[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1288 Referred in House (RFH)]
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1288
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 29, 2006
Referred to the Committee on Resources
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AN ACT
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.
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 Federal agencies, other
public entities, educational institutions, private nonprofit
organizations, or willing private landowners to protect 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--
(1) provide for--
(A) clear and direct benefits to natural resources
of a unit of the National Park System;
(B) the preservation, conservation, and restoration
of coastal and riparian systems, watersheds, and
wetlands;
(C) preventing, controlling or eradicating invasive
exotic species that occupy land within a unit of the
National Park System or adjacent to a unit of the
National Park System; or
(D) restoration of natural resources, including
native wildlife habitat;
(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; and
(B) benefit the parties to the agreement;
(4) identify any materials, supplies, or equipment 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) shall include such terms and conditions that are agreed
to by the Secretary and the other parties to the agreement.
(c) Limitations.--The Secretary shall not use any amounts
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) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.
Passed the Senate September 29, 2006.
Attest:
EMILY J. REYNOLDS,
Secretary.