[Senate Report 111-164] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] Calendar No. 326 111th Congress Report SENATE 2d Session 111-164 ====================================================================== CHESAPEAKE BAY GATEWAYS AND WATERTRAILS NETWORK CONTINUING AUTHORIZATION ACT _______ March 22 (legislative day, March 19), 2010.--Ordered to be printed _______ Mrs. Boxer, from the Committee on Environment and Public Works, submitted the following R E P O R T [To accompany S. 479] [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] The Committee on Environment and Public Works, to which was referred a bill (S. 479) to amend the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998 to provide for the continuing authorization of the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that the bill do pass. General Statement and Background Originally authorized in 1998, the Chesapeake Gateways and Watertrails program set up a network of Chesapeake Bay-related sites, such as parks, wildlife refuges, and trails. The National Park Service (NPS) provides matching grants for projects that enhance public education of and access to the Chesapeake Bay. Visitation at Gateways sites exceeds 10 million people annually, and the competitive grants program is currently oversubscribed. At the direction of Congress, the National Park Service conducted its Chesapeake Bay Special Resource Study in 2004. The draft study concluded that an enhanced version of the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network would be the most effective and efficient way for the NPS to help protect and raise interest in the Chesapeake Bay. The NPS has incorporated the Gateways Network into its permanent operations. The current authorization of the Chesapeake Gateways and Watertrails Act expired in 2007. S. 479, the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Continuing Authorization Act, will make the authorization permanent. Objectives of the Legislation The Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Continuing Authorization Act amends the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998 to make permanent the authorization of appropriations for the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network. Section-by-Section Analysis Section 1. Short title This section provides that this Act may be cited as the ``Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Continuing Authorization Act''. Sec. 2. Authorization of appropriations This section amends Section 502 of the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998 (16 U.S.C. 461 note; Public Law 105-312) by making the authorization permanent. Legislative History On February 25, 2009, Senator Cardin introduced this legislation, which was cosponsored by Senators Carper, Casey, Kaufman, Mikulski, Specter, Warner, and Webb. The bill was received, read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. The committee met on June 18, 2009, to consider the bill, and ordered S. 479 to be reported favorably without amendment. Hearings No committee hearings were held on S. 479. Rollcall Votes The Committee on Environment and Public Works met to consider S. 479 on June 18, 2009. The bill was ordered favorably reported by voice vote. No rollcall votes were taken. Regulatory Impact Statement In compliance with section 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the committee finds that S. 479 does not create any additional regulatory burdens, nor will it cause any adverse impact on the personal privacy of individuals. Mandates Assessment In compliance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-4), the committee finds that S. 479 would not impose Federal intergovernmental unfunded mandates on State, local, or tribal governments. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate S. 479--Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Continuing Authorization Act Summary: S. 479 would authorize funding for the Chesapeake Bay Initiative, a program carried out by the National Park Service (NPS) and other federal agencies to conserve resources in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates that implementing this legislation would cost $5 million over the 2010-2014 period. The bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated budgetary impact of S. 479 is shown in the following table. The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300 (natural resources and environment). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By fiscal year, in millions of dollars-- ------------------------------------------------------------ 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2010-2014 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION Estimated Authorization Level...................... 1 1 1 1 1 5 Estimated Outlays.................................. 1 1 1 1 1 5 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that S. 479 will be enacted near the end of 2009 and that the amounts estimated to be necessary will be appropriated for each fiscal year. Estimated outlays are based on historical spending patterns for this program. S. 479 would authorize (indefinitely) the appropriation of whatever amounts are necessary for projects carried out under the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998. Based on recent appropriations for the initiative, CBO estimates that the NPS would spend about $1 million annually under the bill, mostly for grants to nonfederal entities. The previous authorization of appropriations for the program, which expired at the end of fiscal year 2008, was $3 million annually, but appropriations have generally been about one-third of that amount each year. Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: S. 479 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. State and local governments could benefit from grants authorized by the bill. Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs, Deborah Reis; Impact on State, Local, and Tribal Governments, Melissa Merrell; Impact on the Private Sector, Amy Petz. Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. Changes in Existing Law In compliance with section 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by the bill as reported are shown as follows: Existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in [black brackets], new matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman: * * * * * * * ---------- CHESAPEAKE BAY INITIATIVE ACT OF 1998 * * * * * * * (a) Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network.-- (1) In general.--* * * * * * * * * * [(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1999 through 2003.] (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section. * * * * * * * ----------