Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2011

Bill: 112-s-962
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced: 2011-05-12 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Ecology
Federal-Indian relations
Intergovernmental relations
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Washington State
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2011-05-12
text: 
Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2011 - Amends the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Act to define "Northwest Straits" as the marine waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and of Puget Sound from the Canadian border to the south end of Snohomish County, Washington. 
 
Sets forth the membership of the Northwest Straits Advisory Commission. Directs the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, to appoint an employee of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to serve as a liaison between the Commission and the Department of Commerce and to attend the Commission's meetings and events as a nonvoting participant. States the goal of the Commission as the protection and restoration of the marine waters, habitats, and species of the Northwest Straits region in Washington to achieve ecosystem health and sustainable resource use. Enumerates the duties of the Commission and establishes benchmarks for its work. 
 
Authorizes the Manager of the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program of Washington's Department of Ecology, upon the recommendation of the Commission and the Director of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, to appoint and terminate a Director of the Commission. Requires the Director to be confirmed by the Commission. 
 
Provides for the establishment of marine resources committees in specified counties of Washington. 
 
Authorizes the Directors of the Commission and the Reserve to establish the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Foundation as a nonprofit foundation to support the Commission and the marine resources committees established by this Act. 
 
Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Commerce for such Commission to carry out such Act.

action_date: 2012-02-27
text: 
Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2011 - Amends the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Act to define &quot;Northwest Straits&quot; as the marine waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and of Puget Sound from the Canadian border to the south end of Snohomish County, Washington. 
 
Sets forth the membership of the Northwest Straits Advisory Commission. Directs the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, to appoint an employee of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to serve as a liaison between the Commission and the Department of Commerce and to attend the Commission's meetings and events as a nonvoting participant. States the goal of the Commission as the protection and restoration of the marine waters, habitats, and species of the Northwest Straits region in Washington to achieve ecosystem health and sustainable resource use. Enumerates the duties of the Commission and establish benchmarks for its work. Requires the Commission to submit annual reports to Congress and the Under Secretary on its activities and its progress in achieving specified benchmarks.
 
Authorizes the Manager of the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program of Washington's Department of Ecology, upon the recommendation of the Commission and the Director of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, to appoint and terminate a Director of the Commission. Requires the Director to be confirmed by the Commission. 
 
Provides for the establishment of marine resources committees in specified counties of Washington. 
 
Authorizes the Director of the Commission and the Director of the Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve to establish the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Foundation as a nonprofit foundation to support the Commission and the marine resources committees established by this Act. 
 
Authorizes appropriations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-02-27
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 330.
action_date: 2012-02-27
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Rockefeller without amendment. With written report No. 112-151.
action_date: 2012-02-27
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Rockefeller without amendment. With written report No. 112-151.
action_date: 2011-06-09
text: Star Print ordered on the bill.
action_date: 2011-06-08
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
action_date: 2011-05-12
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2011-05-12
text: Introduced in Senate