White Bluffs Protection Act

Summary: Directs the Secretary to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to study and report to specified congressional committees on the land use options for the Wahluke Slope. Prohibits any change in the management or use of the Slope until one year after submission of such report. Authorizes appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``White Bluffs Protection Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) The White Bluffs, located on the Columbia River from 
        river mile 354 to river mile 376 in the State of Washington, 
        are a scenic example of pristine landscapes that should be 
        protected.
            (2) The White Bluffs have been eroding at a more rapid rate 
        since the construction of the Columbia Basin Project by the 
        Bureau of Reclamation.
            (3) Federal and local officials have identified the erosive 
        action of the Columbia River and return flows associated with 
        the Columbia Basin Project as two of the factors contributing 
        to the movement of ancient landslide masses in the White Bluffs 
        area.
            (4) The movement of large landslide masses of the White 
        Bluffs may change the course of the Columbia River to some 
        degree, damaging the opposite south shore and degrading the 
        quality of Columbia River water by slide debris and aggradation 
        of the Columbia River channel downstream, both of which could 
        endanger salmon spawning grounds of the Hanford Reach.
            (5) The largest, closest source of Columbia Basin Project 
        water to the White Bluffs is the product of two canal 
        wasteways.
            (6) These two canal wasteways can be modified to reduce the 
        standing water above the White Bluffs.

SEC. 3. ACTIONS BY BUREAU OF RECLAMATION TO PROTECT WHITE BLUFFS, 
              WASHINGTON.

    (a) Wasteway Modifications.--The Secretary of the Interior, acting 
through the Bureau of Reclamation--
            (1) may construct a channel for the Wahluke Branch 10 
        Wasteway of the Columbia Basin Project, that will effectively 
        drain all standing water above the White Bluffs within the 
        Wahluke Slope Habitat Management Area, Washington; and
            (2) may take such steps as are necessary to eliminate the 
        White Bluffs Wasteway.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior, to remain available 
until expended--
            (1) $4,000,000 to carry out subsection (a)(1); and
            (2) $1,000,000 to carry out subsection (a)(2).

SEC. 4. STUDY OF THE WAHLUKE SLOPE.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall enter into an 
agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study of 
the land use options for the land owned by the Department of Energy 
within the Hanford Reservation known as Wahluke Slope in the State of 
Washington.
    (b) Study Contents.--The study under subsection (a) shall include 
the following:
            (1) Examination of the potential environmental, economic, 
        and cultural impacts of various land use options for the 
        Wahluke Slope region, such as agriculture (including grazing, 
        mining, and farming), industry, recreation, specific 
        preservation, and use as a buffer zone for the Department of 
        Energy's radioactive waste management efforts.
            (2) Review of existing land use plans, environmental impact 
        studies, and scientific and technical literature.
            (3) Convening of workshops, as necessary, to assess the 
        following impacts (positive or negative) for each option:
                    (A) The impact on current water rights, future 
                water needs, and water management alternatives.
                    (B) The impact on habitat and federally protected 
                species.
                    (C) The impact on the White Bluffs.
                    (D) The impact on the local economy.
                    (E) The Impact of existing archeological resources.
    (c) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date on 
        which the Secretary of the Interior enters into the agreement 
        under subsection (a), the National Academy of Sciences shall 
        submit a report concerning the study to the Committee on 
        Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
        Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.
            (2) Use of previous studies.--The report under paragraph 
        (1) may be based in part on, but may not be limited to, the 
        work and scope of previous studies, including any of the 
        following:
                    (A) The Hanford Reach of the Columbia River 
                comprehensive conservation study and environmental 
                impact statement.
                    (B) The Hanford Reach protection and management 
                program's interim action plan.
                    (C) The study known as the ``Red Zone'' study.
                    (D) The Hanford remedial action and land use.
                    (E) The Wahluke 2000 proposal.
                    (F) The Nature Conservancy biological inventories.
            (3) Requirement.--The report under paragraph (1) shall set 
        forth the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the 
        National Academy of Sciences regarding future land use options, 
        including the need for any congressional action.
    (d) Suspension of Changes in Management or Use of Wahluke Slope.--
No change may be made in the management or use of the Wahluke Slope 
before the expiration of the one-year period beginning on the date of 
the submission of the report under subsection (c).
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior $600,000 for the study 
under this section.