lcalvobartolome/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2016-02-29 00:00:00

Green Stormwater Infrastructure Investment Act

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to assist state, tribal, and local governments toinvest in green stormwater infrastructure.Green stormwater infrastructure is a stormwater management technique that uses natural or engineered systems designed to promote the uptake and filtration of stormwater at its source to protect habitats and reduce flood risks.

The bill establishes a 20% reserve within each state's Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund for installation, operation, and maintenance of green stormwater infrastructure.

The Department of Transportation must prioritize projects that include green stormwater infrastructure for competitive federal transportation infrastructure grants.

The bill also authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency to extend National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits for green stormwater infrastructure systems for up to 10 years.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-03-14 00:00:00

This bill directs the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove specific properties in Brick, New Jersey, from the John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-03-14 00:00:00

Digital Coast Act of 2016

This bill authorizes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Office for Coastal Management to establish a Digital Coast program for the sharing of digital information to help coastal communities better prepare for storms, plan for long-term coastal resilience, and manage coastal resources. The program launches the next phase of development at NOAA for the use of coastal mapping. In order for coastal communities to effectively use coastal mapping to solve coastal problems there must be coordination and information sharing among federal, state, local, and private participants in each coastal area.

NOAA's Office for Coastal Management should optimize the development and use of coastal mapping data by:

 integrating the data to make it readily accessible via the internet, developing visualization and predictive tools that makes the data easier to find and use, providing training on how to decipher and use the data to make accurate decisions, making sure the data meets federal standards, and archiving the data at the NOAA data center. In addition, the Digital Coast program requires NOAA's Office for Coastal Management to prioritize the collection of coastal mapping data in critical coastal areas, and support existing efforts to improve the acquisition of the key data sets necessary for coastal communities to effectively solve coastal problems.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-03-17 00:00:00

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.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-03-23 00:00:00

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Boundary Adjustment Study Act

This bill directs the Department of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the lands, waters, and interests of the coastline and specified areas adjacent to the Santa Monica Bay in California to evaluate a range of alternatives for protecting the study area's resources, including:

 expanding and redesignating the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area as the "Santa Monica Mountains and Coastal Recreation Area," or creating a new coastal recreation area designated as the "Los Angeles Coastal Recreation Area."
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-05-18 00:00:00

Keep America's Waterfronts Working Act

This bill amends the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish a Working Waterfront Grant Program. Under the program, NOAA may award grants to coastal states with approved working waterfront plans in place to preserve and expand access to coastal waters for people engaged in fishing, aquaculture, boat building, and other water-dependent businesses.

In addition, NOAA is authorized to award grants to coastal states for the purpose of developing or revising working waterfront plans.

States are allowed to allocate any grant money received to eligible local governments and other entities. Each state that is awarded a grant must contribute at least 25% of matching funds towards the total cost of the project carried out with the grant, subject to certain exceptions.

The Department of the Interior must establish a Working Waterfront Task Force that will be designed to identify and address critical working waterfront needs with respect to cultural and economic importance, climate change and other environmental threats, and market conditions for water-dependent businesses.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Agriculture and food
Date: 2016-06-10 00:00:00

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 that receive $450,000 or less in USDA conservation assistance during the year or are Indian tribes from reporting requirements related to subawards, executive compensation, the Universal Identifier, and the System for Award Management.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Agriculture and food
Date: 2016-06-28 00:00:00

Wetland Determinations Efficiency and Transparency Act 

This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to revise the process that the Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) uses to make a wetland determination, delineation, or certification.

The NRCS must make a determination, delineation, or certification within 60 days. If the NRCS misses the deadline, it must provide a reasonable transition period for a person to come into compliance with the decision without losing eligibility for certain payments and loans.

A decision is subject to judicial review, and a person is not required to exhaust all administrative remedies prior to bringing a suit in federal court. In the case of a dispute, the NRCS must bear the burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence and provide a copy of the agency record upon request.

USDA must permit a person to secure technical assistance from an approved source, other than the NRCS, for the preparation of: (1) a conservation plan or similar plan required as a condition for USDA assistance, and (2) a wetland delineation or determination.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Water resources development
Date: 2016-07-07 00:00:00

Increasing Local Autonomy for Shore Protection Act of 2016

This bill amends the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 to increase the non-federal share of the cost of the periodic nourishment of any water resources development project or any measure for shore protection or beach erosion control for such project to 65% (current law sets such non-federal share at lower levels of up to 50% based on the dates after which the projects are carried out).
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-07-13 00:00:00

Advancing Conservation and Education Act of 2016

 This bill allows the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming (western states) to relinquish state land grant parcels wholly or primarily within eligible areas and select, in exchange, public land within the state.

The bill defines "eligible areas" as lands within the outer boundaries of units of the National Park, National Wilderness Preservation, National Wildlife Refuge, or National Landscape Conservation Systems, areas identified by the Bureau of Land Management of the Department of the Interior as having wilderness characteristics, and certain designated lands within the National Forest System.

 Interior shall create a process for the relinquishment of such parcels.

 A western state may select, and Interior may convey, lands that are mineral in character.

 The overall value of the state land grant parcels and the public land to be conveyed shall be equal.

The bill sets forth requirements regarding hazardous materials on land conveyed, water rights, and grazing permits.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2016-07-13 00:00:00

Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2016

This bill reauthorizes for FY2016-FY2021 the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990 and revises requirements for: (1) funding requests to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for proposals and regional projects that restore the fish and wildlife resources and habitat of the Great Lakes Basin, and (2) cost-share requirements for the proposals and projects.

The bill renames: (1) the Lower Great Lakes Fishery Resources Office as the Lower Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, and (2) the Upper Great Lakes Fishery Resources Office as the Upper Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-07-14 00:00:00

California Seamounts and Ridges National Marine Conservation Area Designation and Management Act

This bill establishes the California Seamounts and Ridges National Marine Conservation Area to protect certain seamounts, ridges, and banks locatedin federal waters off the coast of California.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)and the Department of the Interior shall have joint responsibility for managing the conservation area.Development of a management plan must include a public consultation process with tribes, fisherman, and other stakeholders to better understand the activities occurring in the conservation area.

Additionally, any management plan developed by NOAA and Interior must prohibit oil and gas development, deep sea-mining, aquaculture, and damaging fishing practices in the area.Certain activities including recreational fishing and exercises by the Armed Forces are allowed to be conducted in the area.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-09-14 00:00:00

Flood Prevention Act of 2016 

This bill amends the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 to make the District of Columbia eligible to receive federal coastal zone management funding, including flood mitigation and prevention funds.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-12-02 00:00:00

Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Assessment Act

This bill directs 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 recommend in its report 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.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-01-07 00:00:00

Regulatory Fairness Act of 2015

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to define the period of time in which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is authorized to restrict or deny a permit for the discharge of dredged or fill materials into navigable waters as the period that:

 begins on the date that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers publishes a notice for the discharge of dredged or fill material into navigable waters at specified disposal sites, and ends on the date that the Army Corps issues the permit. The EPA must make all the information and data that it reviewed in making a determination publicly available.

The EPA's authority to withdraw a specification of a defined area as a disposal site for the discharge of dredged or fill materials is eliminated.

Any previous action by the EPA that occurred outside of this period to deny or restrict a permit or to prohibit the specification of any defined area as a disposal site is nullified.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-01-07 00:00:00

Ending Legacy Lawsuit Abuse Act

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to allow a defendant to remove from a state court to the U.S. district court a civil action involving a claim of environmental contamination that impacts or threatens to impact waters of the United States subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-01-22 00:00:00

Regulatory Fairness Act of 2015

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to define the period of time in which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is authorized to restrict or deny a permit for the discharge of dredged or fill materials into navigable waters as the period that:

 begins on the date that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers publishes a notice for the discharge of dredged or fill material into navigable waters at specified disposal sites, and ends on the date that the Army Corps issues the permit. The EPA must make all the information and data that it reviewed in making a determination publicly available.

The EPA's authority to withdraw a specification of a defined area as a disposal site for the discharge of dredged or fill materials is eliminated.

Any previous action by the EPA that occurred outside of this period to deny or restrict a permit or to prohibit the specification of any defined area as a disposal site is nullified.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-02-02 00:00:00

Conservation Easement Incentive Act of 2015

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) make permanent the tax deduction for charitable contributions by individuals and corporations of real property interests for conservation purposes, and (2) allow Native Corporations an increased tax deduction for donations of conservation easements related to lands conveyed under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2015-02-02 00:00:00

Amends the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 to make permanent the authorization for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Requires not less than 1.5% of the annual authorized funding amount or $10 million, whichever is greater, to be used for projects that secure recreational public access to existing federal public land for hunting, fishing, and other recreational purposes.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Taxation
Date: 2015-02-05 00:00:00

Water and Agriculture Tax Reform Act of 2015

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit tax-exempt mutual ditch or irrigation companies to earn income from dispositions of certain real property and stock interests without affecting their tax-exempt status. Requires that such income be used to pay the costs of operations, maintenance, and capital improvements of such a company.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2015-02-05 00:00:00

Making Public Land Public Access Act

Requires the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ensure that a specified portion of the Land and Water Conservation Fund is allocated to secure recreational public access to existing federal public land that has significantly restricted access for hunting, fishing, and other recreational purposes. Requires Interior and USDA to annually develop a priority list for sites for such funds.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-02-12 00:00:00

Great Lakes Ecological and Economic Protection Act of 2015

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (commonly known as the Clean Water Act) to expand the purpose of the Act to include achieving the goals established in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan and the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy.

This bill reauthorizes through FY2020 the Great Lakes Legacy Act for the remediation of sediment contamination in areas of concern, the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Great Lakes National Program Office, and EPA's Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

The Initiative must prioritize work done by non-federal partners in specified focus areas. Initiative funding may not be used for a water infrastructure activity that is implemented using funds made available under the clean water or drinking water state revolving fund programs, except green infrastructure projects that improve habitat and other ecosystem functions in the Great Lakes.

Federal agencies must maintain the base level of funding for their Great Lakes activities and identify new activities to support the environmental goals of the Initiative.

The bill codifies the establishment of the Great Lakes Advisory Board and the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force, which were previously established by the EPA. The Board must provide advice and recommendations to the EPA on matters pertaining to Great Lakes restoration and protection. The Task Force must collaborate with Canada and coordinate the development of federal policy on Great Lakes restoration and protection.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Transportation and public works
Date: 2015-02-12 00:00:00

Highway Runoff Management Act

 Requires each state to develop for approval a state highway stormwater management program consisting of management measures to prevent, reduce, or control highway runoff from federal-aid highway projects.

Directs the Secretary of Transportation to publish guidance to assist states in the establishment of such measures.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Water resources development
Date: 2015-03-16 00:00:00

Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Act of 2015

This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish the Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Program to provide grants in each of FY2015-FY2019 for programs or projects to increase the resiliency or adaptability of water systems to any ongoing or forecasted changes to the hydrologic conditions of a U.S. region. A water system is a community water system, a treatment works, a decentralized wastewater treatment system for domestic sewage, a groundwater storage and replenishment system, a system for transport and delivery of water for irrigation or conservation, or a natural or engineered system that manages floodwater.

The EPA must give priority to owners or operators of water systems that are at the greatest and most immediate risk of facing significant negative impacts due to changing hydrologic conditions.

The EPA must ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the list of grant applications funded includes a substantial number that propose to use innovative approaches that meet at least one of these goals:

 promote more efficient water use, conservation, reuse, or recycling; use decentralized, low-impact development technologies and nonstructural approaches; reduce stormwater runoff or flooding by protecting or enhancing natural ecosystem functions; modify, upgrade, enhance, or replace existing water system infrastructure in response to changing hydrologic conditions; improve water quality or quantity for agricultural and municipal uses; and provide multiple benefits, including water supply enhancement or demand reduction, water quality protection or improvement, increased flood protection, and ecosystem protection or improvement.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2015-03-26 00:00:00

Land and Water Conservation Authorization and Funding Act of 2015

Amends the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 to make permanent the authorization for the Land and Water Conservation Fund(LWCF).

Permits funds deposited into the LWCF to be spent without being subject to the appropriations process. Provides that the funds are in addition to amounts made available by the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 or otherwise appropriated from the LWCF.

Directs the President to submit to Congress specified details regarding the allocation of funds provided by this bill. Permits Congress to provide for alternate allocations using specified procedures.

 Requires at least 1.5% of the annual authorized funds to be used for projects that secure recreational public access to existing federal public land for hunting, fishing, and other recreational purposes.
Topic: Environment — Conservation
Subject: Environmental protection
Date: 2015-04-13 00:00:00

Innovative Stormwater Infrastructure Act of 2015

This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide grants to eligible higher education institutions and research institutions to establish and maintain between three and five centers of excellence for innovative stormwater control infrastructure, which is any stormwater management technique that: (1) uses natural systems or engineered systems that mimic natural processes to infiltrate, evapotranspire, or capture stormwater; and (2) preserves, enhances, or mimics natural hydrology to protect or restore water quality. One of the centers must be the national electronic clearinghouse center and operate a website and a public database on the infrastructure.

The EPA must: (1) provide grants to eligible entities that manage stormwater, water resources, or wastewater resources to carry out innovative stormwater control infrastructure projects; and (2) give priority to applications from a community that has combined storm and sanitary sewers in its collection system or is low-income or disadvantaged, or from an eligible entity that will use at least 10% of the grant for a low-income or disadvantaged community.

The EPA must ensure that: (1) EPA's Office of Water, Office of Enforcement and Compliance, Office of Research and Development, and Office of Policy promote the use of the infrastructure in, and coordinate its integration into, permitting programs, planning efforts, research, technical assistance, and funding guidance; and (2) the Office of Water supports establishing innovative financing mechanisms in the implementation of the infrastructure. The EPA must: (1) direct each EPA regional office to promote and integrate the use of the infrastructure within the region, and (2) promote sharing information about the infrastructure approaches.

The EPA must establish the innovative stormwater control infrastructure portfolio standard of voluntary, measurable goals to increase the percentage of annual water managed by entities that use the infrastructure.