I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4294 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into cooperative agreements 
to protect natural resources of units of the National Park System 
through collaborative efforts on land inside and outside of units of 
the National Park System, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 10, 2005 
Mr. PORTER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Resources 
A BILL 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into 
cooperative agreements to protect natural resources of 
units of the National Park System through collaborative 
efforts on land inside and outside of units of the Na-
tional Park System, 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. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Natural Resource Pro-
tection Cooperative Agreement Act’’.
SEC. 2. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR NATIONAL PARK 
NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior (re-
ferred to in this Act as the ‘‘Secretary’’) may enter into 
cooperative agreements with State, local, or tribal govern-
ments, other public entities, educational institutions, pri-
vate nonprofit organizations, or participating private land-
owners for the purpose of protecting natural resources of 
units of the National Park System through collaborative 
efforts on land inside and outside of National Park System 
units. 
(b) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—A cooperative agree-
ment entered into under subsection (a) shall provide clear 
and direct benefits to park natural resources and— 
(1) provide for— 
(A) the preservation, conservation, and res-
toration of coastal and riparian systems, water-
sheds, and wetlands; 
(B) preventing, controlling, or eradicating 
invasive exotic species that are within a unit of 
the National Park System or adjacent to a unit 
of the National Park System; or 
(C) restoration of natural resources, in-
cluding native wildlife habitat or ecosystems; 
(2) include a statement of purpose dem-
onstrating how the agreement will—
(A) enhance science-based natural resource 
stewardship at the unit of the National Park 
System; and 
(B) benefit the parties to the agreement; 
(3) specify any staff required and technical as-
sistance to be provided by the Secretary or other 
parties to the agreement in support of activities in-
side and outside the unit of the National Park Sys-
tem that will— 
(A) protect natural resources of the unit of 
the National Park System; and 
(B) benefit the parties to the agreement; 
(4) identify any materials, supplies, or equip-
ment and any other resources that will be contrib-
uted by the parties to the agreement or by other 
Federal agencies; 
(5) describe any financial assistance to be pro-
vided by the Secretary or the partners to implement 
the agreement; 
(6) ensure that any expenditure by the Sec-
retary pursuant to the agreement is determined by 
the Secretary to support the purposes of natural re-
source stewardship at a unit of the National Park 
System; and
(7) include such other terms and conditions as 
are agreed to by the Secretary and the other parties 
to the agreement. 
(c) LIMITATIONS.—The Secretary shall not use any 
funds associated with an agreement entered into under 
subsection (a) for the purposes of land acquisition, regu-
latory activity, or the development, maintenance, or oper-
ation of infrastructure, except for ancillary support facili-
ties that the Secretary determines to be necessary for the 
completion of projects or activities identified in the agree-
ment. 
(d) FUNDING.—Funds available to carry out the pro-
visions of this Act shall be limited to programs and 
amounts specified in the statute for such use in the annual 
appropriation Act for the National Park Service. 
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