I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6746 
To reauthorize and expand the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initia-
tive Act to promote the protection of the resources of the Northwest 
Straits, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 31, 2008 
Mr. LARSEN of Washington (for himself, Mr. DICKS, and Mr. INSLEE) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 
Resources 
A BILL 
To reauthorize and expand the Northwest Straits Marine 
Conservation Initiative Act to promote the protection 
of the resources of the Northwest Straits, 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 ‘‘Northwest Straits Ma-
rine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization and Expan-
sion Act of 2008’’. 
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SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF NORTHWEST STRAITS MARINE CON-
SERVATION INITIATIVE ACT. 
The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative 
Act (title IV of Public Law 105–384; 112 Stat. 3458) is 
amended— 
(1) in section 402, by striking ‘‘(in this title re-
ferred to as the ‘Commission’)’’; and 
(2) by striking sections 403, 404, and 405 and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘SEC. 403. FINDINGS. 
‘‘Congress makes the following findings: 
‘‘(1) The marine waters and ecosystem of the 
Northwest Straits in Puget Sound in the State of 
Washington represent a unique resource of enor-
mous environmental and economic value to the peo-
ple of the United States. 
‘‘(2) During the 20th century, the environ-
mental health of the Northwest Straits declined dra-
matically as indicated by impaired water quality, de-
clines in marine wildlife, collapse of harvestable ma-
rine species, loss of critical marine habitats, ocean 
acidification, and sea level rise. 
‘‘(3) At the start of the 21st century, the 
Northwest Straits have been threatened by sea level 
rise, ocean acidification, and other effects of climate 
change. 
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‘‘(4) In 1998, the Northwest Straits Marine 
Conservation Initiative Act (title IV of Public Law 
105–384) was enacted to tap the unprecedented 
level of citizen stewardship demonstrated in the 
Northwest Straits and create a mechanism to mobi-
lize public support and raise capacity for local ef-
forts to protect and restore the ecosystem of the 
Northwest Straits. 
‘‘SEC. 404. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘In this title: 
‘‘(1) COMMISSION.—The term ‘Commission’ 
means the Northwest Straits Advisory Commission 
established by section 402. 
‘‘(2) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘Indian tribe’ 
has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 450b). 
‘‘(3) NORTHWEST STRAITS.—The term ‘North-
west Straits’ means the marine waters of the Strait 
of Juan de Fuca and of Puget Sound from the Ca-
nadian border to the south end of Snohomish Coun-
ty. 
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