[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 131 (Wednesday, October 18, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10716-S10717]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire (for himself, Mr. Gregg, Mr. Leahy, 
        and Mr. Jeffords):
  S. 3212. A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide 
assistance in implementing cultural heritage, conservation, and 
recreational activities in the Connecticut River watershed of the 
States of New Hampshire and Vermont; to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources.


            upper Connecticut river partnership act of 2000

  Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce 
the Upper Connecticut River Partnership Act of 2000. This legislation 
is a truly locally-led initiative. I believe it will result in great 
environmental benefits for the Connecticut River.
  The Connecticut River forms the border to New Hampshire and Vermont 
and provides for a great deal of recreational and tourism opportunities 
for residents of both States. This legislation takes a major step 
forward in making sure this River continues to thrive as a treasured 
resource.
  To understand just how significant this legislation is, I would like 
to share with my colleagues some history about the Connecticut River 
program. In 1987-88, New Hampshire and Vermont each created a 
commission to address environmental issues facing the Connecticut river 
valley. The commissions were established to coordinate water quality 
and various other environmental efforts along the Connecticut river 
valley. The two commissions came together in 1990 to form 
the Connecticut River Joint Commission. The Joint Commission has no 
regulatory authority, but carries out cooperative education and 
advisory activities.

  To further the local influence of the Commission, the Connecticut 
River Joint Commission established five advisory bi-state local river 
subcommittees comprised of representatives nominated by the governing 
body of their municipalities. These advisory groups developed a 
Connecticut River Corridor Management Plan. A major portion of the plan 
focuses on channeling federal funds to local communities to implement 
water quality programs, nonpoint source pollution controls and other 
environmental projects. Over the last ten years, the Connecticut River 
Joint Commission has fostered widespread participation and laid a 
strong foundation of community and citizen involvement.
  As a Senator from New Hampshire and chairman of the Environment and 
Public Works Committee, as well as someone who enjoys the beauty of the 
Connecticut river, I am proud to be the principal author and cosponsor 
of this locally led, voluntary effort that accomplishes real 
environmental progress. Too often we depend on bureaucratic federal 
regulatory programs to accomplish environmental success. This bill 
takes a different approach and one that I bet will achieve greater 
results on the ground. I hope that other communities and neighboring 
states will look at this model as an example of how to develop and 
implement true voluntary, on the ground, locally-led environmental 
programs.
  I want to thank my colleague from New Hampshire, Senator Gregg, and 
the two distinguished Senators of Vermont, Senators Leahy and Jeffords, 
for joining me as original cosponsors to this legislation. I look 
forward to working with them as we move this important legislation 
through the Senate.
  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. 3212

       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 ``Upper Connecticut River 
     Partnership Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the upper Connecticut River watershed in the States of 
     New Hampshire and Vermont is a scenic region of historic 
     villages located in a working landscape of farms, forests, 
     and the mountainous headwaters and broad fertile floodplains 
     of New England's longest river, the Connecticut River;
       (2) the River provides outstanding fish and wildlife 
     habitat, recreation, and hydropower generation for the New 
     England region;
       (3) the upper Connecticut River watershed has been 
     recognized by Congress as part of the Silvio 0. Conte 
     National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, established by the Silvio 
     O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge Act (16 U.S.C. 
     668dd note; Public Law 102-212);
       (4) the demonstrated interest in stewardship of the River 
     by the citizens living in the watershed led to the 
     Presidential designation of the River as 1 of 14 American 
     Heritage Rivers on July 30, 1998;
       (5) the River is home to the bistate Connecticut River 
     Scenic Byway, which will foster heritage tourism in the 
     region;

[[Page S10717]]

       (6) each of the legislatures of the States of Vermont and 
     New Hampshire has established a commission for the 
     Connecticut River watershed, and the 2 commissions, known 
     collectively as the ``Connecticut River Joint Commissions''--
       (A) have worked together since 1989; and
       (B) serve as the focal point for cooperation between 
     Federal agencies, States, communities, and citizens;
       (7) in 1997, as directed by the legislatures, the 
     Connecticut River Joint Commissions, with the substantial 
     involvement of 5 bistate local river subcommittees appointed 
     to represent riverfront towns, produced the 6-volume 
     Connecticut River Corridor Management Plan, to be used as a 
     blueprint in educating agencies, communities, and the public 
     in how to be good neighbors to a great river;
       (8) this year, by Joint Legislative Resolution, the 
     legislatures have requested that Congress provide for 
     continuation of cooperative partnerships and support for the 
     Connecticut River Joint Commissions from the New England 
     Federal Partners for Natural Resources, a consortium of 
     Federal agencies, in carrying out recommendations of the 
     Connecticut River Corridor Management Plan;
       (9) this Act effectuates certain recommendations of the 
     Connecticut River Corridor Management Plan that are most 
     appropriately directed by the States through the Connecticut 
     River Joint Commissions, with assistance from the National 
     Park Service and United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and
       (10) where implementation of those recommendations involves 
     partnership with local communities and organizations, support 
     for the partnership should be provided by the Secretary.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to authorize the 
     Secretary to provide to the States of New Hampshire and 
     Vermont (including communities in those States), through the 
     Connecticut River Joint Commissions, technical and financial 
     assistance for management of the River.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) River.--The term ``River'' means the Connecticut River.
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (3) State.--The term ``State'' means--
       (A) the State of New Hampshire; or
       (B) the State of Vermont.

     SEC. 4. ASSISTANCE FOR STATES.

       The Secretary of the Interior may provide to the States, 
     through the Connecticut River Joint Commissions, technical 
     and financial assistance in managing the River, including 
     assistance in--
       (1) developing a joint policy for water quality, flow 
     management, and recreational boating for the portion of the 
     River that is common to the States;
       (2) developing protection plans for water quality in the 
     tributaries that flow into the River;
       (3) developing a coordinated, collaborative approach on the 
     part of the States for monitoring the quality of the River 
     for human use and ecological health;
       (4) restoring and protecting priority riverbanks to improve 
     water quality and aquatic and riparian habitat;
       (5) encouraging and assisting communities, farmers, and 
     other riverfront landowners in--
       (A) establishing and protecting riparian buffers; and
       (B) preventing nonpoint source pollution;
       (6) encouraging and assisting communities in--
       (A) protecting shoreland, wetland, and flood plains; and
       (B) managing and treating stormwater runoff;
       (7) in cooperation with dam owners--
       (A) evaluating the decommissioning of uneconomic dams in 
     the watershed; and
       (B) restoring natural riverine habitat;
       (8) protecting and restoring the habitat of native trout, 
     anadromous fisheries, and other outstanding fish and wildlife 
     resources;
       (9) encouraging new and improved markets for local 
     agricultural products;
       (10) encouraging the protection of farm land and 
     economically sustainable agriculture;
       (11) developing and promoting locally planned, approved, 
     and managed networks of heritage trails and water trails in 
     the River valley;
       (12) coordinating and fostering opportunities for heritage 
     tourism and agritourism through the Connecticut River Scenic 
     Byway;
       (13) demonstrating economic development based on heritage 
     tourism;
       (14) supporting local stewardship;
       (15) strengthening nonregulatory protection of heritage 
     resources;
       (16) encouraging the vitality of historically compact 
     village and town centers;
       (17) establishing indicators of sustainability; and
       (18) monitoring the impact of increased tourism and 
     recreational use on natural and historic resources.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are 
     necessary to carry out this Act.
                                 ______