jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Environment — Species & Forest
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2009-01-06 00:00:00

Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries Boundary Modification and Protection Act - Declares that it is U.S. policy to protect and preserve living and other resources of the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (Farallones NMS) and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary (Cordell Bank NMS) marine environments. Makes certain adjustments to expand the boundaries of the Farallones NMS and the Cordell NMS. Prohibits the issuance of a lease or permit authorizing mineral or hydrocarbon exploration, development, production, or transportation by pipeline within the boundaries of the sanctuaries, as modified by this Act. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to complete: (1) a draft supplemental management plan for each of the sanctuaries that focuses on management in the areas added by this Act; and (2) a revised management plan for each of the sanctuaries. Directs the Secretary to carry out an assessment of necessary revisions to the regulations for the sanctuaries, including considering regulations regarding the deposit or release of introduced species and the alteration of stream and river drainage into the sanctuaries.
Topic: Environment — Species & Forest
Subject: Animals
Date: 2009-01-09 00:00:00

Crane Conservation Act of 2009 - Requires the Secretary of the Interior to provide financial assistance for approved projects relating to the conservation of cranes, using amounts in the Crane Conservation Fund established by this Act. Allows a project proposal to be submitted by: (1) any wildlife management authority of a country located in the African, Asian, European, or North American range of a species of crane that carries out at least one activity that affects crane populations; (2) the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora; and (3) any person or organization with demonstrated expertise in the conservation of cranes. Establishes the Crane Conservation Fund in the Multinational Species Conservation Fund.Authorizes the Secretary to convene an advisory group representing public and private organizations actively involved in the conservation of cranes to assist in carrying out this Act.Authorizes appropriations.
Topic: Environment — Species & Forest
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2009-01-09 00:00:00

National Landscape Conservation System Act - Establishes in the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) the National Landscape Conservation System (thus, enacting into law the National Landscape Conservation System [NLCS] created by BLM in 2000) in order to conserve, protect, and restore nationally significant landscapes that have outstanding cultural, ecological, and scientific values for the benefit of current and future generations.
Topic: Environment — Species & Forest
Subject: Animals
Date: 2009-01-09 00:00:00

Great Cats and Rare Canids Act of 2009 - (Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance for projects for the conservation of rare felids and rare canids. Restricts the use of such assistance for captive breeding or display purposes. Authorizes the Secretary to convene an advisory group consisting of individuals representing public and private organizations actively involved in felid and canid conservation to assist in carrying out this Act. (Sec. 5) Establishes in the Multinational Species Conservation Fund as a separate account the Great Cats and Rare Canids Conservation Fund. Defines "rare canid" to: (1) mean any of the canid species dhole, gray wolf, Ethiopian wolf, bush dog, African wild dog, maned wolf, and Darwin's fox, including any subspecies or population of such a species; and (2) exclude any subspecies or population that is native to the area comprised of the United States and Canada or the European Union. Defines "rare felid" to: (1) mean any of the felid species lion, leopard, jaguar, snow leopard, clouded leopard, cheetah, Iberian lynx, and Borneo bay cat, including any subspecies or population of such a species; and (2) exclude any species, subspecies, or population that is native to the United States and any tiger. (Sec. 6) Requires the Secretary to initiate a study of felid and canid species listed under the IUCN Red List (the Red List of Threatened Species Maintained by the World Conservation Union) that are not rare canids and rare felids (as defined in this Act), to determine: (1) the conservation status of the species in the wild, including identification of those that are critically endangered or endangered; and (2) any such species that should be made eligible for project assistance. Requires a report to Congress. (Sec. 7) Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 8) Prohibits amounts provided as a grant under this Act from being used for any project conducted in Iran, Syria, Cuba, Sudan, or North Korea.
Topic: Environment — Species & Forest
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2009-01-09 00:00:00

Missisquoi and Trout Rivers Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2009 - Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a specified segment of the Missisquoi and Trout Rivers in Vermont for study for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) analyze any potential impacts on the possession or use of a weapon, trap, or net, including a concealed weapon, on the Missisquoi and Trout Rivers or on lands adjacent to that area; (2) include in the study an assessment of any effect a wild and scenic designation in the study area is likely to have on energy production, transmission, or conveyance; and (3) analyze the potential impact of the designation on private lands within the Rivers or adjacent to that area.
Topic: Environment — Species & Forest
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2009-02-03 00:00:00

Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to repeal the long-term goal of reducing to zero the incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals in commercial fishing operations. Makes reduction of such incidental mortality and serious injury (but not to any specified percentage) the long-term goal.
Topic: Environment — Species & Forest
Subject: Animals
Date: 2009-02-03 00:00:00

Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Amendments of 2009 - Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to require the collection and updating of existing practices and procedures for rescuing and rehabilitating stranded or entangled (under current law, only stranded) marine mammals. Authorizes entanglement response agreements. Authorizes appropriations (at an increased annual level) through FY2013 to carry out the existing John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program. Authorizes cooperative agreements, contracts, or other agreements or arrangements to address stranding events requiring emergency assistance. Authorizes appropriations through FY2013 to the Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Event Fund.
Topic: Environment — Species & Forest
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2009-02-04 00:00:00

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve Boundary Modification Act - Expands, notwithstanding any provision of law or regulation, the boundaries of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve in Lake Huron.
Topic: Environment — Species & Forest
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2009-02-11 00:00:00

Exempts a public or private development project that is to be carried out within three years (other than a project for which a permit for the discharge of dredged or fill material into navigable waters at specified disposal sites is required under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act or that is to be carried out on wetland as defined by the Food Security Act of 1985) from any requirement for a review, statement, or analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to require the Secretary of the Interior, on a state governor's declaration of an emergency, to temporarily exempt from the prohibition against taking and the prohibition against the adverse modification of critical habitat under such Act any action that is reasonably necessary to avoid or ameliorate the impact of the emergency, including the operation of any water supply or flood control project by a federal agency.Gives the United States District Court for the District of Columbia exclusive jurisdiction to hear all causes and claims that arise from any covered energy project. Defines a "covered energy project" as any action or decision by a federal official regarding: (1) the leasing of federal land (including submerged land) for the exploration, development, production, processing, or transmission of oil, natural gas, or any other source or form of energy; or (2) any action under such a lease. Sets forth deadlines for filing and resolving such claims.
Topic: Environment — Species & Forest
Subject: Water resources development
Date: 2009-02-11 00:00:00

Rural Colorado Water Infrastructure Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, to establish a pilot program to provide environmental assistance to non-federal interests in Colorado, which may be provided in the form of design and construction assistance for water-related environmental infrastructure and resource protection and development projects. Requires projects to be publicly owned as a prerequisite for assistance. Directs the Secretary to enter into local cooperation agreements with non-federal interests for project design and construction. Sets the federal share of project costs under local cooperation agreements at 75%. Sets the non-federal share of operation and maintenance costs for projects constructed with assistance under this Act at 100%.
Topic: Environment — Species & Forest
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2009-02-12 00:00:00

Chesapeake Bay Accountability and Recovery Act of 2009 - 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 waterhsed 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.
Topic: Environment — Species & Forest
Subject: Animals
Date: 2009-02-12 00:00:00

Directs the Secretary of the Interior to issue a permit for the importation of polar bear parts taken in a sport hunt in Canada, if legally harvested before: (1) February 18, 1997; or (2) May 15, 2008, from a bear population from which a sport-hunted trophy could be imported before such date. (Polar bears were listed as a threatened species by the Department of the Interior on May 14, 2008.)
Topic: Environment — Species & Forest
Subject: Animals
Date: 2009-02-12 00:00:00

Restoration of the U.S.-Russia Polar Bear Conservation Fund Act of 2009 - Amends the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 to allow the importation of polar bear parts taken legally in sport hunts in Canada.
Topic: Environment — Species & Forest
Subject: Animals
Date: 2009-03-05 00:00:00

Great Ape Protection Act of 2009 - Prohibits: (1) conducting invasive research on great apes; (2) knowingly breeding, possessing, renting, loaning, donating, purchasing, selling, housing, maintaining, leasing, borrowing, transporting, moving, delivering, or receiving a great ape for the purpose of conducting such research; or (3) using federal funds to conduct such research. Defines "invasive research" as research that may cause death, bodily injury, pain, distress, fear, injury, or trauma to great apes, including drug testing or exposure to a substance that may be detrimental to the ape's health or psychological well-being. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other appropriate federal authorities to provide for the permanent retirement of all great apes that are owned or under the control of the federal government and that are being maintained in any facility for the purpose of breeding for, holding for, or conducting invasive research. Sets forth civil penalties for violations of this Act.
Topic: Environment — Species & Forest
Subject: Government operations and politics
Date: 2009-03-12 00:00:00

Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act of 2010 - Requires the United States Postal Service to issue and sell, at a premium, a Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp. Requires the use of such a stamp to be voluntary on the part of postal patrons. Requires proceeds from the sale of such stamp to be: (1) transferred to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to help fund the operations supported by the Multinational Species Conservation Funds; and (2) divided equally among the African Elephant Conservation Fund, the Asian Elephant Conservation Fund, the Great Ape Conservation Fund, the Marine Turtle Conservation Fund, the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Fund, and other international wildlife conservation funds authorized by Congress after the date of this Act's enactment. Prohibits such proceeds from being taken into account in any decision relating to the level of appropriations or other federal funding to be furnished to the USFWS or such Funds. Requires the stamp to be made available to the public for at least two years. Prohibits such proceeds from being used to fund or support the Wildlife Without Borders Program or to supplement funds made available for the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Fund.
Topic: Environment — Species & Forest
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2009-03-23 00:00:00

Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2009 - 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. 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 State of Washington Department of Ecology 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.
Topic: Environment — Species & Forest
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2009-03-31 00:00:00

Conservation Easement Incentive Act of 2009 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the tax deduction for charitable contributions by individuals and corporations of real property interests for conservation purposes.
Topic: Environment — Species & Forest
Subject: Water resources development
Date: 2009-04-01 00:00:00

Amends the Water Resources Development Act of 1992 to provide specified funding for water supply infrastructure improvements for Big Bear Lake, California (in lieu of funding for water reclamation and distribution infrastructure for the Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency).
Topic: Environment — Species & Forest
Subject: Water resources development
Date: 2009-04-02 00:00:00

Directs the Secretary of the Army to enter into an agreement with the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a comprehensive study of the water management, needs, and conservation of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River System. Requires that the study include: (1) a summary of the existing body of scientific knowledge on the ecology, hydrology, geomorphology, and biogeochemistry of the Apalachicola River and the greater River System, the ecosystem services provided by that River, the impact of variation in freshwater flow on the ecology of the river and downstream coastal ecosystems, and how to restore the natural hydraulic function of the System; (2) assessments of models that serve as the basis for the master manuals of the System, of water availability, supply options, demand-management alternatives, and socioeconomic factors that influence uses in the System, and of policies, regulations, and other factors that affect federal water project operations; and (3) recommendations for an approach to determine water limits that recognize the needs of all water users along the System and for additional measures to address the long-term watershed management needs of the System.
Topic: Environment — Species & Forest
Subject: Animals
Date: 2009-04-02 00:00:00

Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide for the suspension of each provision of the Act with respect to a federal or state agency that manages a federal river basin if the Secretary of the Army (acting through the Chief of Engineers) or the governor of the relevant state determines that: (1) a drought is in effect in the region in which the basin is located; and (2) such drought presents a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of the region's population. Terminates such a suspension on the date the Secretary or governor determines the drought is no longer in effect.
Topic: Environment — Species & Forest
Subject: Animals
Date: 2009-04-02 00:00:00

Migratory Bird Habitat Investment and Enhancement Act - Amends the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act (commonly known as the Duck Stamp Act) to: (1) increase the price of the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp to $25 for any of hunting years 2010-2016 and $35 per stamp for any hunting year after 2020; and (2) authorize sale of the stamp by official distributors designated by the Secretary of the Interior.
Topic: Environment — Species & Forest
Subject: Animals
Date: 2009-04-22 00:00:00

Pacific Salmon Stronghold Conservation Act of 2009 - Establishes the Salmon Stronghold Partnership as a cooperative, incentive-based, public-private partnership working across political boundaries and land ownerships to identify and conserve salmon strongholds. Requires that its board include representatives of Alaska, California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington state, as well as representatives from specified entities. Requires the Assistant Administrator for the National Marine Fisheries Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to carry out specific information and assessment functions associated with salmon strongholds. Establishes a salmon stronghold watershed grants and technical assistance program. Authorizes the sharing of status and trends data, innovative conservation strategies, conservation planning methodologies, and other information with North Pacific countries, including Canada, Japan, Russia, and South Korea, and appropriate international entities to promote salmon conservation and habitat. Prohibits acquiring private property without the owner's consent.
Topic: Environment — Species & Forest
Subject: Animals
Date: 2009-04-23 00:00:00

Migratory Bird Treaty Act Penalty and Enforcement Act of 2009 - Amends the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to subject a person who kills or wounds any migratory bird in an aggravated manner in violation of such Act, in lieu of any penalty for such violation, to: (1) a fine and/or imprisonment for no more than a year for the first violation; and (2) a fine and/or imprisonment for no more than two years for subsequent violations. Defines "aggravated manner" to mean deliberately and in a manner that: (1) demonstrates indifference to the pain and suffering of the bird; or (2) involves actions that would shock a reasonable person. Grants the Secretary of the Interior authority provided for undercover or enforcement operations under the Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act of 1978 to detect and prosecute violations of this Act, including the authority to use funds for payments for information, rewards, or evidence concerning such violations.