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[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4931 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4931

To strengthen protection of the natural resources of the Gulf of Maine 
 through greater cooperation and coordination between Federal agencies 
and the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment, and for other 
                               purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            August 10, 1994

  Ms. Snowe introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
               Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
To strengthen protection of the natural resources of the Gulf of Maine 
 through greater cooperation and coordination between Federal agencies 
and the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment, and for other 
                               purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Gulf of Maine Conservation and 
Cooperation Act of 1994''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress makes the following findings regarding the Gulf of 
Maine:
            (1) The Gulf of Maine is a critically important 
        environmental and economic resource shared by the United States 
        and Canada.
            (2) The Gulf of Maine supports abundant and diverse marine 
        wildlife populations, including 100 species of birds, 73 
        species of fish, 26 species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises, 
        1,600 types of bottom-dwelling organisms, and endangered 
        species such as the bald eagle, roseate tern, humpback whale, 
        and sperm whale.
            (3) The Gulf of Maine holds substantial value as a 
        recreation resource for people today and its value as a 
        recreation resource will likely increase in the future. Nearly 
        \1/3\ of the United States population, comprising approximately 
        75,600,000 people, live within a 1-day drive of the Gulf of 
        Maine. The Gulf of Maine contains 2 United States national 
        parks and 1 Canadian national park, and it contains a United 
        States national marine sanctuary.
            (4) The Gulf of Maine provides substantial commercial 
        benefits to the United States and Canada. Its commercial 
        fishing industry, including aquaculture, produces more than 
        $800,000,000 in revenues annually and employs 20,000 people. 
        Aquaculture is a growing multimillion dollar industry in the 
        region.
            (5) Tourism and recreation in the Gulf of Maine region 
        generate millions of dollars in revenue each year and provide 
        employment for thousands. The Gulf of Maine attracts 10,000,000 
        visitors annually. In addition, the Gulf of Maine is home to 
        many economically important maritime facilities, such as ports 
        and shipyards.
            (6) Studies conducted by national and State governments and 
        other agencies have determined that, without prudent, 
        coordinated management, the future development and use of the 
        resources of the Gulf of Maine may have significant adverse 
        impacts on the environment and economy of the bordering States, 
        the adjacent region, and the United States.
            (7) Environmental threats to the Gulf of Maine are too 
        extensive and complex to be managed by any single State, 
        provincial, or Federal agency. Existing threats include--
                    (A) high levels of toxic contaminants in the deep 
                basin sediments of the Gulf of Maine, which indicate 
                that toxic contaminants are distributed throughout the 
                Gulf of Maine ecosystem;
                    (B) bacterial contamination that has closed more 
                than \1/3\ of the shellfish beds in the Gulf of Maine, 
                resulting in significant economic losses; and
                    (C) increasing loss of habitat in the Gulf of Maine 
                region, which results in diminished estuarine and 
                coastal habitats essential for migratory waterfowl and 
                commercially valuable fish species.
            (8) The natural resources of the Gulf of Maine are 
        interconnected, forming an ecosystem that transcends political 
        boundaries. It is therefore important that the States, 
        provinces, and Federal Governments cooperate with one another 
        and coordinate their public policies, research, and management 
        activities related to the protection of the resources of the 
        Gulf of Maine.
            (9) Interjurisdictional cooperation and coordination of 
        efforts, policies, and programs can maximize the efficient use 
        of limited fiscal resources in the Gulf of Maine region, and 
        further the goal of protecting the resources of the Gulf of 
        Maine and stimulating its economy over the long-term.
            (10) The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment, 
        established in 1989 by the States of Maine, Massachusetts, and 
        New Hampshire and the Canadian Provinces of New Brunswick and 
        Nova Scotia (in this Act referred to as the ``Gulf of Maine 
        Council''), is well-equipped to assist in the coordination of 
        policies and activities of the multiple agencies and 
        scientific, environmental, fishing, and marine trade 
        organizations active in the Gulf of Maine region. It has laid a 
        cooperative, regionally based foundation for future efforts to 
        protect, conserve, and sustainably develop the Gulf of Maine.
            (11) The Gulf of Maine Council has developed innovative and 
        constructive strategies and programs to maintain and enhance 
        marine environmental quality and to allow for sustainable 
        resource use, such as the Gulf of Maine Action Plan 1991-2000 
        and the Gulf of Maine Environmental Quality Monitoring Plan.

SEC. 3. POLICY.

    It is the policy of the United States that--
            (1) United States Government activities relating to 
        conserving the natural resources of the Gulf of Maine and 
        encouraging sustainable development in the region should be 
        maintained and strengthened; and
            (2) the environmental and economic interests of the 
        American people are well-served by United States Government 
        cooperation and coordination with the Gulf of Maine Council.

SEC. 4. GULF OF MAINE INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE.

    (a) Establishment.--
            (1) In general.--The President shall establish a Gulf of 
        Maine Inter-Agency Task Force (in this Act referred to as the 
        ``Task Force'').
            (2) Purpose.--The purpose of the Task Force is to provide a 
        vehicle for improved interagency cooperation and coordination, 
        and to improve and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of 
        Federal activities conducted for the purpose of the 
        conservation and sustainable development of the natural 
        resources of the Gulf of Maine.
            (3) Duties.--The duties of the Task Force include the 
        following:
                    (A) Meeting on a regular basis, but not less than 2 
                times each year.
                    (B) Sharing among Task Force members information 
                about agency programs operating in the Gulf of Maine 
                region.
                    (C) Providing updates on agency programs and 
                activities relating to the natural resources of the 
                Gulf of Maine, including scientific research activities 
                and programs.
                    (D) Identifying opportunities for interagency 
                cooperation and coordination to further the purpose of 
                the Task Force.
                    (E) Developing plans, to the maximum extent 
                practicable, for interagency cooperation and 
                coordination efforts that will further the purpose of 
                the Task Force, and for joint programs, activities, and 
                initiatives among agencies of the United States, the 
                Gulf of Maine Council, States, and the Government of 
                Canada.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) Specified agency representatives.--The Task Force shall 
        consist of the following members:
                    (A) 2 members appointed by the Secretary of 
                Commerce;
                    (B) 1 member appointed by the Secretary of the 
                Interior;
                    (C) 1 member appointed by the Administrator of the 
                Environmental Protection Agency; and
                    (D) 1 member appointed by the Secretary of the Army 
                from among personnel of the Corps of Engineers.
            (2) Other agency representatives.--The Task Force may also 
        include a representative appointed by the President to 
        represent any other Federal department or agency, on a 
        temporary or permanent basis.
            (3) Department of commerce representatives.--At least 1 of 
        the members of the Task Force appointed by the Secretary of 
        Commerce shall be selected from personnel of the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and one of those 
        members shall be selected from personnel of an office or agency 
        related to sustainable economic development.
    (c) Gulf of Maine Coordinator.--The Task Force shall be chaired by 
the Gulf of Maine Coordinator, who shall be designated by the Secretary 
of Commerce from among the members of the Task Force. The term of a 
member as the Gulf of Maine Coordinator shall be 2 years. The Secretary 
may not designate for consecutive terms as the Gulf of Maine 
Coordinator any member, or any members appointed under subsection 
(b)(1) by the same official. The duties of the Coordinator shall be as 
follows:
            (1) The Gulf of Maine Coordinator (or a designee of the 
        Coordinator) shall, upon invitation by the Gulf of Maine 
        Council, attend meetings of the Gulf of Maine Council, and 
        report on Federal activities and programs relating to the Gulf 
        of Maine Council.
            (2) The Task Force may authorize the Gulf of Maine 
        Coordinator (or a designee of the Coordinator) to represent the 
        Task Force and the officials who appoint members of the Task 
        Force under subsection (b), in negotiations with the Gulf of 
        Maine Council on agreements, memoranda of understanding, a 
        sustainable development strategy, or other cooperative 
        activities and programs.
    (d) Annual Report.--Each year, the Secretary of Commerce shall 
submit to the Congress, in consultation with the Secretary of the 
Interior, the Secretary of the Army, and the Administrator of the 
Environmental Protection Agency, a report on the meetings, findings, 
activities, recommendations, initiatives, and plans of the Task Force. 
The report may also describe other examples of cooperation and 
coordination among agencies in the Gulf of Maine.

SEC. 5. FEDERAL COOPERATION AND COORDINATION WITH THE GULF OF MAINE 
              COUNCIL ON THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT.

    (a) Statement of Policy.--Each of the officials who appoint a 
member of the Task Force under section 4(b) shall, to the maximum 
extent practicable, cooperate and coordinate their activities related 
to natural resources of the Gulf of Maine with the Gulf of Maine 
Council on the Marine Environment.
    (b) Authority for Agreements.--The Secretary of Commerce, after 
consultation with the officials who appoint a member of the Task Force 
under section 4(b), may enter into agreements and memoranda of 
understanding with the Gulf of Maine Council to enhance efforts to 
conserve the natural resources of the Gulf of Maine.
    (c) Sustainable Development Strategy.--The Secretary of Commerce, 
after consultation with other Federal natural resource agencies, and 
upon a request by the Gulf of Maine Council, may work with the Gulf of 
Maine Council, industry representatives, representatives of organized 
labor groups, fishing groups, community organizations, environmental 
organizations, State and local public officials, and others to develop 
a sustainable development strategy for the Gulf of Maine.
    (d) Consistency of Federal Activities With Council and State 
Management Activities.--Each of the officials that appoints a member of 
the Task Force under section 4(b) shall conduct their activities which 
directly affect the ecological health of the Gulf of Maine in a manner 
which is, to the maximum extent practicable, consistent with--
            (1) the goals and policies of the Gulf of Maine Council; 
        and
            (2) the goals and policies related to protection of the 
        natural resources of the Gulf of Maine of each State bordering 
        the Gulf of Maine in which the activities are conducted.
    (e) Financial Contributions to Gulf of Maine Council.--
            (1) Grant authority.--To help fulfill the purposes of this 
        Act, each of the officials that appoints a member of the Task 
        Force under section 4(b), subject to the availability of 
        appropriations, may make grants in accordance with this 
        subsection to the Gulf of Maine Council, for programs and 
        projects related to the conservation of the natural resources 
        of the Gulf of Maine or to sustainable economic development in 
        the Gulf of Maine region.
            (2) Matching.--The amount of a grant under this subsection 
        may not exceed 75 percent of the total cost of the program or 
        project carried out with the grant. In determining the amount 
        of the non-Federal contribution for purposes of this paragraph, 
        the Secretary shall include the value of in-kind contributions 
        from non-Federal sources.
            (3) Limit on use for administration.--Not more than 10 
        percent of the amount of a grant under this section may be used 
        for administrative expenses.
            (4) Limit on total annual grants.--The total amount of 
        grants under this subsection in any fiscal year before fiscal 
        year 2000 may not exceed $1,000,000.

SEC. 6. GULF OF MAINE RESEARCH.

    (a) New Authority.--The Regional Marine Research Board for the Gulf 
of Maine region shall cooperate with the Gulf of Maine Council and the 
States bordering the Gulf of Maine in efforts to promote the 
environmental and economic health of the Gulf of Maine region.
    (b) Regional Marine Research Plans.--The Regional Marine Research 
Board for the Gulf of Maine region may, in consultation with the Gulf 
of Maine Council and subject to the approval of the Secretary of 
Commerce, revise schedules for the development of research plans under 
section 404 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 
1972 (16 U.S.C. 1447c) as appropriate to ensure the effective 
coordination of the plans and programs carried out under such section 
with the activities and plans carried out under this Act.

SEC. 7. RELATION TO MAGNUSON FISHERY CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT ACT.

    Nothing in this Act shall be construed to modify or supersede any 
authority or requirement established under the Magnuson Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.).
                                 <all>
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