Modernizing Access to Our Public Waters Act 2024-12-18 Passed Senate Modernizing Access to Our Public Waters Act

This bill directs the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to standardize and publish data on public access to federal waterways for recreational use.

Specifically, the Forest Service and Interior must jointly develop and adopt interagency standards for the collection and dissemination of geospatial data relating to federal fishing restrictions and public recreational use of federal waterways. The standards must ensure compatibility and interoperability among applicable federal databases with respect to the collection and dissemination of such data.

Within five years of the bill's enactment, the Forest Service and Interior must also digitize and make publicly available online, as applicable, certain geographic information system data about (1) federal waterway restrictions, (2) federal waterway access and navigation information, and (3) federal fishing restrictions. Data on waterway restrictions, waterway access, and navigation must be updated at least annually, and data on fishing restrictions must be updated in real time as changes take effect.

Finally, the Forest Service and Interior must develop a process to allow members of the public to submit questions or comments about waterway restrictions, waterway access, and navigation.

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