49–010

Calendar No. 497

109TH CONGRESS REPORT

2nd Session " ! SENATE 109–270

GREAT LAKES FISH AND WILDLIFE RESTORATION ACT

OF 2006

JUNE 27, 2006.—Ordered to be printed

Mr. INHOFE, from the Committee on Environment and Public

Works, submitted the following

REPORT

[to accompany S. 2430]

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

The Committee on Environment and Public Works, to which was

referred a bill (S. 2430) to amend the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990 to provide for implementation of recommendations of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service contained in the Great Lakes Fishery Resources Restoration Study,

having considered the same, reports favorably thereon and recommends that the bill, as amended, do pass.

GENERAL STATEMENT AND BACKGROUND

The Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990 (Public Law 101–537) was enacted November 8, 1990 to establish goals

for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) programs

operated in the Great Lakes and requires the Service to undertake

a number of activities specifically related to fishery resources, including: • conducting a study by October 1, 1994, of the status of, and

the assessment, management, and restoration needs of, the fishery

resources of the basin, and develop proposals to implement recommendations resulting from the study;

• inviting the Secretary of the Army, the affected State directors, Indian tribes, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Canadian

government entities, and others to enter into a Memorandum of
2

Understanding (MOU) regarding the scope and focus of the study

and the responsibilities of those choosing to participate;

• establishing a Great Lakes Coordination Office to coordinate

all Service activities in the basin;

• establishing a Lower Great Lakes Fishery Resources Office

to carry out Service operational activities related to fishery resources in the lower Great Lakes;

• establishing one or more Upper Great Lakes Fishery Resource Office(s) to carry out Service operational activities related to

fishery resources in the upper Great Lakes; and

• within 1 year of enactment and annually thereafter, submit

reports to Congress discussing the progress and results of the

study, recommending implementation activities, and describing activities taken to accomplish the goals established in the Act.

On September 13, 1995, the study authorized by the 1990 Act

was completed and submitted to the Senate and House of Representatives. Titled ‘‘Great Lakes Fishery Resources Restoration

Study’’, it contained 32 recommendations for action.

The Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–265), enacted October 19, 1998, reauthorized the 1990

Act. It recognized the 32 recommendations in the 1995 Great Lakes

Fishery Resources Restoration Study and moved the purpose of the

law from study to action. The 1998 Act:

• shifted emphasis from the study of species and habitat restoration needs to the implementation of restoration projects emphasizing the 32 study recommendations;

• authorized $3.5 million for each fiscal year through 2004 for

activities of the Service’s Great Lakes Coordination and Fishery

Resources Offices;

• established a committee to recommend projects for funding

to the Director of the Service; and

• authorized $4.5 million for each fiscal year through 2004 to

fund restoration projects recommended by the committee. Projects

require a 25 percent non-Federal match.

The 1998 Act ultimately recognized the successful partnerships

in the Great Lakes region and provided the process for achieving

on-the-ground restoration activities to benefit fish, wildlife and

plants in the Great Lakes.

OBJECTIVES OF THE LEGISLATION

The purpose of S. 2430 is to continue the efforts achieved

through the 1998 Act by reauthorizing the Great Lakes Fish and

Wildlife Restoration Act and authorizing $20,000,000 for fiscal

years 2007 through 2012. The bill also expands the purpose of the

cost-share program to include regionally significant projects

throughout the Great Lakes Basin and to improve the availability

of project information to Congress and the public through the use

of a public access web site maintained by the Department of the

Interior.
3

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title.

This section provides that this Act may be cited as the ‘‘Great

Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2006’’.

Sec. 2. Findings.

This section provides findings to support the importance of the

Act.

Sec. 3. Definitions.

This section amends section 1004 of the Great Lakes Fish and

Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 941b) to update existing

definitions and provide a new definition for ‘‘regional project’’.

Sec. 4. Identification, review, and implementation of proposals.

This section amends section 1005 of the Great Lakes Fish and

Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 941c) to expand the

scope of project proposals to include wildlife (in addition to fish)

restoration proposals as well as the new category of regional

projects.

Sec. 5. Goals of United States Fish and Wildlife Service programs

related to Great Lakes fish and wildlife resources.

This section amends section 1006 of the Great Lakes Fish and

Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 941d) to include wildlife

restoration as a goal of the Act for the Service.

Sec. 6. Establishment of offices.

This section amends section 1007 of the Great Lakes Fish and

Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 941e) to ensure that all

information acquired under the Act is made available to the public

and that the Great Lakes Coordination Office reports to the Service

Director of Region 3, Great Lakes Big Rivers. The responsibilities

of the Upper and Lower Great Lakes Fishery Resource Offices are

clarified to include operational activities of the Service related to

fishery resource protection, restoration, maintenance, and enhancement in the upper and lower Great Lakes respectively.

Sec. 7. Reports.

This section amends section 1008 of the Great Lakes Fish and

Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 941f) to direct the Service to provide a report to the Committee on Resources of the House

of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public

Works of the Senate that describes actions taken to solicit and review proposals under section 1005; results of proposals implemented under section 1005; and progress toward the accomplishment of goals specified in section 1006. The Service is also directed

to make available through a public access web site of the Department information that describes actions taken to solicit and review

proposals under section 1005; results of proposals implemented

under section 1005; progress toward the accomplishment of goals

specified in section 1006; the priorities proposed for funding in the

annual budget process; and actions taken in support of the rec-
4

ommendations of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration authorized under Executive Order 13340 (69 Fed. Reg. 29043), relating to

the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force.

Sec. 8. Continued monitoring and assessment of study findings and

recommendations.

This section directs the Director of the Service to continue monitoring the status, and the assessment, management, and restoration needs of the fish and wildlife resources throughout the Great

Lakes Basin, and permits the Director to reassess and update, as

necessary, the findings and recommendations of the 1995 Great

Lakes Fishery Resources Restoration Study.

Sec. 9. Authorization of appropriations.

This section amends section 1009 of the Great Lakes Fish and

Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 941g) to provide

$18,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2012 to implement fish and wildlife proposals, of which not more than the lesser

of 331⁄3 percent or $6,000,000 may be allocated to implement regional projects, and the lesser of 5 percent or $600,000 shall be allocated to the Service to cover the costs incurred in administering

the proposals by any entity. This section also provides $2,000,000

for the activities of the Great Lakes Coordination Office in East

Lansing, MI, the Upper Great Lakes Fishery Resources Office and

the Lower Great Lakes Fishery Resources Office established under

section 1007.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

On March 16, 2006, Senator DeWine introduced S. 2430, which

was cosponsored by Senator Levin. The bill was received, read

twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and

Public Works. The committee met on May 23, 2006 to consider the

bill. S. 2430 was ordered favorably reported, as amended, by voice

vote.

HEARINGS

No committee hearings were held on S. 2430.

ROLLCALL VOTES

The Committee on Environment and Public Works met to consider S. 2430 on May 23, 2006. During consideration of the bill, an

amendment offered by Senators Inhofe and Voinovich was agreed

to by voice vote. The bill was ordered favorably reported, as amended, by voice vote. No roll call 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. 2430 does not create any additional regulatory burdens, nor will it cause any adverse impact on the personal privacy of individuals.
5

MANDATES ASSESSMENT

In compliance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

(Public Law 104–4), the committee finds that S. 2430 would not impose Federal intergovernmental unfunded mandates on State, local,

or tribal governments.

COST OF LEGISLATION

Section 403 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act requires that a statement of the cost of the reported bill,

prepared by the Congressional Budget Office, be included in the report. That statement follows:

S. 2430, Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2006, As

ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Environment and

Public Works on May 23, 2006

Summary

S. 2430 would authorize the appropriation of $18 million for each

of fiscal years 2007 through 2011 to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service for fish and wildlife restoration in the Great Lakes Basin.

Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO estimates

that implementing the bill would cost $14 million in 2007 and $84

million over the 2007–2011 period. (An additional $6 million would

be spent in fiscal year 2012.)

S. 2430 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.

Enacting this bill would benefit State and tribal governments in

the Great Lakes Basin because it would authorize additional funds

for grants.

Estimated Cost to the Federal Government

The estimated budgetary impact of S. 2430 is shown in the following table. For this estimate, CBO assumes that S. 2430 will be

enacted by the end of 2006 and that the entire amount authorized

will be appropriated for each fiscal year. Estimated outlays are

based on historical spending patterns for fish and wildlife programs. The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300

(natural resources and the environment).

By Fiscal Year, in Millions of Dollars

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION

Authorization Level .................................................................................................. 18 18 18 18 18

Estimated Outlays ................................................................................................... 14 17 17 18 18

Intergovernmental and Private-Sector Impact

S. 2430 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on State,

local, or tribal governments. Enacting this bill would benefit State
6

and tribal governments in the Great Lakes Basin because it would

authorize additional funds for grants.

Estimate Prepared By: Federal Costs: Deborah Reis and Leigh

Angres; Impact on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Marjorie

Miller; Impact on the Private Sector: Amy Petz.

Estimate Approved By: Robert A. Sunshine, 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 [black brackets], new matter is printed in italic, existing

law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman:

GREAT LAKES FISH AND WILDLIFE RESTORATION ACT

OF 1990

AN ACT To authorize a study of the fishery resources of the Great Lakes, and for

other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the

United States of America in Congress assembled,

TITLE I—GREAT LAKES FISH AND

WILDLIFE RESTORATION

SECTION 1001. SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the ‘‘Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife

Restoration Act of 1990’’.

* * * * * * *

SEC. 1004. DEFINITIONS.

In this title—

ø(1) the term ‘‘Administrator’’ means the Administrator of

the Environmental Protection Agency;¿

ø(2)¿ (1) the term ‘‘Committee’’ means the Great Lakes

Fish and Wildlife Restoration Proposal Review Committee established by section 1005(c);

ø(3)¿ (2) the term ‘‘Director’’ means the Director of the

United States Fish and Wildlife Service;

ø(4) the term ‘‘fish stock’’ means—

ø(A) a taxonomically distinct species or subspecies of

fish; or

ø(B) any other aggregation of fish that are geographically, ecologically, behaviorally, or otherwise limited from

breeding with individuals from other groups of fish and

are capable of management as a unit;¿

ø(5)¿ (3) the term ‘‘Great Lakes Basin’’ means the air,

land, water, and living organisms within the drainage basin of

the Saint Lawrence River at or upstream from the point at
7

which the river becomes the international boundary between

Canada and the United States;

ø(6)¿ (4) the term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ means any Indian tribe,

band, village, nation, or other organized group or community

that is recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs as eligible

for the special programs and services provided by the United

States to Indians because of their status as Indians, and that

has Great Lakes fish and wildlife management authority in the

Great Lakes Basin;

ø(7)¿ (5) the term ‘‘lower Great Lakes’’ means the region

in which is located that portion of the Great Lakes Basin

which is downstream from the confluence of the Saint Clair

River and Lake Huron near Port Huron, Michigan;

ø(8)¿ (6) the term ‘‘non-Federal source’’ includes a State

government, local government, Indian tribe, other non-Federal

governmental entity, private entity, and individual;

ø(9)¿ (7) the term ‘‘nonindigenous species’’ means a species

of plant, animal, or other organism that did not occur in the

Great Lake Basin before European colonization of North America;

(8) the term ‘regional project’ means authorized activities of

the United States Fish and Wildlife Service related to fish and

wildlife resource protection, restoration, maintenance, and enhancement impacting multiple States or Indian Tribes with fish

and wildlife management authority in the Great Lakes basin;

ø(10)¿ (9) the term ‘‘Report’’ means the United States Fish

and Wildlife Service report entitled ‘‘Great Lakes Fishery Resources Restoration Study’’, submitted to the President of the

Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on

September 13, 1995;

ø(11)¿ (10) the term ‘‘restoration’’ means rehabilitation and

maintenance of the structure, function, diversity, and dynamics

of a biological system, including reestablishment of self-sustaining populations of fish and wildlife;

ø(12) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of the

Army;¿

ø(13)¿ (11) the term ‘‘State Director’’ means the head of

the agency, department, board, commission, or other governmental entity of each of the States of New York, Ohio, Indiana,

Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania which is responsible for the management and conservation of the fish and wildlife resources of that

State; and

ø(14)¿ (12) the term ‘‘upper Great Lakes’’ means that portion of the Great Lakes Basin which is upstream from the confluence of the Saint Clair River and Lake Huron near Port

Huron, Michigan.

øSEC. 1005. IDENTIFICATION, REVIEW, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF

PROPOSALS.

ø(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director, in consultation with the Committee, shall encourage the development and, subject to the availability of appropriations, the implementation of proposals based on

the results of the Report.

ø(b) IDENTIFICATION OF PROPOSALS.—
8

ø(1) REQUEST BY THE DIRECTOR.—The Director shall annually request that State Directors and Indian tribes, in cooperation or partnership with other interested entities and based on

the results of the Report, submit proposals for the restoration

of fish and wildlife resources.

ø(2) REQUIREMENTS FOR PROPOSALS.—A proposal under

paragraph (1) shall be submitted in the manner and form prescribed by the Director and shall be consistent with the goals

of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, as revised in

1987, the 1954 Great Lakes Fisheries Convention, the 1980

Joint Strategic Plan for the Management of Great Lakes fishery resources, the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention

and Control Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4701 et seq.), and the North

American Waterfowl Management Plan and joint ventures established under the plan.

ø(3) SEA LAMPREY AUTHORITY.—The Great Lakes Fishery

Commission shall retain authority and responsibility for formulation and implementation of a comprehensive program for

eradicating or minimizing sea lamprey populations in the

Great Lakes Basin.

ø(c) REVIEW OF PROPOSALS.— ø(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEE.—There is established

the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Proposal Review

Committee, which shall operate under the guidance of the

Council of Lake Committees of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.

ø(2) MEMBERSHIP AND APPOINTMENT.— ø(A) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall consist of

representatives of all State Directors and Indian tribes

with Great Lakes fish and wildlife management authority

in the Great Lakes Basin.

ø(B) APPOINTMENTS.—State Directors and Tribal

Chairs shall appoint their representatives, who shall serve

at the pleasure of the appointing authority.

ø(C) OBSERVER.—The Great Lakes Coordinator of the

United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall participate

as an observer of the Committee.

ø(D) RECUSAL.—A member of the Committee shall

recuse himself or herself from consideration of proposals

that the member, or the entity that the member represents, has submitted.

ø(3) FUNCTIONS.—The Committee shall at least annually—

ø(A) review proposals developed in accordance with

subsection (b) to assess their effectiveness and appropriateness in fulfilling the purposes of this title; and

ø(B) recommend to the Director any of those proposals

that should be funded and implemented under this section.

ø(d) IMPLEMENTATION OF PROPOSALS.—After considering

recommendations of the Committee and the goals specified in section 1006, the Director shall select proposals to be implemented

and, subject to the availability of appropriations and subsection (e),

fund implementation of the proposals. In selecting and funding proposals, the Director shall take into account the effectiveness and

appropriateness of the proposals in fulfilling the purposes of other
9

laws applicable to restoration of the fishery resources and habitat

of the Great Lakes Basin.

ø(e) COST-SHARING.—

ø(1) IN GENERAL.—Not less than 25 percent of the cost of

implementing a proposal selected under subsection (d) (not including the cost of establishing sea lamprey barriers) shall be

paid in cash or in-kind contributions by non-Federal sources.

ø(2) EXCLUSION OF FEDERAL FUNDS FROM NON-FEDERAL

SHARE.—The Director may not consider the expenditure, directly or indirectly, of Federal funds received by a State or

local government to be a contribution by a non-Federal source

for purposes of this subsection.¿

SEC. 1005. IDENTIFICATION, REVIEW, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PROPOSALS AND REGIONAL PROJECTS.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (b)(2), the Director—

(1) shall encourage the development and, subject to the

availability of appropriations, the implementation of fish and

wildlife restoration proposals and regional projects based on the

results of the Report; and

(2) in cooperation with the State Directors and Indian

Tribes, shall identify, develop, and, subject to the availability of

appropriations, implement regional projects in the Great Lakes

Basin to be administered by Director in accordance with this

section.

(b) IDENTIFICATION OF PROPOSALS AND REGIONAL PROJECTS.—

(1) REQUEST BY THE DIRECTOR.—The Director shall annually request that State Directors and Indian Tribes, in cooperation or partnership with other interested entities and in accordance with subsection (a), submit proposals or regional projects

for the restoration of fish and wildlife resources.

(2) REQUIREMENTS FOR PROPOSALS AND REGIONAL

PROJECTS.—A proposal or regional project under paragraph (1)

shall be—

(A) submitted in the manner and form prescribed by

the Director; and

(B) consistent with—

(i) the goals of the Great Lakes Water Quality

Agreement, as amended;

(ii) the 1954 Great Lakes Fisheries Convention;

(iii) the 1980 Joint Strategic Plan for Management

of Great Lakes Fisheries, as revised in 1997, and Fish

Community Objectives for each Great Lake and connecting water as established under the Joint Strategic

Plan;

(iv) the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 4701 et seq.);

(v) the North American Waterfowl Management

Plan and joint ventures established under the plan;

and

(vi) the strategies outlined through the Great Lakes

Regional Collaboration authorized under Executive

Order 13340 (69 Fed. Reg. 29043; relating to the Great

Lakes Interagency Task Force).
10

(3) SEA LAMPREY AUTHORITY.—The Great Lakes Fishery

Commission shall retain authority and responsibility to formulate and implement a comprehensive program to eradicate or

minimize sea lamprey populations in the Great Lakes Basin.

(c) REVIEW OF PROPOSALS.— (1) ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEE.—There is established

the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Proposal Review

Committee, which shall operate under the guidance of the

United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

(2) MEMBERSHIP AND APPOINTMENT.— (A) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall consist of 2 representatives of each of the State Directors and Indian

Tribes, of whom—

(i) 1 representative shall be the individual appointed by the State Director or Indian Tribe to the

Council of Lake Committees of the Great Lakes Fishery

Commission; and

(ii) 1 representative shall have expertise in wildlife

management.

(B) APPOINTMENTS.—Each representative shall serve at

the pleasure of the appointing State Director or Tribal

Chair.

(C) OBSERVER.—The Great Lakes Coordinator of the

United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall participate as

an observer of the Committee.

(D) RECUSAL.—A member of the Committee shall

recuse himself or herself from consideration of proposals

that the member, or the entity that the member represents,

has submitted.

(3) FUNCTIONS.—The Committee shall—

(A) meet at least annually;

(B) review proposals and special projects developed in

accordance with subsection (b) to assess the effectiveness

and appropriateness of the proposals and special projects in

fulfilling the purposes of this title; and

(C) recommend to the Director any of those proposals

and special projects that should be funded and implemented under this section.

(d) IMPLEMENTATION OF PROPOSALS AND REGIONAL

PROJECTS.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—After considering recommendations of the

Committee and the goals specified in section 1006, the Director

shall—

(A) select proposals and regional projects to be implemented; and

(B) subject to the availability of appropriations and

subsection (e), fund implementation of the proposals and

regional projects.

(2) SELECTION CRITERIA.—In selecting and funding proposals and regional projects, the Director shall take into account the effectiveness and appropriateness of the proposals and

regional projects in fulfilling the purposes of other laws applicable to restoration of the fish and wildlife resources and habitat

of the Great Lakes Basin.
11

(e) COST SHARING.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and

(4), not less than 25 percent of the cost of implementing a proposal selected under subsection (d) (excluding the cost of establishing sea lamprey barriers) shall be paid in cash or in-kind

contributions by non-Federal sources.

(2) REGIONAL PROJECTS.—Regional projects selected under

subsection (d) shall be exempt from cost sharing if the Director

determines that the authorization for the project does not require a non-Federal cost-share.

(3) EXCLUSION OF FEDERAL FUNDS FROM NON-FEDERAL

SHARE.—The Director may not consider the expenditure, directly

or indirectly, of Federal funds received by any entity to be a

contribution by a non-Federal source for purposes of this subsection.

(4) EFFECT ON CERTAIN INDIAN TRIBES.—Nothing in this

subsection affects an Indian tribe affected by an alternative applicable cost sharing requirement under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.).

SEC. 1006. GOALS OF UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

PROGRAMS RELATED TO GREAT LAKES FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES.

In administering programs of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service related to the Great Lakes Basin, the Director shall

seek to achieve the following goals:

ø(1) Restoring and maintaining self-sustaining fishery resource populations.¿

(1) Restoring and maintaining self-sustaining fish and

wildlife resources.’’

* * * * * * *

SEC. 1007. ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICES.

ø(a) GREAT LAKES COORDINATION OFFICE.—The Director shall

establish a centrally located facility for the coordination of all

United States Fish an Wildlife Service activities in the Great Lakes

Basin, to be known as the ‘‘Great Lakes Coordination Office’’. The

functional responsibilities of the Great Lakes Coordination Office

shall include intra- and interagency coordination, information distribution, and public awareness outreach. The Great Lakes Coordination Office shall include all administrative and technical support

necessary to carry out its responsibilities.¿

(a) GREAT LAKES COORDINATION OFFICE.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall establish a centrally

located facility for the coordination of all United States Fish

and Wildlife Service activities in the Great Lakes Basin, to be

known as the ‘Great Lakes Coordination Office’.

(2) FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES.—The functional responsibilities of the Great Lakes Coordination Office shall include—

(A) intra- and interagency coordination;

(B) information distribution; and

(C) public outreach.

(3) REQUIREMENTS.—The Great Lakes Coordination Office

shall—
12

(A) ensure that information acquired under this Act is

made available to the public; and

(B) report to the Director of Region 3, Great Lakes Big

Rivers.

(b) LOWER GREAT LAKES FISHERY RESOURCES OFFICE.—øThe

Director¿

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall establish an office

with necessary administrative and technical support services

to carry out all United States Fish and Wildlife Service operational activities related to fishery resource protection, restoration, maintenance, and enhancement in the Lower Great

Lakes. øThe office¿

(2) NAME AND LOCATION.—The office shall be known as the

‘‘Lower Great Lakes Fishery Resources Office’’, and shall be

centrally located in the lower Great Lakes so as to facilitate

fishery resource restoration and enhancement activities relating to the lower Great Lakes.

(3) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The responsibilities of the Lower

Great Lakes Fishery Resources Office shall include operational

activities of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service related

to fishery resource protection, restoration, maintenance, and enhancement in the Lower Great Lakes.

(c) UPPER GREAT LAKES FISHERY RESOURCES OFFICES.—øThe

Director¿

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall establish one or more

offices with necessary administrative and technical support

services to carry out United States Fish and Wildlife Service

operational activities related to fishery resource protection, restoration, maintenance, and enhancement in the upper Great

Lakes. øEach of the offices¿

(2) NAME AND LOCATION.—Each of the offices shall be

known as an ‘‘Upper Great Lakes Fishery Resources Office’’,

and shall be appropriately located so as to facilitate fishery resource activities in the upper Great Lakes.

(3) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The responsibilities of the Upper

Great Lakes Fishery Resources Offices shall include operational

activities of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service related

to fishery resource protection, restoration, maintenance, and enhancement in the Upper Great Lakes.

øSEC. 1008. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

øOn December 31, 2002, the Director shall submit to the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a report

that describes—

ø(1) actions taken to solicit and review proposals under

section 1005;

ø(2) the results of proposals implemented under section

1005; and

ø(3) progress toward the accomplishment of the goals

specified in section 1006.¿

SEC. 1008. REPORTS.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than December 31, 2011, the Director shall submit to the Committee on Resources of the House of Rep-
13

resentatives and the Committee on Environment and Public Works

of the Senate a report that describes—

(1) actions taken to solicit and review proposals under section 1005;

(2) the results of proposals implemented under section

1005; and

(3) progress toward the accomplishment of the goals specified in section 1006.

(b) PUBLIC ACCESS TO DATA.—For each of fiscal years 2007

through 2012, the Director shall make available through a public

access website of the Department information that describes—

(1) actions taken to solicit and review proposals under section 1005;

(2) the results of proposals implemented under section

1005;

(3) progress toward the accomplishment of the goals specified in section 1006;

(4) the priorities proposed for funding in the annual budget

process under this title; and

(5) actions taken in support of the recommendations of the

Great Lakes Regional Collaboration authorized under Executive

Order 13340 (69 Fed. Reg. 29043; relating to the Great Lakes

Interagency Task Force).

(c) REPORT.—Not later than June 30, 2006, the Director shall

submit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the

Senate and the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives the 2002 report required under this section as in effect on the

day before the date of enactment of the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2006.

øSEC. 1009. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

øThere are authorized to be appropriated to the Director—

ø(1) for the activities of the Great Lakes Coordination Office in East Lansing, Michigan, of the Upper Great Lakes Fishery Resources Office, and of the Lower Great Lakes Fishery

Resources Office under section 1007, $3,500,000 for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2004; and

ø(2) for implementation of fish and wildlife restoration proposals selected by the Director under section 1005(d),

$4,500,000 for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2004, of which

no funds shall be available for costs incurred in administering

the proposals.¿

SEC. 1009. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Director for each

of fiscal years 2007 through 2012—

(1) $18,000,000 to implement fish and wildlife restoration

proposals as selected by the Director under section 1005(e), of

which—

(A) not more than the lesser of 331⁄3 percent or

$6,000,000 may be allocated to implement regional projects

by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, as selected

by the Director under section 1005(e); and

(B) the lesser of 5 percent or $600,000 shall be allocated to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to
14

cover costs incurred in administering the proposals by any

entity; and

(2) $2,000,000, which shall be allocated for the activities of

the Great Lakes Coordination Office in East Lansing, Michigan, of the Upper Great Lakes Fishery Resources Office, and the

Lower Great Lakes Fishery Resources Office under section 1007.

* * * * * * *

Æ