I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2643 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 21, 2009 Mr. Welch (for himself and Mr. Hodes) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance in implementing cultural heritage, conservation, and recreational activities in the Connecticut River watershed of the States of New Hampshire and Vermont.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Upper Connecticut River Partnership Act.

2.

Findings and purpose

(a)

Findings

Congress finds that— (1)the upper Connecticut River watershed in the States of New Hampshire and Vermont is a scenic region of historic villages located in a working landscape of farms, forests, and the mountainous headwaters and broad fertile floodplains of New England’s longest river, the Connecticut River; (2)the River provides outstanding fish and wildlife habitat, recreation, and hydropower generation for the New England region; (3)the upper Connecticut River watershed has been recognized by Congress as part of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, established by the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge Act (16 U.S.C. 668dd note; Public Law 102–212); (4)the demonstrated commitment to stewardship of the River by the citizens living in the watershed led to the Presidential designation of the River as 1 of 14 American Heritage Rivers on July 30, 1998; (5)the River is home to the bi-State Connecticut River Scenic Byway, which was declared a National Scenic Byway by the Department of Transportation in 2005 to foster heritage tourism in the region; (6)each of the legislatures of the States of Vermont and New Hampshire has established a commission for the Connecticut River watershed, and the 2 commissions, known collectively as the Connecticut River Joint Commissions— (A)have worked together since 1989; and (B)serve as the focal point and catalyst for cooperation between Federal agencies, States, communities, and citizens; (7)in 1997, as directed by the legislatures, the Connecticut River Joint Commissions, with the substantial involvement of 5 bi-State local river subcommittees appointed to represent riverfront towns, produced the 6 volume Connecticut River Corridor Management Plan, to be used as a blueprint in educating agencies, communities, and the public in how to be good neighbors to a great river; (8)in 2009, after 3 years of broad consultation, the Connecticut River Joint Commissions have substantially expanded and published updates via the Connecticut River Recreation Management Plan and the Water Resources Management Plan to guide public and private activities in the watershed; (9)through a joint legislative resolution, the legislatures of the States of Vermont and New Hampshire have requested that Congress provide for continuation of cooperative partnerships and that Federal agencies support the Connecticut River Joint Commissions in carrying out the recommendations of the Connecticut River Corridor Management Plan; (10)this Act effectuates certain recommendations of the Connecticut River Corridor Management Plan that are most appropriately directed by the States through the Connecticut River Joint Commissions, with assistance from the National Park Service and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and (11)where implementation of those recommendations involves partnership with local communities and organizations, support for the partnership should be provided by the Secretary. (b)

Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to authorize the Secretary to provide to the States of New Hampshire and Vermont (including communities in those States), through the Connecticut River Joint Commissions, technical and financial assistance for management of the River.

3.

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

River

The term River means the Connecticut River. (2)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior. (3)

State

The term State means— (A)the State of New Hampshire; or (B)the State of Vermont.

4.

Connecticut river grants and technical assistance program

(a)

In general

The Secretary shall establish a Connecticut River Grants and Technical Assistance Program to provide grants and technical assistance to State and local governments, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector to carry out projects for the conservation, restoration, and interpretation of historic, cultural, recreational, and natural resources in the upper Connecticut River watershed. (b)

Criteria

The Secretary, in consultation with the Connecticut River Joint Commissions, shall develop criteria for determining the eligibility of applicants for, and reviewing and prioritizing applications for, grants or technical assistance under the program. (c)

Cost-sharing

(1)

Federal share

The Federal share of the cost of carrying out a grant project under subsection (a) shall not exceed 75 percent. (2)

Non-Federal share

The non-Federal share of the cost of a project may be provided in the form of an in-kind contribution of services or materials.

5.

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $1,000,000 for each fiscal year.