[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2657 Reported in Senate (RS)]

                                                       Calendar No. 893
110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2657

                          [Report No. 110-429]

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.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 15, 2008

 Mr. Kerry (for himself and Ms. Snowe) introduced the following bill; 
    which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation under authority of the order of the Senate 
                          of February 14, 2008

                             July 22, 2008

               Reported by Mr. Inouye, with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. REGULATIONS TO PROTECT NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES 
              FROM SHIP STRIKES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (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.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Incorporation of Proposed Rule.--The regulations 
required by subsection (a) shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (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</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) provide the same or greater level of 
        protection against collisions with vessels.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. REGULATIONS TO PROTECT NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALES FROM SHIP 
              STRIKES.

    (a) In General.--Within 30 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Commerce, after giving consideration to comments 
received with respect to 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 making such modifications to the 
proposed rule as the Secretary deems appropriate, shall promulgate a 
final rule to implement speed restrictions to reduce the threat of ship 
collisions with North Atlantic Right Whales (Eubalaena glacialis).
    (b) Protections Afforded.--The final rule promulgated pursuant to 
subsection (a) shall provide a level of protection against vessels 
colliding with North Atlantic Right Whales that is the same as, or 
greater than, the level of protection the proposed rule would have 
provided.
                                                       Calendar No. 893

110th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 2657

                          [Report No. 110-429]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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.

_______________________________________________________________________

                             July 22, 2008

                       Reported with an amendment