I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1644 
To protect the critical aquifers and watersheds that serve as a principal 
water source for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, to protect the 
tropical forests of the Karst Region of the Commonwealth, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 14, 2005 
Mr. FORTUN˜O introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Resources 
A BILL 
To protect the critical aquifers and watersheds that serve 
as a principal water source for the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, to protect the tropical forests of the Karst 
Region of the Commonwealth, 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 ‘‘Puerto Rico Karst 
Conservation Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following:
(1) In the Karst Region of the Commonwealth 
of Puerto Rico there are— 
(A) some of the largest areas of tropical 
forests in Puerto Rico, with a higher density of 
tree species than any other area in the Com-
monwealth; and 
(B) unique geological formations that are 
critical to the maintenance of aquifers and wa-
tersheds that constitute a principal water sup-
ply for much of the Commonwealth. 
(2) The Karst Region is threatened by develop-
ment that, if unchecked, could permanently damage 
the aquifers and cause irreparable damage to nat-
ural and environmental assets that are unique to the 
United States. 
(3) The Commonwealth has 1 of the highest 
population densities in the United States, which 
makes the protection of the Karst Region imperative 
for the maintenance of the public health and welfare 
of the citizens of the Commonwealth. 
(4) The Karst Region— 
(A) possesses extraordinary ecological di-
versity, including the habitats of several endan-
gered and threatened species and tropical mi-
grants; and
(B) is an area of critical value to research 
in tropical forest management. 
(5) Coordinated efforts at land protection by 
the Federal Government and the Commonwealth are 
necessary to conserve the environmentally critical 
Karst Region. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are— 
(1) to authorize and support conservation ef-
forts to acquire, manage, and protect the tropical 
forest areas of the Karst Region, with particular em-
phasis on water quality and the protection of the 
aquifers that are vital to the health and wellbeing of 
the citizens of the Commonwealth; and 
(2) to promote cooperation among the Common-
wealth, Federal agencies, corporations, organiza-
tions, and individuals in those conservation efforts. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) COMMONWEALTH.—The term ‘‘Common-
wealth’’ means the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 
(2) FOREST
LEGACY
PROGRAM.—The term 
‘‘Forest Legacy Program’’ means the program es-
tablished under section 7 of the Cooperative For-
estry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2103c).
(3) FUND.—The term ‘‘Fund’’ means the Puer-
to Rico Karst Conservation Fund established by sec-
tion 5. 
(4) KARST REGION.—The term ‘‘Karst Region’’ 
means the areas in the Commonwealth generally de-
picted on the map entitled ‘‘Karst Region Conserva-
tion Area’’ and dated March 2001, which shall be on 
file and available for public inspection in— 
(A) the Office of the Secretary, Puerto 
Rico Department of Natural and Environ-
mental Resources; and 
(B) the Office of the Chief of the Forest 
Service. 
(5) LAND.—The term ‘‘land’’ includes land, 
water, and an interest in land or water. 
(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture. 
SEC. 4. CONSERVATION OF THE KARST REGION. 
(a) FEDERAL COOPERATION AND ASSISTANCE.—In 
furtherance of the acquisition, protection, and manage-
ment of land and forest resources in and adjacent to the 
Karst Region, and in furtherance of the implementation 
of related natural resource conservation strategies, the 
Secretary may—
(1) make grants to and enter into contracts and 
cooperative agreements with the Commonwealth, 
other Federal agencies, organizations, corporations, 
and individuals; and 
(2) use all authorities available to the Sec-
retary, including— 
(A) the Forest and Rangeland Renewable 
Resources Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 
1641 et seq.); 
(B) section 1472 of the National Agricul-
tural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3318); 
(C) section 12 of the Stevenson-Wydler 
Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
3710a); and 
(D) the Cooperative Forestry Assistance 
Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2101 et seq.). 
(b) FUNDING SOURCES.—The activities authorized 
by this section may be carried out using— 
(1) amounts in the Fund; 
(2) amounts in the fund established by section 
4(b) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Re-
sources Research Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1643(b)); 
(3) funds appropriated from the Land and 
Water Conservation Fund;
(4) funds appropriated for the Forest Legacy 
Program; and 
(5) any other funds made available for those ac-
tivities. 
(c) MANAGEMENT.— 
(1) PRINCIPAL
MANAGEMENT
OBJECTIVES.— 
Land acquired under the authority of this section or 
using funds made available under this section shall 
be managed in a manner to protect and conserve the 
water quality and aquifers and the geological, eco-
logical, fish and wildlife, and other natural values of 
the Karst Region. 
(2) OTHER USES.—The resulting owner of land 
acquired under the authority of this section or using 
funds made available under this section shall permit 
public recreation and other uses of the acquired land 
to the extent that the owner determines that the 
recreation or other use is compatible with the prin-
cipal management objectives specified in paragraph 
(1). 
(3) FAILURE TO MANAGE AS REQUIRED.—In 
any deed, grant, contract, or cooperative agreement 
implementing this Act and the Forest Legacy Pro-
gram in the Commonwealth, the Secretary may re-
quire that, if land acquired by the Commonwealth or