42 U.S.C. § 1962d-21 : US Code - Section 1962D-21: John Glenn Great Lakes basin program

Search 42 U.S.C. § 1962d-21 : US Code - Section 1962D-21: John Glenn Great Lakes basin program

(a) Strategic plans
(1) Study
The Secretary shall conduct a comprehensive study of the Great
Lakes region to ensure the future use, management, and protection
of water resources and related resources of the Great Lakes
basin.
(2) Report
(A) In general
As expeditiously as possible, but not later than 3 years
after August 17, 1999, and every 2 years thereafter, the
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate a
report outlining a strategic plan for Corps of Engineers
programs and proposed Corps of Engineers projects in the Great
Lakes basin.
(B) Contents
The plan shall include -
(i) details of projects in the Great Lakes region relating
to -
(I) navigation improvements, maintenance, and operations
for commercial and recreational vessels;
(II) environmental restoration activities;
(III) water level maintenance activities;
(IV) technical and planning assistance to States and
remedial action planning committees;
(V) sediment transport analysis, sediment management
planning, and activities to support prevention of excess
sediment loadings;
(VI) flood damage reduction and shoreline erosion
prevention; and
(VII) all other relevant activities of the Corps of
Engineers; and
(ii) an analysis of factors limiting use of programs and
authorities of the Corps of Engineers in existence on August
17, 1999, in the Great Lakes basin, including the need for
new or modified authorities.
(3) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
section $1,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2000 through
2003.
(b) Great Lakes biohydrological information
(1) Inventory
(A) In general
Not later than 90 days after August 17, 1999, the Secretary
shall request each Federal agency that may possess information
relevant to the Great Lakes biohydrological system to provide
an inventory of all such information in the possession of the
agency.
(B) Relevant information
For the purpose of subparagraph (A), relevant information
includes information on -
(i) ground and surface water hydrology;
(ii) natural and altered tributary dynamics;
(iii) biological aspects of the system influenced by and
influencing water quantity and water movement;
(iv) meteorological projections and the impacts of weather
conditions on Great Lakes water levels; and
(v) other Great Lakes biohydrological system data relevant
to sustainable water use management.
(2) Report
(A) In general
Not later than 18 months after August 17, 1999, the
Secretary, in consultation with the States, Indian tribes, and
Federal agencies, and after requesting information from the
provinces and the federal government of Canada, shall -
(i) compile the inventories of information;
(ii) analyze the information for consistency and gaps; and
(iii) submit to Congress, the International Joint
Commission, and the Great Lakes States a report that includes
recommendations on ways to improve the information base on
the biohydrological dynamics of the Great Lakes ecosystem as
a whole, so as to support environmentally sound decisions
regarding diversions and consumptive uses of Great Lakes
water.
(B) Recommendations
The recommendations in the report under subparagraph (A)
shall include recommendations relating to the resources and
funds necessary for implementing improvement of the information
base.
(C) Considerations
In developing the report under subparagraph (A), the
Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of State, the
Secretary of Transportation, and the heads of other agencies as
appropriate, shall consider and report on the status of the
issues described and recommendations made in -
(i) the Report of the International Joint Commission to the
Governments of the United States and Canada under the 1977
reference issued in 1985; and
(ii) the 1993 Report of the International Joint Commission
to the Governments of Canada and the United States on Methods
of Alleviating Adverse Consequences of Fluctuating Water
Levels in the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Basin.
(c) Great Lakes recreational boating
Not later than 18 months after August 17, 1999, the Secretary,
using information and studies in existence on August 17, 1999, to
the extent practicable, and in cooperation with the Great Lakes
States, shall submit to Congress a report detailing the economic
benefits of recreational boating in the Great Lakes basin,
particularly at harbors benefiting from operation and maintenance
projects of the Corps of Engineers.
(d) Cooperation
In undertaking activities under this section, the Secretary shall
-
(1) encourage public participation; and
(2) cooperate, and, as appropriate, collaborate, with Great
Lakes States, tribal governments, and Canadian federal,
provincial, and tribal governments.
(e) Water use activities and policies
The Secretary may provide technical assistance to the Great Lakes
States to develop interstate guidelines to improve the consistency
and efficiency of State-level water use activities and policies in
the Great Lakes basin.
(f) Cost sharing
The Secretary may seek and accept funds from non-Federal entities
to be used to pay up to 25 percent of the cost of carrying out
subsections (b), (c), (d), and (e) of this section.