HR 56
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 56
To provide for restoration of the coastal areas of the Gulf of Mexico
affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 5, 2011
Mr. SCALISE (for himself, Mr. BOUSTANY, Mr. LANDRY, Mr. CASSIDY, Mr. ALEXANDER,
and Mr. RICHMOND) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker,
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction
of the committee concerned
A BILL
To provide for restoration of the coastal areas of the Gulf of Mexico
affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, 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 `Gulf Coast Restoration Act'.
SEC. 2. GULF COAST ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION.
(a) Definitions- In this section:
(1) CHAIR- The term `Chair' means the Chair of the Task Force appointed
under subsection (d)(3).
(2) STATE COASTAL ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION PLAN- The term `State Coastal Ecosystem
Restoration Plan' means a plan submitted under subsection (c) by a qualifying
State to the Task Force.
(3) FUND- The term `Fund' means the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Fund
established by subsection (b)(2)(A).
(4) GOVERNORS- The term `Governors' means the Governors of each of the States
of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
(5) GULF COAST ECOSYSTEM- The term `Gulf Coast ecosystem' means the coastal
zones, as determined pursuant to the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972
(16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.), of the States of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana,
Mississippi, and Texas and adjacent State waters and areas of the outer
Continental Shelf, adversely impacted by the blowout and explosion of the
mobile offshore drilling unit Deepwater Horizon that occurred on April 20,
2010, and resulting hydrocarbon releases into the environment.
(6) SECRETARY- The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of the Interior.
(7) QUALIFYING STATE- The term `qualifying State' means each of the States
of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
(8) TASK FORCE- The term `Task Force' means the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration
Task Force established by subsection (d).
(b) Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration-
(1) IN GENERAL- In accordance with this section, the Chair shall review
and approve or disapprove State Coastal Ecosystem Restoration Plans submitted
by the Governors that provide for restoration activities with respect to
the Gulf Coast ecosystem.
(2) GULF COAST ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION FUND-
(A) ESTABLISHMENT- There is established in the Treasury of the United
States a fund to be known as the `Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Fund'.
(B) TRANSFERS TO FUND- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
Secretary of the Treasury shall deposit into the Fund amounts equal to
not less than 80 percent of any amounts collected by the United States
as penalties, settlements, or fines under sections 309 and 311 of the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1319, 1321) in relation
to the blowout and explosion of the mobile offshore drilling unit Deepwater
Horizon that occurred on April 20, 2010, and resulting hydrocarbon releases
into the environment.
(C) AUTHORIZED USES- The Fund shall be available to the Chair for the
conservation, protection, and restoration of the Gulf Coast ecosystem
in accordance with State Coastal Ecosystem Restoration Plans submitted
by the Governors and approved by the Chair under this section.
(3) DISBURSEMENT- The Chair shall disburse to each qualifying State for
which the Chair has approved a State Coastal Ecosystem Restoration Plan
under this section such funds as are allocated to the qualifying State under
this section.
(4) USE OF FUNDS BY QUALIFYING STATE- A qualifying State shall use all amounts
received under this section, including any amount deposited in a trust fund
that is administered by the State and dedicated to uses consistent with
this section, in accordance with all applicable Federal and State law, only
for 1 or more of the following purposes:
(A) Projects and activities for the conservation, protection, or restoration
of coastal areas, including wetlands.
(B) Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources.
(C) Planning assistance and the administrative costs of complying with
this section.
(D) Implementation of a federally approved marine, coastal, or comprehensive
conservation management plan.
(c) State Coastal Ecosystem Restoration Plan-
(1) SUBMISSION OF STATE PLANS-
(A) IN GENERAL- Not later than October 1, 2011, the Governor of a qualifying
State shall submit to the Chair a State Coastal Ecosystem Restoration
Plan.
(B) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION- In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Governor
shall solicit local input and provide for public participation in the
development of the plan.
(A) IN GENERAL- The Chair must approve a plan of a qualifying State submitted
under paragraph (1) before disbursing any amount to the qualifying State
under this section.
(B) REQUIRED COMPONENTS- The Chair shall approve a plan submitted by a
qualifying State under paragraph (1) if--
(i) the Chair determines that the plan is consistent with the uses described
in subsection (b); and
(I) the name of the State agency that will have the authority to represent
and act on behalf of the State in dealing with the Secretary for purposes
of this section;
(II) a program for the implementation of the plan that describes how
the amounts provided under this section to the qualifying State will
be used; and
(III) a certification by the Governor that ample opportunity has been
provided for public participation in the development and revision
of the plan.
(3) AMENDMENTS- Any amendment to a plan submitted under paragraph (1) shall
be--
(A) developed in accordance with this subsection; and
(B) submitted to the Chair for approval or disapproval under paragraph
(4).
(4) PROCEDURE- Not later than 60 days after the date on which a plan or
amendment to a plan is submitted under paragraph (1) or (3), respectively,
the Chair shall approve or disapprove the plan or amendment.
(d) Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force-
(1) ESTABLISHMENT- There is established the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration
Task Force.
(2) MEMBERSHIP- The Task Force shall consist of the following members, or
in the case of a Federal agency, a designee at the level of Assistant Secretary
or the equivalent:
(B) The Secretary of Commerce.
(C) The Secretary of the Army.
(D) The Attorney General.
(E) The Secretary of Homeland Security.
(F) The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(G) The Commandant of the Coast Guard.
(H) The Secretary of Transportation.
(I) The Secretary of Agriculture.
(J) A representative of each affected Indian tribe, appointed by the Secretary
based on the recommendations of the tribal chairman.
(K) Two representatives of each of the States of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana,
Mississippi, and Texas, appointed by the Governor of each State, respectively.
(L) Two representatives of local government within each of the States
of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, appointed by the
Governor of each State, respectively.
(3) CHAIR- The Chair of the Task Force shall be appointed by the President
from among the members under paragraph (2) who are Federal officials.
(4) DUTIES OF THE TASK FORCE- The Task Force shall--
(A) consult with, and provide recommendations to, the Chair regarding
the approval of State Coastal Ecosystem Restoration Plans;
(B) coordinate scientific and other research associated with restoration
of the Gulf Coast ecosystem; and
(C) submit an annual report to Congress that summarizes the State Coastal
Ecosystem Restoration Plans submitted by the Governors and approved by
the Chair.
(5) APPLICATION OF THE FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT- The Task Force shall
not be considered an advisory committee under the Federal Advisory Committee
Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
END
