jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Bill 114-S-1500 — Environment / Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

 Sensible Environmental Protection Act of 2015

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or a state from requiring a permit under the Clean Water Act for a discharge from a point source into navigable waters of:

 a pesticide authorized for sale, distribution, or use under FIFRA, or a residue resulting from the application of the pesticide. Point source pollution is waste discharged from a distinct place, such as a pipe, channel, and tunnel.

The EPA or a state may require a permit for the following discharges containing a pesticide:

 a discharge resulting from the application of a pesticide in violation of FIFRA that is relevant to protecting water quality, if the discharge would not have occurred without the violation, or if the amount of pesticide or residue contained in the discharge is greater than would have occurred without the violation; a stormwater discharge regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES); and a discharge of manufacturing or industrial effluent (wastewater), treatment works effluent, or a discharge incidental to the normal operation of a vessel, including discharges from ballast water operations or vessel biofouling prevention. The EPA must report on: (1) coordination between the Office of Water and the Office of Pesticide Programs regarding streamlining information collection, standards of review, and data use relating to water quality impacts from the registration and use of pesticides; (2) the effectiveness of regulatory actions relating to pesticide registration and use aimed at protecting water quality; and (3) recommendations on modifying FIFRA in order to improve the protection of water quality and human health.
Bill 114-S-1523 — Environment / Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on April 26, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

(Sec. 1) This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to revise the National Estuary Program by requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to make competitive awards to address urgent and challenging issues that threaten the economic and ecological well-being of coastal areas, including:

 extensive seagrass habitat losses, recurring harmful algae blooms, unusual marine mammal mortalities, invasive exotic species, jellyfish proliferation limiting community access to water during peak tourism seasons, flooding that may be related to sea level rise or wetland degradation or loss, and low dissolved oxygen conditions in estuarine waters and related nutrient management. (Sec. 2) The bill authorizes appropriations for FY2017-FY2021 for: (1) EPA administrative expenses relating to a grant or award, and (2) making grants and awards. The bill allocates funding for conservation and management plans for estuaries and for competitive awards.
Bill 114-S-1586 — Environment / Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection

Great Lakes Water Protection Act 

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to prohibit a publicly owned treatment works (POTW) from discharging untreated or partially treated sewage into the Great Lakes or a tributary of the Great Lakes when the discharge is the result of the POTW intentionally diverting waste streams to bypass any portion of a treatment facility. A bypass is allowed if: (1) it is unavoidable to prevent loss of life, personal injury, or severe property damage, there is no feasible alternative, and the treatment works provides notice; or (2) it does not cause effluent (waste) limitations to be exceeded and is for essential maintenance to ensure efficient operation of the treatment facility.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must work with relevant states to create requirements for providing immediate notice to the public about discharges.

The EPA must establish procedures to ensure that permits issued to POTWs under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System include requirements to comply with this bill.

This bill establishes a maximum civil penalty of $100,000 per day for violations of the bill occurring on or after January 1, 2035. The penalties must be deposited into the Great Lakes Cleanup Fund, which is established by this bill. The Fund must be used for improving wastewater discharges.
Bill 114-S-1674 — Environment / Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Act

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to expand the duties of the Office of Management Conference of the Long Island Sound Study to include: (1) a study on environmental impacts on the Long Island Sound watershed; (2) planning initiatives for the Long Island Sound; (3) developing and implementing strategies to increase public education and awareness about the ecological health and water quality conditions of the Long Island Sound; and (4) monitoring of progress toward meeting goals, actions, and schedules of the Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. Grants in support of the Conservation and Management Plan (other than citizen involvement and education grants) must not exceed 60% (currently 50%) of the cost of research, studies, or work.

The bill revises the Offices's biennial reporting requirement with respect to the implementation of the Conservation and Management Plan and requires that reports be made available to the public.

The President must submit in the President's annual budget information about the involvement of each federal department and agency in the protection and restoration of the Long Island Sound watershed, including an interagency budget for each department and agency.

The Environmental Protection Agency must coordinate the actions of all federal departments and agencies that impact water quality in the Long Island Sound watershed to improve the water quality and living resources of the watershed.

The bill: (1) extends the Long Island Sound Stewardship Advisory Committee through 2020, and (2) exempts the Advisory Committee from requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

(Sec. 3) The bill reauthorizes through FY2020 the Office of Management Conference of the Long Island Sound Study, the Long Island Sound Stewardship Act of 2006, the Long Island Sound Grants, and the Long Island Sound Stewardship grants.
Bill 114-S-1700 — Environment / Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection

Mitigation Facilitation Act of 2015

This bill requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to establish a mitigation loan and loan guarantee program to enable political subdivisions of states to: (1) purchase credits from mitigation banks or in-lieu fee programs, or (2) acquire interests in property that are acquired pursuant to a mitigation project required by the Corps of Engineers under a Clean Water Act permit to discharge dredged or fill material into waters of the United States.

Mitigation banks and in-lieu fee programs are designed to compensate for lost functions of waters of the United States resulting from activities under those permits.

The authority provided by the bill expires in 10 years.
Bill 114-S-1701 — Environment / Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection

Infrastructure Rehabilitation Act of 2015

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to forgo providing notice or opportunity for public hearings when issuing permits for the discharge of dredged or fill material into the navigable waters at specified disposal sites in the event of a natural disaster that has damaged transportation infrastructure, if immediate construction is required to restore the infrastructure to working order.
Bill 114-S-1886 — Environment / Conservation
Subject: Public lands and natural resources

Coordinated Ocean Monitoring and Research Act

 This bill revises and reauthorizes through FY2019 the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009.

The Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) is a network of federal and regional entities that provide information about the nation's coasts and oceans, as well as the Great Lakes.

 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) must: (1) serve as the lead federal agency for the implementation of the IOOS, and (2) establish an IOOS Program Office to oversee daily operations and coordination of the IOOS. The bill outlines the requirements for NOAA as the lead agency.

 The bill establishes a process for regional associations to certify their regional coastal observing systems.

 The Joint Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology of the National Science and Technology Council must: (1) conduct an Ocean Chemistry Coastal Community Vulnerability Assessment on ocean acidification within a year and every five years thereafter; and (2) develop a plan to deploy ocean acidification sensors prioritized by the threat to coastal economies and ecosystems, gaps in data on ocean acidification, and research needs.

 The National Science Foundation's research on ocean acidification must include research on: (1) impacts of multiple stressors on ecosystems exhibiting hypoxia (a dead zone that is depleted of oxygen), harmful algal blooms (rapid accumulation of algae), or sediment delivery; and (2) the effects of those impacts combined with changes in ocean chemistry.
Bill 114-S-1914 — Environment / Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection

Commonsense Permitting for Job Creation Act of 2015

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to revise requirements for permit guidelines applicable to the designation of disposal sites for discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States. Those guidelines may not prohibit the designation of a disposal site due to the lack of a final site plan because there is not an identified end user, industry, or industrial classification for the site.
Bill 114-S-1956 — Environment / Conservation
Subject: Public lands and natural resources

Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Assessment Act of 2015

 This bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to assess and report on the cultural and historic resources in the waters of the Great Lakes. NOAA must make recommendations in the report on whether: (1) underwater geographic areas in the Great Lakes should be designated as national marine sanctuaries to protect resources of historical and archeological significance; and (2) the designation of a network of underwater Great Lakes areas that protect those resources could bring significant educational opportunities, economic development, jobs, and tourism to the Great Lakes region.
Bill 114-S-2025 — Environment / Conservation
Subject: Public lands and natural resources

National Oceans and Coastal Security Act

This bill authorizes the Department of Commerce and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to establish the National Oceans and Coastal Security Fund as a tax exempt fund for supporting programs and activities to protect, conserve, and restore ocean and coastal resources and coastal infrastructure.

Donations from a foreign government may not be deposited into the fund.

Commerce must prioritize projects that have non-federal partners sharing the project costs.

According to a specified allocation formula, the Foundation must award a minimum percentage of funds as grants to eligible coastal states while awarding a lesser percentage of funds to entities including states, Indian tribes, regional bodies, associations, non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions.

The bill amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to require the President to ensure that a certain percent of offshore energy revenues are deposited into the fund.
Bill 114-S-2318 — Environment / Conservation
Subject: Public lands and natural resources

This bill extends the authorization of appropriations for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) through FY2025.

Appropriations deposited into the LWCF shall be allocated in the ratio of 60% and 40% for state and federal purposes, respectively.
Bill 114-S-2325 — Environment / Conservation
Subject: Public lands and natural resources

Digital Coast Act

(Sec.4)This bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish a constituent-driven Digital Coast program. (This program currently exists under NOAA to provide data, tools, and training that communities use to manage their coastal resources.) The program must: (1) provide an online resource that integrates geospatial data, decision-support tools, training, and best practices to address coastal management issues and needs, and to enhance resilient communities, ecosystem values, and coastal economic growth and development; and (2) provide for the documentation, dissemination, and archiving of the data.

NOAA must focus on filling data needs and gaps for critical coastal management issues and support continued improvement in existing efforts to coordinate the acquisition and integration of key data sets needed for coastal management, and other purposes. NOAA may enter into financial agreements to carry out the program. NOAA may enter into contracts with private sector entities as may be necessary to collect, process, and provide remote sensing and other geospatial data and products.

Additionally, NOAA may establish public tools that are capable of tracking ocean and Great Lakes economy data for each coastal state.
Bill 114-S-2335 — Environment / Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection

Beach Act of 2015

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to revise and reauthorize through FY2020 a grant program for monitoring, and notifying the public of, any pathogens in coastal recreation waters bordering public beaches.

The bill reauthorizes through FY2018 the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000.

The bill establishes requirements with respect to: (1) using rapid testing methods to detect unsafe levels of pathogens or pathogen indicators in those waters, and (2) notifying governmental agencies when pathogens exceed water quality standards. Those methods must provide testing results within four hours of receiving a sample. Communication with governments must occur within two hours of the receipt of the results of water quality samples.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must assess state and local compliance with coastal recreation water quality monitoring and notification legal requirements and grant conditions. The bill limits federal support of grants to non-compliant state or local governments. The Government Accountability Office must review the EPA's compliance assessments and corrective actions.

States with coastal recreation waters must adopt the most protective water quality criteria and standards practicable for pathogens.

The EPA must: (1) update the national list of beaches that are used by the public regardless of the presence of a lifeguard within 12 months and biennially thereafter (currently, periodically); (2) study the long-term impact of climate change on pathogenic contamination of coastal recreation waters; and (3) study the impacts of excess nutrients on coastal recreation waters.
Bill 114-S-2481 — Environment / Conservation
Subject: Water resources development

Everglades for the Next Generation Act

This bill amends the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 to authorize the Department of the Army, after completing an implementation report prepared for a project under the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and without any further congressional authorization, to carry out: (1) any project identified in the Plan for which a project implementation report is completed that is in accordance with an integrated delivery schedule approved by the Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District, provided that the report is completed by five years after the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) any group of projects under the Plan that the Corps determines will provide regional or watershed ecosystem or water supply benefits if constructed in accordance with a project implementation report approved by the Corps and the District by such date.
Bill 114-S-2705 — Environment / Conservation
Subject: Public lands and natural resources

Coral Reef Sustainability Through Innovation Act of 2016

This bill amends the Coral Reef Conservation Act to authorize the 12 federal agencies on the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, which includes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to carry out, either individually or cooperatively, prize competitions that promote coral reef research and conservation. The prize competitions should be designed to help the United States achieve its goal of developing new and effective ways to advance the understanding, monitoring, and sustainability of coral reef ecosystems.

Priority is given to establish programs that address communities, environments, or industries that are in distress due to the decline or degradation of coral reef ecosystems.
Bill 114-S-2727 — Environment / Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to allow a permittee under the Act to satisfy compensatory mitigation requirements for discharging dredged or fill material into the waters of the United States (permitted activity) by entering into a preservation lease with a state or Indian tribe whose wetlands are affected.

A preservation lease is an agreement under which a permittee leases wetlands or other aquatic sites on state or Indian land for the sole purpose of preserving the wetlands or other aquatic sites in an undisturbed state during the term of the lease to mitigate for a permitted activity. The term of the lease must not be less than the life of the permitted activity and must be adjusted to account for the cessation of the impacts caused by such activity.

If a permittee enters into a preservation lease and subsequently ceases to maintain the permitted activity, or seeks to abandon the permitted activity without a good faith transfer, the permittee must obtain a permit modification from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which may require restoration and rehabilitation of the area.
Bill 114-S-2993 — Environment / Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection

Farmers Undertake Environmental Land Stewardship Act or the FUELS Act 

This bill directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ease the application of the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule on certain farms.

The rule requires certain non-transportation-related facilities to prevent, prepare, and respond to oil discharges that may reach navigable waters or adjoining shorelines. Among other requirements, the rule requires those facilities to: (1) certify compliance with their SPCC plans; and (2) based on the plan, construct containment facilities that would hold the contents of aboveground oil storage tanks if they should spill.

The bill increases the oil storage thresholds that necessitate compliance with those requirements by raising the aggregate aboveground oil storage capacity thresholds for: (1) farms required to have an SPCC plan, (2) farms that self-certify their SPCC plan, and (3) farms that require a certification of their SPCC plan from a professional engineer.

The bill also raises the aboveground oil storage capacity of containers that must be included in calculating the aggregate aboveground storage capacity. The calculations of the aggregate aboveground oil storage capacity of a farm and the aboveground storage capacity of an individual oil tank on a farm must not include containers holding animal feed ingredients that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in livestock feed.
Bill 114-S-3038 — Environment / Conservation
Subject: Public lands and natural resources

Coastal Coordination Act of 2016

TITLE I--COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1972 AMENDMENTS

(Sec.101)This bill amends the findings in the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (CZMA) about the national interest in coastal zones to include coastal resilience, tourism, and energy development. The revised findings also state that the participation and coordination of local governments are important to protecting state coastal interests.

(Sec. 103) The Coastal Resource Improvement Program under CZMA is expanded to add to its grant objectives the preservation or redevelopment of working waterfronts.

(Sec. 104) Interstate compacts are authorized for the management of state coastal zones and shared interstate resources. NOAA may provide mediation for disputes between a federal agency and a coastal state or two or more coastal states.

(Sec. 105) Objectives for coastal zone enhancement grants under CZMA are expanded to include interstate water resource and coastal management planning, policies to ensure sufficient state response to the environmental, economic, and social impacts of oil spills or other accidents, and maximizing the efficiency of processing permits for coastal zone activities.

(Sec. 106) NOAA is required to evaluate the National Estuarine Research Reserve System periodically to determine if any of the protected areas in the estuarine reserves should be expanded.

(Sec. 107) NOAA must submit to Congress a report summarizing any actions it takes in accordance with this bill for five consecutive fiscal years.

TITLE II--GULF OF MEXICO REGIONAL COORDINATION

(Sec.202) The purposes of this title are to: (1) expand and strengthen the cooperative voluntary efforts to conserve and restore the Gulf of Mexico; (2) recognize and enable the Gulf of Mexico Alliance as a coordinating entity; and (3) enable grant funding for coordination management, scientific research, conservation, and restoration activities.

(Sec.203)This title also authorizes eligible entities (i.e., a consortium of the five states that have a shoreline on the Gulf of Mexico), in consultation with NOAA, to develop strategies for the conservation and restoration of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem and to develop and implement action plans to carry out such strategies.

TITLE III--COASTAL ZONE IMPACTS

(Sec.301)The bill amends the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act to add NOAA, the Department of Commerce, and any potentially impacted coastal state to the list of entities that can be consulted under the Act.Impacted coastal states may provide recommendations to mitigate impacts to fisheries, wildlife, and wildlife resources.
Bill 114-S-3121 — Environment / Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection

This bill amends the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 to direct the Army Corps of Engineers to develop a comprehensive assessment and management plan to restore aquatic ecosystems in the North Atlantic coast region. (Current law requires the Corps to determine the feasibility of carrying out projects to restore such ecosystems.)
Bill 114-S-3288 — Environment / Conservation
Subject: Agriculture and food

Improving Access to Farm Conservation Act of 2016

 This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to exempt certain recipients of Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation assistance from specified reporting requirements. The bill exempts producers or landowners eligible to participate in any USDA conservation program from reporting requirements related to subawards, executive compensation, the Universal Identifier, and the System for Award Management.