Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2008

Bill: 110-s-2994
Sponsor: Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI]
Introduced: 2008-05-08 in the Senate
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Aquatic ecology
Authorization
Economics and Public Finance
Environmental research
Environmental technology
Federal aid to water pollution control
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Research and development
Restoration ecology
Science, Technology, Communications
Sedimentation
Technological innovations
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2008-05-08
text: 
Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2008 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to include among activities that the Great Lakes National Program Office is authorized to carry out for the remediation of sediment contamination in areas of concern: (1) demonstration or pilot projects that use innovative approaches, technologies, or techniques for the remediation of sediment contamination; and (2) activities to restore aquatic habitat after remediation. Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide additional consideration to projects that are funded by potentially responsible parties (individuals or entities that may be liable under federal or state environmental remediation laws with respect to a project carried out under such Act) and determined to be of greater environmental significance than competing proposals. 

Revises provisions concerning the nonfederal share of the costs of such projects. Authorizes the Administrator, Acting through the Program Office, to enter into agreements with nonfederal sponsors to implement projects under which such sponsors may pay in advance their share of the project costs and receive reimbursement for such costs from the Administrator. 

Requires the Administrator to implement a public information and participation program relating to the remediation of contaminated sediment in areas of concern in the United States.

Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2013 for: (1) such remediation; (2) the public information and participation program; and (3) research on the development and use of innovative approaches, technologies, and techniques for such remediation. 

action_date: 2008-09-24
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2008 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to include among activities that the Great Lakes National Program Office is authorized to carry out for the remediation of sediment contamination in areas of concern: (1) demonstration or pilot projects that use innovative approaches, technologies, or techniques for the remediation of sediment contamination; and (2) activities to restore aquatic habitat after remediation. Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide additional consideration to projects that are funded by potentially responsible parties (individuals or entities that may be liable under federal or state environmental remediation laws with respect to a project carried out under such Act) and determined to be of greater environmental significance than competing proposals. 

Revises provisions concerning the nonfederal share of the costs of such projects. Authorizes the Administrator, Acting through the Program Office, to enter into agreements with nonfederal sponsors to implement projects under which such sponsors may pay in advance their share of the project costs and receive reimbursement for such costs from the Administrator. 

Requires the Administrator to implement a public information and participation program relating to the remediation of contaminated sediment in areas of concern in the United States.

Authorizes appropriations for FY2009-FY2013 for: (1) such remediation; (2) the public information and participation program; and (3) research on the development and use of innovative approaches, technologies, and techniques for such remediation. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1059.
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Boxer without amendment. With written report No. 110-488.
action_date: 2008-09-24
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Reported by Senator Boxer without amendment. With written report No. 110-488.
action_date: 2008-07-31
text: Committee on Environment and Public Works. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2008-05-08
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2008-05-08
text: Introduced in Senate