.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 644 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 644
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a program to build
on and help coordinate funding for restoration and protection efforts
of the 4-State Delaware River Basin region, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 13, 2013
Mr. Carney (for himself, Mr. Andrews, Mr. Cartwright, Mr. Dent, Mr.
Fitzpatrick, Mr. Gibson, Mr. Holt, Mr. LoBiondo, Mr. Meehan, Mr.
Runyan, and Ms. Schwartz) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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 direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a program to build
on and help coordinate funding for restoration and protection efforts
of the 4-State Delaware River Basin region, 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 ``Delaware River Basin Conservation
Act of 2013''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) the Delaware River Basin is a national treasure of
great cultural, environmental, and ecological importance;
(2) the Basin contains over 12,500 square miles of land in
the States of Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania,
including nearly 800 square miles of bay and more than 2,000
tributary rivers and streams;
(3) the Basin is home to more than 8,000,000 people who
depend on the Delaware River and the Delaware Bay as an
economic engine, a place of recreation, and a vital habitat for
fish and wildlife;
(4) the Basin provides clean drinking water to more than
15,000,000 people, including New York City, which relies on the
Basin for approximately half of the drinking water supply of
the city, and Philadelphia, whose most significant threat to
the drinking water supply of the city is forest clearing in the
Upper Basin, according to a study conducted by the Philadelphia
Water Department;
(5) almost 180 species of fish and wildlife are considered
special status species in the Basin due to habitat loss and
degradation, particularly sturgeon, eastern oyster, and red
knots, which have been identified as unique species in need of
habitat improvement;
(6) the Basin provides habitat for over 200 resident and
migrant fish species, includes significant recreational
fisheries, and is a prolific source of eastern oyster, blue
crab, and the largest population of the American horseshoe
crab;
(7) the annual value of commercial Eastern oyster landings
for the Delaware Estuary is $3,700,000 per year in 2010
dollars, making it the fourth-most lucrative fishery in the
Delaware River Basin watershed, and oyster populations are
rebounding despite many years of below-average biological
recruitment due, in part, to pollution and disease;
(8) the Delaware Bay has the second largest concentration
of shorebirds in North America and is designated as 1 of the 4
most important shorebird migration sites in the world;
(9) the Basin, 50 percent of which is forested, also has
1,000,000 acres of wetland, more than 126,000 acres of which
are recognized as internationally important, resulting in a
landscape that provides essential ecosystem services, including
recreation, commercial, and water quality benefits;
(10) much of the remaining exemplary natural landscape in
the Basin is vulnerable to further degradation, as the Basin
gains approximately 14 square miles of developed land annually,
and with new development, urban watersheds are increasingly
covered by impervious surfaces, amplifying the quantity of
polluted runoff into rivers and streams;
(11) the Delaware River is the longest undammed river east
of the Mississippi, and a critical component of the National
Wild and Scenic Rivers System in the Northeast;
(12) management of water volume in the Basin is critical to
flood mitigation and habitat for fish and wildlife, and
following 3 major floods along the Delaware River since 2004,
the Governors of the States of Delaware, New Jersey, New York,
and Pennsylvania have called for natural flood damage reduction
measures to combat the problem, including restoring the
function of riparian corridors;
(13) the Delaware River Port Complex (including docking
facilities in the States of Delaware, New Jersey, and
Pennsylvania) is one of the largest freshwater port in the
world, the Port of Philadelphia handles the largest volume of
international tonnage and 70 percent of the oil shipped to the
East Coast, and the Port of Wilmington, a full-service
deepwater port and marine terminal, is the busiest terminal on
the Delaware River, handling more than 400 vessels per year
with an annual import/export cargo tonnage of more than
4,000,000 tons;
(14) the Delaware Estuary, where freshwater from the
Delaware River mixes with saltwater from the Atlantic Ocean, is
1 of the largest and most complex of the 28 estuaries in the
National Estuary Program, and the Partnership for the Delaware
Estuary works to improve the environmental health of the
Delaware Estuary;
(15) the Delaware River Basin Commission is a Federal-
interstate compact government agency charged with overseeing a
unified approach to managing the river system and implementing
important water resources management projects and activities
throughout the Basin that are in the national interest;
(16) restoration activities in the Basin are supported
through several Federal and State agency programs, and funding
for those important programs should continue and complement the
establishment of the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program,
which is intended to build on and help coordinate restoration
and protection funding mechanisms at the Federal, State,
regional, and local levels; and
(17) the existing and ongoing voluntary conservation
efforts in the Delaware River Basin necessitate improved
efficiency and cost-effectiveness, as well as increased
private-sector investments and coordination of Federal and non-
Federal resources.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Basin.--The term ``Basin'' means the 4-State Delaware
Basin region, including all of Delaware Bay and portions of the
States of Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania
located in the Delaware River watershed.
(2) Basin state.--The term ``Basin State'' means each of
the States of Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
(3) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(4) Foundation.--The term ``Foundation'' means the National
Fish and Wildlife Foundation, a congressionally chartered
foundation established by section 2 of the National Fish and
Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3701).
(5) Grant program.--The term ``grant program'' means the
Delaware River Basin restoration grant program established
under section 5.
(6) Program.--The term ``program'' means the Delaware River
Basin restoration program established under section 4.
(7) Restoration and protection.--The term ``restoration and
protection'' means the conservation, protection, and
enhancement of fish and wildlife, as well as the habitats of
fish and wildlife.
(8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior, acting through the Director.
(9) Service.--The term ``Service'' means the United States
Fish and Wildlife Service.
SEC. 4. PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program to be
known as the ``Delaware River Basin restoration program''.
(b) Duties.--In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall--
(1) draw on existing and new management plans for the
Basin, or portions of the Basin, and work in consultation with
applicable management entities, including representatives of
the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, the Delaware River
Basin Commission, the Federal Government, and other State and
local governments, and regional and nonprofit organizations, as
appropriate, to identify, prioritize, and implement restoration
and protection activities within the Basin;
(2) adopt a basin-wide strategy that--
(A) supports the implementation of a shared set of
science-based restoration and protection activities
developed in accordance with paragraph (1);
(B) targets cost-effective conservation projects;
(C) supports measurable conservation efforts; and
(D) maximizes conservation outcomes with no net
gain of Federal full-time equivalent employees;
(3) establish the grant program in accordance with section
5; and
(4) provide for technical assistance in accordance with
this Act.
(c) Coordination.--In establishing the program, the Secretary shall
consult, as appropriate, with--
(1) the heads of Federal agencies, including--
(A) the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency;
(B) the Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration;
(C) the Chief of the Natural Resource Conservation
Service;
(D) the Chief of Engineers of the Corps of
Engineers; and
(E) the head of any other applicable agency;
(2) the Governors of the Basin States;
(3) the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary;
(4) the Delaware River Basin Commission;
(5) fish and wildlife joint venture partnerships; and
(6) other public agencies and organizations with authority
for the planning and implementation of conservation strategies
in the Basin.
(d) Purposes.--The purposes of the program include--
(1) coordinating restoration and protection activities
among Federal, State, local, and regional entities and
conservation partners throughout the Basin;
(2) carrying out coordinated restoration and protection
activities throughout the Basin and Basin States--
(A) to sustain and enhance fish and wildlife
habitat restoration and protection activities;
(B) to improve and maintain water quality to
support fish and wildlife, as well as the habitats of
fish and wildlife;
(C) to sustain and enhance water management and
flood damage mitigation improvements to benefit fish
and wildlife habitat;
(D) to improve opportunities for public access and
recreation in the Basin;
(E) to encourage environmentally sensitive land use
planning and development;
(F) to increase the capacity to implement
coordinated restoration and protection activities in
the Basin by conducting public outreach and education
and promoting citizen involvement; and
(G) to increase scientific capacity to support the
planning, monitoring, and research activities necessary
to carry out coordinated restoration and protection
activities; and
(3) providing competitive grants for technical assistance
to carry out restoration and protection activities in the
Basin, with priority given to activities with multiple
benefits, as described in paragraph (2).
SEC. 5. GRANTS AND ASSISTANCE.
(a) Delaware River Basin Restoration Program.--To the extent that
funds are available to carry out this section, the Secretary shall
establish a grant program to be known as the ``Delaware River Basin
restoration grant program'' to provide competitive matching grants of
varying amounts to State and local governments, nonprofit
organizations, community organizations, institutions of higher
education, and other eligible entities to carry out activities
described in section 4(d).
(b) Criteria.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
organizations described in section 4(c), shall develop criteria for the
grant program to help ensure that activities funded under this section
accomplish 1 or more of the following:
(1) Restoration or protection of fish and wildlife and the
habitats of fish and wildlife.
(2) Improvement or protection of water quality by reducing
pollutants and restoring headwater areas and drinking water
basins.
(3) Improvement of the management of water volume and
mitigation of flood damage to support the ecological needs of
fish and wildlife and the habitats of fish and wildlife.
(4) Inclusion of priority needs or actions identified in
the basin-wide strategy adopted under section 4(b)(2).
(5) Inclusion of restoration and protection activities with
multiple benefits in the Basin, including habitat, water
quality, and flood damage mitigation.
(c) Cost Sharing.--
(1) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of a
project funded under the grant program shall not exceed 50
percent of the total cost of the activity, as determined by the
Secretary.
(2) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of the cost
of a project funded under the grant program may be provided in
cash or in the form of an in-kind contribution of services or
materials.
(d) Administration.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may enter into an agreement
to manage the grant program with the National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation or a similar organization that offers grant
management services.
(2) Funding.--If the Secretary enters into an agreement
under paragraph (1), the organization selected shall--
(A) for each fiscal year, receive amounts to carry
out this section in an advance payment of the entire
amount on October 1, or as soon as practicable
thereafter, of that fiscal year;
(B) invest and reinvest those amounts for the
benefit of the grant program; and
(C) otherwise administer the grant program to
support partnerships between the public and private
sectors in accordance with this Act.
(3) Requirements.--If the Secretary enters into an
agreement with the Foundation under paragraph (1), any amounts
received by the Foundation under this section shall be subject
to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act
(16 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.), excluding section 10(a) of that Act
(16 U.S.C. 3709(a)).
(e) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary may provide, or provide
for, technical assistance to carry out this section, on a
nonreimbursable basis, to--
(1) other Federal agencies;
(2) State and local governments;
(3) nonprofit organizations;
(4) community organizations;
(5) institutions of higher education; or
(6) other entities, as the Secretary determines to be
appropriate.
SEC. 6. ANNUAL REPORTS.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act and
annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on
the implementation of this Act, including a description of each project
that has received funding under this Act.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--The United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall
use funds within its existing budgetary authority to carry out this
Act.
(b) Use.--Of any amount made available each fiscal year to carry
out this Act, the Secretary shall use at least 75 percent to carry out
the grant program under section 5 including to provide, or provide for,
technical assistance under section 5(e).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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 Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line