[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 148 (Thursday, September 6, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S6103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY INDEX ACT OF 2017

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 255, S. 1586.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1586) to require the Under Secretary for Oceans 
     and Atmosphere to update periodically the environmental 
     sensitivity index products of the National Oceanic and 
     Atmospheric Administration for each coastal area of the Great 
     Lakes, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which had been reported from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation, with an amendment to strike all after the enacting 
clause and insert in lieu thereof the following:

       (Purpose: In the nature of a substitute.)

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Great Lakes Environmental 
     Sensitivity Index Act of 2017''.

     SEC. 2. UPDATE TO ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY INDEX PRODUCTS OF 
                   NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION 
                   FOR GREAT LAKES.

       (a) Update Required Environmental Sensitivity Index 
     Products for Great Lakes.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary for 
     Oceans and Atmosphere shall commence updating the 
     environmental sensitivity index products of the National 
     Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for each coastal area 
     of the Great Lakes.
       (b) Periodic Updates for Environmental Sensitivity Index 
     Products Generally.--Subject to the availability of 
     appropriations and the priorities set forth in subsection 
     (c), the Under Secretary shall--
       (1) periodically update the environmental sensitivity index 
     products of the Administration; and
       (2) endeavor to do so not less frequently than once every 7 
     years.
       (c) Priorities.--When prioritizing geographic areas to 
     update environmental sensitivity index products, the Under 
     Secretary shall consider--
       (1) the age of existing environmental sensitivity index 
     products for the areas;
       (2) the occurrence of extreme events, be it natural or man-
     made, which have significantly altered the shoreline or 
     ecosystem since the last update;
       (3) the natural variability of shoreline and coastal 
     environment; and
       (4) the volume of vessel traffic and general vulnerability 
     to spilled pollutants.
       (d) Environmental Sensitivity Index Product Defined.--In 
     this subsection, the term ``environmental sensitivity index 
     product'' means a map or similar tool that is utilized to 
     identify sensitive shoreline, coastal or offshore, resources 
     prior to an oil spill event in order to set baseline 
     priorities for protection and plan cleanup strategies, 
     typically including information relating to shoreline type, 
     biological resources, and human use resources.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       (1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
     the Under Secretary $7,500,000 to carry out subsection (a).
       (2) Availability.--Amounts appropriated or otherwise made 
     available pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be available to the 
     Under Secretary for the purposes set forth in such paragraph 
     until expended.

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to and the bill, as 
amended, be considered read a third time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute was 
agreed to.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read 
the third time.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I know of no further debate on the bill.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The bill having been read the third time, the 
question is, Shall the bill pass?
  The bill (S. 1586), as amended, was passed.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider 
be considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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