H.R. 5870

Federal Partnership for Clean Water Land Acquisition Act of 2016

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I

114th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 5870

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 14, 2016

Mr. Murphy of Florida (for himself and Mr. Clawson of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

A BILL

To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a grant program to facilitate land acquisitions made to improve water quality, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Federal Partnership for Clean Water Land Acquisition Act of 2016.

2.

Clean water land acquisition grant program

(a)

Establishment

Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall establish a program to facilitate land acquisitions made for the purpose of improving water quality.

(b)

Grant authority

In carrying out the program established under subsection (a), the Administrator may make a grant, in accordance with this section, to any State.

(c)

Applications

To be eligible for a grant under subsection (b), a State shall submit to the Administrator an application at such time, in such form, and containing such information as the Administrator may require.

(d)

Grant use

A State may use grant amounts provided under subsection (b) only—

(1)

to acquire private land; and

(2)

if the acquisition of the land will substantially improve, as determined by the Administrator, water quality for an area (including by means of water storage, water treatment, estuary restoration, or ecosystem restoration).

(e)

Federal share

The Federal share of the costs of any land acquisition assisted with a grant under subsection (b) shall not exceed 50 percent.

(f)

State defined

In this section, the term State means any governmental entity of the several States, the District of Columbia, or a territory or possession of the United States.

(g)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator for each fiscal year $750,000,000 to carry out this section.