Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act of 2022
Bill: S.1466 | Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff (D-OR)
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act of 2022
This act requires the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to establish a Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Assessment and Monitoring Program. Under the program, the USGS must assess, monitor, and conserve saline lake ecosystems in the Great Basin as well as the wildlife that depend on those ecosystems.

[117th Congress Public Law 318]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 136 STAT. 4421]]

Public Law 117-318
117th Congress

                                 An Act


 
  To authorize the Director of the United States Geological Survey to 
    establish a regional program to assess, monitor, and benefit the 
hydrology of saline lakes in the Great Basin and the migratory birds and 
       other wildlife dependent on those habitats, and for other 
             purposes. <<NOTE: Dec. 27, 2022 -  [S. 1466]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Saline Lake 
Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Program Act of 2022.>> 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Saline Lake Ecosystems in the Great 
Basin States Program Act of 2022''.
SEC. 2. SALINE LAKE ECOSYSTEMS IN THE GREAT BASIN STATES 
                    ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING PROGRAM.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the Saline Lake 
        Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Assessment and Monitoring 
        Program established under subsection (b).
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United 
        States Geological Survey.

    (b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a Saline Lake 
Ecosystems in the Great Basin States Assessment and Monitoring Program 
to assess and monitor the hydrology of saline lake ecosystems in the 
Great Basin and the migratory birds and other wildlife that depend on 
those ecosystems to inform and support coordinated management and 
conservation actions to benefit those ecosystems, migratory birds, and 
other wildlife.
    (c) Work and Implementation Plan.--
            (1) In general.--Under the Program, the Secretary, in 
        coordination with the Director of the United States Fish and 
        Wildlife Service and the entities described in paragraph (2), 
        shall establish a multiyear work and implementation plan to 
        assess, monitor, and conserve saline lake ecosystems in the 
        Great Basin and the migratory birds and other wildlife that 
        depend on those ecosystems.
            (2) Coordinating entities.--The entities referred to in 
        paragraph (1) include--
                    (A) Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies;
                    (B) institutions of higher education;
                    (C) nonprofit organizations; and
                    (D) other local stakeholders.
            (3) Inclusions.--The work and implementation plan 
        established under paragraph (1) shall include--

[[Page 136 STAT. 4422]]

                    (A) a synthesis of available information, 
                literature, and data, and an assessment of scientific 
                and informational needs, relating to--
                          (i) water quantity, water quality, water use, 
                      and water demand;
                          (ii) migratory bird and other wildlife 
                      populations, habitats, and ecology;
                          (iii) annual lifecycle needs of migratory 
                      birds; and
                          (iv) environmental changes and other 
                      stressors, including climatic stressors;
                    (B) a description of how the plan should be 
                implemented to address the scientific and informational 
                needs described in subparagraph (A), including proposed 
                activities, such as monitoring, data infrastructure 
                needs, and development of tools necessary to implement 
                the Program;
                    (C) <<NOTE: Recommenda- tions.>> recommendations and 
                a cost assessment for the implementation of the plan; 
                and
                    (D) such other matters as the Secretary determines 
                to be appropriate.
            (4) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a 
        report describing the work and implementation plan established 
        under paragraph (1).

    (d) Implementation.--The Secretary shall implement the Program based 
on the information, findings, and recommendations contained in the work 
and implementation plan established under subsection (c).
    (e) Cooperative Agreements and Grants.--The Secretary may enter into 
cooperative funding agreements with, or provide grants to, entities 
described in subsection (c)(2) for the purposes of--
            (1) participating in developing, or providing information to 
        inform the development of, the work and implementation plan 
        under subsection (c);
            (2) carrying out assessments and monitoring of water 
        quality, quantity, use, and demand under the Program; and
            (3) carrying out ecological, biological, and avian 
        assessments and monitoring under the Program.

    (f) Effect.--The work and implementation plan established under 
subsection (c)(1) shall not affect--
            (1) any interstate water compacts in existence on the date 
        of enactment of this Act, including full development of any 
        apportionment made in accordance with those compacts;
            (2) valid and existing water rights in any State located 
        wholly or partially within the Great Basin;
            (3) water rights held by the United States in the Great 
        Basin; and
            (4) the management and operation of Bear Lake or Stewart 
        Dam, including the storage, management, and release of water.

[[Page 136 STAT. 4423]]

    (g) <<NOTE: Time period.>>  Authorization of Appropriations.--There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Program $5,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2022 through 2027.

    Approved December 27, 2022.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 1466 (H.R. 5345):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 117-577 (Comm. on Natural Resources) accompanying 
H.R. 5345.
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 168 (2022):
            Nov. 30, considered and passed Senate.
            Dec. 12, considered and passed House, amended.
            Dec. 19, Senate concurred in House amendment.

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