Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish the Mississippi Sound Restoration Program within EPA. Authorizes the Administrator to make grants for restoration projects and studies and public education projects recommended by a management conference convened for the Sound under the NEP.
Directs the Administrator to assist the Council in developing a management plan for the restoration and protection of the Sound and to provide funding and oversight for voluntary restoration projects. Authorizes appropriations.
Expresses the sense of Congress that all recipients of grants under this Act shall abide by the Buy American Act.
[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4104 Introduced in House (IH)]
106th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4104
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize funding
to carry out certain water quality and barrier island restoration
projects for the Mississippi Sound, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 28, 2000
Mr. Taylor of Mississippi introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize funding
to carry out certain water quality and barrier island restoration
projects for the Mississippi Sound, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Mississippi Sound Restoration Act of
2000''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) the Mississippi Sound provides a diverse environment
that provides the diverse essential habitat that supports
numerous species of fish, birds, mammals, and plants;
(2) the Sound supports an extensive and successful seafood
industry that is important to the region's economy and way of
life;
(3) the unique natural resources of the Sound provides the
community with extensive recreational opportunities adding to
the quality of life and contributing to the local economy;
(4) the Sound encompasses an area of approximately 2,400
square miles;
(5) the barrier islands system is in need of restoration to
serve as wildlife habitat and to provide mainland protection
from coastal erosion;
(6) increasing population growth and rapid development
combined with intensive land use have resulted in dramatic
threats to the environment and ecology of the Sound;
(7) a major source of pollution in the Sound is raw or
partially treated human waste from--
(A) communities with poor sewer systems or without
sewer systems; and
(B) septic tank systems that are not operating
properly;
(8) such pollution has a negative impact on the seafood
industry through occasional closings of oyster banks;
(9) the tourism industry is adversely affected from beach
closings due to storm runoff containing untreated human waste;
and
(10) the programs and activities of the various Federal
agencies involved with administration of laws, programs, and
assets that affect the water quality of the Sound, including
the Environmental Protection Agency, the Army Corps of
Engineers, and other agencies, lack coordination and sufficient
resources to measure and remediate water quality problems in
the Sound.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to coordinate the restoration efforts of Federal,
State, and local agencies and nonregulatory organizations in
the restoration of the Mississippi Sound;
(2) to establish the Mississippi Sound Restoration Program
within the Environmental Protection Agency; and
(3) to authorize and provide adequate resources for
restoration projects in the Sound.
SEC. 3. MISSISSIPPI SOUND.
Title I of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 121. MISSISSIPPI SOUND.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions
apply:
``(1) Sound.--The term `Sound' means the Mississippi Sound
located on the Gulf Coast of the State of Mississippi.
``(2) Council.--The term `Council' means the Mississippi
Sound Executive Council established under subsection (b)(3)(A).
``(3) Management plan.--The term `management plan' means
the sound management plan developed under subsection (b)(3)(B).
``(4) Program.--The term `program' means the Mississippi
Sound Restoration Program established under subsection (b)(1).
``(b) Mississippi Sound Restoration Program.--
``(1) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall
establish within the Environmental Protection Agency the
Mississippi Sound Restoration Program.
``(2) Purposes.--The purposes of the program shall be--
``(A) to coordinate efforts among and provide
resources for Federal, State, and local governmental
agencies and nonregulatory organizations to reduce
pollution and restore barrier islands in the Sound; and
``(B) to restore the ecological health of the
Sound.
``(3) Administration.--
``(A) Mississippi sound executive council.--Not
later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this
section, the Administrator shall establish the
Mississippi Sound Executive Council, to be composed of
the following individuals (or their designees):
``(i) The Administrator.
``(ii) The Governor of the State of
Mississippi.
``(iii) One representative from each of
Hancock County, Harrison County, and Jackson
County, Mississippi, designated by the board of
supervisors of the County.
``(iv) The director of the Gulf Coast
Research Lab located in Ocean Springs,
Mississippi, or the designee of the director.
``(v) The Director of the Mississippi
Department of Marine Resources or the designee
of the Director.
``(B) Management plan.--
``(i) In general.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of enactment of this section,
the Administrator, in cooperation with
appropriate Federal, State, and local
authorities, shall assist the Council in
developing a comprehensive, multiuse,
management plan for the restoration and
protection of the Sound.
``(ii) Assistance.--Assistance provided by
the Administrator under subparagraph (A) shall
include grants for and technical assistance
in--
``(I) developing an annual work
plan endorsed by the Council;
``(II) supporting Sound-wide
environmental monitoring and research
to provide technical and scientific
information necessary to support
management decisions;
``(III) developing a comprehensive
research plan to address the technical
needs of the program; and
``(IV) recommending restoration
projects for implementation by the
State of Mississippi, counties, and
nongovernmental entities.
``(c) Restoration Projects.--In accordance with the management
plan, the Administrator shall provide funding and oversight to carry
out voluntary restoration projects for the Sound that--
``(1) address human waste problems in the Sound by
providing a cost-sharing construction and education program
that offers incentives to counties and local communities to
improve sewage treatment facilities;
``(2) provide for the rerouting of discharges from pumping
stations through adjacent wetlands, using existing canals and
small water control structures, in order to use natural wetland
to filter pollutants from urban stormwater;
``(3) improve Sound water quality by establishing new
sanitation and sewage systems where needed;
``(4) reverse the trend of decreasing acreage of barrier
islands and coastal wetlands in the Sound by creating new
sustainable wetland habitat and restoring barrier islands
through the beneficial use of dredged material;
``(5) retain the integrity of natural structural elements
in the coastal landscape, such as ridges and barrier islands,
in order to reduce storm surge impacts to essential habitats
and human infrastructure; and
``(6) restore and enhance the sustainable yield of fin and
shellfish by the re-creation and enhancement of keys and reefs
and enhancement of keys and reefs that have been destroyed as a
result of human or natural activity.
``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out subsections (b)
and (c). Such funds shall remain available until expended.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Discharged.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 106-840.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation. H. Rept. 106-840.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 497.
Mr. LaTourette moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7480-7482)
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DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4104.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7480-7481)
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7480-7481)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.