[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 126 (Monday, September 12, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 12, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
       NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ON MILITARY LANDS ACT OF 1994

  Mr. STUDDS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3300) to amend the Act popularly known as the ``Sikes Act'' 
to enhance fish and wildlife conservation and natural resources 
management programs on military installations, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3300

       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 ``Natural Resource Management 
     on Military Lands Act of 1994''.

     SEC. 2. AMENDMENT OF SIKES ACT.

       Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this 
     Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an 
     amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the 
     reference shall be considered to be made to a section or 
     other provision of title I of the Act entitled ``An Act to 
     promote effectual planning, development, maintenance, and 
     coordination of wildlife, fish, and game conservation and 
     rehabilitation in military reservations'', approved September 
     15, 1960 (16 U.S.C. 670a et seq.), commonly referred to, and 
     in this Act referred to, as the ``Sikes Act''.

     SEC. 3. INTEGRATED NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR 
                   MILITARY INSTALLATIONS, GENERALLY.

       (a) In General.--Section 101(a) (16 U.S.C. 670a(a)) is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``is authorized to'' and inserting 
     ``shall'';
       (2) by striking ``in each military reservation in 
     accordance with a cooperative plan'' and inserting the 
     following: ``on military installations. Under the program, 
     the Secretary shall prepare and implement for each military 
     installation in the United States an integrated natural 
     resource management plan''; and
       (3) by inserting after ``reservation is located'' the 
     following: ``, except that the Secretary is not required to 
     prepare such a plan for a military installation if the 
     Secretary determines that preparation of such a plan for the 
     installation is not appropriate''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--Title I, as amended by 
     subsection (a) of this section, is further amended--
       (1) in section 101(b) (16 U.S.C. 670a(b)) in the matter 
     preceding paragraph (1) by striking ``cooperative plan'' and 
     inserting ``integrated natural resource management plan'';
       (2) in section 101(b)(4) (16 U.S.C. 670a(b)(4)) by striking 
     ``cooperative plan'' each place it appears and inserting 
     ``integrated natural resource management plan'';
       (3) in section 101(c) (16 U.S.C. 670a(c)) in the matter 
     preceding paragraph (1) by striking ``a cooperative plan'' 
     and inserting ``an integrated natural resource management 
     plan'';
       (4) in section 101(d) (16 U.S.C. 670a(d)) in the matter 
     preceding paragraph (1) by striking ``cooperative plans'' and 
     inserting ``integrated natural resource management plans'';
       (5) in section 101(e) (16 U.S.C. 670a(e)) by striking 
     ``Cooperative plans'' and inserting ``Integrated natural 
     resource management plans'';
       (6) in section 102 (16 U.S.C. 670b) by striking ``a 
     cooperative plan'' and inserting ``an integrated natural 
     resource management plan'';
       (7) in section 103 (16 U.S.C. 670c) by striking ``a 
     cooperative plan'' and inserting ``an integrated natural 
     resource management plan'';
       (8) in section 106(a) (16 U.S.C. 670f(a)) by striking 
     ``cooperative plans'' and inserting ``integrated natural 
     resource management plans''; and
       (9) in section 106(c) (16 U.S.C. 670f(c)) by striking 
     ``cooperative plans'' and inserting ``integrated natural 
     resource management plans''.
       (c) Contents of Plans.--Section 101(b) (16 U.S.C. 670a(b)) 
     is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) in subparagraph (C) by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (B) in subparagraph (D) by striking the semicolon at the 
     end and inserting a comma; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(E) wetland protection and restoration, and wetland 
     creation where necessary, for support of fish or wildlife,
       ``(F) consideration of conservation needs for all 
     biological communities, and
       ``(G) the establishment of specific natural resource 
     management goals, objectives, and time-frames for proposed 
     actions;'';
       (2) by striking paragraph (3);
       (3) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3);
       (4) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
       ``(2) shall for the military installation for which it is 
     prepared--
       ``(A) address the needs for fish and wildlife management, 
     land management, forest management, and wildlife-oriented 
     recreation;
       ``(B) ensure the integration of, and consistency among, the 
     various activities conducted under the plan;
       ``(C) ensure that there is no net loss in the capability of 
     installation lands to support the military mission of the 
     installation;
       ``(D) provide for sustained use by the public of natural 
     resources, to the extent that such use is not inconsistent 
     with the military mission of the installation or the needs of 
     fish and wildlife management;
       ``(E) provide the public access to the installation that is 
     necessary or appropriate for that use, to the extent that 
     access is not inconsistent with the military mission of the 
     installation; and
       ``(F) provide for professional enforcement of natural 
     resource laws and regulations;''; and
       (5) in paragraph (4)(A) by striking ``collect the fees 
     therfor,'' and inserting ``collect, spend, administer, and 
     account for fees therefor,''.
       (d) Public Comment.--Section 101 (16 U.S.C. 670a) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(f) Public Comment.--The Secretary of Defense shall 
     provide an opportunity for public comment on each integrated 
     natural resource management plan prepared under subsection 
     (a).''.

     SEC. 4. REVIEW OF MILITARY INSTALLATIONS FOR PREPARATION OF 
                   INTEGRATED NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLANS.

       (a) Review of Military Installations.--
       (1) Review.--The Secretary of each military department 
     shall, by not later than 9 months after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act--
       (A) review each military installation in the United States 
     that is under the jurisdiction of that Secretary to determine 
     the military installations for which the preparation of an 
     integrated natural resource management plan under section 101 
     of the Sikes Act, as amended by this Act, is appropriate; and
       (B) submit to the Secretary of Defense a report on those 
     determinations.
       (2) Report to congress.--The Secretary of Defense shall, by 
     not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, submit to the Congress a report on the reviews 
     conducted under paragraph (1). The report shall include--
       (A) a list of those military installations reviewed under 
     paragraph (1) for which the Secretary of Defense determines 
     the preparation of an integrated natural resource management 
     plan is not appropriate; and
       (B) for each of the military installations listed under 
     subparagraph (A), an explanation of the reasons such a plan 
     is not appropriate.
       (b) Deadline for Integrated Natural Resource Management 
     Plans.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
     submission of the report required under subsection (a)(2), 
     the Secretary of Defense shall, for each military 
     installation for which the Secretary has not determined under 
     subsection (a)(2)(A) that preparation of an integrated 
     natural resource management plan is not appropriate--
       (1) prepare and begin implementing such a plan mutually 
     agreed to by the Secretary of the Interior and the head of 
     the appropriate State agencies under section 101(a) of the 
     Sikes Act, as amended by this Act; or
       (2) in the case of a military installation for which there 
     is in effect a cooperative plan under section 101(a) of the 
     Sikes Act on the day before the date of the enactment of this 
     Act, complete negotiations with the Secretary of the Interior 
     and the heads of the appropriate State agencies regarding 
     changes to that plan that are necessary for the plan to 
     constitute an integrated natural resource plan that complies 
     with that section, as amended by this Act.
       (c) Public Comment.--The Secretary of Defense shall provide 
     an opportunity for the submission of public comments on--
       (1) integrated natural resource management plans proposed 
     pursuant to subsection (b)(1); and
       (2) changes to cooperative plans proposed pursuant to 
     subsection (b)(2).

     SEC. 5. ANNUAL REVIEWS AND REPORTS.

       Section 101 (16 U.S.C. 670a) is further amended by adding 
     after subsection (f) (as added by section 3(d) of this Act) 
     the following:
       ``(g) Reviews and Reports.--
       ``(1) Secretary of defense.--The Secretary of Defense 
     shall, by not later than March 1 of each year, review the 
     extent to which integrated natural resource management plans 
     were prepared or in effect and implemented in accordance with 
     this Act in the preceding year, and submit a report on the 
     findings of that review to the committees. Each report shall 
     include--
       ``(A) the number of integrated natural resource management 
     plans in effect in the year covered by the report, including 
     the date on which each plan was issued in final form or most 
     recently revised;
       ``(B) the amount of moneys expended on conservation 
     activities conducted pursuant to those plans in the year 
     covered by the report, including amounts expended under the 
     Legacy Resource Management Program established under section 
     8120 of the Act of November 5, 1990 (Public Law 101-511; 104 
     Stat. 1905); and
       ``(C) an assessment of the extent to which the plans comply 
     with the requirements of subsection (b)(1) and (2), including 
     specifically the extent to which the plans ensure in 
     accordance with subsection (b)(2)(C) that there is no net 
     loss of lands to support the military missions of military 
     installations.
       ``(2) Secretary of the interior.--The Secretary of the 
     Interior, by not later than March 1 of each year and in 
     consultation with State agencies responsible for conservation 
     or management of fish or wildlife, shall submit a report to 
     the committees on the amount of moneys expended by the 
     Department of the Interior and those State agencies in the 
     year covered by the report on conservation activities 
     conducted pursuant to integrated natural resource management 
     plans.
       ``(3) Committees defined.--For purposes of this subsection, 
     the term `committees' means the Committees on Merchant Marine 
     and Fisheries and Armed Services of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committees on Armed Services and 
     Environment and Public Works of the Senate.''.

     SEC. 6. FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT OF INTEGRATED NATURAL RESOURCE 
                   MANAGEMENT PLANS; ENFORCEMENT OF OTHER LAWS.

       Title I (16 U.S.C. 670a et seq.) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating section 106 as section 110; and
       (2) by inserting after section 105 the following:

     ``SEC. 106. FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT OF OTHER LAWS.

       ``All Federal laws relating to the conservation of natural 
     resources on Federal lands may be enforced by the Secretary 
     of Defense with respect to violations of those laws which 
     occur on military installations within the United States.''.

     SEC. 7. NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SERVICES.

       Title I (16 U.S.C. 670a et seq.) is amended by inserting 
     after section 106 (as added by section 6 of this Act) the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 107. NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SERVICES.

       ``The Secretary of each military department shall ensure 
     that sufficient numbers of professionally trained natural 
     resource management personnel and natural resource law 
     enforcement personnel are available and assigned 
     responsibility to perform tasks necessary to comply with this 
     Act, including the preparation and implementation of 
     integrated natural resource management plans.''.

     SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.

       Title I (16 U.S.C. 670a et seq.) is further amended by 
     inserting after section 107 (as added by section 7 of this 
     Act) the following:

     ``SEC. 108. DEFINITIONS.

       ``In this title:
       ``(1) Military department.--The term `military department' 
     means the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, 
     and the Department of the Air Force.
       ``(2) Military installation.--The term `military 
     installation'--
       ``(A) means any land or interest in land owned by the 
     United States and administered by the Secretary of Defense or 
     the head of a military department; and
       ``(B) includes all public lands withdrawn from all forms of 
     appropriation under public land laws and reserved for use by 
     the Secretary of Defense or the head of a military 
     department.
       ``(3) State fish and wildlife agency.--The term `State fish 
     and wildlife agency' means an agency of State government that 
     is responsible under State law for managing fish or wildlife 
     resources.
       ``(4) United states.--The term `United States' means the 
     States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
     Rico, and the territories and possessions of the United 
     States.''.

     SEC. 9. SHORT TITLE.

       Title I (16 U.S.C. 670a et seq.) is further amended by 
     inserting after section 108 (as added by section 7 of this 
     Act) the following:

     ``SEC. 109. SHORT TITLE.

       ``This title may be cited as the `Sikes Act'.''.

     SEC. 10. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.

       (a) Cost Sharing.--Section 103a(b) (16 U.S.C. 670c-1(b)) is 
     amended by striking ``matching basis'' each place it appears 
     and inserting ``cost-sharing basis''.-
       (b) Accounting.--Section 103a(c) (16 U.S.C. 670c-1(c)) is 
     amended by inserting before the period at the end the 
     following: ``, and shall not be subject to section 1535 of 
     that title''.

     SEC. 11. REPEAL.

       Section 2 of the Act of October 27, 1986 (Public Law 99-
     651; 16 U.S.C. 670a-1) is repealed.

     SEC. 12. CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.

       Title I, as amended by this Act, is further amended--
       (1) in the heading for the title by striking ``military 
     reservations'' and inserting ``military installations'';
       (2) in section 101(a) (16 U.S.C. 670a(a)) by striking ``the 
     reservation'' and inserting ``the installation'';
       (3) in section 101(b)(4) (16 U.S.C. 670a(b)(4))--
       (A) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``the reservation'' and 
     inserting ``the installation''; and
       (B) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``the military 
     reservation'' and inserting ``the military installation'';
       (4) in section 101(c) (16 U.S.C. 670a(c))--
       (A) in paragraph (1) by striking ``a military reservation'' 
     and inserting ``a military installation''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2) by striking ``the reservation'' and 
     inserting ``the installation'';
       (5) in section 102 (16 U.S.C. 670b) by striking ``military 
     reservations'' and inserting ``military installations''; and
       (6) in section 103 (16 U.S.C. 670c) by striking ``military 
     reservations'' and inserting ``military installations''.

     SEC. 13. AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) Programs on Military Installations.--Subsections (b) 
     and (c) of section 110 (as redesignated by section 6 of this 
     Act) are each amended by striking ``1983'' and all that 
     follows through ``1993,'' and inserting ``1994, 1995, 1996, 
     and 1997,''.
       (b) Programs on Public Lands.--Subsections (a) and (b) of 
     section 209 (16 U.S.C. 670o (a) and (b)) are each amended by 
     striking ``1983'' and all that follows through ``1993,'' and 
     inserting ``1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997,''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Massachusetts [Mr. Studds] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentleman from Texas [Mr. Fields] will be recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Studds].
  Mr. STUDDS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3300, the Natural Resource Management on Military 
Lands Act, reauthorized the Sikes Act and promises to bring about real 
improvement in the conservation of fish, wildlife, and other natural 
resources on our Nation's military installations. Truth is indeed 
sometimes stranger than fiction, and in this case, the truth is that 
the bill we bring before you today has the bipartisan support of the 
Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, the Defense Department, and 
several conservation organizations.
  There is no question that DOD installations--totaling more than 25 
million acres nationwide--must be managed, first and foremost, to meet 
the needs of the military. This bill does nothing to interfere with 
those purposes--it simply requires installations with significant 
natural resources to develop and implement an integrated natural 
resource management plan that requires military activities be conducted 
in consultation with the military officials responsible for natural 
resource management. By fostering sound management of each 
installation's natural resources, we will help conserve these lands' 
biological diversity, preserve their suitability for troop training and 
other military exercises, and reduce the likelihood of costly 
environmental disasters. Quite simply, everyone stands to benefit.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to compliment my good friend, the 
redoubtable gentleman from Alaska [Mr. Young], for his help in crafting 
this legislation. I urge my colleagues to join Mr. Young and me in 
supporting this legislation and demonstrating that environmental 
protection can be consistent with our military training needs.
  Mr. Speaker, I would also like to express my appreciation to the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Dellums], the chairman of the Committee 
on Armed Services.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FIELDS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. FIELDS of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FIELDS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3300, the 
Natural Resource Management on Military Lands Act of 1993.
  Since its enactment in 1960, the Sikes Act has authorized the 
Department of Defense to enter into cooperative agreements to conserve 
fish and wildlife resources on military installations. These 
installations encompass more than 25 million acres of valuable fish and 
wildlife habitat. This is equal to almost one-quarter of the land 
protected in the entire National Wildlife Refuge System. Clearly, these 
lands represent a substantial land base, providing habitat for our 
Nation's fish and wildlife resources. These lands must, to the extent 
practicable within the primary mission of national defense, be 
effectively managed for the protection of these resources.
  H.R. 3300 proposes several important changes to the Sikes Act. First, 
the scope of fish and wildlife resource planning would be broadened to 
include all natural resource management activities. I am aware that on 
certain military installations there is little, if any, integration of 
various activities, which results in inefficient management of those 
resources. Second, the bill would require a review of our military 
installations to determine which bases are appropriate for this type of 
natural resource planning. And, finally, the bill requires an annual 
review on the implementation of these integrated natural resource 
management plans.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to compliment Chairman Studds and my 
colleague from Alaska, Don Young, for their diligent efforts to improve 
the Sikes Act. I think the bill before us will assist in the wise 
stewardship of these lands by the Department of Defense.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Pennsylvania [Mr. Weldon].
  Mr. WELDON. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend and colleague, the 
gentleman from Texas [Mr. Fields], for both his leadership and for 
yielding time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend the leadership of the committee, the 
gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Studds], again, and our ranking 
Member, as well as the gentleman from Alaska [Mr. Young], for the fine 
work they have done on this piece of legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, as a member of both the Committee on Merchant Marine and 
Fisheries, as well as the Committee on Armed Services, I am very 
concerned about the way we manage our military lands as it relates to 
the coordination of fish and wildlife conservation. The Department of 
Defense controls nearly 25 million acres of natural resources at 
approximately 900 military installations nationwide.
  Mr. Speaker, as was mentioned, the Sikes Act, enacted by Congress in 
1960, authorizes a cooperative plan to carry out the planning, 
development, maintenance, and coordination of fish and wildlife 
conservation on military lands. Although DOD regulations stipulate that 
these plans be maintained for their installations, many are not being 
prepared, implemented, and there is not clear coordination and 
integration. This legislation, introduced by our colleagues, provides 
means to have that coordination and integration occur.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a good piece of legislation. It is wise and 
sound, and has the support of both the military, as well as those who 
are concerned about the conservation of our fish and wildlife 
resources. Mr. Speaker, I ask all of our colleagues to support this 
legislation.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 
3300, the Natural Resource Management on Military Lands Act.
  H.R. 3300 not only reauthorizes the Sikes Act but it enhances the 
stewardship of the 25 million acres of Federal lands managed by the 
Department of Defense [DOD]. Since its enactment in 1960, the Sikes Act 
has authorized DOD to enter into cooperative agreements with the 
Department of the Interior and State fish and wildlife agencies to 
conserve fish and wildlife on military installations. Unfortunately, 
while DOD regulations stipulate that fish and wildlife plans be 
maintained where appropriate, comprehensive natural resource management 
is far from a reality on many installations. All too often plans are 
not being prepared, implemented or, where implemented, lack 
coordination with or integration into other military activities.
  There is no disagreement that military lands must be managed first 
and foremost to meet the military mission. However, there is growing 
recognition that sound natural resource management benefits the 
military mission and improves training lands, expanding opportunities 
for outdoor recreation and ultimately the conservation of the fish and 
wildlife resources which inhabit those lands.
  H.R. 3300 proposes several important changes to the Sikes Act. First, 
the scope of existing conservation plans which deal exclusively with 
fish and wildlife would be broadened to integrated plans--with specific 
management goals and objectives--encompassing all natural resource 
management activities. Second, all military installations, except those 
without significant natural resources, would be required to prepare and 
implement integrated plans. And finally, a Department-wide review would 
be required of installation compliance, with a report to Congress on 
its findings.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Studds for his 
involvement in developing the proposed changes embodied in H.R. 3300. I 
firmly believe that this bill will greatly assist DOD in the management 
of the natural resources found at approximately 900 military 
installations under its jurisdiction. I urge my colleagues to support 
adoption of this bill.
  Mr. FIELDS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. STUDDS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Studds] that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3300, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof), the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was 
passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________