[117th Congress Public Law 318]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 136 STAT. 4421]]
Public Law 117-318
117th Congress
An Act
To authorize the Director of the United States Geological Survey to
establish a regional program to assess, monitor, and benefit the
hydrology of saline lakes in the Great Basin and the migratory birds and
other wildlife dependent on those habitats, and for other
purposes. <<NOTE: Dec. 27, 2022 - [S. 1466]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Saline Lake
Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act of 2022.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great
Basin States Program Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. SALINE LAKE ECOSYSTEMS IN THE GREAT BASIN STATES
ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING PROGRAM.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the Saline Lake
Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Assessment and Monitoring
Program established under subsection (b).
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United
States Geological Survey.
(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a Saline Lake
Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Assessment and Monitoring Program
to assess and monitor the hydrology of saline lake ecosystems in the
Great Basin and the migratory birds and other wildlife that depend on
those ecosystems to inform and support coordinated management and
conservation actions to benefit those ecosystems, migratory birds, and
other wildlife.
(c) Work and Implementation Plan.--
(1) In general.--Under the Program, the Secretary, in
coordination with the Director of the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service and the entities described in paragraph (2),
shall establish a multiyear work and implementation plan to
assess, monitor, and conserve saline lake ecosystems in the
Great Basin and the migratory birds and other wildlife that
depend on those ecosystems.
(2) Coordinating entities.--The entities referred to in
paragraph (1) include--
(A) Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies;
(B) institutions of higher education;
(C) nonprofit organizations; and
(D) other local stakeholders.
(3) Inclusions.--The work and implementation plan
established under paragraph (1) shall include--
[[Page 136 STAT. 4422]]
(A) a synthesis of available information,
literature, and data, and an assessment of scientific
and informational needs, relating to--
(i) water quantity, water quality, water use,
and water demand;
(ii) migratory bird and other wildlife
populations, habitats, and ecology;
(iii) annual lifecycle needs of migratory
birds; and
(iv) environmental changes and other
stressors, including climatic stressors;
(B) a description of how the plan should be
implemented to address the scientific and informational
needs described in subparagraph (A), including proposed
activities, such as monitoring, data infrastructure
needs, and development of tools necessary to implement
the Program;
(C) <<NOTE: Recommenda- tions.>> recommendations and
a cost assessment for the implementation of the plan;
and
(D) such other matters as the Secretary determines
to be appropriate.
(4) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a
report describing the work and implementation plan established
under paragraph (1).
(d) Implementation.--The Secretary shall implement the Program based
on the information, findings, and recommendations contained in the work
and implementation plan established under subsection (c).
(e) Cooperative Agreements and Grants.--The Secretary may enter into
cooperative funding agreements with, or provide grants to, entities
described in subsection (c)(2) for the purposes of--
(1) participating in developing, or providing information to
inform the development of, the work and implementation plan
under subsection (c);
(2) carrying out assessments and monitoring of water
quality, quantity, use, and demand under the Program; and
(3) carrying out ecological, biological, and avian
assessments and monitoring under the Program.
(f) Effect.--The work and implementation plan established under
subsection (c)(1) shall not affect--
(1) any interstate water compacts in existence on the date
of enactment of this Act, including full development of any
apportionment made in accordance with those compacts;
(2) valid and existing water rights in any State located
wholly or partially within the Great Basin;
(3) water rights held by the United States in the Great
Basin; and
(4) the management and operation of Bear Lake or Stewart
Dam, including the storage, management, and release of water.
[[Page 136 STAT. 4423]]
(g) <<NOTE: Time period.>> Authorization of Appropriations.--There
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Program $5,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2022 through 2027.
Approved December 27, 2022.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 1466 (H.R. 5345):
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 117-577 (Comm. on Natural Resources) accompanying
H.R. 5345.
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 168 (2022):
Nov. 30, considered and passed Senate.
Dec. 12, considered and passed House, amended.
Dec. 19, Senate concurred in House amendment.
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