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Notes

S. 1000 — what changed

Chesapeake Bay Accountability and Recovery Act of 2014

From Introduced in Senate to Engrossed in Senate. 5 sections amended between Introduced in Senate and Engrossed in Senate.

Section 1 Short title

changed This Act may be cited as the “Chesapeake Bay Accountability and Recovery Act of 2013”.2014”.

Sec. 2 Definitions

In this Act:

(1)
removed Adaptive management— The term adaptive management means a type of natural resource management in which project and program decisions are made as part of an ongoing science-based process that—
(A)
removed includes testing, monitoring, and evaluating applied strategies and incorporating new knowledge into programs and restoration activities that are based on scientific findings and the needs of society; and
(B)
removed uses the results of activities described in subparagraph (A) to modify management policies, strategies, practices, programs, and restoration activities.
(1)
renumbered was (4) Administrator— The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2)
added Chesapeake Bay State— The term Chesapeake Bay State or State means any of—
(3)
removed Chesapeake Bay State— The term Chesapeake Bay State or State mean any of—
(A)
renumbered was (5)(3) the States of Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware, and New York;
(B)
renumbered was (5)(4) the Commonwealths of Virginia and Pennsylvania; and
(C)
renumbered was (5)(5) the District of Columbia.
(3)
added Chesapeake Bay watershed— The term Chesapeake Bay watershed means all tributaries, backwaters, and side channels, including watersheds, draining into the Chesapeake Bay.
(4)
changed Chesapeake Bay watershed—Executive Council— The term Chesapeake Bay watershed means the Chesapeake Bay and the geographic area within Executive Council has the Chesapeake Bay States, consisting of 36 tributary basins, through which precipitation drains into meaning given the Chesapeake Bay, as determined term by the Secretary section 117(a) of the Interior.Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1267(a)).
(5)
removed Chesapeake Executive Council— The term Chesapeake Executive Council has the meaning given the term by section 307 of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992 (15 U.S.C. 1511d).
(5)
renumbered was (8) Chief executive— The term chief executive means, in the case of a State or Commonwealth, the Governor of the State or Commonwealth and, in the case of the District of Columbia, the Mayor of the District of Columbia.
(6)
renumbered was (9) Director— The term Director means the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
(7)
added Federal restoration activity—
(A)
added In general— The term Federal restoration activity means a Federal program or project carried out under Federal authority in existence as of the date of enactment of this Act with the express intent to directly protect, conserve, or restore living resources, habitat, water resources, or water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including programs or projects that provide financial and technical assistance to promote responsible land use, stewardship, and community engagement in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
(B)
added Categorization— Federal restoration activities may be categorized as follows:
(8)
removed Restoration activities—
(A)
removed In general— The term restoration activity means any Federal or State program or project that directly or indirectly protects, conserves, or restores living resources, habitat, water resources, or water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including programs or projects that promote responsible land use, stewardship, and community engagement in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
(B)
removed Inclusions— The term restoration activity includes any one or more of the following:
(i)
renumbered was (10)(3)(3) Physical restoration.
(ii)
renumbered was (10)(3)(4) Planning.
(iii)
renumbered was (10)(3)(5) Feasibility studies.
(iv)
renumbered was (10)(3)(6) Scientific research.
(v)
renumbered was (10)(3)(7) Monitoring.
(vi)
renumbered was (10)(3)(8) Education.
(vii)
added Infrastructure development.
(8)
added State restoration activity—
(A)
added In general— The term State restoration activity means any State program or project carried out under State authority that directly or indirectly protect, conserve, or restore living resources, habitat, water resources, or water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including programs or projects that promote responsible land use, stewardship, and community engagement in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
(B)
added Categorization— State restoration activities may be categorized as follows:
(i)
added Physical restoration.
(ii)
added Planning.
(iii)
added Feasibility studies.
(iv)
added Scientific research.
(v)
added Monitoring.
(vi)
added Education.
(vii)
changed Infrastructure Development.development.

Sec. 3 Chesapeake Bay crosscut budget

(a)
changed Crosscut Budget—In general— The Director, in consultation with the Chesapeake Executive Council, the chief executive of each Chesapeake Bay State, and the Chesapeake Bay Commission, shall annually submit to Congress a financial report containing—
(1)
changed an interagency crosscut budget that displays—displays, as applicable—
(A)
changed the proposed funding for any Federal restoration activity to be carried out in the succeeding fiscal year, including any planned interagency or intra-agency transfer, for each of the Federal agency agencies that carries carry out restoration activities;
(B)
to the extent that information is available, the estimated funding for any State restoration activity to be carried out in the succeeding fiscal year;
(C)
changed all expenditures for Federal restoration activities from the preceding 2 fiscal years, the current fiscal year, and the succeeding fiscal year; andyear;
(D)
changed all expenditures, to the extent that information is available, for State restoration activities during the equivalent time period described in subparagraph (C);(C); and
(E)
added a section that identifies and evaluates, based on need and appropriateness, specific opportunities to consolidate similar programs and activities within the budget and recommendations to Congress for legislative action to streamline, consolidate, or eliminate similar programs and activities within the budget;
(2)
a detailed accounting of all funds received and obligated by each Federal agency for restoration activities during the current and preceding fiscal years, including the identification of funds that were transferred to a Chesapeake Bay State for restoration activities;
(3)
to the extent that information is available, a detailed accounting from each State of all funds received and obligated from a Federal agency for restoration activities during the current and preceding fiscal years; and
(4)
a description of each of the proposed Federal and State restoration activities to be carried out in the succeeding fiscal year (corresponding to those activities listed in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1)), including—
(A)
the project description;
(B)
the current status of the project;
(C)
the Federal or State statutory or regulatory authority, program, or responsible agency;
(D)
the authorization level for appropriations;
(E)
the project timeline, including benchmarks;
(F)
references to project documents;
(G)
descriptions of risks and uncertainties of project implementation;
(H)
removed a description of the applicable adaptive management actions or framework;
(H)
renumbered was (2)(6)(10) a list of coordinating entities;
(I)
renumbered was (2)(6)(11) a description of the funding history for the project;
(J)
added cost sharing; and
(K)
changed cost-sharing, if any; andalignment with the existing Chesapeake Bay Agreement, Chesapeake Executive Council goals and priorities, and Annual Action Plan required by section 205 of Executive Order 13508 (33 U.S.C. 1267 note; relating to Chesapeake Bay protection and restoration).
(L)
removed alignment with existing Chesapeake Bay Agreement and Chesapeake Executive Council goals and priorities.
(b)
changed Minimum funding levels— The Director shall only describe In describing restoration activities in the report required under subsection (a) that—(a), the Director shall only include—
(1)
changed for Federal restoration activities, have funding amounts greater than or equal to $100,000; andthe first 3 years that the report is required, descriptions of—
(A)
added Federal restoration activities that have funding amounts greater than or equal to $300,000; and
(B)
added State restoration activities that have funding amounts greater than or equal to $300,000; and
(2)
changed for State restoration activities, have funding amounts greater than or equal to $50,000.every year thereafter, descriptions of—
(A)
added Federal restoration activities that have funding amounts greater than or equal to $100,000; and
(B)
added State restoration activities that have funding amounts greater than or equal to $100,000.
(c)
changed Deadline— Not later than 30 days after the date on which the President submits the annual budget to Congress under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, the The Director shall submit to Congress the report required by subsection (a) to—not later than September 30 of each year.
(1)
removed the Committees on Appropriations, Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, and Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; and
(2)
removed the Committees on Appropriations, Environment and Public Works, and Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
(d)
changed Effective Date—Report— This section shall apply beginning with Copies of the first fiscal year after report required by subsection (a) shall be submitted to the date Committees on Appropriations, Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, and Transportation and Infrastructure of enactment the House of this Act for which Representatives and the President submits a budget to Congress under section 1105 Committees on Appropriations, Environment and Public Works, and Commerce, Science, and Transportation of title 31, United States Code.the Senate.
(e)
added Effective date— This section shall apply beginning with the first fiscal year after the date of enactment of this Act.

Sec. 4 Independent Evaluator for the Chesapeake Bay Program

(a)
changed In general— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with appropriate Federal and State agencies, There shall develop and implement be an adaptive management plan Independent Evaluator for restoration activities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed that includes—watershed, who shall review and report on—
(1)
changed a definition of specific and measurable objectives to improve water quality, habitat, and fisheries;restoration activities; and
(2)
changed a process for stakeholder participation;any related topics that are suggested by the Chesapeake Executive Council.
(b)
added Appointment—
(1)
added In general— Not later than 30 days after the date of submission of nominees by the Chesapeake Executive Council, the Independent Evaluator shall be appointed by the Administrator from among nominees submitted by the Chesapeake Executive Council with the consultation of the scientific community.
(2)
added Nominations— The Chesapeake Executive Council may nominate for consideration as Independent Evaluator a science-based institution of higher education.
(3)
added Requirements— The Administrator shall only select as Independent Evaluator a nominee that the Administrator determines demonstrates excellence in marine science, policy evaluation, or other studies relating to complex environmental restoration activities.
(c)
added Reports— Not later than 180 days after the date of appointment and once every 2 years thereafter, the Independent Evaluator shall submit to Congress a report describing the findings and recommendations of reviews conducted under subsection (a).
(3)
removed monitoring, modeling, experimentation, and other research and evaluation practices;
(4)
removed a process for modification of restoration activities that have not attained or will not attain the specific and measurable objectives set forth under paragraph (1); and
(5)
removed a process for prioritizing restoration activities and programs to which adaptive management shall be applied.
(b)
removed Updates— The Administrator shall update the adaptive management plan developed under subsection (a) once every 2 years.
(c)
removed Report to Congress—
(1)
removed In general— Not later than 6 days after the end of each fiscal year, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the implementation of the adaptive management plan required under this section for that fiscal year.
(2)
removed Contents— The report required under paragraph (1) shall contain information about the application of adaptive management to restoration activities and programs, including programmatic and project level changes implemented through the process of adaptive management.
(3)
removed Effective date— Paragraph (1) shall apply to the first fiscal year that begins after the date of enactment of this Act.
(d)
removed Inclusion of plan in Annual Action Plan and Annual Progress Report— The Administrator shall ensure that the annual Chesapeake Bay Action Plan and Annual Progress Report required by section 205 of Executive Order 13508 (33 U.S.C. 1267 note; relating to Chesapeake Bay protection and restoration) includes the adaptive management plan outlined in subsection (a).

Sec. 5 Prohibition on new funding

added No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act.

(a)
removed In general— There shall be an Independent Evaluator for restoration activities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, who shall review and report on—
(1)
removed restoration activities and the use of adaptive management in restoration activities; and
(2)
removed any related topics that are suggested by the Chesapeake Executive Council.
(b)
removed Appointment—
(1)
removed In general— The Independent Evaluator shall be appointed by the Administrator from among nominees submitted by the Chesapeake Executive Council.
(2)
removed Nominations— The Chesapeake Executive Council may submit to the Administrator 4 nominees for appointment to any vacancy in the office of the Independent Evaluator.
(c)
removed Reports— Once every 2 years, the Independent Evaluator shall submit to Congress a report describing the review described in subsection (a).