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New York-New Jersey Watershed Protection Act
12/15/2023, 3:57 PM
Summary of Bill HR 2982
The bill focuses on several key areas of protection, including the preservation of forests and wetlands, the reduction of pollution from agricultural and urban sources, and the enhancement of water infrastructure to ensure clean and safe drinking water for all residents in the region.
Specifically, the bill includes provisions for funding conservation programs to protect and restore forests and wetlands in the watershed, as well as grants for farmers to implement best management practices to reduce runoff and pollution from agricultural activities. Additionally, the bill allocates funding for the upgrade and maintenance of water treatment facilities and infrastructure to ensure the delivery of clean and safe drinking water to residents in the region. Overall, the New York-New Jersey Watershed Protection Act aims to safeguard the water quality and natural resources of the watershed that is vital to the health and well-being of millions of residents in New York and New Jersey.
Congressional Summary of HR 2982
New York-New Jersey Watershed Protection Act
This bill establishes programs to restore and protect the New York-New Jersey Watershed. The watershed is composed of all land area the surface water of which drains into the New York-New Jersey Harbor, the waters contained within that land area, and associated estuaries.
Specifically, the bill requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to establish the New York-New Jersey Watershed Restoration Program, a nonregulatory program, to coordinate restoration and protection activities among government entities and conservation partners throughout the watershed.
The bill also establishes the New York-New Jersey Watershed Restoration Grant Program, a voluntary grant and technical assistance program, to provide competitive matching grants to certain entities to implement restoration and protection activities for the watershed. The federal government may not maintain ownership of any land acquired under the bill except for the purpose of promptly transferring ownership to grant recipients.
The bill ceases to have force or effect on October 1, 2030.
