Public Law 116-274 | Public Law 116–274: To require the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere to update periodically the environmental sensitivity index products of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for each coastal area of the Great Lakes, and for other purposes.

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PUBLIC LAW 116–274—DEC. 31, 2020

134 STAT. 3356

Public Law

116–274

116th Congress

An Act

To require the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere to update periodically the environmental sensitivity index products of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for each coastal area of the Great Lakes, and for other purposes.

Dec. 31, 2020

[S. 1342]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Great Lakes Environmental Sensitivity Index Act of 2020.

33 USC 883a note.

SECTION 1.

SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “

Great Lakes Environmental Sensitivity Index Act of 2020

”.

SEC. 2.

UPDATE TO ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY INDEX PRODUCTS OF NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION FOR GREAT LAKES.

(a)

Update Required for Environmental Sensitivity Index Products for Great Lakes.—

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere shall commence updating the environmental sensitivity index products of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for each coastal area of the Great Lakes.

(b)

Periodic Updates for Environmental Sensitivity Index Products Generally.—

Subject to the availability of appropriations and the priorities set forth in subsection (c), the Under Secretary shall—

(1)

periodically update the environmental sensitivity index products of the Administration; and

(2)

Deadline.

endeavor to do so not less frequently than once every 7 years.

(c)

Priorities.—

When prioritizing geographic areas to update environmental sensitivity index products, the Under Secretary shall consider—

(1)

the age of existing environmental sensitivity index products for the areas;

(2)

the occurrence of extreme events, be it natural or man-made, which have significantly altered the shoreline or ecosystem since the last update;

(3)

the natural variability of shoreline and coastal environment; and

(4)

the volume of vessel traffic and general vulnerability to spilled pollutants.

(d)

Environmental Sensitivity Index Product Defined.—

In this section, the term “

environmental sensitivity index product

” means a map or similar tool that is utilized to identify sensitive shoreline, coastal or offshore, resources prior to an oil spill event 134 STAT. 3357 in order to set baseline priorities for protection and plan cleanup strategies, typically including information relating to shoreline type, biological resources, and human use resources.

(e)

Funding.—

Funds to carry out the activities under this section shall be derived from amounts authorized to be appropriated for the Under Secretary that are enacted after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Approved December 31, 2020.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 1342:

SENATE REPORTS: ┐No. 116–170 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and Transportation).

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 166 (2020):

Nov. 16, considered and passed Senate.

Dec. 3, considered and passed House, amended.

Dec. 10, Senate concurred in House amendment.

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