[Senate Report 112-139]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 305
112th Congress Report
SENATE
2d Session 112-139
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CHESAPEAKE BAY GATEWAYS AND WATERTRAILS NETWORK REAUTHORIZATION ACT
_______
January 26, 2012.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Mrs. Boxer, from the Committee on Environment and Public Works,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 1740]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Environment and Public Works, to which was
referred a bill (S. 1740) to amend the Chesapeake Bay
Initiative Act of 1998 to provide for the reauthorization of
the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network, having
considered the same, reports favorably thereon without
amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.
General Statement and Background
Originally authorized in 1998, the Chesapeake Gateways and
Watertrails program set up a network of Chesapeake Bay-related
sites, such as parks, wildlife refuges, and trails. The program
includes 160 sites in six states and the District of Columbia.
The National Park Service (NPS) provides matching grants for
projects that enhance public education of and access to the
Chesapeake Bay. Visitation at Gateways sites exceeds 10 million
people annually, and the competitive grants program is
currently oversubscribed.
At the direction of Congress, the National Park Service
conducted its Chesapeake Bay Special Resource Study in 2004.
The draft study concluded that an enhanced version of the
Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network would be the most effective and
efficient way for the NPS to help protect and raise interest in
the Chesapeake Bay. The NPS has incorporated the Gateways
Network into its permanent operations.
S. 1740, the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails
Network Continuing Authorization Act, will reauthorize this
program.
Objectives of the Legislation
The Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network
Continuing Authorization Act amends the Chesapeake Bay
Initiative Act of 1998 to reauthorize appropriations for the
Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1. Short title
This section provides that this Act may be cited as the
`Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network
Reauthorization Act'.
Sec. 2. Authorization of appropriations
This section amends Section 502 of the Chesapeake Bay
Initiative Act of 1998 (16 U.S.C. 461 note; Public Law 105-312)
and reauthorizes the program for fiscal years 2012 through
2016.
Legislative History
On October 19, 2011, Senator Cardin introduced this
legislation, which was cosponsored by Senators Mikulski,
Warner, Webb, Carper, and Coons. The bill was received, read
twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and
Public Works. The committee met on December 8, 2011, to
consider the bill, and ordered S. 1740 to be reported favorably
without amendment.
Rollcall Votes
The Committee on Environment and Public Works met to
consider S. 1740 on December 8, 2011. The bill was ordered
favorably reported by voice vote. No rollcall votes were taken.
Regulatory Impact Statement
In compliance with section 11(b) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the committee finds that S. 1740
does not create any additional regulatory burdens, nor will it
cause any adverse impact on the personal privacy of
individuals.
Mandates Assessment
In compliance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
(Public Law 104-4), the committee notes that the Congressional
Budget Office has found, ``[S. 1740] contains no
intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) and would impose no costs
on state, local, or tribal governments.''
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
January 4, 2012.
Hon. Barbara Boxer
Chairman, Committee on Environment and Public Works,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Madam Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 1740, the Chesapeake
Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Reauthorization Act.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Jeff LaFave.
Sincerely,
Douglas W. Elmendorf.
Enclosure.
S. 1740--Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network
Reauthorization Act
Summary: S. 1740 would authorize the appropriation of $15
million over the 2012-2016 period for the Chesapeake Bay
Initiative, a program carried out by the National Park Service
(NPS) and other federal agencies to conserve resources in the
Chesapeake Bay watershed. Assuming appropriation of the
authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing the
legislation would cost $13 million over the 2012-2016 period.
Enacting S. 1740 would not affect direct spending or revenues;
therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
The bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)
and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal
governments.
Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated
budgetary impact of S. 1740 is shown in the following table.
The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300
(natural resources and environment).
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By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
----------------------------------------------------------------
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2012-2017
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CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
Authorization Levela........................... 1 3 3 3 3 0 13
Estimated Outlays.............................. 1 3 3 3 3 0 13
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aS. 1740 would authorize the appropriation of $3 million for the Chesapeake Bay Initiative in 2012. The National
Park Service has already allocated $2 million from its fiscal year 2012 appropriation for programs under that
initiative.
Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that S.
1740 will be enacted early in 2012 and that the authorized
amounts will be appropriated for each fiscal year. Estimated
outlays are based on historical spending patterns for this
program.
S. 1740 would authorize the appropriation of $3 million a
year over the 2012-2016 period for projects carried out under
the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998. Based on information
provided by the NPS and assuming appropriation of the
authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing the
legislation would cost $13 million over the 2012-2016 period.
That estimate reflects the fact that the NPS has already
allocated $2 million of its existing appropriation for 2012 for
the Chesapeake Bay initiative.
Pay-as-you-go considerations: None.
Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: S. 1740
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as
defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on state, local, or
tribal governments. State and local governments could benefit
from grants authorized by the bill.
Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Jeff LaFave; Impact on
State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Ryan Miller; Impact on
the Private Sector: Amy Petz.
Estimate approved by: Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
Changes in Existing Law
In compliance with section 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing
Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by the bill
as reported are shown as follows: Existing law proposed to be
omitted is enclosed in [black brackets], new matter is printed
in italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown
in roman:
* * * * * * *
PUBLIC LAW 105-312
SEC. 502. CHESAPEAKE BAY GATEWAYS AND WATERTRAILS.
(a) Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network.--
(1) In general.--* * *
* * * * * * *
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to
be appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000 for each
of [fiscal years 1999 through 2003.] fiscal years 2012 through
2016.