SEC. 4. LONG ISLAND SOUND STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE 
REGION. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
States the Long Island Sound Stewardship Initiative Re-
gion. 
(b) BOUNDARIES.—The Region shall encompass the 
immediate coastal upland and underwater areas along 
Long Island Sound, including those portions of the Sound 
with coastally influenced vegetation, as described on the 
map entitled the ‘‘Long Island Sound Stewardship Re-
gion’’ and dated April 21, 2004. 
SEC. 5. LONG ISLAND SOUND STEWARDSHIP ADVISORY 
COMMITTEE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com-
mittee to be known as the ‘‘Long Island Sound Steward-
ship Advisory Committee’’. 
(b) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chairperson of the Com-
mittee shall be the Director of the Long Island Sound Of-
fice of the Environmental Protection Agency, or a designee 
of the Director. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.—
(1) COMPOSITION.—
(A) APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS.—
(i) IN
GENERAL.—The Chairperson 
shall appoint the members of the Com-
mittee in accordance with this subsection
and section 320(c) of the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1330(c)). 
(ii) ADDITIONAL MEMBERS.—In addi-
tion to the requirements described in 
clause (i), the Committee shall include—
(I) a representative from the Re-
gional Plan Association; 
(II) a representative of the ma-
rine trade organizations; and 
(III) a representative of private 
landowner interests. 
(B) 
REPRESENTATION.—In 
appointing 
members to the Committee, the Chairperson 
shall consider—
(i) Federal, State, and local govern-
ment interests; 
(ii) the interests of nongovernmental 
organizations; 
(iii) academic interests; and 
(iv) private interests. 
(2) DATE OF APPOINTMENTS.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
appointment of all members of the Committee shall 
be made. 
(d) TERM; VACANCIES.—
(1) TERM.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—A member shall be ap-
pointed for a term of 4 years. 
(B) MULTIPLE TERMS.—A person may be 
appointed as a member of the Committee for 
more than 1 term. 
(2) VACANCIES.—A vacancy on the Committee 
shall—
(A) be filled not later than 90 days after 
the vacancy occurs; 
(B) not affect the powers of the Com-
mittee; and 
(C) be filled in the same manner as the 
original appointment was made. 
(3) STAFF.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Chairperson of the 
Committee may appoint and terminate per-
sonnel as necessary to enable the Committee to 
perform the duties of the Committee. 
(B) PERSONNEL
AS
FEDERAL
EMPLOY-
EES.—
(i) IN
GENERAL.—Any personnel of 
the Committee who are employees of the 
Committee shall be employees under sec-
tion 2105 of title 5, United States Code,
for purposes of chapters 63, 81, 83, 84, 
85, 87, 89, and 90 of that title. 
(ii) 
MEMBERS
OF
COMMITTEE.—
Clause (i) does not apply to members of 
the Committee. 
(e) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 days after 
the date on which all members of the Committee have been 
appointed, the Committee shall hold the initial meeting of 
the Committee. 
(f) MEETINGS.—The Committee shall meet at the 
call of the Chairperson, but no fewer than 4 times each 
year. 
(g) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the 
Committee shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number 
of members may hold hearings. 
SEC. 6. DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEE. 
The Committee shall—
(1) consistent with the guidelines described in 
section 8—
(A) evaluate applications from government 
or nonprofit organizations qualified to hold con-
servation easements for funds to purchase land 
or development rights for stewardship sites;
(B) evaluate applications to develop and 
implement 
management 
plans 
to 
address 
threats; 
(C) evaluate applications to act on oppor-
tunities to protect and enhance stewardship 
sites; and 
(D) recommend that the Administrator 
award grants to qualified applicants; 
(2) recommend guidelines, criteria, schedules, 
and due dates for evaluating information to identify 
stewardship sites; 
(3) publish a list of sites that further the pur-
poses of this Act, provided that owners of sites shall 
be—
(A) notified prior to the publication of the 
list; and 
(B) allowed to decline inclusion on the list; 
(4) raise awareness of the values of and threats 
to these sites; and 
(5) leverage additional resources for improved 
stewardship of the Region. 
SEC. 7. POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE. 
(a) HEARINGS.—The Committee may hold such hear-
ings, meet and act at such times and places, take such