[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 134 (Tuesday, October 24, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H10569-H10570]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         COASTAL BARRIER RESOURCES REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2000

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 1752) to reauthorize and amend the Coastal Barrier 
Resources Act.
  The Clerk read 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--
       ``(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

[[Page H10570]]

     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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. 
Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen).
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, coastal barriers protect coastal communities and 
important aquatic fish and wildlife habitat from the full force of 
wind, wave and tidal energy. They are prone to shift and move as a 
result of storm, tides and currents. Despite their vulnerability, these 
areas are attractive locations to live and are popular vacation 
destinations.
  Congress approved the Coastal Barriers Act in 1982 to protect these 
areas by establishing a system of barrier units that are not eligible 
for Federal development assistance, most importantly, Federal flood 
insurance.
  S. 1752 would reauthorize the Coastal Barrier Resource System for 5 
years. It requires the Secretary of Interior to undertake a pilot 
project to create digital maps of the system compatible with geographic 
information systems, and allows private landowners to voluntarily 
include property in the system.
  The bill is similar to H.R. 1431, which passed the House by more than 
300 votes in September of 1999. Unlike H.R. 1441, this bill does not 
contain any provisions that amend the boundaries of individual coastal 
barrier resource units or otherwise protected areas.
  S. 1752 extends and improves the authorization for the Coastal 
Barrier Resources Act. It encourages the protection of coastal habitat 
and coastal communities at no cost to the Federal Government. I 
strongly urge passage of this important environmental legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume. I also rise in support of S. 1752, the Coastal Barrier 
Resources Reauthorization Act. The amendments agreed to in conference 
with the other body improve upon similar legislation passed by the 
House last year. Of note, this legislation will finally codify the 
guidelines for determining undeveloped coastal barriers. This action is 
long overdue and should help clarify future determinations made by the 
Fish and Wildlife Service.
  I am also pleased with the provisions in this legislation that would 
authorize the voluntary donation of private undeveloped coastal 
barriers as additions to the Coastal Barrier Resources System. I also 
believe the digital mapping pilot program authorized by this bill is a 
very important innovation and first step towards modernizing all 
coastal barrier maps and improving their accuracy. The Fish and 
Wildlife Service should be encouraged to expedite the completion of 
this pilot program.
  This legislation is noncontroversial. The Coastal Barrier Resources 
Act has been effective at protecting both coastal resources and the 
taxpayer, and I urge all Members to support this bill.

                              {time}  1300

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pease). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 1752.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground 
that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum 
is not present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8, rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

                          ____________________