IB 
Union Calendar No. 525 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 1907 
[Report No. 110–811] 
To authorize the acquisition of land and interests in land from willing sellers 
to improve the conservation of, and to enhance the ecological values 
and functions of, coastal and estuarine areas to benefit both the environ-
ment and the economies of coastal communities, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 18, 2007 
Mr. SAXTON (for himself and Mrs. CAPPS) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
JULY 31, 2008 
Additional sponsors: Mr. PAYNE, Mr. ALLEN, Mr. FARR, Mr. GILCHREST, Mr. 
SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. GERLACH, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. 
DINGELL, Mr. MCINTYRE, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. GEORGE MILLER 
of California, Mr. CASTLE, Mr. LOBIONDO, Mr. THOMPSON of California, 
Ms. MATSUI, Mrs. TAUSCHER, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. STARK, Mr. LAN-
TOS, Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. INSLEE, Ms. 
DELAURO, and Mr. SHAYS 
JULY 31, 2008 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on April 18, 2007] 
A BILL 
To authorize the acquisition of land and interests in land 
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from willing sellers to improve the conservation of, and 
to enhance the ecological values and functions of, coastal 
and estuarine areas to benefit both the environment and 
the economies of coastal communities, and for other pur-
poses. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Coastal and Estuarine 
Land Conservation Program Act’’. 
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF COASTAL AND ESTUARINE 
LAND CONSERVATION PROGRAM. 
The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 
1451 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 307 the 
following new section: 
‘‘AUTHORIZATION OF THE COASTAL AND ESTUARINE LAND 
CONSERVATION PROGRAM 
‘‘SEC. 307A. (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may 
conduct a Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Pro-
gram, in cooperation with appropriate State, regional, and 
other units of government, for the purposes of protecting im-
portant coastal and estuarine areas that have significant 
conservation, recreation, ecological, historical, or aesthetic 
values, or that are threatened by conversion from their nat-
ural, undeveloped, or recreational state to other uses or 
could be managed or restored to effectively conserve, en-
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hance, or restore ecological function. The program shall be 
administered by the National Ocean Service of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration through the Of-
fice of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management. 
‘‘(b) PROPERTY ACQUISITION GRANTS.—The Secretary 
shall make grants under the program to coastal states with 
approved coastal zone management plans or National Estu-
arine Research Reserve units for the purpose of acquiring 
property or interests in property described in subsection (a) 
that will further the goals of— 
‘‘(1) a Coastal Zone Management Plan or Pro-
gram approved under this title; 
‘‘(2) a National Estuarine Research Reserve 
management plan; 
‘‘(3) a regional or State watershed protection or 
management plan involving coastal states with ap-
proved coastal zone management programs; or 
‘‘(4) a State coastal land acquisition plan that 
is consistent with an approved coastal zone manage-
ment program. 
‘‘(c) GRANT PROCESS.—The Secretary shall allocate 
funds to coastal states or National Estuarine Research Re-
serves under this section through a competitive grant proc-
ess in accordance with guidelines that meet the following 
requirements: 
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‘‘(1) The Secretary shall consult with the coastal 
state’s coastal zone management program, any Na-
tional Estuarine Research Reserve in that State, and 
the lead agency designated by the Governor for coordi-
nating the implementation of this section (if different 
from the coastal zone management program). 
‘‘(2) Each participating coastal state, after con-
sultation with local governmental entities and other 
interested stakeholders, shall identify priority con-
servation needs within the State, the values to be pro-
tected by inclusion of lands in the program, and the 
threats to those values that should be avoided. 
‘‘(3) Each participating coastal state shall to the 
extent practicable ensure that the acquisition of prop-
erty or easements shall not impact working water-
front needs. 
‘‘(4) The applicant shall identify the values to be 
protected by inclusion of the lands in the program, 
management activities that are planned and the man-
ner in which they may affect the values identified, 
and any other information from the landowner rel-
evant to administration and management of the land. 
‘‘(5) Awards shall be based on demonstrated need 
for protection and ability to successfully leverage 
funds among participating entities, including Federal 
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programs, regional organizations, State and other 
governmental units, landowners, corporations, or pri-
vate organizations. 
‘‘(6) The governor, or the lead agency designated 
by the governor for coordinating the implementation 
of this section, where appropriate in consultation 
with the appropriate local government, shall deter-
mine that the application is consistent with the 
State’s or territory’s approved coastal zone plan, pro-
gram, and policies prior to submittal to the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(7) Priority shall be given to lands described in 
subsection (a) that can be effectively managed and 
protected and that have significant ecological value. 
‘‘(8) In developing guidelines under this section, 
the Secretary shall consult with coastal states, other 
Federal agencies, and other interested stakeholders 
with expertise in land acquisition and conservation 
procedures. 
‘‘(9) Eligible coastal states or National Estua-
rine Research Reserves may allocate grants to local 
governments or agencies eligible for assistance under 
section 306A(e). 
‘‘(10) The Secretary shall develop performance 
measures that the Secretary shall use to evaluate and 
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