[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 125 (Friday, September 29, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10530-S10531]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT ACT

  The Senate proceeded to consider the bill (S. 1288) to amend the 
National Historic Preservation Act to provide appropriation 
authorization and improve the operations of the Advisory Council on 
Historic Preservation, which had been reported from the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources, 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 italics.)

                                S. 1288

       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 ``Natural Resource Protection 
     Cooperative Agreement Act''.

     SEC. 2. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR NATIONAL PARK NATURAL 
                   RESOURCE PROTECTION.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior (referred to 
     in this Act as the ``Secretary'') may enter into cooperative 
     agreements with State, local, or tribal governments, other 
     Federal agencies, other public entities, educational 
     institutions, private nonprofit organizations, or willing 
     private landowners to protect natural resources of units of 
     the National Park System through collaborative efforts on 
     land inside and outside of National Park System units.
       (b) Terms and Conditions.--A cooperative agreement entered 
     into under subsection (a) shall--
       (1) provide for--
       [(A) the conservation of natural resources in units of the 
     National Park System;]
       (A) clear and direct benefits to natural resources of a 
     unit of the National Park System;
       (B) the preservation, conservation, and restoration of 
     coastal and riparian systems, watersheds, and wetlands;
       (C) preventing, controlling or eradicating invasive exotic 
     species that occupy land within a unit of the National Park 
     System or adjacent to a unit of the National Park System; or
       (D) restoration of natural resources, including native 
     wildlife habitat;
       (2) include a statement of purpose demonstrating how the 
     agreement will--
       (A) enhance science-based natural resource stewardship at 
     the unit of the National Park System; and
       (B) benefit the parties to the agreement;
       (3) specify any staff required and technical assistance to 
     be provided by the Secretary or other parties to the 
     agreement in support of activities inside and outside the 
     unit of the National Park System that will--
       (A) protect natural resources of the unit; and
       (B) benefit the parties to the agreement;
       (4) identify any materials, supplies, or equipment that 
     will be contributed by the parties to the agreement or by 
     other Federal agencies;
       (5) describe any financial assistance to be provided by the 
     Secretary or the partners to implement the agreement;
       (6) ensure that any expenditure by the Secretary pursuant 
     to the agreement is determined by the Secretary to support 
     the purposes of natural resource stewardship at a unit of the 
     National Park System; and
       (7) shall include such terms and conditions that are agreed 
     to by the Secretary and the other parties to the agreement.
       (c) Limitations.--The Secretary shall not use any amounts 
     associated with an agreement entered into under subsection 
     [(b)] (a) for the purposes of land acquisition, regulatory 
     activity, or the development, maintenance, or operation of 
     infrastructure, except for ancillary support facilities that 
     the Secretary determines to be necessary for the completion 
     of projects or activities identified in the agreement.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out 
     this Act.

  The committee amendments were agreed to.
  The bill S. 1288 was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was 
read the third time; and passed, as follows:

                                S. 1288

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

[[Page S10531]]

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Natural Resource Protection 
     Cooperative Agreement Act''.

     SEC. 2. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR NATIONAL PARK NATURAL 
                   RESOURCE PROTECTION.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior (referred to 
     in this Act as the ``Secretary'') may enter into cooperative 
     agreements with State, local, or tribal governments, other 
     Federal agencies, other public entities, educational 
     institutions, private nonprofit organizations, or willing 
     private landowners to protect natural resources of units of 
     the National Park System through collaborative efforts on 
     land inside and outside of National Park System units.
       (b) Terms and Conditions.--A cooperative agreement entered 
     into under subsection (a) shall--
       (1) provide for--
       (A) clear and direct benefits to natural resources of a 
     unit of the National Park System;
       (B) the preservation, conservation, and restoration of 
     coastal and riparian systems, watersheds, and wetlands;
       (C) preventing, controlling or eradicating invasive exotic 
     species that occupy land within a unit of the National Park 
     System or adjacent to a unit of the National Park System; or
       (D) restoration of natural resources, including native 
     wildlife habitat;
       (2) include a statement of purpose demonstrating how the 
     agreement will--
       (A) enhance science-based natural resource stewardship at 
     the unit of the National Park System; and
       (B) benefit the parties to the agreement;
       (3) specify any staff required and technical assistance to 
     be provided by the Secretary or other parties to the 
     agreement in support of activities inside and outside the 
     unit of the National Park System that will--
       (A) protect natural resources of the unit; and
       (B) benefit the parties to the agreement;
       (4) identify any materials, supplies, or equipment that 
     will be contributed by the parties to the agreement or by 
     other Federal agencies;
       (5) describe any financial assistance to be provided by the 
     Secretary or the partners to implement the agreement;
       (6) ensure that any expenditure by the Secretary pursuant 
     to the agreement is determined by the Secretary to support 
     the purposes of natural resource stewardship at a unit of the 
     National Park System; and
       (7) shall include such terms and conditions that are agreed 
     to by the Secretary and the other parties to the agreement.
       (c) Limitations.--The Secretary shall not use any amounts 
     associated with an agreement entered into under subsection 
     (a) for the purposes of land acquisition, regulatory 
     activity, or the development, maintenance, or operation of 
     infrastructure, except for ancillary support facilities that 
     the Secretary determines to be necessary for the completion 
     of projects or activities identified in the agreement.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out 
     this Act.

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