[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1288 Referred in House (RFH)]


109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 1288


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 29, 2006

                 Referred to the Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
 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.

    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 Federal agencies, other 
public entities, educational institutions, private nonprofit 
organizations, or willing private landowners to protect 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--
            (1) provide for--
                    (A) clear and direct benefits to natural resources 
                of a unit of the National Park System;
                    (B) the preservation, conservation, and restoration 
                of coastal and riparian systems, watersheds, and 
                wetlands;
                    (C) preventing, controlling or eradicating invasive 
                exotic species that occupy land within a unit of the 
                National Park System or adjacent to a unit of the 
                National Park System; or
                    (D) restoration of natural resources, including 
                native wildlife habitat;
            (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; and
                    (B) benefit the parties to the agreement;
            (4) identify any materials, supplies, or equipment 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) shall include such terms and conditions that are agreed 
        to by the Secretary and the other parties to the agreement.
    (c) Limitations.--The Secretary shall not use any amounts 
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) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.

            Passed the Senate September 29, 2006.

            Attest:

                                             EMILY J. REYNOLDS,

                                                             Secretary.