[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5536 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5536

To require the Secretary of Commerce to prescribe regulations to reduce 
the incidence of vessels colliding with North Atlantic right whales by 
         limiting the speed of vessels, and for other purposes.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 5, 2008

Mr. Allen (for himself and Mr. Gonzalez) introduced the following bill; 
       which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
                             Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To require the Secretary of Commerce to prescribe regulations to reduce 
the incidence of vessels colliding with North Atlantic right whales by 
         limiting the speed of vessels, 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. REGULATIONS TO PROTECT NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES FROM SHIP 
              STRIKES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 30 days after the earlier of the 
date of the enactment of this Act or June 1, 2008, the Secretary of 
Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, 
shall prescribe regulations to reduce the incidence of vessels 
colliding with North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) by 
limiting the speed of vessels.
    (b) Incorporation of Proposed Rule.--The regulations required by 
subsection (a) shall--
            (1) incorporate the whale protection measures contained in 
        the proposed rule entitled ``Endangered Fish and Wildlife; 
        Proposed Rule to Implement Speed Restrictions to Reduce the 
        Threat of Ship Collisions with North Atlantic Right Whales'' 
        (71 Fed. Reg. 36299; June 26, 2006); and
            (2) provide the same or greater level of protection against 
        collisions with vessels.
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