[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 117 (Wednesday, September 27, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9397-S9400]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         COASTAL BARRIER RESOURCES REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1999

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now 
proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 483, S. 1752.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1752) to reauthorize and amend the Coastal 
     Barrier Resources Act.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which had been reported from the Committee on Environment and Public 
works with amendments, as follows:
  (The parts of the bill intended to be stricken are shown in boldface 
brackets and the parts of the bill intended to be inserted are shown in 
italic.)

                                S. 1752

       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 ``Coastal Barrier Resources 
     Reauthorization Act of 1999''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       Section 3 of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 
     3502) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``For purposes of'' and all that follows 
     through the end of paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
       ``In this Act:
       ``(1) Undeveloped coastal barrier.--
       ``(A) In general.--The term `undeveloped coastal barrier' 
     means--
       ``(i) a geologic feature (such as a bay barrier, tombolo, 
     barrier spit, or barrier island) that--

       ``(I) is subject to wave, tidal, and wind energies; and
       ``(II) protects landward aquatic habitats from direct wave 
     attack; and

       ``(ii) all associated aquatic habitats, including the 
     adjacent wetlands, marshes, estuaries, inlets, and nearshore 
     waters.
       ``(B) Exclusions.--The term `undeveloped coastal barrier' 
     excludes a feature or habitat described in subparagraph (A) 
     if, as of the date on which the feature or habitat is added 
     to the System--
       ``(i) the density for the unit in which the feature or 
     habitat is located is equal to or greater than 1 structure 
     per 5 acres of land above the mean high tide, which 
     structure--

       ``(I) is a walled and roofed building (other than a gas or 
     liquid storage tank) that is principally above ground and 
     affixed to a permanent site, including a manufactured home on 
     a permanent foundation; and
       ``(II) covers at least 200 square feet; or

       ``(ii) the feature or habitat contains infrastructure 
     consisting of--

       ``(I) a road, to each lot or building site, that is under 
     the jurisdiction of, and maintained by, a public authority 
     and is open to the public;
       ``(II) a wastewater disposal system for each lot or 
     building site;
       ``(III) electric service for each lot or building site; and
       ``(IV) availability of a fresh water supply for each lot or 
     building site.'';

       (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``refers to the Committee 
     on Merchant Marine and Fisheries'' and inserting ``means the 
     Committee on Resources''; and
       (3) in paragraph (3), by striking the second sentence.

     [SEC. 3. VOLUNTARY ADDITIONS TO COASTAL BARRIER RESOURCES 
                   SYSTEM.]

     SEC. 3. VOLUNTARY ADDITIONS TO JOHN H. CHAFEE COASTAL BARRIER 
                   RESOURCES SYSTEM.

       (a) In General.--Section 4 of the Coastal Barrier Resources 
     Act (16 U.S.C. 3503) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(d) Additions to System.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may add a parcel of real 
     property to the System, if--
       ``(A) the owner of the parcel requests, in writing, that 
     the Secretary add the parcel to the System; and
       ``(B) the parcel is a feature or habitat covered by section 
     3(1).
       ``(2) Maps.--The Secretary shall--
       ``(A) keep a map showing the location of each parcel of 
     real property added to the System under paragraph (1) on file 
     and available for public inspection in the Office of the 
     Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and 
     in such other offices of the Service as the Director 
     considers appropriate;
       ``(B) provide a copy of the map to--
       ``(i) the State in which the property is located;
       ``(ii) the Committees; and
       ``(iii) the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and
       ``(C) revise the maps referred to in subsection (a) to 
     reflect each addition of real property to the System under 
     paragraph (1), after publishing in the Federal Register a 
     notice of any such proposed revision.''.

[[Page S9398]]

       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 4(a) of the Coastal 
     Barrier Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3503(a)) is amended by 
     striking ``which shall consist of'' and all that follows and 
     inserting the following: ``which shall consist of those 
     undeveloped coastal barriers and other areas located on the 
     coasts of the United States that are identified and generally 
     depicted on the maps on file with the Secretary entitled 
     `Coastal Barrier Resources System', dated October 24, 1990, 
     as those maps may be modified, revised, or corrected under--
       ``(1) subsection (c) or (d);
       ``(2) section 4 of the Coastal Barrier Improvement Act of 
     1990 (16 U.S.C. 3503 note; Public Law 101-591); or
       ``(3) any other provision of law enacted on or after 
     November 16, 1990, that specifically authorizes the 
     modification, revision, or correction.''.

     SEC. 4. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

       (a) In General.--Sections 10 and 11 of the Coastal Barrier 
     Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3509, 96 Stat. 1658) are repealed.
       (b) Effect on Prior Amendments.--Nothing in subsection (a) 
     or the amendments made by subsection (a) affects the 
     amendments made by section 11 of the Coastal Barrier 
     Resources Act (96 Stat. 1658), as in effect on the day before 
     the date of enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       The Coastal Barrier Resources Act is amended by striking 
     section 12 (16 U.S.C. 3510) and inserting the following:

     ``SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
     to carry out this Act $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
     2001 through 2004 and $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
     2005 through 2007.''.

     SEC. 6. DIGITAL MAPPING PILOT PROJECT.

       (a) In General.--
       (1) Project.--The Secretary of the Interior (referred to in 
     this section as the ``Secretary'') shall carry out a pilot 
     project to determine the feasibility and cost of creating 
     digital versions of the [Coastal Barrier Resources System] 
     John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System maps referred 
     to in section 4(a) of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (16 
     U.S.C. 3503(a)) (as amended by section 3(b)).
       (2) Minimum number of units.--The pilot project shall 
     consist of the creation of digital maps for at least 75 units 
     of the [Coastal Barrier Resources System] John H. Chafee 
     Coastal Barrier Resources System (referred to in this section 
     as the ``System''), 25 of which shall be otherwise protected 
     areas (as defined in section 12 of the Coastal Barrier 
     Improvement Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 3503 note; Public Law 101-
     591)).
       (b) Data.--
       (1) Use of existing data.--To the maximum extent 
     practicable, in carrying out the pilot project under this 
     section, the Secretary shall use--
       (A) digital spatial data (including digital orthophotos) in 
     existence at the time at which the project is carried out;
       (B) shoreline, elevation, and bathymetric data; and
       (C) electronic navigational charts in the possession of 
     other Federal agencies, including the United States 
     Geological Survey and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration.
       (2) Provision of data by other agencies.--The head of a 
     Federal agency that possesses data or a chart referred to in 
     paragraph (1) shall, upon request of the Secretary, promptly 
     provide the data or chart to the Secretary at no cost.
       (3) Additional data.--If the Secretary determines that data 
     or a chart necessary to carry out the pilot project under 
     this section does not exist, the Secretary shall enter into 
     an agreement with the Director of the United States 
     Geological Survey under which the Director shall obtain, in 
     cooperation with other Federal agencies, as appropriate, and 
     provide to the Secretary the data or chart required to carry 
     out this section.
       (4) Data standards.--All data and charts used or created to 
     carry out this section shall comply with--
       (A) the National Spatial Data Infrastructure established by 
     Executive Order 12906 (59 Fed. Reg. 17671 (1994)); and
       (B) any other standards established by the Federal 
     Geographic Data Committee established by the Office of 
     Management and Budget Circular A-16.
       (c) Digital Maps Not Controlling.--Any determination as to 
     whether a location is inside or outside the System shall be 
     made without regard to the digital maps created under this 
     section.
       (d) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and 
     the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives a 
     report that describes the results of the pilot project and 
     the feasibility, data needs, and costs of completing digital 
     maps for the entire System.
       (2) Contents.--The report shall include a description of--
       (A) the cooperative agreements that would be necessary to 
     complete digital mapping of the entire System;
       (B) the extent to which the data necessary to complete 
     digital mapping of the entire System are available;
       (C) the need for additional data to complete digital 
     mapping of the entire System;
       (D) the extent to which the boundary lines on the digital 
     maps differ from the boundary lines of the original maps; and
       (E) the amount of funding necessary to complete digital 
     mapping of the entire System.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section 
     $500,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2003.

     [SEC. 7. ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF COASTAL BARRIER RESOURCES 
                   SYSTEM.]

     SEC. 7. ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF JOHN H. CHAFEE COASTAL BARRIER 
                   RESOURCES SYSTEM.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall 
     submit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of 
     the Senate and the Committee on Resources of the House of 
     Representatives an economic assessment of the [Coastal 
     Barrier Resources System] John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier 
     Resources System.
       (b) Required Elements.--The assessment shall consider the 
     past and estimated future savings of Federal expenditures 
     attributable to the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 
     3501 et seq.), including the savings resulting from avoidance 
     of Federal expenditures for--
       (1) disaster relief under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
     Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.);
       (2) the national flood insurance program established under 
     chapter 1 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 
     U.S.C. 4011 et seq.); and
       (3) development assistance for roads, potable water 
     supplies, and wastewater infrastructure.

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee 
amendments be agreed to.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee amendments were agreed to.


                           Amendment No. 4272

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, Senator Bob Smith has a substitute amendment 
at the desk and I ask for its consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Mississippi [Mr. Lott], for Mr. Smith of 
     New Hampshire, proposes an amendment numbered 4272.

  (The text of the amendment is printed in today's Record under 
``Amendments Submitted.'')
  Mr. LOTT. I ask unanimous consent that the substitute be agreed to.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 4272) was agreed to.
  Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today to encourage 
my colleagues to support final passage of S. 1752, a bill to 
reauthorize the Coastal Barrier Resources Act, CBRA. I am offering a 
manager's amendment in the nature of a substitute that makes several 
important changes to the bill that was reported by the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works. These changes have been negotiated with 
the House Committee on Natural Resources. I believe that in adopting 
these changes, we will not only improve the bill, but will also ensure 
that this important legislation is signed into law this year.
  Most people do not realize that coastal barriers are the first line 
of defense protecting the mainland from major storms and hurricanes. 
This extremely vulnerable area is under increasing pressure from 
development. From 1960 to 1990, the population of coastal areas 
increased from 80 to 110 million, and is projected to reach over 160 
million by 2015. Continued development on and around coastal barriers 
place people, property and the environment at risk.
  To address this problem Congress passed CBRA in 1982. This extremely 
important legislation prohibits the Federal Government from subsidizing 
flood insurance, and providing other financial assistance, such as 
beach replenishment, within the Coastal Barrier Resources System, 
System. Nothing in CBRA prohibits development on coastal barriers; it 
just gets the Federal Government out of the business of subsidizing 
risky development.
  The law proved to be so successful that Congress expanded the Coastal 
Barrier System in 1990, with the support of the National Taxpayers 
Union, the American Red Cross, Coast Alliance and Tax Payers for Common 
Sense, to name just a few. The 1990 act doubled the size of the System 
to include coastal barriers in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, 
the Great Lakes, and additional areas along the Atlantic and Gulf 
coasts. Congress also allowed the inclusion of areas that are

[[Page S9399]]

already protected for conservation purposes, such as parks and refuges. 
Currently the system is comprised of 3 million acres and 2,500 
shoreline miles.
  Development of coastal barriers decreases their ability to absorb the 
force of storms and buffer the mainland. The devastating floods of 
Hurricane Floyd are a reminder of the susceptibility of coastal 
development to the power of nature. The Federal Emergency Management 
Agency reports that 10 major disaster declarations were issued for this 
hurricane, more than for any other single hurricane or natural 
disaster. In fact, 1999 sets a record for major disaster declarations--
a total of 14 in that year alone. As the number of disaster 
declarations has crept up steadily since the 1980's, so has the cost to 
taxpayers. Congress has approved on average $3.7 billion a year in 
supplemental disaster aid in the 1990's, compared to less than $1 
billion a year in the previous decade.
  Homeowners know the risk of building in these highly threatened 
areas. Despite this, taxpayers are continually being asked to rebuild 
homes and businesses in flood-prone areas. The National Wildlife 
Federation published a study that found that over 40 percent of the 
damage payments from the National Flood Insurance Program go to people 
who have had at least one previous claim. A New Jersey auto repair shop 
made 31 damage claims in 15 years.
  At a time when climatologists believe that we are entering a period 
of turbulent hurricane activity after three decades of relative calm, 
the safety concerns associated with continued development of coastal 
barrier regions must also be considered. As roadway systems have not 
kept up with population growth, it will become increasingly difficult 
to evacuate coastal areas in the face of a major storm.
  Beyond the economic and safety issues, another compelling reason to 
support the Coastal Barrier Resources Act is that it contributes to the 
protection of our Nation's coastal resources. Coastal barriers protect 
and maintain the wetlands and estuaries essential to the survival of 
innumerable species of fish and wildlife. Large populations of 
waterfowl and other migratory birds depend on the habitat protected by 
coastal barriers for wintering areas. Undeveloped coastal barriers also 
provide unique recreational opportunities, and deserve protection for 
present and future public enjoyment.

  S. 1752, would reauthorize the act for 5 years and make some 
necessary changes to improve implementation. Due to the complexity of 
the coastal barrier maps, Congress periodically authorizes changes to 
the map, primarily to correct errors. In this process, we always ask 
the administration to determine whether or not a modification to the 
coastal barrier maps is ``technical'' in nature. This provision would 
require the Secretary of the Interior to use a set of criteria when 
making this determination. The criteria that we included in the bill is 
based on a rule that the administration proposed in 1982, and on 
guidance published in 1985.
  This provision would require the Secretary to determine whether the 
area in question, at the time of its inclusion into the system, has 
more than one structure per 5 acres and a ``complete set of 
infrastructure.'' Infrastructure, for the purposes of this bill, is 
described as a road with a reinforced roadbed, wastewater disposal 
system, electric service, and fresh water to each lot or building site. 
If the area, at the time of its inclusion into the system, does not 
meet all of the criteria, the Secretary is required to find that the 
area is undeveloped and therefore should remain in the system.
  I strongly believe this criteria is necessary because some 
recommendations recently made by the administration have concerned me. 
For example, the administration claimed in one instance that a golf 
cart path should be considered a road. By requiring in law that a road 
must contain a reinforced roadbed, Congress is indicating that we mean 
real roads-roads where construction work has been done by a public or 
private entity to ensure that the road includes surfaces, shoulders, 
roadsides, structures, and any traffic control devices as are necessary 
for safe use. This definition will preclude future golfcart paths and 
trails from being considered legitimate roads.
  S. 1752 will also require the Secretary of the Interior to complete a 
pilot project to determine the feasibility of creating digital versions 
of the coastal barrier system maps. Digital maps would improve the 
accuracy of the older coastal barriers maps, and make it easier for the 
Department of Interior and homeowners to determine where a structure is 
located. Eventually, we hope that the entire system can be accessed by 
the Internet.
  I believe that Congress should make every effort to conserve barrier 
islands and beaches. This legislation offers an opportunity to increase 
protection of coastal barriers, and at the same time, save taxpayers 
money. I urge my colleagues to support S. 1752.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the bill, as 
amended, be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 1752), as amended, was read the third time and passed, 
as follows:

                                S. 1752

       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 ``Coastal Barrier Resources 
     Reauthorization Act of 2000''.

     SEC. 2. GUIDELINES FOR CERTAIN RECOMMENDATIONS AND 
                   DETERMINATIONS.

       Section 4 of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 
     3503), as otherwise amended by this Act, is further amended 
     by adding at the end the following:
       ``(g) Guidelines for Certain Recommendations and 
     Determinations.--
       ``(1) In general.--In making any recommendation to the 
     Congress regarding the addition of any area to the System or 
     in determining whether, at the time of the inclusion of a 
     System unit within the System, a coastal barrier is 
     undeveloped, the Secretary shall consider whether within the 
     area--
       ``(A) the density of development is less than 1 structure 
     per 5 acres of land above mean high tide; and
       ``(B) there is existing infrastructure consisting of--
       ``(i) a road, with a reinforced road bed, to each lot or 
     building site in the area;
       ``(ii) a wastewater disposal system sufficient to serve 
     each lot or building site in the area;
       ``(iii) electric service for each lot or building site in 
     the area; and
       ``(iv) a fresh water supply for each lot or building site 
     in the area.
       ``(2) Structure defined.--In paragraph (1), the term 
     `structure' means a walled and roofed building, other than a 
     gas or liquid storage tank, that--
       ``(A) is principally above ground and affixed to a 
     permanent site, including a manufactured home on a permanent 
     foundation; and
       ``(B) covers an area of at least 200 square feet.
       ``(3) Savings clause.--Nothing in this subsection 
     supersedes the official maps referred to in subsection 
     (a).''.

     SEC. 3. VOLUNTARY ADDITIONS TO JOHN H. CHAFEE COASTAL BARRIER 
                   RESOURCES SYSTEM.

       (a) In General.--Section 4 of the Coastal Barrier Resources 
     Act (16 U.S.C. 3503) is amended by inserting after subsection 
     (c) the following:
       ``(d) Additions to System.--The Secretary may add a parcel 
     of real property to the System, if--
       ``(1) the owner of the parcel requests, in writing, that 
     the Secretary add the parcel to the System; and
       ``(2) the parcel is an undeveloped coastal barrier.''.
       (b) Technical Amendments Relating to Additions of Excess 
     Property.--
       (1) In general.--Section 4(d) of the Coastal Barrier 
     Improvement Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 3503 note; Public Law 101-
     591)--
       (A) is redesignated and moved so as to appear as subsection 
     (e) of section 4 of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (16 
     U.S.C. 3503); and
       (B) is amended--
       (i) in paragraph (1)--

       (I) by striking ``one hundred and eighty'' and inserting 
     ``180''; and
       (II) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``shall''; and

       (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking ``subsection (d)(1)(B)'' 
     and inserting ``paragraph (1)(B)''; and
       (iii) by striking paragraph (3).
       (2) Conforming amendments.--Section 4 of the Coastal 
     Barrier Improvement Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 3503 note; Public 
     Law 101-591) is amended--
       (A) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``subsection (d) of 
     this section'' and inserting ``section 4(e) of the Coastal 
     Barrier Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3503(e))''; and
       (B) by striking subsection (f).
       (c) Additions to System.--Section 4 of the Coastal Barrier 
     Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3503) is further amended by 
     inserting after subsection (e) (as added by subsection 
     (b)(1)) the following:
       ``(f) Maps.--The Secretary shall--

[[Page S9400]]

       ``(1) keep a map showing the location of each boundary 
     modification made under subsection (c) and of each parcel of 
     real property added to the System under subsection (d) or (e) 
     on file and available for public inspection in the Office of 
     the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service 
     and in such other offices of the Service as the Director 
     considers appropriate;
       ``(2) provide a copy of the map to--
       ``(A) the State and unit of local government in which the 
     property is located;
       ``(B) the Committees; and
       ``(C) the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and
       ``(3) revise the maps referred to in subsection (a) to 
     reflect each boundary modification under subsection (c) and 
     each addition of real property to the System under subsection 
     (d) or (e), after publishing in the Federal Register a notice 
     of any such proposed revision.''.
       (d) Conforming Amendment.--Section 4(a) of the Coastal 
     Barrier Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3503(a)) is amended by 
     striking ``which shall consist of'' and all that follows and 
     inserting the following: ``which shall consist of those 
     undeveloped coastal barriers and other areas located on the 
     coasts of the United States that are identified and generally 
     depicted on the maps on file with the Secretary entitled 
     `Coastal Barrier Resources System', dated October 24, 1990, 
     as those maps may be modified, revised, or corrected under--
       ``(1) subsection (f)(3);
       ``(2) section 4 of the Coastal Barrier Improvement Act of 
     1990 (16 U.S.C. 3503 note; Public Law 101-591); or
       ``(3) any other provision of law enacted on or after 
     November 16, 1990, that specifically authorizes the 
     modification, revision, or correction.''.

     SEC. 4. CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.

       (a) Coastal Barrier Resources Act.--The Coastal Barrier 
     Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) is amended--
       (1) in section 3(2) (16 U.S.C. 3502(2)), by striking 
     ``refers to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries'' 
     and inserting ``means the Committee on Resources'';
       (2) in section 3(3) (16 U.S.C. 3502(3)), in the matter 
     following subparagraph (D), by striking ``Effective October 
     1, 1983, such'' and inserting ``Such''; and
       (3) by repealing section 10 (16 U.S.C. 3509).
       (b) Coastal Barrier Improvement Act of 1990.--Section 8 of 
     the Coastal Barrier Improvement Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 3503 
     note; Public Law 101-591) is repealed.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       Section 12 of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 
     3510) is redesignated as section 10, moved to appear after 
     section 9, and amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
     to carry out this Act $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
     2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005.''.

     SEC. 6. DIGITAL MAPPING PILOT PROJECT.

       (a) In General.--
       (1) Project.--The Secretary of the Interior (referred to in 
     this section as the ``Secretary''), in consultation with the 
     Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall 
     carry out a pilot project to determine the feasibility and 
     cost of creating digital versions of the John H. Chafee 
     Coastal Barrier Resources System maps referred to in section 
     4(a) of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3503(a)) 
     (as amended by section 3(d)).
       (2) Number of units.--The pilot project shall consist of 
     the creation of digital maps for no more than 75 units and no 
     fewer than 50 units of the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier 
     Resources System (referred to in this section as the 
     ``System''), 1/3 of which shall be otherwise protected areas 
     (as defined in section 12 of the Coastal Barrier Improvement 
     Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 3503 note; Public Law 101-591)).
       (b) Data.--
       (1) Use of existing data.--To the maximum extent 
     practicable, in carrying out the pilot project under this 
     section, the Secretary shall use digital spatial data in the 
     possession of State, local, and Federal agencies including 
     digital orthophotos, and shoreline, elevation, and 
     bathymetric data.
       (2) Provision of data by other agencies.--The head of a 
     Federal agency that possesses data referred to in paragraph 
     (1) shall, upon request of the Secretary, promptly provide 
     the data to the Secretary at no cost.
       (3) Additional data.--If the Secretary determines that data 
     necessary to carry out the pilot project under this section 
     do not exist, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement 
     with the Director of the United States Geological Survey 
     under which the Director shall obtain, in cooperation with 
     other Federal agencies, as appropriate, and provide to the 
     Secretary the data required to carry out this section.
       (4) Data standards.--All data used or created to carry out 
     this section shall comply with--
       (A) the National Spatial Data Infrastructure established by 
     Executive Order 12906 (59 Fed. Reg. 17671 (April 13, 1994)); 
     and
       (B) any other standards established by the Federal 
     Geographic Data Committee established by Office of Management 
     and Budget Circular A-16.
       (c) Digital Maps Not Controlling.--Any determination as to 
     whether a location is inside or outside the System shall be 
     made without regard to the digital maps created under this 
     section.
       (d) Report.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
     Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate and 
     the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives a 
     report that describes the results of the pilot project and 
     the feasibility, data needs, and costs of completing digital 
     maps for the entire System.
       (2) Contents.--The report shall include a description of--
       (A) the cooperative agreements that would be necessary to 
     complete digital mapping of the entire System;
       (B) the extent to which the data necessary to complete 
     digital mapping of the entire System are available;
       (C) the need for additional data to complete digital 
     mapping of the entire System;
       (D) the extent to which the boundary lines on the digital 
     maps differ from the boundary lines on the original maps; and
       (E) the amount of funding necessary to complete digital 
     mapping of the entire System.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section 
     $500,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2004.

     SEC. 7. ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF JOHN H. CHAFEE COASTAL BARRIER 
                   RESOURCES SYSTEM.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall 
     submit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of 
     the Senate and the Committee on Resources of the House of 
     Representatives an economic assessment of the John H. Chafee 
     Coastal Barrier Resources System.
       (b) Required Elements.--The assessment shall consider the 
     impact on Federal expenditures of the Coastal Barrier 
     Resources Act (16 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), including impacts 
     resulting from the avoidance of Federal expenditures for--
       (1) disaster relief under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
     Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.);
       (2) the national flood insurance program established under 
     chapter 1 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 
     U.S.C. 4011 et seq.); and
       (3) development assistance for roads, potable water 
     supplies, and wastewater infrastructure.

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