,,ii #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #ddae ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #af1 #bjbb,mr4 ,leahy 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,sanders1 ,mr4 ,schumer1 and ,mrs4 ,gillibrand7 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 reauthorize and modify the ,lake ,champlain ,basin ,program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,lake ,champlain ,basin ,program ,reauthorization ,act of #bjbb4 #b4 ,lake ,champlain ,basin ,program ,section #abj of the ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #abgj7 is amended to read as follows3 #abj4 ,lake ,champlain ,basin ,program 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,champlain ,valley ,national ,heritage ,partnership ,the term ,champlain ,valley ,national ,heritage ,partnership means the ,champlain ,valley ,national ,heritage ,partnership established by section #bhd7;a7 of the ,champlain ,valley ,national ,heritage ,partnership ,act of #bjjf 7#ed ,u4,s4,c4 #cbjaja note2 ,public ,law #aji-cch74 7#b7 ,education and ,outreach ,committee 7,a7 ,in general ,the term ,education and ,outreach ,committee means a committee established by the ,steering ,committee to provide objective information and funding recommendations to the ,steering ,committee upon request to be used in the decisionmaking process of the ,steering ,committee1 including-- 7i7 funding recommendations relating to educational and outreach opportunities and issues2 and 7ii7 programmatic actions needed to address those educational or outreach opportunities or issues4 7,b7 ,inclusion ,the term ,education and ,outreach ,advisory ,committee includes a committee described in subparagraph 7,a7 established before the date of enactment of the ,lake ,champlain ,basin ,program ,reauthorization ,act of #bjbb4 7#c7 ,fiscal agent ,the term fiscal agent means an organization that is responsible for fiscal and administrative management of the ,program under the direction of the ,steering ,committee and the ,administrator4 7#d7 ,foundation ,the term ,foundation means the ,lake ,champlain ,basin ,program ,foundation that may be established pursuant to subsection 7d77#a74 7#e7 ,lake ,champlain ,basin ,the term ,lake ,champlain ,basin means ,lake ,champlain and the natural watershed of ,lake ,champlain1 including all land1 streams1 rivers1 lakes1 and other bodies of water in the ,united ,states and ,canada that naturally drain into ,lake ,champlain1 including all or a portion of-- 7,a7 the counties of ,clinton1 ,franklin1 ,warren1 ,essex1 and ,washington in the ,state of ,new ,york2 and 7,b7 the counties of ,franklin1 ,grand ,isle1 ,chittenden1 ,addison1 ,rutland1 ,bennington1 ,lamoille1 ,orange1 ,washington1 ,orleans1 and ,caledonia in the ,state of ,vermont4 7#f7 ,lake ,champlain ,citizens ,advisory ,committee 7,a7 ,in general ,the term ,lake ,champlain ,citizens ,advisory ,committee means a committee in the ,state of ,vermont1 the ,state of ,new ,york1 and1 if the ,province of ,quebec elects to participate1 the ,province of ,quebec1 established by the ,governor or executive officer of the ,state or province1 as applicable1 to advise on the protection and restoration of ,lake ,champlain4 7,b7 ,inclusion ,the term ,lake ,champlain ,citizens ,advisory ,committee includes a committee described in subparagraph 7,a7 established before the date of enactment of the ,lake ,champlain ,basin ,program ,reauthorization ,act of #bjbb4 7#g7 ,plan ,the term ,plan means the comprehensive pollution prevention1 ecosystem protection and restoration1 and climate change response plan adopted and published under subsection 7e77#a71 including any revisions to that plan4 7#h7 ,program ,the term ,program means the ,lake ,champlain ,basin ,program established by subsection 7b77#a74 7#i7 ,steering committee ,the term ,steering ,committee means the ,steering ,committee established and maintained under the most recent ,memorandum of ,understanding on ,environmental ,cooperation on the ,management of ,lake ,champlain entered into between the ,state of ,new ,york1 the ,state of ,vermont1 and1 if the ,province of ,quebec elects to participate1 the ,province of ,quebec1 as modified pursuant to this section4 7#aj7 ,technical ,advisory ,committee 7,a7 ,in general ,the term ,technical ,advisory ,committee means a committee established by the ,steering ,committee to provide objective information and funding recommendations to the ,steering ,committee upon request to be used in the decisionmaking process of the ,steering ,committee1 including-- 7i7 funding recommendations relating to technical and scientific management issues2 and 7ii7 research or actions needed to address those technical or scientific management issues4 7,b7 ,inclusion ,the term ,technical ,advisory ,committee includes a committee described in subparagraph 7,a7 established before the date of enactment of the ,lake ,champlain ,basin ,program ,reauthorization ,act of #bjbb4 7b7 ,establishment 7#a7 ,in general ,there is established a program within the ,environmental ,protection ,agency1 to be known as the ,lake ,champlain ,basin ,program1 that shall coordinate efforts among the ,federal ,government1 applicable ,state governments1 applicable local governments1 the ,province of ,quebec 7if the ,province of ,quebec elects to participate71 and other partners to develop1 adopt1 and implement the ,plan4 7#b7 ,implementation ,in implementing the ,program1 the ,administrator-- 7,a7 may1 with no competitive process1 provide support to the ,state of ,vermont1 the ,state of ,new ,york1 and the ,foundation2 and 7,b7 shall coordinate actions of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency under subparagraph 7,a7 with the actions of other appropriate ,federal agencies4 7c7 ,steering committee 7#a7 ,maintenance ,the ,steering ,committee shall assist in carrying out and overseeing the ,program and the ,plan4 7#b7 ,membership 7,a7 ,in general ,each of the following shall be a member of the ,steering ,committee3 7i7 ,the highest level official 7or a designee7 of each of the following3 7,i7 ,the ,state environmental agency of the ,state of ,new ,york4 7,,ii7 ,the ,state environmental agency of the ,state of ,vermont4 7,,iii7 ,the ,ministry for the ,environment of the ,province of ,quebec1 if that ministry elects to participate4 7ii7 ,a representative of-- 7,i7 the ,state agriculture agency from each of the ,states of ,new ,york and ,vermont2 and 7,,ii7 the ,quebec ,agricultural ,ministry1 if that ministry elects to participate4 7iii7 ,the ,state ,historic ,preservation ,officer from each of the ,states of ,new ,york and ,vermont1 or a designee of that officer4 7iv7 #f representatives of units of local government entirely within the ,lake ,champlain ,basin1 of which-- 7,i7 #b shall be representatives of units of local government in the ,state of ,new ,york2 7,,ii7 #b shall be representatives of units of local government in the ,state of ,vermont2 and 7,,iii7 #b shall be representatives of units of local government in the ,province of ,quebec1 if the ,province of ,quebec elects to send representatives4 7v7 ,the chairperson of-- 7,i7 the ,lake ,champlain ,citizens ,advisory ,committee of the ,state of ,new ,york2 7,,ii7 the ,lake ,champlain ,citizens ,advisory ,committee of the ,state of ,vermont2 and 7,,iii7 if the ,province of ,quebec elects to participate1 the ,lake ,champlain ,citizens ,advisory ,committee of the ,province of ,quebec4 7vi7 ,the chairperson of the ,technical ,advisory ,committee4 7vii7 ,the chairperson of the ,education and ,outreach ,committee4 7viii7 ,the chairperson of the advisory committee for the ,champlain ,valley ,national ,heritage ,partnership4 7ix7 ,a representative from each of-- 7,i7 the ,region #a office of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency2 7,,ii7 the ,region #b office of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency2 7,,iii7 the ,region #e office of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service2 7,,iv7 the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service ,new ,york ,state office2 7,v7 the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service ,vermont ,state office2 7,,vi7 the ,national ,park ,service2 and 7,,vii7 the ,new ,york ,district of the ,corps of ,engineers4 7x7 ,the ,director of the ,lake ,champlain ,sea ,grant ,institute4 7xi7 ,a representative of the ,great ,lakes ,fishery ,commission4 7xii7 ,such additional members as may be confirmed by the ,steering ,committee4 7,b7 ,chairperson ,the position of chairperson of the ,steering ,committee shall regularly rotate among the members of the ,steering ,committee described in subparagraph 7,a77i74 7,c7 ,ratification ,any actions of the ,steering ,committee taken before the date of enactment of the ,lake ,champlain ,basin ,program ,reauthorization ,act of #bjbb are ratified and confirmed4 7d7 ,lake ,champlain ,basin ,program ,foundation 7#a7 ,establishment ,the ,administrator and the ,steering ,committee may1 in the discretion of the ,administrator and by a vote of the ,steering ,committee1 jointly establish a foundation1 to be known as the ,lake ,champlain ,basin ,foundation1 as a charitable and nonprofit corporation4 7#b7 ,not an agency ,if established under paragraph 7#a71 the ,foundation shall not be an agency or establishment of the ,united ,states4 7#c7 ,purposes ,the purposes of the ,foundation1 if established under paragraph 7#a71 are-- 7,a7 to undertake and conduct activities that support-- 7i7 the work of the ,program2 and 7ii7 the purposes of this section2 7,b7 to accept and manage funds of the ,foundation for the implementation of the ,plan1 including-- 7i7 amounts made available to the ,foundation by the ,administrator2 and 7ii7 amounts made available to ,federal agencies under subsection 7i77#b7 for transfer to the ,foundation2 7,c7 to make subgrants1 enter into contracts1 and administer funds of the ,foundation to carry out activities described in subparagraph 7,a72 and 7,d7 to participate with1 and otherwise assist1 ,canada and the ,province of ,quebec in undertaking and conducting activities that further the work of the ,program in fulfilling the purposes of this section and implementing the ,plan4 7#d7 ,board of ,directors 7,a7 ,in general ,if the ,foundation is established under paragraph 7#a71 the ,foundation shall be governed by a board of directors 7referred to in this subsection as the ,board74 7,b7 ,membership ,members of the ,board shall include-- 7i7 each member of the ,steering ,committee1 unless the member declines to serve on the ,board2 and 7ii7 such additional members as may be appointed by the ,steering ,committee4 7,c7 ,recusal ,members of the ,steering ,committee may recuse themselves from votes on the ,board4 7,d7 ,withdrawal ,members of the ,board1 including members of the ,steering ,committee that serve as members of the ,board1 may withdraw from membership on the ,board4 7,e7 ,removal ,members appointed to the ,board under subparagraph 7,b77ii7 may be removed by the ,steering ,committee4 7#e7 ,powers of the ,foundation ,subject to any conditions imposed on the ,foundation by the ,steering ,committee and subject to approval by the ,board1 the ,foundation may-- 7,a7 receive funds1 including funds made available to ,federal agencies under subsection 7i77#b7 for transfer to the ,foundation2 7,b7 retain staff2 7,c7 issue subgrants2 7,d7 enter into contracts2 7,e7 own property2 and 7,f7 serve as fiscal agent for the ,program1 if selected to serve as the fiscal agent by the ,administrator4 7#f7 ,dissolution 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator and the ,steering ,committee may jointly dissolve the ,foundation4 7,b7 ,return of funds ,if the ,administrator and the ,steering ,committee jointly dissolve the ,foundation under subparagraph 7,a71 during the dissolution process1 the ,foundation shall return all unobligated funds to each ,federal agency that provided funds to the ,foundation in a manner that is proportional to the amount of funds received from that ,federal agency4 7e7 ,pollution prevention1 ecosystem protection and restoration1 and climate change response plan 7#a7 ,adoption 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,steering ,committee shall adopt and publish a comprehensive pollution prevention1 ecosystem protection and restoration1 and climate change response plan for ,lake ,champlain that protects and benefits the water quality1 fisheries1 wetlands1 wildlife1 and cultural resources of ,lake ,champlain and within the ,lake ,champlain basin4 7,b7 ,inclusions ,the ,plan shall include strategies to advance clean water1 healthy ecosystems1 thriving communities1 and an informed and involved public in the ,lake ,champlain ,basin with respect to ,lake ,champlain4 7,c7 ,revision 7i7 ,in general ,the ,steering ,committee shall update and readopt the ,plan not less frequently than once every #aj years1 but may update and readopt the ,plan more frequently as necessary to implement the ,program4 7ii7 ,goal ,the ,steering ,committee shall have the goal of updating and readopting the ,plan every #e years4 7iii7 ,effect ,a ,plan adopted by the ,steering ,committee shall remain in effect until readopted by the ,steering ,committee pursuant to clause 7i74 7#b7 ,use of plan ,the ,plan shall guide the work of the ,program4 7f7 ,grant assistance 7#a7 ,implementation grants 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator may1 in consultation with the ,steering ,committee1 make grants to ,state1 interstate1 and regional water pollution control agencies and public or nonprofit agencies1 institutions1 and organizations for the purpose of implementing the ,plan4 7,b7 ,federal share 7i7 ,in general ,subject to clause 7ii71 the amount of a grant under subparagraph 7,a7 shall not exceed #ge percent of the cost of the research1 survey1 study1 or other work to be carried out using grant funds4 7ii7 ,exception 7,i7 ,in general ,the ,administrator may1 on a case-by-case basis and in consultation with the ,steering ,committee1 increase the ,federal share under clause 7i7 to #he percent of the costs described in that clause4 7,,ii7 ,requirement ,in carrying out subclause 7,i71 the ,administrator shall be guided by policy adopted by the ,steering ,committee4 7,c7 ,requirements ,the ,administrator may establish such requirements for the administration of grants under subparagraph 7,a7 as the ,administrator determines to be appropriate4 7#b7 ,fiscal agent grants 7,a7 ,in general ,the ,administrator may award grants to a qualified entity to serve as a fiscal agent for purposes of oversight of the ,program4 7,b7 ,assessment ,the ,administrator and the ,steering ,committee shall-- 7i7 as necessary but not less frequently than once every #aj years1 assess the effectiveness of the fiscal agent for the purposes described in subparagraph 7,a72 and 7ii7 if appropriate1 select a new qualified entity through a competitive process to serve as a fiscal agent for the purposes described in that subparagraph4 7,c7 ,no competitive process 7i7 ,foundation ,if the ,foundation is established pursuant to subsection 7d77#a7 and is selected to serve as fiscal agent by the ,administrator1 the ,administrator may award the grants under subparagraph 7,a7 to the ,foundation with no competitive process4 7ii7 ,other entities ,if a qualified entity is selected to serve as a fiscal agent through a competitive process pursuant to subparagraph 7,b77ii71 the ,administrator may award grants under subparagraph 7,a7 to the qualified entity with no competitive process4 7g7 ,great ,lakes ,fishery ,commission 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,great ,lakes ,fishery ,commission may undertake1 fund1 and support work on ,lake ,champlain1 in the ,lake ,champlain ,basin1 and other areas within the ,saint ,lawrence ,river basin in ,vermont1 including through-- 7,a7 fisheries and aquatic ecosystem research1 monitoring1 restoration1 and management2 7,b7 sea lamprey control2 7,c7 aquatic invasive species prevention and mitigation2 7,d7 public engagement and education2 and 7,e7 other work to implement the ,plan4 7#b7 ,authorization ,in carrying out paragraph 7#a71 the ,great ,lakes ,fishery ,commission may work with the ,program1 the ,foundation1 ,federal and ,state agencies1 institutions of higher education1 nonprofit organizations1 units of local government1 and ,canadian federal and ,quebec provincial authorities4 7h7 ,savings provisions 7#a7 ,no effect on certain authority ,nothing in this section-- 7,a7 affects the jurisdiction or powers of-- 7i7 any department or agency of the ,federal ,government or any ,state government2 or 7ii7 except as provided in subsection 7g71 any international organization or entity related to ,lake ,champlain created by treaty or memorandum to which the ,united ,states is a signatory2 7,b7 provides new regulatory authority for the ,environmental ,protection ,agency2 or 7,c7 affects section #cjd of the ,great ,lakes ,critical ,programs ,act of #aiij 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #abgj note2 ,public ,law #aja-eif74 7#b7 ,no effect on obligations ,nothing in this section affects the obligations of ,canada1 the ,province of ,quebec1 or any agencies or representatives of ,canada or the ,province of ,quebec referenced in this section4 7i7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,environmental ,protection ,agency to carry out the ,program #ej1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbc through #bjcc4 7#b7 ,foundation ,if the ,foundation is established pursuant to subsection 7d77#a71 there is authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year beginning with the fiscal year during which the ,foundation is established through fiscal year #bjcc for transfer to the ,foundation-- 7,a7 #ae1jjj1jjj to the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service2 7,b7 #e1jjj1jjj to the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service2 and 7,c7 #e1jjj1jjj to the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration4 4