,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #afae ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #f1 #bjbe ,mr4 ,wyden 7for himself and ,mr4 ,crapo7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to authorize the ,secretary of the ,interior to establish a regional pilot program to enhance habitat and water availability for shorebirds1 waterfowl1 and other wetlands-dependent birds1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,northwest ,wetlands ,voluntary ,incentives ,program ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,columbia river basin ,the term ,columbia ,river ,basin includes-- 7,a7 the ,columbia ,river2 and 7,b7 all tributaries of the ,columbia ,river and the watersheds of those tributaries4 7#b7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a ,federal or ,state agency or unit of local government2 7,b7 a ,tribal government or organization2 7,c7 a nonprofit organization2 7,d7 a conservation district2 7,e7 a private landowner2 and 7,f7 any other entity or individual that the ,secretary determines to be appropriate to receive a grant under the pilot program in accordance with the criteria established under section #c7;h74 7#c7 ,habitat restoration project ,the term habitat restoration project means a project described in section #c7;d74 7#d7 ,oregon and washington coastal zone ,the term ,oregon and ,washington ,coastal ,zone means the region that covers the coastal waters and adjacent land of the ,states of ,washington and ,oregon1 including the ,puget ,sound1 ,lower ,columbia ,river1 and coastal rivers and watersheds4 7#e7 ,pilot program ,the term pilot program means the ,pacific ,northwest ,migratory ,bird ,conservation pilot program established under section #c7;a74 7#f7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior1 acting through the ,director of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service4 #c4 ,pacific northwest migratory bird conservation pilot program 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary shall1 in coordination with ,migratory ,bird ,joint ,ventures1 establish and carry out a voluntary grant and technical assistance pilot program1 to be known as the ,pacific ,northwest ,migratory ,bird ,conservation pilot program1 to provide-- 7#a7 competitive grants to eligible entities to carry out habitat restoration projects that promote the purpose of the pilot program described in subsection 7b72 and 7#b7 technical assistance in carrying out a habitat restoration project using grant funds4 7b7 ,purpose ,the purpose of the pilot program is to enhance1 maintain1 and restore habitats for shorebirds1 waterfowl1 and other wetlands-dependent birds along the ,oregon and ,washington ,coastal ,zone and in the ,columbia ,river ,basin1 including birds that are important for migrating1 staging1 and wintering populations of waterfowl1 shorebirds1 waterbirds1 and passerines4 7c7 ,application ,to be eligible to receive a grant under the pilot program1 an eligible entity shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require1 which may include a request for funding to cover all eligible direct and indirect costs relating to carrying out a habitat restoration project4 7d7 ,habitat restoration projects ,the following projects are eligible to receive a grant and technical assistance under the pilot program3 7#a7 ,water infrastructure and management projects to enhance and restore habitat for wetlands-dependent migratory birds4 7#b7 ,projects that manage or enhance vegetative habitat to maximize resources for wetlands-dependent migratory birds4 7e7 ,location of projects ,an eligible entity may carry out a habitat restoration project on public1 private1 ,tribal1 or other land1 determined to be appropriate by the ,secretary1 including agricultural land that provides habitats and values of benefit to wetlands-associated migratory birds1 including waterfowl1 shorebirds1 waterbirds1 and passerines4 7f7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under the pilot program1 the ,secretary may give priority to eligible entities that intend to carry out habitat restoration projects-- 7#a7 in locations where-- 7,a7 migratory bird habitat is rapidly being lost or converted2 7,b7 human population growth is rapid2 or 7,c7 sufficient public access to recreational land is limited2 7#b7 that include a plan for long-term operation and maintenance2 7#c7 that include performance or effective monitoring of project goals and ecosystem services2 and 7#d7 in accordance with subsection 7i71 that provide a non-,federal share of not less than #be percent4 7g7 ,use of funds 7#a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under the pilot program may use-- 7,a7 not more than #aj percent of grant funds to determine the ecosystem service benefits of the habitat restoration project to be carried out by the eligible entity2 and 7,b7 not more than #aj percent of grant funds for voluntary conservation easements related to that habitat restoration project4 7#b7 ,timing 7,a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under the pilot program shall use the grant funds not later than #d years after the date on which the eligible entity receives the grant4 7,b7 ,unspent funds ,any funds not used by an eligible entity within the time period described in subparagraph 7,a7 shall be returned to the ,secretary for use in carrying out the pilot program4 7#c7 ,planning costs2 regular operation and maintenance ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under the pilot program-- 7,a7 may use the grant funds to carry out activities relating to the planning1 permitting1 installing1 or replacing of a habitat restoration project2 and 7,b7 may not use the grant funds to carry out regular operation and maintenance with respect to those habitat restoration projects4 7h7 ,criteria ,the ,secretary shall1 in consultation with officials and entities described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,e7 of section #b7b71 establish criteria for the pilot program to help ensure that habitat restoration projects carried out under the pilot program accomplish the purpose of the pilot program described in subsection 7b74 7i7 ,non-,federal share requirements ,for purposes of subsection 7f77#d71 a non-,federal share provided for a grant under the pilot program shall meet the following requirements3 7#a7 ,the non-,federal share is secured by the eligible entity not later than #b years before the date on which the eligible entity submits an application under subsection 7c74 7#b7 ,the non-,federal share-- 7,a7 is directly related to the applicable habitat restoration project2 and 7,b7 includes-- 7i7 cash or in-kind services2 7ii7 ,state or local government funding2 7iii7 private or other eligible matching funds 7as defined by the ,secretary72 or 7iv7 planning1 permitting1 labor1 including volunteer labor1 appraisals1 equipment rental1 and material costs4 7j7 ,administration ,the ,secretary may enter into an agreement to manage the pilot program with an organization that offers grant management services4 7k7 ,restriction ,in awarding a grant to an eligible entity under the pilot program1 the ,secretary may not provide a grant to carry out a habitat restoration project the purpose of which is to meet existing environmental mitigation or compliance obligations under ,federal or ,state law4 7l7 ,compliance ,a habitat restoration project awarded a grant under the pilot program shall comply with all applicable ,federal and ,state law4 7m7 ,effect ,nothing in this section-- 7#a7 preempts or affects any ,state water law or interstate compact governing water2 or 7#b7 interferes with private property rights4 #d4 ,reports ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report describing the implementation of this ,act1 including a description of each habitat restoration project that receives funding under the pilot program4 #e4 ,authorization of appropriations 7a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the pilot program #aj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbf through #bjcj4 7b7 ,administration ,of the amounts made available to carry out the pilot program for each fiscal year1 not more than #c percent may be used for administrative costs of carrying out the pilot program4 7c7 ,supplement1 not supplant ,amounts made available to carry out the pilot program shall supplement1 and not supplant1 funding for other activities conducted by the ,secretary in an area in which a habitat restoration project is carried out4