Highlands Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2021

Bill: 117-s-753
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]
Introduced: 2021-03-16
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Connecticut

Department of the Interior

Executive agency funding and structure

Forests, forestry, trees

Geography and mapping

Land transfers

Land use and conservation

New Jersey

New York State

Pennsylvania

State and local government operations

Water quality

Watersheds

Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
Latest action: action_date: 2022-03-02
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 296.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-03-16
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Highlands Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2021</b></p> <p>This bill extends through FY2028 the Highlands Conservation Act, which provides for land conservation in Highlands states (i.e., Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania).</p> <p>The bill authorizes the Fish and Wildlife Service to add a municipality to the Highlands region upon the request of a Highlands state.</p> <p>The bill revises the way in which land is identified for conservation to require using the best available science and geographic information systems.</p> <p>The bill allows political subdivisions of states to enter into agreements with the Department of the Interior for land conservation projects.</p>  <p>A Highland state that receives funds for a land conservation partnership project may not use more than 5% of the funds to administer that project.</p> <p>The bill extends through FY2028 Forest Service and other Department of Agriculture programs to conserve land and natural resources in the Highlands region.</p>

action_date: 2022-03-02
action_desc: Reported to Senate
text: <p><b>Highlands Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2021</b></p> <p>This bill extends through FY2028 the Highlands Conservation Act, which provides for land conservation in Highlands states (i.e., Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania).</p> <p>The bill authorizes the Fish and Wildlife Service to add a municipality to the Highlands region upon the request of a Highlands state.</p> <p>The bill revises the way in which land is identified for conservation to require using the best available science and geographic information systems.</p> <p>The bill allows political subdivisions of states to enter into agreements with the Department of the Interior for land conservation projects.</p> <p>A Highland state that receives funds for a land conservation partnership project may not use more than 5% of the funds to administer that project.</p> <p>The bill extends through FY2028 Forest Service and other Department of Agriculture programs to conserve land and natural resources in the Highlands region.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 753 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 16, 2021 Mr. Murphy (for himself, Mrs. Gillibrand , Mr. Blumenthal , and Mr. Casey ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To reauthorize the Highlands Conservation Act, to authorize States to use funds from that Act for administrative purposes, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Highlands Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2021 . 2. Reauthorization of the Highlands Conservation Act The Highlands Conservation Act ( Public Law 108–421 ; 118 Stat. 2375) is amended— (1) in section 3— (A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows: (1) Highlands region The term Highlands region means— (A) the area depicted on the map entitled The Highlands Region , dated June 2004, updated after the date of enactment of the Highlands Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2021 to comprise each municipality included on the list of municipalities included in the Highlands region as of that date of enactment, and maintained in the headquarters of the Forest Service in Washington, District of Columbia; and (B) a municipality approved by the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under section 4(e). ; (B) in paragraph (3), by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows: (B) identified by a Highlands State as having high conservation value using the best available science and geographic information systems; and ; (C) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking ; or and inserting , including a political subdivision thereof; or ; and (D) by striking paragraphs (5) through (7); (2) in section 4— (A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking in the Study and all that follows through the end of the paragraph and inserting using the best available science and geographic information systems; and ; (B) in subsection (c), by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows: (5) provides that land conservation partnership projects will be consistent with areas identified as having high conservation value in accordance with the purposes described in section 2 in the Highlands region. ; (C) in subsection (e), by striking $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2021 and inserting $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2028 ; (D) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (g); and (E) by inserting after subsection (d) the following: (e) Request for inclusion of additional municipality The Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service may, at the request of a Highlands State, approve the inclusion of a municipality within the State as part of the Highlands region. (f) Limitation on administrative expenses (1) Federal administration The Secretary of the Interior may not expend more than $300,000 for the administration of this Act in each fiscal year. (2) State administration A State that receives funds under this section for a land conservation partnership project may not use more than 5 percent of the funds to administer the land conservation partnership project. ; (3) in section 5— (A) in subsection (a), by striking the Study, Update, and any future study that the Forest Service may undertake in ; (B) in subsection (b)— (i) in paragraph (1), by striking , including a Pennsylvania and Connecticut Update ; and (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking the findings and all that follows through the end of the paragraph and inserting with stakeholders regarding implementation of the program; and ; and (C) in subsection (c), by striking 2005 through 2014 and inserting 2022 through 2028 ; and (4) in section 6, by adding at the end the following: (f) Appraisal methodology (1) In general With respect to an appraisal related to a land acquisition carried out under this Act, a Highlands State may use an appraisal methodology approved by the Secretary of the Interior. (2) Alternative appraisal methodology A Highlands State may petition the Secretary of the Interior to consider an alternative appraisal methodology when there is a conflict, in any Highlands State, between— (A) an appraisal methodology approved by the Secretary of the Interior under paragraph (1); and (B) applicable State law. .

tv_txt: II Calendar No. 296 117th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 753 [Report No. 117–89] IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 16, 2021 Mr. Murphy (for himself, Mrs. Gillibrand , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Casey , and Mr. Booker ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources March 2, 2022 Reported by Mr. Manchin , with an amendment Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic A BILL To reauthorize the Highlands Conservation Act, to authorize States to use funds from that Act for administrative purposes, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Highlands Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2021 . 2. Reauthorization of the Highlands Conservation Act The Highlands Conservation Act ( Public Law 108–421 ; 118 Stat. 2375) is amended— (1) in section 3— (A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows: (1) Highlands region The term Highlands region means— (A) the area depicted on the map entitled The Highlands Region , dated June 2004, updated after the date of enactment of the Highlands Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2021 to comprise each municipality included on the list of municipalities included in the Highlands region as of that date of enactment, and maintained in the headquarters of the Forest Service in Washington, District of Columbia; and (B) a municipality approved by the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under section 4(e). ; (B) in paragraph (3), by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows: (B) identified by a Highlands State as having high conservation value using the best available science and geographic information systems; and ; (C) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking ; or and inserting , including a political subdivision thereof; or ; and (D) by striking paragraphs (5) through (7); (2) in section 4— (A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking in the Study and all that follows through the end of the paragraph and inserting using the best available science and geographic information systems; and ; (B) in subsection (c), by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows: (5) provides that land conservation partnership projects will be consistent with areas identified as having high conservation value in accordance with the purposes described in section 2 in the Highlands region. ; (C) in subsection (e), by striking $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2021 and inserting $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2028 ; (D) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (g); and (E) by inserting after subsection (d) the following: (e) Request for inclusion of additional municipality The Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service may, at the request of a Highlands State, Highlands State, with the concurrence of the municipality, approve the inclusion of a municipality within the State as part of the Highlands region. (f) Limitation on administrative expenses (1) Federal administration The Secretary of the Interior may not expend more than $300,000 for the administration of this Act in each fiscal year. (2) State administration A State that receives funds under this section for a land conservation partnership project may not use more than 5 percent of the funds to administer the land conservation partnership project. ; (3) in section 5— (A) in subsection (a), by striking the Study, Update, and any future study that the Forest Service may undertake in ; (B) in subsection (b)— (i) in paragraph (1), by striking , including a Pennsylvania and Connecticut Update ; and (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking the findings and all that follows through the end of the paragraph and inserting with stakeholders regarding implementation of the program; and ; and (C) in subsection (c), by striking 2005 through 2014 and inserting 2022 through 2028 ; and (4) in section 6, by adding at the end the following: (f) Appraisal methodology (1) In general With respect to an appraisal related to a land acquisition carried out under this Act, a Highlands State may use an appraisal methodology approved by the Secretary of the Interior. (2) Alternative appraisal methodology A Highlands State may petition the Secretary of the Interior to consider an alternative appraisal methodology when there is a conflict, in any Highlands State, between— (A) an appraisal methodology approved by the Secretary of the Interior under paragraph (1); and (B) applicable State law. .

March 2, 2022 Reported with an amendment