19–010 

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. 


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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.’’ 


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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 

a S. 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. 


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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 øblack 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 øfiscal 

years 1999 through 2003.¿ fiscal years 2012 through 2016. 

Æ 


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