118 S3123 IS: Modernizing Access to Our Public Waters Act U.S. Senate 2023-10-25 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II118th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 3123IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESOctober 25, 2023Mr. Barrasso (for himself and Mr. King) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural ResourcesA BILLTo provide for the standardization, consolidation, and publication of data relating to public outdoor recreational use of Federal waterways among Federal land and water management agencies, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Modernizing Access to Our Public Waters Act.

2.

Definitions

In this Act:(1)

Federal fishing restriction

The term Federal fishing restriction means a defined area in which all or certain fishing activities are temporarily or permanently prohibited or restricted by a Federal land or water management agency. (2)

Federal land or water management agency

The term Federal land or water management agency means—(A)the Bureau of Reclamation;(B)the National Park Service;(C)the Bureau of Land Management;(D)the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and(E)the Forest Service.(3)

Federal waterway

The term Federal waterway means any portion of a body of water managed partially or wholly by 1 or more of the relevant Secretaries.(4)

Federal waterway restriction

The term Federal waterway restriction means a restriction on the access or use of a Federal waterway applied under applicable law by 1 or more of the Secretaries.(5)

Secretaries

The term Secretaries means—(A)the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service; and(B)the Secretary of the Interior.

3.

Interagency data standardization

Not later than 30 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall jointly develop and adopt interagency standards to ensure compatibility and interoperability among applicable Federal databases with respect to the collection and dissemination of geospatial data relating to public outdoor recreational use of Federal waterways and Federal fishing restrictions.

4.

Data consolidation and publication

(a)

Federal waterway restrictions

Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, each of the Secretaries, to the maximum extent practicable, shall digitize and make publicly available online, as applicable, geographic information system data that includes, with respect to Federal waterway restrictions—(1)status information with respect to the conditions under which Federal waterways are open or closed to entry or watercraft, including watercraft inspection or decontamination requirements;(2)the dates on which Federal waterways are seasonally closed to entry or watercraft;(3)the areas of Federal waterways with restrictions on motorized propulsion, horsepower, or gasoline fuel;(4)the areas of Federal waterways with anchoring restrictions, no wake zones, or vessel speed restrictions;(5)Federal waterway restrictions on the direction of travel, including upstream or downstream travel; and(6)the types of watercraft that are restricted on each area of a Federal waterway, including the permissibility of—(A)canoes;(B)rafts and driftboats;(C)motorboats;(D)personal watercraft;(E)airboats;(F)amphibious aircraft;(G)hovercraft; and(H)oversnow vehicles and other motorized vehicles on frozen bodies of water.(b)

Federal waterway access and navigation information

Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, each of the Secretaries, to the maximum extent practicable, shall digitize and make publicly available online, as applicable, geographic information system data that includes, with respect to Federal waterway access and navigation information—(1)(A)the location of boat ramps, portages, and fishing access sites under the authority of the Federal land or water management agency; and (B)the identification of the dates on which the facilities and sites identified under subparagraph (A) are open or closed, as applicable; and(2)bathymetric information and depth charts.(c)

Federal fishing restrictions

Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, each of the Secretaries, to the maximum extent practicable, shall digitize and make publicly available online geographic information system data that describes, with respect to Federal fishing restrictions—(1)the location and geographic boundaries of Federal fishing restrictions on recreational and commercial fishing, including—(A)full or partial closures;(B)no-take zones; and(C)Federal fishing restrictions within or surrounding marine protected areas;(2)Federal fishing restrictions on the use of specific types of equipment or bait, such as restrictions on the use of barbed hooks or live bait; and(3)Federal requirements with respect to catch and release.(d)

Public comment

The Secretaries shall develop a process to allow members of the public to submit questions or comments regarding the information described in subsections (a) and (b).(e)

Updates

The Secretaries, to the maximum extent practicable, shall update—(1)the data described in subsections (a) and (b) not less frequently than 2 times per year; and(2)the data described in subsection (c) in real time as changes go into effect.(f)

Exclusion

This section shall not apply to irrigation canals and flowage easements.(g)

Disclosure

Any geographic information system data made publicly available under this section shall not disclose information regarding the nature, location, character, or ownership of historic, paleontological, or archaeological resources, consistent with applicable law.

5.

Cooperation and coordination

(a)

Community partners and third-Party providers

For purposes of carrying out this Act, the Secretaries may—(1)coordinate and partner with non-Federal agencies and private sector and nonprofit partners, including—(A)State natural resource agencies;(B)technology companies;(C)geospatial data companies; and(D)experts in data science, analytics, and operations research; and(2)enter into an agreement with a third party to carry out any provision of this Act.(b)

United States Geological Survey

The Secretaries may work with the Director of the United States Geological Survey to collect, aggregate, digitize, standardize, and publish data on behalf of the Secretaries to meet the requirements of this Act.(c)

Requirement

With respect to data developed and distributed under this Act, the Secretaries shall include a notice that any geospatial data are subject to applicable Federal, State, and Tribal regulations.

6.

Reports

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and annually thereafter through March 30, 2033, the Secretaries shall submit a report that describes the progress made by the Secretaries with respect to meeting the requirements of this Act to—(1)the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate;(2)the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate;(3)the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives;(4)the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and(5)the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives.

7.

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated—(1)to the Secretary of the Interior to carry out this Act—(A)$3,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; and(B)$6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2027; and(2)to the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out this Act—(A)$2,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; and(B)$4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2027.

8.

Effect

Nothing in this Act—(1)modifies or alters the definition of the term navigable waters under Federal law;(2)affects the jurisdiction or authority of State or Federal agencies to regulate navigable waters; or(3)modifies or alters the authority or jurisdiction of Federal or State agencies to manage fisheries.