Pub. L. 116-274 - Great Lakes Environmental Sensitivity Index Act of 2020

116th Congress

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

(b)(1) periodically update the environmental sensitivity index products of the Administration; and

(b)(2) endeavor to do so not less frequently than once every 7 years.

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

(c)(1) the age of existing environmental sensitivity index products for the areas;

(c)(2) the occurrence of extreme events, be it natural or man-made, which have significantly altered the shoreline or ecosystem since the last update;

(c)(3) the natural variability of shoreline and coastal environment; and

(c)(4) the volume of vessel traffic and general vulnerability to spilled pollutants.

(d) 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 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) 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.

Legislative History

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 1342:

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.