North American Wetlands Conservation Act

Summary

North American Wetlands Conservation Act - Establishes a North American Wetlands Conservation Advisory Committee to advise the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission. Sets forth elements to be considered by the Committee in making recommendations for wetlands conservation projects. Requires the Committee to submit annual descriptions to the Commission and the appropriate congressional committees of projects recommended for Federal funding. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to carry out approved projects with funding available under this Act and the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act. Requires lands, waters, or other interests acquired by the Secretary to carry out such projects to be included in the National Wildlife Refuge System, except as otherwise provided in this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to convey to States or public or private agencies approved by States any real property interest acquired with funding provided by this Act, upon a finding that such interests can be better managed if not retained in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Subjects such conveyances to conditions that will ensure that the interests will be administered for the long-term conservation and management of fish and wildlife and that will provide for compatible public access and use. Directs the Secretary to grant funds to public and private entities for carrying out wetlands conservation projects in Canada and Mexico. Subjects the granting of such funds to the same conditions applicable to Federal conveyances of property interests to States. Provides that property interests acquired with such funds shall not become part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Amends the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act to require the Secretary of the Treasury to invest in interest-bearing obligations such portion of the wildlife restoration fund not required for the current year's withdrawals. Sets forth authorized investment activities and the required use of interest held on obligations in such fund. Excludes such interest from revenues to be deducted for administrative expenses. Authorizes additional appropriations. Allocates funds made available under this Act and the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act. Limits the Federal contribution to wetlands conservation projects to 75 percent of the total cost for projects in Canada and Mexico and 50 percent for projects in the United States. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) make progress payments to wetlands conservation projects; and (2) enter into agreements to make payments on initial portions of such projects, subject to the availability of Federal funds. Requires law enforcement proceeds of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to be deposited in a certain fund pursuant to the Refuge Revenue Sharing Act. Exempts from such requirement: (1) amounts used for rewards or costs of temporary care under the Endangered Species Act of 1973; and (2) amounts required to be deposited into the cooperative endangered species conservation fund under such Act. Requires the head of each Federal agency responsible for acquiring, managing, or disposing of Federal lands and waters to cooperate with the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to restore, protect, and enhance the wetland ecosystems and other habitats for migratory birds and fish and wildlife within such lands and waters. Directs such agencies, in the consideration of land disposal alternatives, to give priority to transfers of property for conservation purposes. Requires the Secretary to report biennially to the appropriate congressional committees on: (1) the estimated number of wetland acres and habitat that were restored, protected, or enhanced for migratory birds during such two-year period; and (2) trends in the population size and distribution of North American migratory birds. Directs the Secretary to report annually to such committees on the status of wetlands conservation projects and expenditures. Requires the Secretary, in 1991 and quinquennially thereafter, to revise the North American Waterfowl Management Plan with appropriate Canadian and Mexican officials. Prohibits funds made available under this Act and the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act from being used for fish and wildlife mitigation purposes under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act or the Water Resources Development Act of 1986. Amends the Migratory Bird Conservation Act to provide that the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (in lieu of the Secretary of Transportation) shall be a member of the Commission.

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Documents

7 official files

• Reported in House (text)

  Reported in House · EN

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• Placed on Calendar Senate (text)

  Placed on Calendar Senate · EN

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• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN

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• Engrossed in House (text)

  Engrossed in House · EN

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• Passed House amended

  summary · EN · 10 October 1989

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• Reported to House with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 5 October 1989

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• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 8 June 1989

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