,,ib ,union ,calendar ,no4 #dfb #aahth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #hig ,report ,no4 #aah-efj ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #i1 #bjbc ,mr4 ,carl 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,graves of ,louisiana1 ,ms4 ,sewell1 and ,mr4 ,moulton7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources ,june #bg1 #bjbd ,additional sponsors3 ,mr4 ,wittman1 ,mr4 ,doggett1 and ,mr4 ,jackson of ,north ,carolina ,june #bg1 #bjbd ,reported with an amendment1 committed to the ,committee of the ,whole ,house on the ,state of the ,union1 and ordered to be printed ,strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic ,for text of introduced bill1 see copy of bill as introduced on ,february #i1 #bjbc ,a ,,bill ,to provide for the establishment of the ,alabama ,underwater ,forest ,national ,marine ,sanctuary1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,alabama ,underwater ,forest ,national ,marine ,sanctuary and ,protection ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,an ancient cypress forest dating back #ej1jjj to #gj1jjj years has been exposed in the ,gulf of ,mexico off the ,alabama coastline4 7#b7 ,the cypress trees1 which were uncovered by massive waves associated with ,hurricane ,ivan1 are still rooted in the mud they were growing in at least #ej1jjj years ago4 7#c7 ,the ,underwater ,forest site is unique on a global scale1 the only known site where trees between #ej1jjj and #gj1jjj years old have been preserved intact with the ecosystem they were growing in4 7#d7 ,exploration of the site continues to yield invaluable scientific insight in a variety of fields1 though scientists have just begun to study the ancient forest4 #c4 ,policy and purpose 7a7 ,policy ,it is the policy of the ,united ,states to protect and preserve the ancient cypress trees located off the coast of ,alabama1 known as the ,alabama ,underwater ,forest4 7b7 ,purpose ,the purpose of this ,act is to protect the resources of the area described in section #e7;b71 to educate and interpret for the public regarding the ancient ,alabama ,underwater ,forest environment1 and to manage human uses of the ,alabama ,underwater ,forest ,national ,marine ,sanctuary consistent with this ,act4 #d4 ,definitions ,in this ,act-- 7#a7 ,sanctuary ,the term ,sanctuary means the ,alabama ,underwater ,forest ,national ,marine ,sanctuary designated under section #e7;a74 7#b7 ,secretary the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,commerce4 #e4 ,sanctuary designation 7a7 ,designation ,the area described in subsection 7b7 is designated as the ,alabama ,underwater ,forest ,national ,marine ,sanctuary pursuant to title ,,iii of the ,marine ,protection1 ,research1 and ,sanctuaries ,act of #aigb 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #adca et seq474 7b7 ,area included 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,sanctuary shall consist only of all waters and submerged lands within the boundary described in paragraph 7#b74 7#b7 ,boundary ,the boundary referred to in paragraph 7#a7 shall encompass only the area within the following coordinates3 7,a7 #cj degrees1 #g minutes1 #bj4baaf seconds north latitude2 #hg degrees1 #di minutes1 #ae4gdjd seconds west longitude4 7,b7 #cj degrees1 #g minutes1 #bj4baaf seconds north latitude2 #hg degrees1 #dc minutes1 #dd4hecf seconds west longitude4 7,c7 #cj degrees1 #e minutes1 #db4feeb seconds north latitude2 #hg degrees1 #di minutes1 #ae4gdjd seconds west longitude4 7,d7 #cj degrees1 #e minutes1 #db4feeb seconds north latitude2 #hg degrees1 #dc minutes1 #dd4hecf seconds west longitude4 7,e7 #cj degrees1 #g minutes1 #bj4baaf seconds north latitude2 #hg degrees1 #di minutes1 #ae4gdjd seconds west longitude4 7#c7 ,charts ,the ,sanctuary shall be generally identified and depicted on ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration charts that shall be maintained on file and kept available for public examination during regular business hours at the ,office of ,ocean and ,coastal ,resource ,management of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration and in online format and which shall be updated to reflect boundary modifications made pursuant to this section4 #f4 ,prohibition of certain uses 7a7 ,prohibited activities ,the following activities are prohibited and are unlawful for any person to conduct or to cause to be conducted within the ,sanctuary3 7#a7 ,cutting1 removing1 or any kind of subsurface salvage of the cypress trees4 7#b7 ,lowering below the surface of the water any grappling1 suction1 conveyor1 dredging1 or wrecking device4 7#c7 ,detonating below the surface of the water any explosive or explosive mechanism4 7#d7 ,drilling or coring the seabed4 7#e7 ,lowering1 laying1 positioning1 or raising any type of seabed cable or cable-laying device4 7b7 ,exceptions 7#a7 ,in general ,the prohibitions in subsection 7a7 shall not apply to the following3 7,a7 ,fishing1 diving1 mooring1 or similar recreational or commercial activities4 7,b7 ,necessary operations of public vessels1 including operations essential for national defense1 law enforcement1 and responses to emergencies that threaten life1 property1 or the environment4 7,c7 ,construction or placement of artificial reef structures for the purpose of enhancing fishery resources1 fishing opportunities1 or recreational diving opportunities4 7,d7 ,exploration1 development1 or production of oil or gas pursuant to a lease1 permit1 or other authorization1 provided such lease1 permit1 or authorization is issued on or before the date of the enactment of this ,act4 7#b7 ,other activities ,the ,secretary1 acting through the ,director of the ,office of ,national ,marine ,sanctuaries1 may allow a person to conduct an activity that would otherwise be prohibited under subsection 7a7 if such activity meets the standards of ,title ,,iii of the ,marine ,protection1 ,research1 and ,sanctuaries ,act of #aigb 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #adca et seq471 as determined by the ,secretary4 #g4 ,comprehensive management plan 7a7 ,preparation of plan 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #b years after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary1 in consultation with appropriate ,federal1 ,state1 and local government authorities and with the advisory council established under section #h1 shall develop a comprehensive management plan and implement regulations to achieve the policy and purpose of this ,act4 7#b7 ,applicable law ,in developing the comprehensive management plan and implementing regulations under paragraph 7#a71 the ,secretary shall follow the procedures described in sections #cjc and #cjd of the ,marine ,protection1 ,research1 and ,sanctuaries ,act of #aigb 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #adcc and #adcd74 7#c7 ,plan details ,the comprehensive management plan required under paragraph 7#a7 shall-- 7,a7 facilitate all public and private uses of the ,sanctuary compatible with the primary objective of ,sanctuary resource protection1 with a focus on facilitating-- 7i7 fishing1 diving1 or similar recreational or commercial activities2 and 7ii7 construction or placement of artificial reef structures for the purpose of enhancing fishery resources1 fishing opportunities1 or recreational diving opportunities2 7,b7 consider temporal and geographical zoning1 to ensure protection of ,sanctuary resources2 7,c7 identify needs for research and ecological monitoring2 and 7,d7 ensure coordination and cooperation between ,sanctuary managers and-- 7i7 other ,federal1 ,state1 and local authorities with jurisdiction within or adjacent to the ,sanctuary2 and 7ii7 owners1 operators1 and stakeholders with respect to existing oil and gas operations within or adjacent to the ,sanctuary4 7b7 ,public participation ,the ,secretary shall provide for the participation of the general public in the development of the comprehensive management plan4 #h4 ,advisory council 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary shall establish an advisory council pursuant to section #cae of the ,marine ,protection1 ,research1 and ,sanctuaries ,act of #aigb 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #adde;a7 to advise the ,secretary with respect to the designation and management of the ,sanctuary4 7b7 ,membership ,the ,secretary shall include a representative from the ,alabama ,department of ,conservation and ,natural ,resources as a voting member of the advisory council4 ,june #bg1 #bjbd ,reported with an amendment1 committed to the ,committee of the ,whole ,house on the ,state of the ,union1 and ordered to be printed