S. 1586 – Great Lakes Environmental Sensitivity Index Act of 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 5:26 PM UTC

The Great Lakes Environmental Sensitivity Index Act of 2017 directs NOAA to create and regularly refresh detailed maps that identify sensitive shoreline and ecological areas around the Great Lakes, helping guide oil‑spill response planning. Updates must begin within six months of the law’s passage and be repeated at least every seven years, using a set of priority factors. The bill provides $7.5 million to fund these updates and applies to NOAA’s Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere and the Great Lakes coastal regions.

Key Provisions

Within 180 days of the law’s enactment, the NOAA Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere must begin updating the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps for each Great Lakes coastal area.
NOAA must continue to update ESI products periodically, aiming to do so at least once every seven years, as long as funding is available.
When deciding which areas to update first, NOAA must consider the age of existing maps, any recent extreme natural or man‑made events that changed shorelines, natural shoreline variability, and the amount of vessel traffic or risk of pollutant spills.
The law defines an ESI product as a map or similar tool that shows sensitive shoreline, coastal, and offshore resources to help plan oil‑spill response and cleanup.
The bill authorizes $7.5 million in appropriations for NOAA to carry out the initial Great Lakes updates.

Legislative Activity

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9 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.

Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee

September 10, 2018

View full timeline

SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

July 19, 2017

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

July 19, 2017

SenateCommittee

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

August 2, 2017

SenateCommittee

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-180.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

October 31, 2017

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 255.

October 31, 2017

SenateFloor

Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S6103; text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S6103)

September 6, 2018

SenateFloor

Message on Senate action sent to the House.

September 7, 2018

HouseFloor

Received in the House.

September 7, 2018 • 4:49 PM

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

September 7, 2018

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans.

Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee

September 10, 2018

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 1586 on the floor

1 Republican

Sen. Mitch McConnellR-KY · Sep 6, 2018

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 255, S. 1586. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported…

Bill Text

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Referred in HouseIssued September 7, 2018

IC

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 1586

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 7, 2018

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

AN ACT

To require the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere to update periodically the environmental sensitivity index products of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for each coastal area of the Great Lakes, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Great Lakes Environmental Sensitivity Index Act of 2017.

2.

Update to environmental sensitivity index products of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for Great Lakes

(a)

Update required environmental sensitivity index products for Great Lakes

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere shall commence updating the environmental sensitivity index products of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for each coastal area of the Great Lakes.

(b)

Periodic updates for environmental sensitivity index products generally

Subject to the availability of appropriations and the priorities set forth in subsection (c), the Under Secretary shall—

(1)

periodically update the environmental sensitivity index products of the Administration; and

(2)

endeavor to do so not less frequently than once every 7 years.

(c)

Priorities

When prioritizing geographic areas to update environmental sensitivity index products, the Under Secretary shall consider—

(1)

the age of existing environmental sensitivity index products for the areas;

(2)

the occurrence of extreme events, be it natural or man-made, which have significantly altered the shoreline or ecosystem since the last update;

(3)

the natural variability of shoreline and coastal environment; and

(4)

the volume of vessel traffic and general vulnerability to spilled pollutants.

(d)

Environmental sensitivity index product defined

In this subsection, the term environmental sensitivity index product means a map or similar tool that is utilized to identify sensitive shoreline, coastal or offshore, resources prior to an oil spill event in order to set baseline priorities for protection and plan cleanup strategies, typically including information relating to shoreline type, biological resources, and human use resources.

(e)

Authorization of appropriations

(1)

In general

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Under Secretary $7,500,000 to carry out subsection (a).

(2)

Availability

Amounts appropriated or otherwise made available pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be available to the Under Secretary for the purposes set forth in such paragraph until expended.

Passed the Senate September 6, 2018.

Julie E. Adams,

Secretary