Chesapeake Bay Accountability and Recovery Act of 2011

Bill: 112-hr-258
Sponsor: Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]
Introduced: 2011-01-07 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Aquatic ecology
Chesapeake Bay
Congressional oversight
Delaware
District of Columbia
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine pollution
Maryland
New York State
Pennsylvania
Public participation and lobbying
Virginia
Water quality
Water resources funding
Watersheds
West Virginia
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2011-01-07
text: 
Chesapeake Bay Accountability and Recovery Act of 2011 - Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in consultation with the Chesapeake Executive Council, the chief executive of each Chesapeake Bay state, and the Chesapeake Bay Commission, to submit to Congress a financial report containing: (1) an interagency crosscut budget for restoration activities that protect, conserve, or restore living resources, habitat, water resources, or water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed; (2) an accounting of funds received and obligated by all federal agencies for restoration activities; (3) an accounting from each state of all funds received and obligated from a federal agency for restoration activities; and (4) a description of each of the proposed federal and state restoration activities. Requires: (1) such report to describe only federal restoration activities that have funding amounts of at least $100,000 and state restoration activities that have funding amounts of at least $50,000; and (2) the Director to submit the report no later than 30 days after the submission of the President's annual budget to Congress.
 
Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop and update every three years an adaptive management plan for restoration activities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed that includes: (1) a definition of specific and measurable objectives to improve water quality, habitat, and fisheries; (2) a process for stakeholder participation; (3) monitoring, modeling, experimentation, and other research and evaluation practices; (4) a process for modification of restoration activities that have not attained or will not attain such objectives; and (5) a process for prioritizing restoration activities and programs to which adaptive management shall be applied. Sets forth reporting requirements. Requires the Administrator to report annually to Congress on the Plan.
 
Requires an Independent Evaluator for the Chesapeake Bay watershed, who shall review and report to Congress every three years on restoration activities and the use of adaptive management in such activities. Requires the Evaluator to be appointed by the Administrator from among nominees submitted by the Chesapeake Executive Council.

action_date: 2011-10-14
text: 
Chesapeake Bay Accountability and Recovery Act of 2011 - Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in consultation with the Chesapeake Executive Council, the chief executive of each Chesapeake Bay state, and the Chesapeake Bay Commission, to submit to Congress a financial report containing: (1) an interagency crosscut budget for restoration activities that protect, conserve, or restore living resources, habitat, water resources, or water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed; (2) an accounting of funds received and obligated by all federal agencies for restoration activities; (3) an accounting from each state of all funds received and obligated from a federal agency for restoration activities; and (4) a description of each of the proposed federal and state restoration activities. Requires: (1) such report to describe only federal restoration activities that have funding amounts of at least $100,000 and state restoration activities that have funding amounts of at least $50,000, and (2) the Director to submit the report no later than 30 days after the submission of the President's annual budget to Congress.
 
Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop and update every two years an adaptive management plan for restoration activities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed that includes: (1) a definition of specific and measurable objectives to improve water quality, habitat, and fisheries; (2) a process for stakeholder participation; (3) monitoring, modeling, experimentation, and other research and evaluation practices; (4) a process for modification of restoration activities that have not attained or will not attain such objectives; and (5) a process for prioritizing restoration activities and programs to which adaptive management shall be applied. Sets forth reporting requirements. Requires the Administrator to: (1) report annually to Congress on the Plan; and (2) ensure that the Annual Action Plan and Annual Progress Report required by the Executive Order 13508 includes the adaptive management plan.
 
Requires an Independent Evaluator for restoration activities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, who shall review and report to Congress every two years on restoration activities and the use of adaptive management in such activities. Requires the Evaluator to be appointed by the Administrator from among nominees submitted by the Chesapeake Executive Council.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-10-14
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 161.
action_date: 2011-10-14
text: Committee on Transportation discharged.
action_date: 2011-10-14
text: Committee on Transportation discharged.
action_date: 2011-10-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 112-245, Part I.
action_date: 2011-10-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 112-245, Part I.
action_date: 2011-07-20
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2011-07-20
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2011-07-20
text: Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs Discharged.
action_date: 2011-04-07
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2011-01-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs.
action_date: 2011-01-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
action_date: 2011-01-07
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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: 2011-01-07
text: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 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: 2011-01-07
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-01-07
text: Introduced in House