II 112th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2009 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 16, 2011 Mr. Bingaman (for himself and Ms. Murkowski) introduced the following bill; which was read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed A BILL To improve the administration of programs in the insular areas, and for other purposes.

1.

Short Title

This Act may be cited as the Insular Areas Act of 2011.

2.

Continued monitoring on Runit Island

Section 103(f)(1) of the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003 (48 U.S.C. 1921b(f)(1)) is amended— (1)by striking Notwithstanding and inserting the following: (A)

In general

Notwithstanding ; and (2)by adding at the end the following: (B)

Continued monitoring on runit island

(i)

Cactus crater containment and groundwater monitoring

Effective beginning January 1, 2012, the Secretary of Energy shall, as a part of the Marshall Islands program conducted under subparagraph (A), periodically (but not less frequently than every 4 years) conduct— (I)a visual study of the concrete exterior of the Cactus Crater containment structure on Runit Island; and (II)a radiochemical analysis of the groundwater surrounding and in the Cactus Crater containment structure on Runit Island. (ii)

Report

The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, a report that contains— (I)a description of— (aa)the results of each visual survey conducted under clause (i)(I); and (bb)the results of the radiochemical analysis conducted under clause (i)(II); and (II)a determination on whether the surveys and analyses indicate any significant change in the health risks to the people of Enewetak from the contaminants within the Cactus Crater containment structure. (iii)

Funding for groundwater monitoring

The Secretary of the Interior shall make available to the Department of Energy, Marshall Islands Program, from funds available for the Technical Assistance Program of the Office of Insular Affairs, the amounts necessary to conduct the radiochemical analysis of groundwater under clause(i)(II). .

3.

Clarifying the temporary assignment of judges to courts of the Freely Associated States

Section 297(a) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking circuit or district judge and inserting circuit, district, magistrate, or territorial judge of a court.

4.

Delay of scheduled minimum wage increase in American Samoa

(a)

Delayed Increase Pending Government Accountability Office Report

Section 8103(b)(2)(C) of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 (29 U.S.C. 206 note; Public Law 110–28) is amended— (1)by striking each year thereafter until and inserting on September 30 of every third year thereafter until; and (2)by striking “except that” and all that follows through “September 30” and inserting “except that there shall be no such increase in 2012, 2013, and 2014 pending the triennial report required under section 8104(a)”. (b)

Triennial Government Accountability Office Report

Section 8104(a) of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 (29 U.S.C. 206 note; Public Law 110–28) is amended by striking April 1, 2013, and every 2 years and inserting April 1, 2014, and every 3 years.