Federal Bird-Safe Buildings Act of 2017

Bill: 115-s-1920
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2017-10-04
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships

Birds

Building construction

Government buildings, facilities, and property

Lighting and heating

Lighting, heating, cooling

Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
Latest action: action_date: 2017-10-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-10-04
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Federal Bird-Safe Buildings Act of 2017</b><strong></strong></p> <p>This bill requires each public building constructed, substantially altered, or acquired by the General Services Administration (GSA) to meet the following standards: </p> <ul> <li>at least 90% of the exposed facade material from ground level to 40 feet shall not be composed of glass or shall be composed of glass employing elements that preclude bird collisions without completely obscuring vision, ultraviolet (UV) patterned glass that contains UV-reflective or contrasting patterns that are visible to birds, patterns on glass designed in accordance with a rule that restricts horizontal spaces to less than 2 inches high and vertical spaces to less than 4 inches wide, opaque, etched, stained, frosted, or translucent glass, or any combination of these methods (modified glass);</li> <li>at least 60% of the exposed facade material above 40 feet shall meet such glass standard; </li> <li>there shall not be any transparent passageways or corners;</li> <li>all glass adjacent to atria or courtyards containing water features, plants, and other materials attractive to birds shall meet the modified glass standard; and</li> <li>outside lighting shall be appropriately shielded and minimized. </li> </ul> <p> GSA must: (1) ensure that actual bird mortality is monitored at each public building; and (2) reduce exterior building and site lighting for each public building, where practicable.</p> <p>The bill exempts historic buildings of national significance, the White House and grounds, the Supreme Court building and grounds, and the U.S. Capitol and related buildings and grounds from the provisions of this bill. </p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1920 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES October 4, 2017 Mr. Booker introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works A BILL To amend title 40, United States Code, to direct the Administrator of General Services to incorporate bird-safe building materials and design features into public buildings, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Federal Bird-Safe Buildings Act of 2017 . 2. Findings Congress finds that— (1) nearly 1/3 of the 800 bird species in the United States are endangered, threatened, or in significant decline; (2) in the United States alone, an estimated 1,000,000,000 birds die annually from striking buildings, bridges, and other manmade structures, with glass being one of the primary causes of the deaths; (3) birds have a significant impact on the United States economy, as evidenced by United States Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that the 47,000,000 birdwatchers in the United States contribute $40,000,000,000 annually to the economy of the United States; and (4) the General Services Administration is obligated, under Executive Order 13186 ( 16 U.S.C. 701 note; relating to responsibilities of Federal agencies to protect migratory birds), to support the conservation intent of the migratory bird conventions by integrating bird conservation principles, measures, and practices into agency activities and by avoiding or minimizing, to the extent practicable, adverse impacts on migratory bird resources when conducting agency actions . 3. Use of bird-safe building materials and design features (a) In general Chapter 33 of title 40, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating sections 3315, 3316, and 3317 as sections 3316, 3317, and 3318, respectively; and (2) by inserting after section 3314 the following: 3315. Use of bird-safe building materials and design features (a) Construction, alteration, and acquisition of public buildings Each public building constructed, substantially altered (as determined by the Commissioner of Public Buildings), or acquired by the Administrator of General Services (referred to in this section as the Administrator ) shall meet, to the maximum extent practicable, as determined by the Administrator, the following standards: (1) Not less than 90 percent of the exposed facade material from ground level to 40 feet— (A) shall not be composed of glass; or (B) shall be composed of glass employing— (i) elements that preclude bird collisions without completely obscuring vision, such as secondary facades, netting, screens, shutters, and exterior shades; (ii) ultraviolet (UV) patterned glass that contains UV-reflective or contrasting patterns that are visible to birds; (iii) patterns on glass designed in accordance with a rule (commonly referred to as the 2 x 4 rule ) that restricts— (I) horizontal spaces to less than 2 inches high; and (II) vertical spaces to less than 4 inches wide; (iv) opaque, etched, stained, frosted, or translucent glass; or (v) any combination of the methods described in clauses (i) through (iv). (2) Not less than 60 percent of the exposed facade material above 40 feet shall meet the standard described in paragraph (1) (A) or (B). (3) There shall not be any transparent passageways or corners. (4) All glass adjacent to atria or courtyards containing water features, plants, and other materials attractive to birds shall meet the standard described in paragraph (1)(B). (5) Outside lighting shall be appropriately shielded and minimized. (b) Monitoring The Administrator shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that actual bird mortality is monitored at each public building. (c) Existing buildings and lighting (1) In general The Administrator, where practicable, as determined by the Administrator, shall reduce exterior building and site lighting for each public building. (2) Use of automatic control technologies In carrying out paragraph (1), the Administrator shall make use of automatic control technologies, including timers, photo-sensors, and infrared and motion detectors. (d) Exempt buildings This section shall not apply to— (1) a historic building of national significance within the meaning of chapter 3201 of title 54; (2) the White House and grounds; (3) the Supreme Court building and grounds; or (4) the United States Capitol and related buildings and grounds. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections for chapter 33 of title 40, United States Code, is amended by striking the items relating to sections 3315, 3316, and 3317 and inserting the following: 3315. Use of bird-safe building materials and design features. 3316. Delegation. 3317. Report to Congress. 3318. Certain authority not affected. .