[Senate Report 110-404]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 859
110th Congress Report
SENATE
2d Session 110-404
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CHESAPEAKE BAY GATEWAYS AND WATERTRAILS NETWORK CONTINUING
AUTHORIZATION ACT
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June 27, 2008.--Ordered to be printed
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Mrs. Boxer, from the Committee on Environment and Public Works,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 2707]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Environment and Public Works, to which was
referred a bill (S. 2707) 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 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 the Congress, the National Park Service
completed its Chesapeake Bay Special Resource Study in 2004.
The study concluded that an enhanced version of the Chesapeake
Bay Gateways Network would be the most effective and efficient
way for the National Park Service to help protect and raise
interest in the Chesapeake Bay. The NPS has incorporated the
Gateways Network into its permanent operations. The current
authorization The Chesapeake Gateways and Watertrails Act
expired last year. ``The Chesapeake Bay Gateways and
Watertrails Network Continuing Authorization Act,'' S. 2707,
will make the authorization permanent.
Objectives of the Legislation
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 March 5, 2008, Senator Cardin introduced this
legislation, which was cosponsored by Senators Biden, Carper,
Casey, 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 May 21,
2008, to consider the bill, and ordered S. 2707 to be reported
favorably without amendment.
Hearings
No committee hearings were held on S. 2707.
Rollcall Votes
The Committee on Environment and Public Works met to
consider S. 1468 on May 21, 2008. The bill was ordered
favorably reported by voice vote. No roll call 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. 2707
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. 2707 would not
impose Federal intergovernmental unfunded mandates on State,
local, or tribal governments.
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
S. 2707--Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Continuing
Authorization Act
S. 2707 would reauthorize 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 the NPS about $5 million over the 2009-
2013 period and $1 million a year thereafter. Enacting S. 2707
would not affect direct spending or revenues.
S. 2707 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. 2707 is shown in the following table.
The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300
(natural resources and environment).
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By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
-----------------------------------------------
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
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SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
Spending Under Current Law:
Budget Authoritya........................................... 1 0 0 0 0 0
Estimated Outlays........................................... 1 0 0 0 0 0
Proposed Changes:
Estimated Authorization Level............................... 0 1 1 1 1 1
Estimated Outlays........................................... 0 1 1 1 1 1
Spending Under S. 2707:
Estimated Authorization Levela.............................. 1 1 1 1 1 1
Estimated Outlays........................................... 1 1 1 1 1 1
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aThe 2008 level is the amount appropriated for that year.
Basis of estimate: S. 2707 would authorize (indefinitely)
the appropriation of whatever amounts are necessary for
programs carried out under the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of
1998. Based on recent appropriations for those programs, CBO
estimates that the NPS would spend about $1 million annually
under the bill, mostly for grants to nonfederal entities. The
current authorization of appropriations for the program, which
will expire at the end of fiscal year 2008, is $3 million
annually, but appropriations have generally been about one-
third of that amount each year ($1 million).
Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: S. 2707
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.
Previous CBO cost estimate: On May 7, 2008, CBO transmitted
a cost estimate for H.R. 5540, the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and
Watertrails Network Continuing Authorization Act, as ordered
reported by the House Committee on Natural Resources on April
30, 2008. H.R. 5540 and S. 2707 are nearly identical, and the
CBO cost estimates for the two versions of the legislation are
the same.
Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Deborah Reis; Impact
on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Burke Doherty; Impact
on the Private Sector: Amy Petz.
Estimate approved by: Theresa Gullo, Deputy 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
* * * * * * *
SEC. 502. CHESAPEAKE BAY GATEWAYS AND WATERTRAILS.
(a) Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior
(referred to in this section as the ``Secretary''), in
cooperation with the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency (referred to in this section as the
``Administrator''), shall provide technical and
financial assistance, in cooperation with other Federal
agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit
organizations, and the private sector--
(A)* * *
* * * * * * *
[(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 2008.]
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this
section.
* * * * * * *