I 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4607 
To amend the Estuary Restoration Act of 2000 to modify requirements 
that apply to projects carried out under the estuary habitat restoration 
program established by the Secretary of the Army, and for other pur-
poses. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 24, 2016 
Mr. HUFFMAN (for himself and Mr. DENHAM) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a pe-
riod to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for con-
sideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Estuary Restoration Act of 2000 to modify 
requirements that apply to projects carried out under 
the estuary habitat restoration program established by 
the Secretary of the Army, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. ESTUARY HABITAT RESTORATION. 
(a) COST SHARING.—Section 104(d) of the Estuary 
Restoration Act of 2000 (33 U.S.C. 2903(d)) is amend-
ed— 
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(1) in paragraph (3)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘The non-Federal share’’ 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(A) 
IN
GENERAL.—The 
non-Federal 
share’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(B) PROVISION OF LAND BY NONGOVERN-
MENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.—A nongovernmental 
organization allowed to serve as a non-Federal 
interest for a project under subsection (f)(2) 
may provide lands owned and managed by a le-
gally constituted public body (including a feder-
ally recognized Indian tribe) for habitat or fish 
and wildlife conservation if the public body re-
sponsible for the lands executes a legally bind-
ing agreement with the nongovernmental inter-
est under which the public body agrees to— 
‘‘(i) operate and maintain the project, 
or allow the nongovernmental organization 
to operate and maintain the project; and 
‘‘(ii) retain the land in public owner-
ship for uses compatible with the project.’’. 
(b) COOPERATION OF NON-FEDERAL INTERESTS.— 
Section 104(f) of such Act (33 U.S.C. 2903(f)) is amend-
ed— 
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(1) by striking paragraph (1)(B) and inserting 
the following: 
‘‘(B) provide for operation, maintenance, 
and monitoring of the project.’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) PROJECT
AGREEMENTS.—For a project 
carried out under this title, the requirements of sec-
tion 103(j)(1) of the Water Resources Development 
Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2213(j)(1)) may be fulfilled 
by a nongovernmental organization serving as the 
non-Federal interest for the project under paragraph 
(2).’’. 
(c) GUIDELINES FOR PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION.— 
Section 104 of such Act (33 U.S.C. 2903) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(h) GUIDELINES
FOR
PROJECT
IMPLEMENTA-
TION.— 
‘‘(1) ISSUANCE.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this subsection, the Sec-
retary shall issue guidelines for implementing estu-
ary habitat restoration projects under this title. 
‘‘(2) PURPOSES.—In issuing the guidelines, the 
Secretary shall make every effort to streamline im-
plementation requirements and reduce overhead 
costs of estuary habitat restoration projects under 
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this title, including by maximizing consistency with 
the requirements of restoration programs adminis-
tered by other Federal agencies, including the Com-
munity Restoration Program of the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration and the North 
American Wetlands Conservation Act grant program 
of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 
‘‘(3) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION; REVISIONS.—The 
Secretary shall develop and revise the guidelines 
through a public process, with the frequency of revi-
sion to be determined by the Secretary.’’. 
Æ 
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