Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act

Bill: 111-hr-500
Sponsor: Rep. Ehlers, Vernon J. [R-MI-3]
Introduced: 2009-01-14 in the House
Policy area: Environmental Protection
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Aquatic ecology
Canada
Crimes against animals and natural resources
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Department of Homeland Security
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental technology
Executive agency funding and structure
Government information and archives
Great Lakes
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Illinois
Indiana
Intergovernmental relations
International organizations and cooperation
Lakes and rivers
Latin America
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine and inland water transportation
Marine pollution
Mexico
Michigan
Minnesota
New York State
Ohio
Outdoor recreation
Pennsylvania
Pollution liability
Research administration and funding
Seashores and lakeshores
Soil pollution
Solid waste and recycling
Trade restrictions
Water quality
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
Wisconsin

Summary:
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: 
Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act - Amends the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 to: (1) require certain vessels operating in U.S. waters to have invasive species management plans; (2) direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish vessel performance requirements, including provisions for ballast water exchange, treatment, and discharge, and civil and criminal penalties for violations; (3) require federal agencies to restrict the importation of live aquatic organisms of species not in trade without screening and approval; and (4) declare importation of such species to be unlawful and prescribe civil and criminal penalties for violations.
 
Renames the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 as the Nonindigenous Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention and Control Act of 1990.

National Invasive Species Council Act - Prohibits federal agencies from authorizing, funding, or carrying out any action that would promote the introduction or spread of invasive species unless the benefits of the action outweigh the harm. Establishes the National Invasive Species Council (NISC) as an independent entity in the executive branch to lead and coordinate efforts to minimize the negative effects caused by invasive species and to reduce the threat of further invasions. Requires NISC to develop a National Invasive Species Management Plan and to establish an Invasive Species Advisory Committee.

Reauthorizes and modifies the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990.

Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to: (1) authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide funding for wastewater assistance to certain municipalities and small publicly-owned treatment works; (2) authorize states to provide additional subsidization to benefit certain municipalities or state agencies that already receive assistance from the water pollution control revolving fund or to implement certain alternative techniques; (3) replace each reference to &quot;navigable waters of the United States&quot; with a reference to &quot;waters of the United States&quot;; (4) require the Great Lakes National Program Office to provide grants to reduce the quantity of mercury in the Great Lakes; and (5) require the President include a joint Great Lakes research plan in the annual budget submitted to Congress.

Authorizes funding for the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. Requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to provide grants for Great Lakes research and monitoring activities.

Requires: (1) the President, acting through the National Ocean Research Leadership Council, to establish a system that detects and predicts changes in the ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes environment that impact certain U.S. systems; and (2) the Council to establish an interagency program office to be known as OceanUS to be responsible for program planning and coordination of such system.

Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to require the Program Office to develop specified science-based indicators of water quality and related environmental factors in the Great Lakes. 

Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) provide financial assistance for certain restoration or remediation projects; and (2) restore and remediate waterfronts and related areas.

Establishes: (1) the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force, as established by Executive Order 13340, as a task force within EPA; (2) a Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Executive Committee to hold meetings and make recommendations and reports on Great Lakes restoration goals and progress; and (3) the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration to develop a restoration and protection strategy for use in Great Lakes program implementation and funding decisions, to serve as a forum for addressing regional issues relating to ecosystem restoration and protection of the Great Lakes, and to establish an oversight forum to coordinate and enhance implementation of Great Lakes programs.

Provides funding for a variety of Great Lakes programs.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-02-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife.
action_date: 2009-01-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Referred to House Administration
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Referred to House Science and Technology
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Referred to House Natural Resources
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, Science and Technology, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-01-14
text: Introduced in House