[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 28, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S11290]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. TORRICELLI (for himself, Mr. Graham, Mr. Mack, Mr. 
        Sarbanes, and Mr. Lautenberg):
  S. 1321. A bill to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to 
permit grants for the national estuary program to be used for the 
development and implementation of a comprehensive conservation and 
management plan, to reauthorize appropriations to carry out the 
program, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Environment and 
Public Works.


             the national estuary conservation act of 1997

  Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. President, today, Senators Graham, Mack, 
Sarbanes, Lautenberg, and I are introducing the National Estuary 
Conservation Act. I rise to draw this country's attention to our 
nationally significant estuaries that are threatened by pollution, 
development, or overuse. With 45 percent of the Nation's population 
residing in estuarine areas, there is a compelling need for us to 
promote comprehensive planning and management efforts to restore and 
protect them.
  Estuaries are significant habitat for fish, birds, and other wildlife 
because they provide safe spawning grounds and nurseries. Seventy-five 
percent of the U.S. commercial fish catch depends on estuaries during 
some stage of their life. Commercial and recreational fisheries 
contribute $111 billion to the Nation's economy and support 1.5 million 
jobs. Estuaries are also important to our Nation's tourist economy for 
boating and outdoor recreation. Coastal tourism in just four States--
New Jersey, Florida, Texas, and California--totals $75 billion.
  Due to their popularity, the overall capacity of our Nation's 
estuaries to function as healthy productive ecosystems is declining. 
This is a result of the cumulative effects of increasing development 
and fast-growing year-round populations which increase dramatically in 
the summer. Land development, and associated activities that come with 
people's desire to live and play near these beautiful resources, cause 
runoff and stormwater discharges that contribute to siltation, 
increased nutrients, and other contamination. Bacterial contamination 
closes many popular beaches and shellfish harvesting areas in 
estuaries. Also, several estuaries are afflicted by problems that still 
require significant research. Examples include the outbreaks of the 
toxic microbe, Pfiesteria piscicida, in rivers draining to estuaries in 
Maryland and Virginia.
  Congress recognized the importance of preserving and enhancing 
coastal environments with the establishment of the National Estuary 
Program in the Clean Water Act Amendments of 1987. The program's 
purpose is to facilitate State and local governments preparation of 
comprehensive conservation and management plans for threatened 
estuaries of national significance. In support of this effort, section 
320 of the Clean Water Act authorized the EPA to make grants to States 
to develop environmental management plans. To date, 28 estuaries across 
the country have been designated into the program. However, the law 
fails to provide assistance once plans are complete and ready for 
implementation. Already, 17 of the 28 plans are finished.
  As the majority of plans are now in the implementation stage, it is 
incumbent upon us to maintain the partnership the Federal Government 
initiated 10 years ago to insure that our nationally significant 
estuaries are protected. The legislation we are introducing will take 
the next step by giving EPA authority to make grants for plan 
implementation and authorize annual appropriations in the amount of $50 
million. To insure the program is a true partnership and leverage 
scarce resources, there is a direct match requirement for grant 
recipients so funds will be available to upgrade sewage treatment 
plants, fix combined sewer overflows, control urban stormwater 
discharges, and reduce polluted runoff into estuarine areas.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1321

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM.

       (a) Grants.--Section 320(g) of the Federal Water Pollution 
     Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1330(g)) is amended by striking 
     paragraphs (2) and (3) and inserting the following:
       ``(2) Purposes.--Grants under this subsection shall be made 
     to pay for assisting activities necessary for the development 
     and implementation of a comprehensive conservation and 
     management plan under this section.
       ``(3) Federal share.--The Federal share of a grant to any 
     person (including a State, interstate, or regional agency or 
     entity) under this subsection for a fiscal year--
       ``(A) shall not exceed--
       ``(i) 75 percent of the annual aggregate costs of the 
     development of a comprehensive conservation and management 
     plan; and
       ``(ii) 50 percent of the annual aggregate costs of the 
     implementation of the plan; and
       ``(B) shall be made on condition that the non-Federal share 
     of the costs are provided from non-Federal sources.''.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 320(i) of the 
     Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1330(i)) is 
     amended by striking ``$12,000,000 per fiscal year for each of 
     fiscal years 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1991'' and insert 
     ``$50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2004''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     take effect on October 1, 1998.
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