109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4294
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into cooperative
agreements to protect natural resources of units of the National Park System
through collaborative efforts on land inside and outside of units of the
National Park System, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 10, 2005
Mr. PORTER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on Resources
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into cooperative
agreements to protect natural resources of units of the National Park System
through collaborative efforts on land inside and outside of units of the
National Park System, 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 `Natural Resource Protection Cooperative Agreement
Act'.
SEC. 2. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR NATIONAL PARK NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION.
(a) In General- The Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this Act as
the `Secretary') may enter into cooperative agreements with State, local,
or tribal governments, other public entities, educational institutions,
private nonprofit organizations, or participating private landowners for
the purpose of protecting natural resources of units of the National Park
System through collaborative efforts on land inside and outside of National
Park System units.
(b) Terms and Conditions- A cooperative agreement entered into under subsection
(a) shall provide clear and direct benefits to park natural resources and--
(A) the preservation, conservation, and restoration of coastal and riparian
systems, watersheds, and wetlands;
(B) preventing, controlling, or eradicating invasive exotic species
that are within a unit of the National Park System or adjacent to a
unit of the National Park System; or
(C) restoration of natural resources, including native wildlife habitat
or ecosystems;
(2) include a statement of purpose demonstrating how the agreement will--
(A) enhance science-based natural resource stewardship at the unit of
the National Park System; and
(B) benefit the parties to the agreement;
(3) specify any staff required and technical assistance to be provided
by the Secretary or other parties to the agreement in support of activities
inside and outside the unit of the National Park System that will--
(A) protect natural resources of the unit of the National Park System;
and
(B) benefit the parties to the agreement;
(4) identify any materials, supplies, or equipment and any other resources
that will be contributed by the parties to the agreement or by other Federal
agencies;
(5) describe any financial assistance to be provided by the Secretary
or the partners to implement the agreement;
(6) ensure that any expenditure by the Secretary pursuant to the agreement
is determined by the Secretary to support the purposes of natural resource
stewardship at a unit of the National Park System; and
(7) include such other terms and conditions as are agreed to by the Secretary
and the other parties to the agreement.
(c) Limitations- The Secretary shall not use any funds associated with an
agreement entered into under subsection (a) for the purposes of land acquisition,
regulatory activity, or the development, maintenance, or operation of infrastructure,
except for ancillary support facilities that the Secretary determines to
be necessary for the completion of projects or activities identified in
the agreement.
(d) Funding- Funds available to carry out the provisions of this Act shall
be limited to programs and amounts specified in the statute for such use
in the annual appropriation Act for the National Park Service.
END
