San Francisco Bay Restoration Act

Summary: San Francisco Bay Restoration Act This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to authorize the Environmental Protection Agency to provide funding for prioritized activities, studies, or projects that advance the goals and objectives of the comprehensive management plan for the San Francisco estuary. Funding may be provided through cooperative agreements, grants, or other means. Funding may not be used for the administration of a management conference for the San Francisco estuary under the National Estuary Program. Funding amounts provided under this Act may not exceed 75% of the total cost of eligible activities to be carried out using those amounts. This bill authorizes appropriations for the funding program through FY2019.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``San Francisco Bay Restoration Act''.

SEC. 2. SAN FRANCISCO BAY RESTORATION GRANT PROGRAM.

    Title I of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 123. SAN FRANCISCO BAY RESTORATION GRANT PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Annual priority list.--The term `annual priority 
        list' means the annual priority list compiled under subsection 
        (b).
            ``(2) Comprehensive plan.--The term `comprehensive plan' 
        means--
                    ``(A) the comprehensive conservation and management 
                plan approved under section 320 for the San Francisco 
                Bay estuary; and
                    ``(B) any amendments to that plan.
            ``(3) Estuary partnership.--The term `Estuary Partnership' 
        means the San Francisco Estuary Partnership, the entity that is 
        designated as the management conference under section 320.
    ``(b) Annual Priority List.--
            ``(1) In general.--After providing public notice, the 
        Administrator shall annually compile a priority list 
        identifying and prioritizing the activities, projects, and 
        studies intended to be funded with the amounts made available 
        under subsection (c).
            ``(2) Inclusions.--The annual priority list compiled under 
        paragraph (1) shall include--
                    ``(A) activities, projects, or studies, including 
                restoration projects and habitat improvement for fish, 
                waterfowl, and wildlife, that advance the goals and 
                objectives of the approved comprehensive plan;
                    ``(B) information on the activities, projects, 
                programs, or studies specified under subparagraph (A), 
                including a description of--
                            ``(i) the identities of the financial 
                        assistance recipients; and
                            ``(ii) the communities to be served; and
                    ``(C) the criteria and methods established by the 
                Administrator for selection of activities, projects, 
                and studies.
            ``(3) Consultation.--In developing the priority list under 
        paragraph (1), the Administrator shall consult with and 
        consider the recommendations of--
                    ``(A) the Estuary Partnership;
                    ``(B) the State of California and affected local 
                governments in the San Francisco Bay estuary watershed; 
                and
                    ``(C) any other relevant stakeholder involved with 
                the protection and restoration of the San Francisco Bay 
                estuary that the Administrator determines to be 
                appropriate.
    ``(c) Grant Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--Pursuant to section 320, the 
        Administrator may provide funding through cooperative 
        agreements, grants, or other means to State and local agencies, 
        special districts, and public or nonprofit agencies, 
        institutions, and organizations, including the Estuary 
        Partnership, for activities, studies, or projects identified on 
        the annual priority list.
            ``(2) Maximum amount of grants; non-federal share.--
                    ``(A) Maximum amount of grants.--Amounts provided 
                to any individual or entity under this section for a 
                fiscal year shall not exceed an amount equal to 75 
                percent of the total cost of any eligible activities 
                that are to be carried out using those amounts.
                    ``(B) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of 
                the total cost of any eligible activities that are 
                carried out using amounts provided under this section 
                shall be--
                            ``(i) not less than 25 percent; and
                            ``(ii) provided from non-Federal sources.
    ``(d) Funding.--
            ``(1) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this 
        section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2019.
            ``(2) Administrative expenses.--Of the amount made 
        available to carry out this section for a fiscal year, the 
        Administrator shall use not more than 5 percent to pay 
        administrative expenses incurred in carrying out this section.
            ``(3) Relationship to other funding.--Nothing in this 
        section limits the eligibility of the Estuary Partnership to 
        receive funding under section 320(g).
            ``(4) Prohibition.--No amounts made available under 
        subsection (c) may be used for the administration of a 
        management conference under section 320.''.