(7) to promote better understanding of the im-
portance of biological diversity and foster actions
that prevent biological impoverishment and conserve
biological diversity and natural resources.
SEC. 5. NATIONAL BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND ENVIRON-
MENTAL POLICY.
(a) POLICY.—It is the public policy of the United
States that conservation of biological diversity is a
national goal, and conservation efforts are a national
priority.
(b) CONSISTENCY OF FEDERAL ACTION.—The ac-
tions, policies, and programs of all Federal agencies shall
be consistent with the goal of conservation of biological
diversity, to the maximum extent practicable.
(c) CONSERVATION OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY ON
FEDERAL LANDS AND WATERS.—All Federal lands and
waters shall be managed to conserve biological diversity
within the context of the purposes for which those areas
were established.
(d) ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS.—
(1) REGULATIONS.—Not later than one year
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Council on Environmental Quality shall issue regula-
tions which establish requirements for agencies to
assess the impacts of Federal agency actions on bio-
logical diversity in preparing environmental impact
statements under section 102 of the National Envi-
ronmental Policy Act of 1969.
(2) IDENTIFICATION
OF
COMMUNITIES, SPE-
CIES, 
AND
POPULATIONS
IN
SIGNIFICANT
DE-
CLINE.—In preparing the regulations required under
paragraph (1), the Council on Environmental Qual-
ity shall identify, in consultation with the National
Center for Biological Diversity and Conservation Re-
search established under section 9 (hereafter in this
Act referred to as the ‘‘Center’’) those biotic com-
munities, species, and populations that appear to be
in significant decline or in imminent danger of loss
of viability, or are otherwise of special concern.
(e) AGENCY REVIEW PROCESS.—Each Federal de-
partment or agency shall, with the advice and assistance
of the Council on Environmental Quality, within one year
after the date of the enactment of this Act—
(1) review its programs, both individually and
cumulatively, for consistency with the conservation
of biological diversity in accordance with this Act,
paying particular attention to biotic communities,
species, and populations identified under subsection
(d)(2); and
(2) report the results of such review to the
President, the Council on Environmental Quality,
and the Congress.
(f) REVIEW
OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATE-
MENT BY EPA.—In reviewing environmental impact state-
ments under the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency shall take into account the impacts of the proposed
action on biological diversity.
SEC. 6. EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to amend or
otherwise alter any requirement to maintain biological di-
versity under any other Act.
SEC. 7. INTERAGENCY WORKING COMMITTEE ON BIOLOGI-
CAL DIVERSITY.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established an Inter-
agency Working Committee on Biological Diversity (here-
after in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Interagency Commit-
tee’’).
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Interagency Committee shall
consist of 1 representative each from—
(1) the Bureau of Land Management;
(2) the National Park Service;
(3) the Fish and Wildlife Service;
(4) the Forest Service;
(5) the Department of Defense;
(6) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration;
(7) the Environmental Protection Agency;
(8) the Department of Energy;
(9) the Center;
(10) the Council on Environmental Quality; and
(11) any other agency or department of the
United States that the President, or the Chairman
of the Interagency Committee, considers appro-
priate.
Each such representative shall be designated by the head
of the entity named.
(c) CHAIRMAN.—The member of the Interagency
Committee representing the Council on Environmental
Quality shall serve as Chairman of the Interagency Com-
mittee.
(d) FUNCTION.—The function of the Interagency
Committee shall be to prepare a coordinated Federal strat-
egy for conservation of biological diversity described in
section 8.
(e) DISSOLUTION.—The Interagency Committee shall
be dissolved after the submission to the Congress of the
Federal strategy required under section 8.
SEC. 8. FEDERAL BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY STRATEGY.
(a) DEVELOPMENT.—The Interagency Committee
shall develop a coordinated Federal strategy for the con-
servation of biological diversity (hereafter in this Act re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Strategy’’).
(b) CONTENTS.—The Strategy shall contain—
(1) a coordinated interagency plan for conserv-
ing biological diversity in the United States, particu-
larly on federally-managed lands, including a specific
description of the roles and responsibilities of each
agency represented on the Interagency Committee
for implementing the plan;
(2) the identification of regional ecosystems
within the United States, and an interagency plan
for coordinating Federal management of such
ecosystems for the purpose of conserving biological
diversity;
(3) a comprehensive set of criteria (including
time frames and objective measures) for evaluating
the progress of the agencies represented on the
Interagency Committee in implementing the Strat-
egy;
(4) specific management measures to be taken
by each agency represented on the Interagency Com-
mittee pursuant to plans and criteria developed
under paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) with respect to—
(A) conservation through protective meas-
ures to maintain existing biological diversity,
and through active measures to restore biologi-
cal diversity;
(B) provisions for the long-term viability of
ecosystems and ecosystem processes;
(C) maintenance of gene pools through a
combination of in situ and ex situ techniques;
(D) use of demonstration areas, such as
biosphere reserves;
(E) 
consistency 
of 
policies in inter-
national actions of Federal agencies;
(F) the identification of priorities for
conservation;
(G) economic incentives to encourage the
conservation of biological diversity;
(H) the development of broad-based edu-
cation programs on the importance of biological
diversity and the necessity of conservation;
(I) cooperation and coordination with non-
Federal sectors; and
(J) training and education of agency per-
sonnel in ecological research, monitoring, and
systematics; and
(5) an interagency plan for conducting research
on biological diversity, identifying the roles and re-
sponsibilities of each agency represented on the
Interagency Committee, other Federal agencies,
and the Center, including—
(A) the identification of research priorities
which affect more than one agency;
(B) the development of coordinated re-
search programs for the conservation and res-
toration of biological diversity;
(C) enhancement of scientific knowledge
through improved biological surveys;
(D) research to identify factors limiting
population viability or persistence;
(E) improvements of management tech-
niques based on scientific knowledge; and
(F) the identification of habitats of special
concern, and the development of plans to pro-
tect those areas.
(c) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.—The public shall be
provided with opportunities to participate in the prepara-
tion of, and to comment on, the Strategy and any regional
ecosystem management plans.
(d) REPORTS.—(1) Within two years after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Strategy shall be submit-
ted to the President and the Congress by the Chairman
of the Interagency Committee.
(2) At least once every two years after the submission
of a report under paragraph (1), the head of each agency
represented on the Interagency Committee shall submit to
the Congress a report detailing progress in the implemen-
tation of the Strategy, including written comments by the
public.
SEC. 9. NATIONAL CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
AND CONSERVATION RESEARCH.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE.—There is es-
tablished within the Smithsonian Institution, in coopera-
tion with the Environmental Protection Agency, a Na-
tional Center for Biological Diversity and Conservation
Research (the Center), whose purpose shall be to set re-
search priorities, to provide leadership and coordination
for the understanding and promotion of knowledge of the
biota and the effect of human activities on the biota, and
to make this knowledge accessible to the people of the
United States and others working to conserve biological
diversity throughout the world. The Center shall be ad-
ministered by a Director.
(b) FUNCTIONS.—The functions of the Center shall
be—
(1) to summarize and enhance the knowledge of
the distribution, status, and characteristics of the
biota in a manner that can be used in conserva-
tion and management;
(2) to prepare, with the assistance of agencies
and other sources, lists and, where appropriate,
maps of—
(A) biotic communities, species, and popu-
lations that appear to be in significant decline
or in imminent danger of loss of viability, or are
otherwise of special concern;
(B) areas of outstanding ecological or bi-
otic importance; and
(C) factors, including ownership status and
applicable laws, affecting the protection of such
communities, species, and populations;
(3) to publish information, such as floral and
faunal treatises, resource inventories, vegetation
maps, atlases, and guides for practical use of biologi-
cal information, and especially publications that syn-
thesize information relevant to national goals of un-
derstanding and conserving biological diversity;
(4) to identify taxonomic groups, ecological
communities, and geographical areas in need of
study, and to develop a strategic plan for, initiate,
and provide financial support toward an ongoing
survey of the biota;
(5) to provide for the conducting of research,
through grants, contracts, or otherwise, by Federal,
State, and private agencies, institutions, organiza-
tions, and individuals;
(6) to provide information useful to the Inter-
agency Committee in the preparation of the Strat-
egy;
(7) to make recommendations to Federal agen-
cies and others on the technical management of data
collection, storage, and retrieval;
(8) to provide training and technical assistance
to Federal agencies and others regarding collection
and interpretation of biological data; and
(9) to raise additional funds as necessary to
support the activities of the Center.
(c) STRUCTURE AND MEMBERSHIP.—
(1) ADVISORY BOARD.—The Center shall have
an advisory board, which shall independently assist
in setting the policies for and directing the Center.
(2) MEMBERSHIP.—(A) The advisory board
shall consist of 17 members, including—
(i) one representative of the Smithsonian
Institution;
(ii) one representative of the Fish and
Wildlife Service;
(iii) one representative of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
(iv) one representative of the National
Park Service;
(v) one representative of the Department
of Energy;
(vi) one representative of the National
Science Foundation;
(vii) one representative of the Agricultural
Research Service;
(viii) one representative of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency;
(ix) one representative of the Forest Serv-
ice;
(x) one representative of the Bureau of
Land Management;
(xi) one representative of the Army Corps
of Engineers;
(xii) one representative of State biological
surveys;
(xiii) one representative of private organi-
zations that maintain large data bases oriented
toward biological conservation;
(xiv) two scientists from nonprofit research
institutions or universities; and
(xv) two representatives from institutions
with collections of biological specimens.
(B) Members listed under clauses (xii) through
(xv) of subparagraph (A) shall be appointed by the
President from a list of nominees recommended by
the National Academy of Sciences.
(3) TERMS.—Members of the advisory board
shall serve for terms of five years, and may serve
more than one term.
(4) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—
(A) NONGOVERNMENT
MEMBERS.—Each
member of the advisory board that is not other-
wise in the service of the Federal Government
shall, to the extent provided for in advance in
appropriations Acts, be paid actual travel ex-
penses and per diem in lieu of subsistence ex-
penses in accordance with section 5703 of title
5, United States Code, when such member is
away from the member’s usual place of resi-
dence.
(B) GOVERNMENT MEMBERS.—Each mem-
ber of the advisory board that is otherwise in
the service of the Federal Government shall
serve without compensation in addition to that
received for such other service, but while en-
gaged in the work of the Advisory Board, such
member shall, to the extent provided for in ad-
vance in appropriations Acts, be paid actual
travel expenses, and per diem in lieu of subsist-
ence expenses in accordance with subchapter I
of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code,
when away from the member’s usual place of
residence.
(5) CHAIRMAN.—The members of the advisory
board shall select one member to serve as chairman.
(6) FUNDING
ARRANGEMENTS.—The Director
of the Center shall make appropriate arrangements
for necessary administrative and clerical support of
the advisory board, in consultation with the chair-
man of the advisory board.
(7) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out
this section $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1993,
$10,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, and $10,000,000
for fiscal year 1995, to be derived from funds other-
wise authorized for the Federal agencies represented
on the advisory board, and to remain available until
expended as specified in appropriations Acts.
SEC. 10. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
The Council on Environmental Quality shall retain
the National Academy of Sciences—
(1) to provide scientific and technical advice
and counsel in the preparation of the Strategy to en-
sure that the best possible scientific information is
used in developing the Strategy; and
(2) to provide a general reference and scientific
and technical advisory resource for the Nation in
matters relating to conservation of biological diver-
sity.
Æ
HR 305 IH——2