Sec. 4. Program establishment
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/bill/113/s/2306/is/section-4A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Not later than 180 days after amounts are made available to carry out this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program to be known as the Delaware River Basin restoration program . In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall— draw on existing and new management plans for the Basin, or portions of the Basin, and work in consultation with applicable management entities, including representatives of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, the Delaware River Basin Commission, the Federal Government, and other State and local governments, and regional and nonprofit organizations, as appropriate, to identify, prioritize, and implement restoration and protection activities within the Basin; adopt a Basin-wide strategy that— supports the implementation of a shared set of science-based restoration and protection activities developed in accordance with paragraph (1); targets cost-effective conservation projects; and supports measurable conservation efforts; establish the grant program in accordance with section 5; and provide for technical assistance in accordance with this Act.
In establishing the program, the Secretary shall consult, as appropriate, with— the heads of Federal agencies, including— the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; the Chief of the Natural Resource Conservation Service; the Chief of Engineers of the Corps of Engineers; and the head of any other applicable agency; the Governors of the Basin States; the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary; the Delaware River Basin Commission; fish and wildlife joint venture partnerships; and other public agencies and organizations with authority for the planning and implementation of conservation strategies in the Basin.
The purposes of the program include— coordinating restoration and protection activities among Federal, State, local, and regional entities and conservation partners throughout the Basin; carrying out coordinated restoration and protection activities throughout the Basin and Basin States— to sustain and enhance fish and wildlife habitat restoration and protection activities; to improve and maintain water quality to support fish and wildlife, as well as the habitats of fish and wildlife; to sustain and enhance water management and flood damage mitigation improvements to benefit fish and wildlife habitat; to improve opportunities for public access and recreation in the Basin; to encourage environmentally sensitive land use planning and development; to increase the capacity to implement coordinated restoration and protection activities in the Basin by conducting public outreach and education and promoting citizen involvement; and to increase scientific capacity to support the planning, monitoring, and research activities necessary to carry out coordinated restoration and protection activities; and providing competitive grants for technical assistance to carry out restoration and protection activities in the Basin, with priority given to activities with multiple benefits, as described in paragraph (2).