[Senate Report 112-139]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                                       Calendar No. 305
112th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE
 2d Session                                                     112-139

======================================================================



 
  CHESAPEAKE BAY GATEWAYS AND WATERTRAILS NETWORK REAUTHORIZATION ACT

                                _______
                                

                January 26, 2012.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

    Mrs. Boxer, from the Committee on Environment and Public Works, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany S. 1740]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Environment and Public Works, to which was 
referred a bill (S. 1740) to amend the Chesapeake Bay 
Initiative Act of 1998 to provide for the reauthorization of 
the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network, having 
considered the same, reports favorably thereon without 
amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.

                    General Statement and Background

    Originally authorized in 1998, the Chesapeake Gateways and 
Watertrails program set up a network of Chesapeake Bay-related 
sites, such as parks, wildlife refuges, and trails. The program 
includes 160 sites in six states and the District of Columbia. 
The National Park Service (NPS) provides matching grants for 
projects that enhance public education of and access to the 
Chesapeake Bay. Visitation at Gateways sites exceeds 10 million 
people annually, and the competitive grants program is 
currently oversubscribed.
    At the direction of Congress, the National Park Service 
conducted its Chesapeake Bay Special Resource Study in 2004. 
The draft study concluded that an enhanced version of the 
Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network would be the most effective and 
efficient way for the NPS to help protect and raise interest in 
the Chesapeake Bay. The NPS has incorporated the Gateways 
Network into its permanent operations.
    S. 1740, the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails 
Network Continuing Authorization Act, will reauthorize this 
program.

                     Objectives of the Legislation

    The Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network 
Continuing Authorization Act amends the Chesapeake Bay 
Initiative Act of 1998 to reauthorize appropriations for the 
Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network.

                      Section-by-Section Analysis


Section 1. Short title

    This section provides that this Act may be cited as the 
`Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network 
Reauthorization Act'.

Sec. 2. Authorization of appropriations

    This section amends Section 502 of the Chesapeake Bay 
Initiative Act of 1998 (16 U.S.C. 461 note; Public Law 105-312) 
and reauthorizes the program for fiscal years 2012 through 
2016.

                          Legislative History

    On October 19, 2011, Senator Cardin introduced this 
legislation, which was cosponsored by Senators Mikulski, 
Warner, Webb, Carper, and Coons. The bill was received, read 
twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and 
Public Works. The committee met on December 8, 2011, to 
consider the bill, and ordered S. 1740 to be reported favorably 
without amendment.

                             Rollcall Votes

    The Committee on Environment and Public Works met to 
consider S. 1740 on December 8, 2011. The bill was ordered 
favorably reported by voice vote. No rollcall votes were taken.

                      Regulatory Impact Statement

    In compliance with section 11(b) of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the committee finds that S. 1740 
does not create any additional regulatory burdens, nor will it 
cause any adverse impact on the personal privacy of 
individuals.

                          Mandates Assessment

    In compliance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 
(Public Law 104-4), the committee notes that the Congressional 
Budget Office has found, ``[S. 1740] contains no 
intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and would impose no costs 
on state, local, or tribal governments.''

               Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

                                                   January 4, 2012.
Hon. Barbara Boxer
Chairman, Committee on Environment and Public Works,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
    Dear Madam Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 1740, the Chesapeake 
Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Reauthorization Act.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Jeff LaFave.
            Sincerely,
                                              Douglas W. Elmendorf.
    Enclosure.

S. 1740--Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network 
        Reauthorization Act

    Summary: S. 1740 would authorize the appropriation of $15 
million over the 2012-2016 period for the Chesapeake Bay 
Initiative, a program carried out by the National Park Service 
(NPS) and other federal agencies to conserve resources in the 
Chesapeake Bay watershed. Assuming appropriation of the 
authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing the 
legislation would cost $13 million over the 2012-2016 period. 
Enacting S. 1740 would not affect direct spending or revenues; 
therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
    The bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) 
and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal 
governments.
    Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated 
budgetary impact of S. 1740 is shown in the following table. 
The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300 
(natural resources and environment).


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
                                                ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   2012     2013     2014     2015     2016     2017   2012-2017
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION

Authorization Levela...........................        1        3        3        3        3        0        13
Estimated Outlays..............................        1        3        3        3        3        0       13
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
aS. 1740 would authorize the appropriation of $3 million for the Chesapeake Bay Initiative in 2012. The National
  Park Service has already allocated $2 million from its fiscal year 2012 appropriation for programs under that
  initiative.

    Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that S. 
1740 will be enacted early in 2012 and that the authorized 
amounts will be appropriated for each fiscal year. Estimated 
outlays are based on historical spending patterns for this 
program.
    S. 1740 would authorize the appropriation of $3 million a 
year over the 2012-2016 period for projects carried out under 
the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998. Based on information 
provided by the NPS and assuming appropriation of the 
authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing the 
legislation would cost $13 million over the 2012-2016 period. 
That estimate reflects the fact that the NPS has already 
allocated $2 million of its existing appropriation for 2012 for 
the Chesapeake Bay initiative.
    Pay-as-you-go considerations: None.
    Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: S. 1740 
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as 
defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on state, local, or 
tribal governments. State and local governments could benefit 
from grants authorized by the bill.
    Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Jeff LaFave; Impact on 
State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Ryan Miller; Impact on 
the Private Sector: Amy Petz.
    Estimate approved by: Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant 
Director for Budget Analysis.

                        Changes in Existing Law

    In compliance with section 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing 
Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by the bill 
as reported are shown as follows: Existing law proposed to be 
omitted is enclosed in [black brackets], new matter is printed 
in italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown 
in roman:

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                           PUBLIC LAW 105-312

SEC. 502. CHESAPEAKE BAY GATEWAYS AND WATERTRAILS.

  (a) Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network.--
          (1) In general.--* * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to 
be appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000 for each 
of [fiscal years 1999 through 2003.] fiscal years 2012 through 
2016.

                                  
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