[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 97 (Wednesday, July 17, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6957-S6959]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CORZINE (for himself, Mr. Torricelli, Mr. Schumer, Mrs. 
        Clinton, Mr. Dodd, and Mr. Lieberman):
  S. 2749. A bill to establish the Highlands Stewardshp area in the 
States of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
Forestry
  Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, today along with Senator Torricelli, 
Schumer, Clinton, Dodd and Lieberman, I am introducing the Highlands 
Stewardship Act of 2002. I am proud to be joining my colleagues from 
the New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut delegations in the House of 
Representatives, who have introduced identical legislation in the 
House.
  This legislation would help to preserve one of the last open space 
treasures in this country, the Highlands forest region that stretches 
from northwestern Connecticut, across the lower Hudson River valley in 
New York, through my State of New Jersey and into east-central 
Pennsylvania. This region encompasses more than two million acres of 
forest, farms, streams, wetlands, lakes and reservoirs and historic 
sites. It includes the Green, Taconic and Notre Dame Mountains. It also 
includes such historic sites as Morristown National Historic Park and 
West Point.
  The value of the ecological, recreational and scenic resources of the 
Highlands cannot be overstated. 170 million gallons are drawn from the

[[Page S6958]]

Highlands aquifers daily, providing quality drinking water for over 11 
million people. 247 threatened or endangered species live in the 
Highlands including the timber rattlesnake, wood turtle, red-shouldered 
hawk, barred owl, great blue heron and eastern wood rat. There also are 
many fishing, hiking and boating recreation opportunities in the 
Highlands that are used by many of the one in twelve Americans who live 
within 2 hours of travel of the Highlands.
  Unfortunately, much of Highlands is quickly vanishing. According to a 
study issued by the United States Department of Agriculture we lost 
3,400 acres of forest and 1,600 acres of farmland between 1995 and 2000 
to development.
  This legislation would designate a Stewardship Area amongst the four 
States in order to protect the most important Highlands projects. It 
would create a source of funding for conservation and preservation 
projects in the Highlands to preserve and protect the open space that 
remains. $7 million a year for seven years would be provided for 
conservation assistance projects in the four Highlands states. This 
funding could be used for items such as smart growth initiatives and 
cultural preservation projects. $25 million a year over ten years also 
would be provided for open space preservation projects in the four 
Highlands states. The source of this funding would be the Land and 
Water Conservation Fund.
  I am proud to introduce this legislation to ensure that we to protect 
this resource, which is so critical to our quality of life.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record

                                S. 2749

       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 ``Highlands Stewardship Act of 
     2002''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) the Highlands region is a geographic area that 
     encompasses more than 2,000,000 acres extending from eastern 
     Pennsylvania through the States of New Jersey and New York to 
     northwestern Connecticut;
       (2) the Highlands region is an environmentally unique and 
     economically important area that--
       (A) provides clean drinking water to over 11,000,000 people 
     in metropolitan areas in the States of Connecticut, New 
     Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania;
       (B) provides critical wildlife habitat, including habitat 
     for threatened and endangered species;
       (C) maintains an important historic connection to early 
     Native American culture, colonial settlement, the American 
     Revolution, and the Civil War;
       (D) contains--
       (i) recreational resources; and
       (ii) cultural and multicultural landscapes relating to the 
     development of commerce, transportation, the maritime 
     industry, agriculture, and industry in the Highlands region; 
     and
       (E) provides other significant ecological, natural, 
     tourism, recreational, educational, and economic benefits;
       (3) an estimated 1 in 12 citizens of the United States live 
     within a 2-hour drive of the Highlands region;
       (4) more than 1,000,000 residents live in the Highlands 
     region;
       (5) the Highlands region forms a greenbelt adjacent to the 
     Philadelphia-New York City-Hartford urban corridor that 
     offers the opportunity to preserve natural and agricultural 
     resources, open spaces, recreational areas, and historic 
     sites, while encouraging sustainable economic growth and 
     development in a fiscally and environmentally sound manner;
       (6) continued population growth and land use patterns in 
     the Highlands region--
       (A) reduce the availability and quality of water;
       (B) reduce air quality;
       (C) fragment the forests;
       (D) destroy critical migration corridors and forest 
     habitat; and
       (E) result in the loss of recreational opportunities and 
     scenic, historic, and cultural resources;
       (7) the natural, agricultural, and cultural resources of 
     the Highlands region, in combination with the proximity of 
     the Highlands region to the largest metropolitan areas in the 
     United States, make the Highlands region nationally 
     significant;
       (8) the national significance of the Highlands region has 
     been documented in--
       (A) the Highlands Regional Study conducted by the Forest 
     Service in 1990;
       (B) the New York-New Jersey Highlands Regional Assessment 
     Update conducted by the Forest Service in 2001;
       (C) the bi-State Skylands Greenway Task Force Report;
       (D) the New Jersey State Development and Redevelopment 
     Plan;
       (E) the New York State Open Space Conservation Plan;
       (F) the Connecticut Green Plan: Open Space Acquisition FY 
     2001-2006
       (G) the open space plans of the State of Pennsylvania; and
       (H) other open space conservation plans for States in the 
     Highlands region;
       (9) the Highlands region includes or is adjacent to 
     numerous parcels of land owned by the Federal Government or 
     federally designated areas that protect, conserve, restore, 
     promote, or interpret resources of the Highlands region, 
     including--
       (A) the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge;
       (B) the Shawanagunk Grasslands Wildlife Refuge;
       (C) the Morristown National Historical Park;
       (D) the Delaware and Lehigh Canal Corridors;
       (E) the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area;
       (F) the Delaware River Basin;
       (G) the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area;
       (H) the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River;
       (I) the Appalachian National Scenic Trail; and
       (J) the United States Military Academy at West Point, New 
     York;
       (10) it is in the interest of the United States to protect, 
     conserve, restore, promote, and interpret the resources of 
     the Highlands region for the residents of, and visitors to, 
     the Highlands region;
       (11) the States of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and 
     Pennsylvania, regional entities, and units of local 
     government in the Highlands region have the primary 
     responsibility for protecting, conserving, preserving, and 
     promoting the resources of the Highlands region; and
       (12) because of the longstanding Federal practice of 
     assisting States in creating, protecting, conserving, 
     preserving, and interpreting areas of significant natural, 
     economic, and cultural importance, and the national 
     significance of the Highlands region, the Federal Government 
     should, in partnership with the Highlands States, regional 
     entities, and units of local government in the Highlands 
     region, protect, restore, promote, preserve, and interpret 
     the natural, agricultural, historical, cultural, and economic 
     resources of the Highlands region.

     SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

       The purposes of this Act are--
       (1) to recognize the importance of the natural resources 
     and the heritage, history, economy, and national significance 
     of the Highlands region to the United States;
       (2) to assist the Highlands States, regional entities, and 
     units of local government, public and private entities, and 
     individuals in protecting, restoring, preserving, 
     interpreting, and promoting the natural, agricultural, 
     historical, cultural, recreational, and economic resources of 
     the Highlands Stewardship Area;
       (3) to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture and the 
     Secretary of the Interior to provide financial and technical 
     assistance for the protection, conservation, preservation, 
     and sustainable management of forests, land, and water in the 
     Highlands region, including assistance for--
       (A) voluntary programs to promote and support private 
     landowners in carrying out forest land and open space 
     retention and sustainable management practices; and
       (B) forest-based economic development projects that support 
     sustainable management and retention of forest land in the 
     Highlands region;
       (4) to provide financial and technical assistance to the 
     Highlands States, regional entities, and units of local 
     government, and public and private entities for planning and 
     carrying out conservation, education, and recreational 
     programs and sustainable economic projects in the Highlands 
     region; and
       (5) to coordinate with and assist the management entities 
     of the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, the 
     Wallkill National Refuge Area, the Morristown National 
     Historic Area, and other federally designated areas in the 
     region in carrying out any duties relating to the Highlands 
     region.

     SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means 
     any agricultural producer, regional entity, unit of local 
     government, public entity, private entity, or other private 
     landowner in the Stewardship Area.
       (2) Highlands region.--The term ``Highlands region'' means 
     the region that encompasses nearly 2,000,000 acres extending 
     from eastern Pennsylvania through the States of New Jersey 
     and New York to northwestern Connecticut.
       (3) Highlands state.--The term ``Highlands State'' means--
       (A) the State of Connecticut;
       (B) the State of New Jersey;
       (C) the State of New York; and
       (D) the State of Pennsylvania.
       (4) Land conservation partnership project.--The term ``land 
     conservation partnership project'' means a project in which a 
     non-Federal entity acquires land or an interest in land from 
     a willing seller for the purpose of protecting, conserving, 
     or preserving the natural, forest, agricultural, 
     recreational, historical, or cultural resources of the 
     Stewardship Area.

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       (5) Office.--The term ``Office'' means the Office of 
     Highlands Stewardship established under section 6(a).
       (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Agriculture.
       (7) Stewardship area.--The term ``Stewardship Area'' means 
     the Highlands Stewardship Area established under section 
     5(a).
       (8) Study.--The term ``study'' means the Highlands Regional 
     Study conducted by the Forest Service in 1990.
       (9) Update.--The term ``update'' means the New York-New 
     Jersey Highlands Regional Assessment Update conducted by the 
     Forest Service in 2001.
       (10) Work group.--The term ``Work Group'' means the 
     Highlands Stewardship Area Work Group established under 
     section 6(c).

     SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF HIGHLANDS STEWARDSHIP AREA.

       (a) Establishment.--The Secretary and the Secretary of the 
     Interior, shall establish the Highlands Stewardship Area in 
     the Highlands region.
       (b) Consultation and Resource Analyses.--In establishing 
     the Stewardship Area, the Secretary and the Secretary of the 
     Interior shall--
       (1) consult with appropriate officials of the Federal 
     Government, Highlands States, regional entities, and units of 
     local government; and
       (2) utilize the study, the update, and relevant State 
     resource analyses.
       (c) Map.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Secretary of the 
     Interior shall prepare a map depicting the Stewardship Area.
       (2) Availability.--The map shall be on file and available 
     for public inspection at the appropriate offices of the 
     Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior.

     SEC. 6. OFFICE OF HIGHLANDS STEWARDSHIP.

       (a) Establishment.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
     Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and 
     Environment, the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation 
     Service, the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency, the 
     Chief of the Forest Service, and the Under Secretary for 
     Rural Development, shall establish within the Department of 
     Agriculture the Office of Highlands Stewardship.
       (b) Duties.--The Office shall implement in the Stewardship 
     Area--
       (1) the strategies of the study and update; and
       (2) in consultation with the Highlands States, other 
     studies consistent with the purposes of this Act.
       (c) Highlands Stewardship Area Work Group.--
       (1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish an 
     advisory committee to be known as the ``Highlands Stewardship 
     Area Work Group'' to assist the Office in implementing the 
     strategies of the studies and update referred to in 
     subsection (b).
       (2) Membership.--The Work Group shall be comprised of 
     members that represent various public and private interests 
     throughout the Stewardship Area, including private landowners 
     and representatives of private conservation groups, academic 
     institutions, local governments, and economic interests, to 
     be appointed by the Secretary, in consultation with the 
     Governors of the Highlands States.
       (3) Duties.--The Work Group shall advise the Office, the 
     Secretary, and the Secretary of the Interior on priorities 
     for--
       (A) projects carried out with financial or technical 
     assistance under this section;
       (B) land conservation partnership projects carried out 
     under section 7;
       (C) research relating to the Highlands region; and
       (D) policy and educational initiatives necessary to 
     implement the findings of the study and update.
       (d) Financial and Technical Assistance.--
       (1) In general.--The Office may provide financial and 
     technical assistance to an eligible entity to carry out a 
     project to protect, restore, preserve, promote, or interpret 
     the natural, agricultural, historical, cultural, 
     recreational, or economic resources of the Stewardship Area.
       (2) Priority.--In determining the priority for financial 
     and technical assistance under paragraph (1), the Office 
     shall consider the recommendations of the study and update.
       (3) Conditions.--
       (A) In general.--The provision of financial assistance 
     under this subsection shall be subject to the condition that 
     the eligible entity enter into an agreement with the Office 
     that provides that if the eligible entity converts, uses, or 
     disposes of the project for a purpose inconsistent with the 
     purpose for which the financial assistance was provided, as 
     determined by the Office, the United States shall be entitled 
     to reimbursement from the eligible entity in an amount that 
     is, as determined at the time of conversion, use, or 
     disposal, the greater of--
       (i) the total amount of the financial assistance provided 
     for the project by the Federal Government under this section; 
     or
       (ii) the amount by which the financial assistance has 
     increased the value of the land on which the project is 
     carried out.
       (B) Cost-sharing requirement.--The Federal share of the 
     cost of carrying out a project under this subsection shall 
     not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of the project.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section 
     $7,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2010, to 
     remain available until expended.

     SEC. 7. LAND CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior, in 
     consultation with the Secretary, the Office, and the 
     Governors of the Highlands States, shall annually designate 
     land conservation partnership projects that are eligible to 
     receive financial assistance under this section.
       (b) Conditions.--
       (1) In general.--To be eligible for financial assistance 
     under subsection (a), a non-Federal entity shall enter into 
     an agreement with the Secretary of the Interior that--
       (A) identifies--
       (i) the non-Federal entity that will own or hold the land 
     or interest in land; and
       (ii) the source of funds to provide the non-Federal share 
     under paragraph (2);
       (B) provides that if the non-Federal entity converts, uses, 
     or disposes of the project for a purpose inconsistent with 
     the purpose for which the assistance was provided, as 
     determined by the Secretary of the Interior, the United 
     States shall be entitled to reimbursement from the non-
     Federal entity in an amount that is, as determined at the 
     time of conversion, use, or disposal, the greater of--
       (i) the total amount of the financial assistance provided 
     for the project by the Federal Government under this section; 
     or
       (ii) the amount by which the financial assistance increased 
     the value of the land or interest in land; and
       (C) provides that use of the financial assistance will be 
     consistent with--
       (i) the open space plan or other plan of the Highlands 
     State in which the land conservation partnership project is 
     being carried out; and
       (ii) the findings and recommendations of the study and 
     update.
       (2) Cost-sharing requirement.--The Federal share of the 
     cost of carrying out a land conservation partnership project 
     under this subsection shall not exceed 50 percent of the 
     total cost of the land conservation partnership project.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
     the Secretary of the Interior from the Treasury or the Land 
     and Water Conservation Fund to carry out this section 
     $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2013, to 
     remain available until expended.
       (2) Use of land and water conservation fund.--
     Appropriations from the Land and Water Conservation Fund 
     under paragraph (1) shall be considered to be for Federal 
     purposes under section 5 of the Land and Water Conservation 
     Fund Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l-7).

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