[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4294 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4294

 To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into cooperative 
 agreements to protect natural resources of units of the National Park 
  System through collaborative efforts on land inside and outside of 
       units of the National Park System, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 10, 2005

  Mr. Porter introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                         Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into cooperative 
 agreements to protect natural resources of units of the National Park 
  System through collaborative efforts on land inside and outside of 
       units of the National Park System, 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 ``Natural Resource Protection 
Cooperative Agreement Act''.

SEC. 2. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR NATIONAL PARK NATURAL RESOURCE 
              PROTECTION.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this 
Act as the ``Secretary'') may enter into cooperative agreements with 
State, local, or tribal governments, other public entities, educational 
institutions, private nonprofit organizations, or participating private 
landowners for the purpose of protecting natural resources of units of 
the National Park System through collaborative efforts on land inside 
and outside of National Park System units.
    (b) Terms and Conditions.--A cooperative agreement entered into 
under subsection (a) shall provide clear and direct benefits to park 
natural resources and--
            (1) provide for--
                    (A) the preservation, conservation, and restoration 
                of coastal and riparian systems, watersheds, and 
                wetlands;
                    (B) preventing, controlling, or eradicating 
                invasive exotic species that are within a unit of the 
                National Park System or adjacent to a unit of the 
                National Park System; or
                    (C) restoration of natural resources, including 
                native wildlife habitat or ecosystems;
            (2) include a statement of purpose demonstrating how the 
        agreement will--
                    (A) enhance science-based natural resource 
                stewardship at the unit of the National Park System; 
                and
                    (B) benefit the parties to the agreement;
            (3) specify any staff required and technical assistance to 
        be provided by the Secretary or other parties to the agreement 
        in support of activities inside and outside the unit of the 
        National Park System that will--
                    (A) protect natural resources of the unit of the 
                National Park System; and
                    (B) benefit the parties to the agreement;
            (4) identify any materials, supplies, or equipment and any 
        other resources that will be contributed by the parties to the 
        agreement or by other Federal agencies;
            (5) describe any financial assistance to be provided by the 
        Secretary or the partners to implement the agreement;
            (6) ensure that any expenditure by the Secretary pursuant 
        to the agreement is determined by the Secretary to support the 
        purposes of natural resource stewardship at a unit of the 
        National Park System; and
            (7) include such other terms and conditions as are agreed 
        to by the Secretary and the other parties to the agreement.
    (c) Limitations.--The Secretary shall not use any funds associated 
with an agreement entered into under subsection (a) for the purposes of 
land acquisition, regulatory activity, or the development, maintenance, 
or operation of infrastructure, except for ancillary support facilities 
that the Secretary determines to be necessary for the completion of 
projects or activities identified in the agreement.
    (d) Funding.--Funds available to carry out the provisions of this 
Act shall be limited to programs and amounts specified in the statute 
for such use in the annual appropriation Act for the National Park 
Service.
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