[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2479 Introduced in House (IH)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2479

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide to the States of 
 Connecticut and Massachusetts technical and financial assistance for 
          management of the Connecticut River in those States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 16, 2003

Mrs. Johnson of Connecticut (for herself and Mr. Olver) introduced the 
 following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 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 authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide to the States of 
 Connecticut and Massachusetts technical and financial assistance for 
          management of the Connecticut River in those States.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. LOWER CONNECTICUT RIVER PARTNERSHIP.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Connecticut River in the States of Connecticut and 
        Massachusetts is a scenic region of cities and historic 
        villages located in an internationally and nationally 
        significant landscape of working farms, verdant forests, 
        mountains, and broad fertile floodplains of New England's 
        longest river, the Connecticut River.
            (2) The Connecticut River and its tributaries provide 
        outstanding fish and wildlife habitat, recreation, and 
        hydropower generation for the New England region.
            (3) The Connecticut River has been recognized by Congress 
        as part of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife 
        Refuge, established by the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and 
        Wildlife Refuge Act (16 U.S.C. 668dd note; Public Law 102-212).
            (4) The demonstrated interest in stewardship of the River 
        by the citizens living along the Connecticut River led to the 
        Presidential designation of the River as one of 14 American 
        Heritage Rivers on July 30, 1998.
            (5) Where management of the River involves partnership with 
        local communities and organizations, support for the 
        partnership should be provided by the Secretary.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to authorize the 
Secretary to provide to the States of Connecticut and Massachusetts 
technical and financial assistance for management of the River in those 
States.
    (c) Definitions.--For the purpose of this section, the following 
definitions apply:
            (1) River.--The term ``River'' means the Connecticut River.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (3) State.--The term ``State'' means--
                    (A) the State of Connecticut; or
                    (B) the State of Massachusetts.
    (d) Assistance for States.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may provide to the States 
        technical and financial assistance in managing the River in 
        cooperation and collaboration with local communities and 
        regional planning agencies, including assistance for the 
        following:
                    (A) Developing policies for water quality, flow 
                management, and recreational boating for the River.
                    (B) Developing protection plans for water quality 
                in the River.
                    (C) Developing a coordinated, collaborative 
                approach on the part of the States for monitoring the 
                quality of the River for human use and ecological 
                health.
                    (D) Restoring and protecting riverbanks to improve 
                water quality and aquatic and riparian habitat for the 
                River.
                    (E) Encouraging and assisting communities, farmers, 
                and riverfront landowners in--
                            (i) establishing and protecting riparian 
                        areas; and
                            (ii) addressing nonpoint source pollution.
                    (F) Encouraging and assisting communities in--
                            (i) protecting shoreland immediately along 
                        the River; and
                            (ii) managing and treating stormwater 
                        runoff directly into the River.
                    (G) In cooperation with and with the consent of dam 
                owners--
                            (i) evaluating the decommissioning of 
                        uneconomic dams along the River; and
                            (ii) restoring natural riverine habitat 
                        immediately along the River.
                    (H) Protecting and restoring the habitat of native 
                trout, anadromous fisheries, and other outstanding fish 
                and wildlife resources within or on the River.
                    (I) Developing and promoting locally planned, 
                approved, and managed networks of water trails on the 
                River.
                    (J) Supporting local stewardship.
                    (K) Encouraging public access to the River from 
                towns and cities in the Valley.
    (e) Administrative Costs.--Not more than 10 percent of the funds 
made available to any State under this section may be used for 
administrative costs.
    (f) Coordination With Other Entities.--The Secretary shall 
encourage States receiving assistance under this section to work in 
coordination with units of local government and nonprofit organizations 
when carrying out activities listed in subsection (d).
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