,,ii #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #bfgd ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #bh1 #bjad ,mr4 ,merkley 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,wyden1 ,mr4 ,walsh1 and ,mr4 ,tester7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act to establish within the ,environmental ,protection ,agency a ,columbia ,river ,basin ,restoration ,program4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,columbia ,river ,basin ,restoration ,act of #bjad4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 the ,columbia ,river is the largest river in the ,pacific ,northwest by volume2 7#b7 the river is #a1bec miles long1 with a drainage basin that includes #bei1jjj square miles1 extending to #g ,states and ,british ,columbia1 ,canada1 and including all or part of-- 7,a7 multiple national parks2 7,b7 components of the ,national ,wilderness ,preservation ,system2 7,c7 ,national ,monuments2 7,d7 ,national ,scenic ,areas2 7,e7 ,national ,recreation ,areas2 7,f7 other areas managed for conservation2 and 7,g7 multiple tribal reservations and over #de1jjj1jjj acres of tribally comanaged land2 7#c7 the ,columbia ,river ,basin and associated tributaries 7referred to in this ,act as the ,basin7 provide significant ecological and economic benefits to the ,pacific ,northwest and the entire ,united ,states2 7#d7 traditionally1 the ,basin includes more than #f1jjj1jjj acres of irrigated agricultural land and produces more hydroelectric power than any other ,north ,american river2 7#e7 significant commerce takes place on the federally authorized ,columbia ,snake ,river ,system navigation channel1 which is #dfe miles in length1 from the mouth of the ,columbia ,river to ,lewiston1 ,idaho2 7#f7 the ,basin-- 7,a7 historically constituted the largest salmon-producing river system in the world1 with annual returns peaking at as many as #af1jjj1jjj fish2 and 7,b7 as of the date of enactment of this ,act-- 7i7 supports economically important commercial and recreational fisheries2 7ii7 supports treaty tribal fisheries2 7iii7 is home to numerous species of salmonids1 including steelhead1 bull trout1 and ,kootenai white sturgeon1 that are listed as threatened species or endangered species under the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aeca et seq472 and 7iv7 is a cultural and historical resource and provides sports and recreation opportunities for millions annually2 7#g7 toxics are present throughout the ,columbia ,river ,basin that are harmful to humans1 fish1 and wildlife2 7#h7 studies have shown that ,columbia ,river fish contain a wide array of contaminants2 7#i7 a fish consumption survey in the ,columbia ,river ,basin showed that tribal members were eating #f to #aa times more fish than the estimated national average2 7#aj7 in #bjac1 the ,states of ,oregon and ,washington issued a fish advisories warning against consumption of resident fish between ,bonneville ,dam to ,mc,nary ,dam because of toxic contamination2 7#aa7 in #aiie1 the lower river and estuary was designated an estuary of national significance in accordance with section #cbj of the ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #accj71 because of degradation and contamination in the lower river1 lack of structure to coordinate programs and policies1 significance of the lower river to survival of species throughout the basin1 and the importance the lower river to the economic viability of the region2 and 7#ab7 7,a7 in #bjjf1 the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency named the ,columbia ,river ,basin #a of the #aj large aquatic ecosystems in the ,united ,states2 7,b7 the ,columbia ,river ,basin is the only large aquatic ecosystem in the ,united ,states that does not receive dedicated appropriations as a large aquatic ecosystem2 and 7,c7 the other #i large aquatic ecosystems receive appropriations through the ,geographic ,programs ,program ,area of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency4 #c4 ,columbia ,river ,basin restoration ,title ,i of the ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #abea et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #abc4 ,columbia river basin restoration 7a7 ,definitions 7#a7 ,action plan 7,a7 ,in general ,the term ,action ,plan means the ,columbia ,river ,basin ,toxics ,reduction ,plan developed by the ,environmental ,protection ,agency and the ,columbia ,river ,toxics ,reduction ,working ,group in #bjaj4 7,b7 ,inclusions ,the term ,action ,plan includes any amendments to the plan4 7#b7 ,columbia ,river ,basin ,the term ,columbia ,river ,basin means the entire ,united ,states portion of the ,columbia ,river watershed4 7#c7 ,estuary ,partnership ,the term ,estuary ,partnership means the ,lower ,columbia ,river ,estuary ,partnership1 an entity created by the ,states of ,oregon and ,washington and the ,environmental ,protection ,agency under section #cbj4 7#d7 ,estuary plan 7,a7 ,in general ,the term ,estuary ,plan means the ,estuary ,partnership ,comprehensive ,conservation and ,management ,plan adopted by the ,environmental ,protection ,agency and the ,governors of ,oregon and ,washington on ,october #bj1 #aiii1 under section #cbj4 7,b7 ,inclusions ,the term ,estuary ,plan includes any amendments to the plan4 7#e7 ,lower ,columbia ,river ,estuary ,the term ,lower ,columbia ,river ,estuary means the mainstem ,columbia ,river from the ,bonneville ,dam to the ,pacific ,ocean and tidally influenced portions of tributaries to the ,columbia ,river in that region4 7#f7 ,middle and ,upper ,columbia ,river ,basin ,the term ,middle and ,upper ,columbia ,river ,basin means the region consisting of the ,united ,states portion of the ,columbia ,river ,basin above ,bonneville ,dam4 7#g7 ,program ,the term ,program means the ,columbia ,river ,basin ,restoration ,program established under subsection 7b77#a77;,a74 7#h7 ,working ,group ,the term ,working ,group means-- 7,a7 the ,columbia ,river ,basin ,toxics ,reduction ,working ,group established under subsection 7c72 and 7,b7 with respect to the ,lower ,columbia ,river ,estuary1 the ,estuary ,partnership4 7b7 ,columbia river basin restoration program 7#a7 ,establishment 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator shall establish within the ,environmental ,protection ,agency a ,columbia ,river ,basin ,restoration ,program for the purposes of reducing toxic contamination and cleaning up contaminated sites throughout the ,columbia ,river ,basin4 7,b7 ,no effect on existing authority ,the ,program shall not modify any legal or regulatory authority or program in effect as of the date of enactment of this section1 including the roles of ,federal agencies in the ,columbia ,river ,basin4 7,c7 ,relationship to existing activities ,the ,program shall-- 7i7 build on the work and collaborative structure of the existing ,columbia ,river ,toxics ,reduction ,working ,group representing the ,federal ,government1 ,state1 tribal1 and local governments1 industry1 and nongovernmental organizations1 which was convened in #bjje to develop a collaborative toxic contamination reduction approach for the ,columbia ,river ,basin2 7ii7 in the ,lower ,columbia ,river ,basin and ,estuary1 build on the work and collaborative structure of the ,estuary ,partnership2 7iii7 coordinate with other efforts1 including activities of other ,federal agencies in the ,columbia ,river ,basin1 to avoid duplicating activities or functions2 and 7iv7 not impede implementation of existing agreements or other recovery and mitigation programs4 7#b7 ,scope of program ,the ,program shall consist of a collaborative stakeholder-based program for reducing toxic contamination throughout the ,columbia ,river ,basin4 7#c7 ,duties ,the ,administrator shall-- 7,a7 assess trends in water quality and toxic contamination or toxics reduction1 including trends that affect uses of the water of the ,columbia ,river ,basin2 7,b7 collect1 characterize1 and assess data on toxics and water quality to identify possible causes of environmental problems2 7,c7 provide the ,working ,group with data1 analysis1 reports1 or other information2 7,d7 provide technical assistance to the ,working ,group1 and to ,state governments1 tribal governments1 and local governments participating in the ,working ,group1 to assist those agencies and entities in-- 7i7 developing updates to the ,action ,plan2 7ii7 recommending and prioritizing projects and actions for the ,action ,plan2 and 7iii7 reviewing progress and effectiveness of projects and actions implemented1 as well as cumulative progress toward the goals of this section1 and the ,action ,plan2 7,e7 periodically update the ,action ,plan and the ,estuary ,plan as required by counsel1 and ensure that those plans1 when considered together and in light of relevant plans developed by other ,federal or ,state agencies1 form a coherent toxic contamination reduction strategy for the ,columbia ,river ,basin2 7,f7 track progress toward meeting the identified goals and objectives of the ,action ,plan by coordinating and reporting environmental data related to the ,action ,plan and the ,estuary ,plan and making the data and reports on the data available to the public2 and 7,g7 provide grants in accordance with subsection 7d7 for projects that-- 7i7 assist in-- 7,i7 eliminating or reducing pollution2 7,,ii7 cleaning up contaminated sites2 7,,iii7 improving water quality2 7,,iv7 monitoring to evaluate trends2 7,v7 reducing runoff2 7,,vi7 protecting habitat2 or 7,,vii7 promoting citizen engagement or knowledge2 7ii7 address the goals1 tasks1 or action items in the ,action ,plan or the ,estuary ,plan2 and 7iii7 are recommended by the ,working ,group to implement the ,estuary ,plan4 7c7 ,stakeholder working group 7#a7 ,establishment ,the ,administrator shall establish a ,columbia ,river ,basin ,toxics ,reduction ,working ,group4 7#b7 ,membership 7,a7 ,in general ,membership in the ,working ,group shall be on a voluntary basis and any person invited by the ,administrator under this subsection may decline membership4 7,b7 ,invited representatives ,the ,administrator shall invite1 at a minimum1 representatives of-- 7i7 each ,state located in whole or in part within the ,columbia ,river ,basin2 7ii7 the ,governors of each ,state located in whole or in part with the ,columbia ,river ,basin2 7iii7 each federally recognized ,indian tribe in the ,columbia ,river ,basin2 7iv7 local governments located in the ,columbia ,river ,basin2 7v7 industries operating in the ,columbia ,river ,basin that affect or could affect water quality2 7vi7 electric1 water1 and wastewater utilities operating in the ,columba ,river ,basin2 7vii7 private landowners in the ,columbia ,river ,basin2 7viii7 soil and water conservation districts in the ,columbia ,river ,basin2 7ix7 nongovernmental organizations that have a presence in the ,columbia ,river ,basin2 7x7 the general public in the ,columbia ,river ,basin2 and 7xi7 the ,estuary ,partnership4 7#c7 ,geographic representation ,the ,working ,group shall include representatives from-- 7,a7 each ,state2 and 7,b7 each of the ,lower1 ,middle1 and ,upper ,basins of the ,columbia ,river4 7#d7 ,duties and responsibilities ,the ,working ,group shall-- 7,a7 participate in developing updates to the ,action ,plan1 including by providing comments on the updates2 7,b7 recommend and prioritize projects and actions for the ,action ,plan2 and 7,c7 review the progress and effectiveness of projects and actions implemented1 as well as cumulative progress toward the goals of this section1 and the ,action ,plan4 7#e7 ,lower ,columbia ,river ,estuary 7,a7 ,estuary ,partnership 7i7 ,in general ,the ,estuary ,partnership shall perform the duties and fulfill the responsibilities of the ,working ,group described in paragraph 7#d7 as those duties and responsibilities relate to the ,lower ,columbia ,river ,estuary for such time as the ,estuary ,partnership is the management conference for the ,lower ,columbia ,river ,national ,estuary ,program under section #cbj4 7ii7 ,designation ,if the ,estuary ,partnership ceases to be the management conference for the ,lower ,columbia ,river ,national ,estuary ,program under section #cbj1 the ,administrator may designate the new management conference to assume the duties and responsibilities of the ,working ,group described in paragraph 7#d7 as those duties and responsibilities relate to the ,lower ,columbia ,river ,estuary4 7,b7 ,estuary plan 7i7 ,in general ,the ,estuary ,plan shall function as the ,action ,plan for the ,lower ,columbia ,river ,estuary for such time as there is an ,estuary ,plan in place pursuant to section #cbj4 7ii7 ,incorporation ,if the ,estuary ,partnership is removed from the ,national ,estuary ,program1 the duties and responsibilities for the lower #adf miles of the ,columbia ,river pursuant to this ,act shall be incorporated into the duties of the ,working ,group4 7d7 ,grants 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator shall establish a voluntary1 competitive ,columbia ,river ,basin toxics program to provide grants to ,state governments1 tribal governments1 regional water pollution control agencies and entities1 local government entities1 nongovernmental entities1 or soil and water conservation districts to develop or implement projects authorized under this section for the purpose of implementing the ,action ,plan and the ,estuary ,plan4 7#b7 ,federal share 7,a7 ,in general ,except as provided in subparagraph 7,b71 the ,federal share of the cost of any project or activity carried out using funds from a grant provided to any person 7including a ,state1 tribal1 or local government or interstate or regional agency7 under this subsection for a fiscal year-- 7i7 shall not exceed #ge percent of the total cost of the project or activity2 and 7ii7 shall be made on condition that the non-,federal share of that total cost shall be provided from non-,federal sources4 7,b7 ,exceptions ,with respect to cost-sharing for a grant provided under this subsection-- 7i7 a tribal government may use ,federal funds for the non-,federal share2 and 7ii7 the ,administrator may increase the ,federal share under such circumstances as the ,administrator determines to be appropriate4 7#c7 ,allocation ,in making grants using funds appropriated to carry out this section1 the ,administrator shall-- 7,a7 provide not less than #be percent of the funds to make grants for projects1 programs1 and studies in the ,lower ,columbia ,river ,estuary2 7,b7 provide not less than #be percent of the funds to make grants for projects1 programs1 and studies in the ,middle and ,upper ,columbia ,river ,basin1 which includes the ,snake ,river ,basin2 and 7,c7 retain for ,environmental ,protection ,agency not more than #e percent of the funds for purposes of implementing this section4 7#d7 ,reporting 7,a7 ,in general ,each grant recipient under this subsection shall submit to the ,administrator reports on progress being made in achieving the purposes of this section4 7,b7 ,requirements ,the ,administrator shall establish requirements and timelines for recipients of grants under this section to report on progress made in achieving the purposes of this section and the goals of the ,action ,plan and the ,estuary ,plan4 7#e7 ,relationship to other funding 7,a7 ,in general ,nothing in this section limits the eligibility of the ,estuary ,partnership to receive funding under section #cbj7;g74 7,b7 ,limitation ,none of the funds made available under this subsection may be used for the administration of a management conference under section #cbj4 7e7 ,annual budget plan ,the ,president1 as part of the annual budget submission of the ,president to ,congress under section #aaje7;a7 of title #ca1 ,united ,states ,code1 shall submit information regarding each ,federal agency involved in protection and restoration of the ,columbia ,river ,basin1 including an interagency crosscut budget that displays for each ,federal agency-- 7#a7 the amounts obligated for the preceding fiscal year for protection and restoration projects1 programs1 and studies relating to the ,columbia ,river ,basin2 7#b7 the estimated budget for the current fiscal year for protection and restoration projects1 programs1 and studies relating to the ,columbia ,river ,basin2 and 7#c7 the proposed budget for protection and restoration projects1 programs1 and studies relating to the ,columbia ,river ,basin4 7f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,administrator to carry out this section #ej1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjae through #bjbj1 to remain available until expended4 4