Long Island Sound Stewardship Act of 2005

Bill: 109-s-158
Sponsor: Sen. Lieberman, Joseph I. [D-CT]
Introduced: 2005-01-25 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Animals
Arts, Culture, Religion
Authorization
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Coastal zone
Commemorations
Connecticut
Conservation easements
Cultural property
Economics and Public Finance
Ecosystem management
Electronic government information
Environmental Protection
Environmental Protection Agency
Environmental education
Environmental justice
Estuaries
Federal aid to water pollution control
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Grants-in-aid
Habitat conservation
Historic sites
History
Internet
Land transfers
Land use
Landowners
Landscape protection
Long Island Sound
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Natural areas
Nature conservation
New York State
Nonprofit organizations
Open space lands
Outdoor recreation
Performance measurement
Planning
Recreation areas
Research natural areas
Right of property
Science, Technology, Communications
Shore protection
Social Welfare
Sports and Recreation
Wildlife conservation

Summary:
action_date: 2005-01-25
text: 
Long Island Sound Stewardship Act of 2005 - Establishes the Long Island Sound Stewardship Initiative Region in Connecticut and New York.
 
Establishes the Long Island Sound Stewardship Advisory Committee to evaluate applications for conservation easements, management plans, and grant funds relative to the region. Requires the Committee to: (1) identify 20 initial Long Island Sound stewardship sites that are natural resource-based recreation areas or exemplary natural areas with ecological value and that best promote the purposes of this Act; and (2) use due diligence to recommend an equal distribution of funds between States for the initial sites.
 
Authorizes owners of sites to submit applications to the Committee to have sites identified as stewardship sites. Sets forth a site identification process and related selection criteria. Directs the Committee to publish notice of the list of such sites. Authorizes the Committee to deviate from the site identification process in certain circumstances.
 
Requires the Committee to use an adaptive management framework.
 
Protects the existing legal rights of private property owners.
 
Limits the Federal share of costs associated with activities carried out using assistance or grants under this Act to 75 percent of the total.
 
Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize appropriations for the Office of Management Conference of the Long Island Sound Study and implementation of the Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan through FY 2009.
 
Provides for the Committee's termination on December 31, 2013.

action_date: 2005-12-08
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

 
Long Island Sound Stewardship Act of 2005 - States as the purpose of this Act the establishment of the Long Island Sound Stewardship Initiative to identify, protect, and enhance sites within the Long Island Sound ecosystem with significant ecological, educational, open space, public access, or recreational value through a bi-state network of sites. 
 
Establishes in the states of Connecticut and New York the Long Island Sound Stewardship Initiative Region. . 
 
Establishes the Long Island Sound Stewardship Advisory Committee to evaluate applications for conservation easements, management plans, and grant funds relating to the Region. 
 
Requires the Committee to: (1) identify 20 initial Long Island Sound stewardship sites that are natural resource-based recreation areas or exemplary natural areas with ecological value and that best promote the purposes of this Act; and (2) use due diligence to recommend an equal distribution of funds between the states for the initial sites. Authorizes owners of sites to submit applications to the Committee to have sites identified as stewardship sites.
 
Directs the Committee to: (1) use a specified process for identifying additional recreation and natural areas with potential as stewardship sites; and (2) publish in the Federal Register a list of sites that further the purposes of this Act after giving site owners prior notice of publication. Authorizes the Committee to deviate from its site identification process under certain circumstances. 
 
Requires the Committee to: (1) use an adaptive management framework to identify policy initiatives and actions; (2) submit annual reports to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency for FY2006-FY2013; and (3) make recommendations to the Administrator on grants for stewardship sites. Requires the Administrator to review the Committee's recommendations and issue a report on the Initiative.
 
Declares that nothing in this Act requires private property owners to allow public access to their property, creates any liability of private property owners for individuals injured on their property, or requires owners of private property with the Region to participate in the Intuitive.
 
Authorizes appropriations for FY2006-FY2013. Limits the federal share of the costs of certain activities under this Act to 75% of the total cost of the activity. 
 
Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize appropriations through FY2009 for: (1) the Office of Management Conference of the Long Island Sound Study; and (2) grants to implement the Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan.
 
Terminates the Committee on December 31, 2013.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-11-13
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10866)
action_date: 2005-12-08
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 302.
action_date: 2005-12-08
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Inhofe under authority of the order of the Senate of 11/18/2005 without amendment. With written report No. 109-185.
action_date: 2005-12-08
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Inhofe under authority of the order of the Senate of 11/18/2005 without amendment. With written report No. 109-185.
action_date: 2005-07-20
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2005-01-25
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text of measure as introduced: CR S485-487)
action_date: 2005-01-25
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S484-485)
action_date: 2005-01-25
text: Introduced in Senate