[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6746 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6746

  To reauthorize and expand the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation 
   Initiative Act to promote the protection of the resources of the 
               Northwest Straits, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 31, 2008

   Mr. Larsen of Washington (for himself, Mr. Dicks, and Mr. Inslee) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                           Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To reauthorize and expand the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation 
   Initiative Act to promote the protection of the resources of the 
               Northwest Straits, 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 ``Northwest Straits Marine 
Conservation Initiative Reauthorization and Expansion Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF NORTHWEST STRAITS MARINE CONSERVATION INITIATIVE 
              ACT.

    The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Act (title IV 
of Public Law 105-384; 112 Stat. 3458) is amended--
            (1) in section 402, by striking ``(in this title referred 
        to as the `Commission')''; and
            (2) by striking sections 403, 404, and 405 and inserting 
        the following:

``SEC. 403. FINDINGS.

    ``Congress makes the following findings:
            ``(1) The marine waters and ecosystem of the Northwest 
        Straits in Puget Sound in the State of Washington represent a 
        unique resource of enormous environmental and economic value to 
        the people of the United States.
            ``(2) During the 20th century, the environmental health of 
        the Northwest Straits declined dramatically as indicated by 
        impaired water quality, declines in marine wildlife, collapse 
        of harvestable marine species, loss of critical marine 
        habitats, ocean acidification, and sea level rise.
            ``(3) At the start of the 21st century, the Northwest 
        Straits have been threatened by sea level rise, ocean 
        acidification, and other effects of climate change.
            ``(4) In 1998, the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation 
        Initiative Act (title IV of Public Law 105-384) was enacted to 
        tap the unprecedented level of citizen stewardship demonstrated 
        in the Northwest Straits and create a mechanism to mobilize 
        public support and raise capacity for local efforts to protect 
        and restore the ecosystem of the Northwest Straits.

``SEC. 404. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this title:
            ``(1) Commission.--The term `Commission' means the 
        Northwest Straits Advisory Commission established by section 
        402.
            ``(2) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian tribe' has the 
        meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
            ``(3) Northwest straits.--The term `Northwest Straits' 
        means the marine waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and of 
        Puget Sound from the Canadian border to the south end of 
        Snohomish County.

``SEC. 405. MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMISSION.

    ``(a) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed of up to 14 
members who shall be appointed as follows:
            ``(1) One member appointed by a consensus of the members of 
        a marine resources committee established under section 408 for 
        each of the following counties of the State of Washington:
                    ``(A) San Juan County.
                    ``(B) Island County.
                    ``(C) Skagit County.
                    ``(D) Whatcom County.
                    ``(E) Snohomish County.
                    ``(F) Clallam County.
                    ``(G) Jefferson County.
            ``(2) Two members appointed by the Secretary of the 
        Interior in trust capacity and in consultation with the 
        Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission or the Indian tribes 
        affected by this title collectively, as the Secretary of the 
        Interior considers appropriate, to represent the interests of 
        such tribes.
            ``(3) One member appointed by the Governor of the State of 
        Washington to represent the interests of the Puget Sound 
        Partnership.
            ``(4) Four members appointed by the Governor of the State 
        of Washington who--
                    ``(A) are residents of the State of Washington; and
                    ``(B) are not employed by a Federal, State, or 
                local government.
    ``(b) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in 
the manner in which the original appointment was made.
    ``(c) Chairperson.--The Commission shall select a Chairperson from 
among its members.
    ``(d) Meeting.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the 
Chairperson, but not less frequently than quarterly.

``SEC. 406. GOAL AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

    ``(a) Goal.--The goal of the Commission is to protect and restore 
the marine waters, habitats, and species of the Northwest Straits 
region to achieve ecosystem health and sustainable resource use by--
            ``(1) designing and initiating projects that are driven by 
        sound science, local priorities, community-based decisions, and 
        the ability to measure results;
            ``(2) building awareness and stewardship and making 
        recommendations to improve the health of the Northwest Straits 
        marine resources;
            ``(3) maintaining and expanding diverse membership and 
        partner organizations;
            ``(4) expanding partnerships with governments of Indian 
        tribes and continuing to foster respect for tribal cultures and 
        treaties; and
            ``(5) recognizing the importance of economic and social 
        benefits that are dependent on marine environments and 
        sustainable marine resources.
    ``(b) Duties.--The duties of the Commission are the following:
            ``(1) To provide resources and technical support for marine 
        resources committees established under section 408.
            ``(2) To work with such marine resources committees and 
        appropriate entities of Federal and State governments and 
        Indian tribes to develop programs to monitor the overall health 
        of the marine ecosystem of the Northwest Straits.
            ``(3) To identify factors adversely affecting or preventing 
        the restoration of the health of the marine ecosystem and 
        coastal economies of the Northwest Straits.
            ``(4) To develop scientifically sound restoration and 
        protection recommendations, informed by local priorities, that 
        address such factors.
            ``(5) To assist in facilitating the successful 
        implementation of such recommendations by developing broad 
        support among appropriate authorities, stakeholder groups, and 
        local communities.
            ``(6) To develop and implement regional projects based on 
        such recommendations to protect and restore the Northwest 
        Straits ecosystem.
            ``(7) To serve as a public forum for the discussion of 
        policies made by a Federal, State, or local government, an 
        Indian tribe, or the Government of Canada and actions with 
        respect to the marine ecosystem of the Northwest Straits.
            ``(8) To inform appropriate authorities and local 
        communities about the marine ecosystem of the Northwest Straits 
        and about issues relating to the marine ecosystem of the 
        Northwest Straits.
            ``(9) To consult with all affected Indian tribes in the 
        region of the Northwest Straits to ensure that the work of the 
        Commission does not violate tribal treaty rights.
    ``(c) Benchmarks.--The Commission shall carry out its duties in a 
manner that promotes the achieving of the benchmarks described in 
subsection (f)(2).
    ``(d) Coordination and Collaboration.--The Commission shall carry 
out the duties described in subsection (b) in coordination and 
collaboration, when appropriate, with Federal, State, and local 
governments and Indian tribes.
    ``(e) Regulatory Authority.--The Commission shall have no power to 
issue regulations.
    ``(f) Annual Report.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each year, the Commission shall prepare, 
        submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Energy and 
        Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Under 
        Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, and make available to the 
        public an annual report describing--
                    ``(A) the activities carried out by the Commission 
                during the preceding year; and
                    ``(B) the progress of the Commission in achieving 
                the benchmarks described in paragraph (2).
            ``(2) Benchmarks.--The benchmarks described in this 
        paragraph are the following:
                    ``(A) Protection and restoration of marine, 
                coastal, and nearshore habitats.
                    ``(B) Prevention of loss and achievement of a net 
                gain of healthy habitat areas.
                    ``(C) Protection and restoration of marine 
                populations to healthy, sustainable levels.
                    ``(D) Protection of the marine water quality of the 
                Northwest Straits region and restoration of the health 
                of marine waters.
                    ``(E) Collection of high-quality data and promotion 
                of the use and dissemination of such data.
                    ``(F) Promotion of stewardship and understanding of 
                Northwest Straits marine resources through education 
                and outreach.

``SEC. 407. COMMISSION PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.

    ``(a) Director.--The Manager of the Shorelands and Environmental 
Assistance Program of the Department of Ecology of the State of 
Washington may, upon the recommendation of the Commission and the 
Director of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, 
appoint and terminate a Director of the Commission. The employment of 
the Director shall be subject to confirmation by the Commission.
    ``(b) Staff.--The Director may hire such other personnel as may be 
appropriate to enable the Commission to perform its duties. Such 
personnel shall be hired through the personnel system of the Department 
of Ecology of the State of Washington.
    ``(c) Administrative Service.--If the Governor of the State of 
Washington makes available to the Commission the administrative 
services of the State of Washington Department of Ecology and Padilla 
Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, the Commission shall use such 
services for employment, procurement, grant and fiscal management, and 
support services necessary to carry out the duties of the Commission.

``SEC. 408. MARINE RESOURCES COMMITTEES.

    ``(a) In General.--The government of each of the counties referred 
to in subparagraph (A) through (G) of section 405(a)(1) may establish a 
marine resources committee that--
            ``(1) complies with the requirements of this section; and
            ``(2) receives from such government the mission, direction, 
        expert assistance, and financial resources necessary--
                    ``(A) to address issues affecting the marine 
                ecosystems within its county; and
                    ``(B) to work to achieve the benchmarks described 
                in section 406(f)(2).
    ``(b) Membership.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each marine resources committee 
        established pursuant to this section shall be composed of--
                    ``(A) members with relevant scientific expertise; 
                and
                    ``(B) members that represent balanced 
                representation, including representation of--
                            ``(i) local governments, including planning 
                        staff from counties and cities with marine 
                        shorelines;
                            ``(ii) affected economic interests, such as 
                        ports and commercial fishers;
                            ``(iii) affected recreational interests, 
                        such as sport fishers; and
                            ``(iv) conservation and environmental 
                        interests.
            ``(2) Tribal members.--With respect to a county referred to 
        in subparagraph (A) through (G) of section 405(a)(1), each 
        Indian tribe with usual and accustomed fishing rights in the 
        waters of such county and each Indian tribe with reservation 
        lands in such county, may appoint one member to the marine 
        resources committee for such county. Such member may be 
        appointed by the respective tribal authority.
            ``(3) Chairperson.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Each marine resources committee 
                established pursuant to this section shall select a 
                chairperson from among members by a majority vote of 
                the members of the committee.
                    ``(B) Rotating position.--Each marine resources 
                committee established pursuant to this section shall 
                select a new chairperson at a frequency determined by 
                the county charter of the marine resources committee to 
                create a diversity of representation in the leadership 
                of the marine resources committee.
    ``(c) Duties.--The duties of a marine resources committee 
established pursuant to this section are the following:
            ``(1) To assist in assessing marine resource problems in 
        concert with governmental agencies, tribes, and other entities.
            ``(2) To assist in identifying local implications, needs, 
        and strategies associated with the recovery of Puget Sound 
        salmon and other species in the region of the Northwest Straits 
        listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 
        et seq.) in coordination with Federal, State, and local 
        governments, Indian tribes, and other entities.
            ``(3) To work with other entities to enhance the scientific 
        baseline and monitoring program for the marine environment of 
        the Northwest Straits.
            ``(4) To identify local priorities for marine resource 
        conservation and develop new projects to address those needs.
            ``(5) To work closely with county leadership to implement 
        local marine conservation and restoration initiatives.
            ``(6) To coordinate with the Commission on marine ecosystem 
        objectives.
            ``(7) To educate the public and key constituencies 
        regarding the relationship between healthy marine habitats, 
        harvestable resources, and human activities.

``SEC. 409. NORTHWEST STRAITS MARINE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Director of the Commission and the 
Director of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve may 
enter into an agreement with an organization described in section 
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a nonprofit 
foundation to support the Commission and the marine resources 
committees established under section 408 in carrying out their duties 
under this Act.
    ``(b) Designation.--The foundation authorized by subsection (a) 
shall be known as the `Northwest Straits Marine Conservation 
Foundation'.
    ``(c) Receipt of Grants.--The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation 
Foundation may, if eligible, apply for, accept, and use grants awarded 
by Federal agencies, States, local governments, regional agencies, 
interstate agencies, corporations, foundations, or other persons to 
assist the Commission and the marine resources committees in carrying 
out their duties under this Act.
    ``(d) Transfer of Funds.--The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation 
Foundation may transfer funds to the Commission or the marine resources 
committees to assist them in carrying out their duties under this Act.

``SEC. 410. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to the Under Secretary 
for Oceans and Atmosphere to support the Commission in carrying out its 
duties and administrative functions under this title--
            ``(1) $2,250,000 for each of the fiscal years 2009 through 
        2011; and
            ``(2) $2,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 and 2013.''.
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