[105th Congress Public Law 322]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]


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[DOCID: f:publ322.105]

Public Law 105-322
105th Congress

                                 An Act


 
    To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide financial 
   assistance to the State of Maryland for a pilot program to develop 
measures to eradicate or control nutria and restore marshland damaged by 
             nutria. <<NOTE: Oct. 30, 1998 -  [H.R. 4337]>> 

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

SECTION 1. NUTRIA ERADICATION AND CONTROL PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) Grant Authority.--The Secretary of the Interior (in this section 
referred to as the ``Secretary''), subject to the availability of 
appropriations, may provide financial assistance to the State of 
Maryland for a pilot program to develop measures to eradicate or control 
nutria and restore marshland damaged by nutria.
    (b) Goals.--The pilot program shall develop methods to--
            (1) eradicate nutria in Maryland;
            (2) eradicate or control nutria in other States; and
            (3) develop methods to restore marshland damaged by nutria.

    (c) Activities.--The Secretary shall require that the pilot 
program consist of management, research, and public education activities 
carried out in accordance with the document entitled ``Marsh 
Restoration: Nutria Control in Maryland Pilot Program Proposal'', dated 
July 10, 1998.
    (d) Cost Sharing.--
            (1) Federal share.--The Federal share of the costs of the 
        pilot program may not exceed 75 percent of the total costs of 
        the pilot program.
            (2) In-kind contributions.--The non-Federal share of the 
        costs of the pilot program may be provided in the form of in-
        kind contributions of materials or services.

    (e) Limitation on Administrative Expenses.--Not more than 10 percent 
of financial assistance provided by the Secretary under this section may 
be used for administrative expenses.
    (f ) Authorization of Appropriations.--For financial assistance 
under this section, there are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary $2,900,000 for fiscal years 2000, 2001, and 2002.

    Approved October 30, 1998.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 4337:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 144 (1998):
            Sept. 28, considered and passed House.
            Oct. 9, considered and passed Senate.

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