Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program Act

Bill: 110-hr-1907
Sponsor: Rep. Saxton, Jim [R-NJ-3]
Introduced: 2007-04-18 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Animals
Coastal zone
Commerce
Conservation easements
Economics and Public Finance
Environmental Protection
Estuaries
Federal-local relations
Federal-state relations
Forest conservation
Government Operations and Politics
Grants-in-aid
Habitat conservation
Housing and Community Development
Land banking
Land transfers
Land use
Landscape protection
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine parks and reserves
Nonprofit organizations
Performance measurement
Public-private partnerships
Real estate development
Regional planning
Social Welfare
Water Resources Development
Water pollution control
Water quality
Watersheds
Wetlands

Summary:
action_date: 2007-04-18
text: 
Coastal and Estuarine Land Protection Act - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a Coastal and Estuarine Land Protection Program to protect the environmental integrity of undeveloped coastal and estuarine areas. Authorizes the Secretary to make Program grants to coastal states with approved coastal zone management plans or National Estuarine Research Reserve units for the purpose of acquiring property that will further the goals of an approved Coastal Zone Management Plan or Program, a National Estuarine Research Reserve management plan, or a regional or state watershed protection plan.

 Prohibits any more than 75% of the funding for any project under this Act from being derived from federal sources. 

 
Reserves 15% of program funds for acquisitions benefiting the National Estuarine Research Reserve. 
Specifies that when property is acquired under this program, the grant recipient shall provide assurances that: (1) title will be held by the recipient or another public agency designated by the recipient in perpetuity; (2) property will be managed consistent with the purpose of the Program; and (3) funds will be returned to the Secretary for redistribution if the property is sold, exchanged, or divested. 
 

action_date: 2008-09-22
text: 
Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program Act - Amends the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to authorize the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program to protect important coastal and estuarine areas that have significant conservation, recreation, ecological, historical, or aesthetic values and that are threatened by conversion from their natural, undeveloped, or recreational state to other uses or that could be managed or restored to effectively conserve, enhance, or restore ecological function. Requires the program to be administered by the National Ocean Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management.

Authorizes the Secretary to make Program grants to coastal states with approved coastal zone management plans or National Estuarine Research Reserve units for the purpose of acquiring property that will further the goals of an approved Coastal Zone Management Plan or Program, a National Estuarine Research Reserve management plan, a regional or state watershed protection or management plan, or a state coastal land acquisition plan.

Directs the Secretary to allocate funds to coastal states or National Estuarine Research Reserves through a competitive grant process with guidelines that meet specified requirements, including that: (1) each participating coastal state shall ensure that the acquisition of property or easements shall complement working waterfront needs; and (2) priority shall be given to lands that can be effectively managed and protected, that have significant ecological value, that are under an imminent threat of conversion to a use that will diminish their natural, undeveloped, or recreational state, and that serve to mitigate the adverse impacts caused by coastal population growth in the coastal environment.

Provides that grant awards may be used to purchase land, including an easement, only from a willing seller. Prohibits any such purchase from being the result of a forced taking. 

Provides that grant funds under the Program shall require a 100% match from nonfederal sources, subject to a waiver by the Secretary for underserved and other specified communities or for other appropriate reasons. Reserves 15% of program funds for acquisitions benefiting the National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Specifies that when property is acquired under this program, the grant recipient shall provide assurances that: (1) title will be held by the recipient (or another public agency designated by the recipient) in perpetuity; (2) property will be managed consistent with the purpose of the Program; and (3) funds will be returned to the Secretary for redistribution if the property is sold, exchanged, or divested. Authorizes appropriations.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-10-02
text: Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1111.
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 313 - 59 (Roll no. 617). (text: CR H8503-8504)
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 313 - 59 (Roll no. 617).(text: CR H8503-8504)
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H8544-8545)
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1907.
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8503-8506)
action_date: 2008-09-22
text: Ms. Bordallo moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2008-07-31
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 525.
action_date: 2008-07-31
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 110-811.
action_date: 2008-07-31
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 110-811.
action_date: 2008-06-25
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2008-06-25
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee Without Recommendation (Amended) by Unanimous Consent .
action_date: 2008-02-13
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2007-10-24
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2007-04-23
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans.
action_date: 2007-04-18
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2007-04-18
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-04-18
text: Introduced in House