Title 16ConservationRelease 119-73

§3645 Northern and Southern Funds; treaty implementation; additional authorization of appropriations

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 56A— - PACIFIC SALMON FISHING › § 3645

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Creates two money accounts, called the Northern Fund and the Southern Fund, that the Pacific Salmon Commission will hold and invest to earn interest. The money can be used for salmon restoration, enhancement, research, habitat conservation, and carrying out the Pacific Salmon Treaty. Interest and grant money can be kept and used for those programs without extra yearly approvals. Recipients must keep separate accounts and records. The Northern Fund is run by a Northern Fund Committee made up of three Canadian and three U.S. members (the U.S. members are the U.S. Commissioner, an Alternate from a list sent by the Governor of Alaska, and the National Marine Fisheries Service Regional Administrator for Alaska) and only pays for projects from Cape Caution, Canada to Cape Suckling, Alaska. The Southern Fund is run by a Southern Fund Committee with three Canadian and three U.S. members (the U.S. members are chosen by the Secretary of Commerce from lists from Washington and Oregon governors, from treaty Indian tribes, and the NMFS Northwest Regional Administrator) and only pays for projects south of Cape Caution, Canada. “Alaska fisheries” means Pacific salmon fisheries off Alaska under the treaty. “Southern United States fisheries” means Pacific salmon fisheries in Washington, Oregon, and the Snake River basin of Idaho under the treaty. No money can be spent from these funds until certain legal steps are done, including court orders requested as in the negotiators’ June 22, 1999 letter (requests must be made by December 31, 1999) and a formal finding that entering the treaty, how Alaska fisheries are run under it, and the North Pacific Council’s decision to defer salmon management to Alaska are not likely to harm or change protected habitat of any listed salmon species under the Endangered Species Act (Public Law 93–205, as amended). If the court-order requests are withdrawn after December 31, 1999, or if orders are not entered by March 1, 2000, the fund money must go to the U.S. Treasury general fund. The Secretary of Commerce must follow special steps and notify Congress before starting consultations under the Endangered Species Act about Alaska fisheries. Money authorizations: $75,000,000 total to capitalize the Northern Fund (fiscal years 2000–2003); $65,000,000 total to capitalize the Southern Fund (fiscal years 2000–2003); $30,000,000 total for economic help to fishermen (fiscal years 2000–2002); $90,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 to the States of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, and California as direct payments; and $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2000–2003 to be split between Pacific Coastal tribes and Columbia River tribes.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §3645

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)As provided in the June 30, 1999, Agreement of the United States and Canada on the Treaty Between the Government of the United States and the Government of Canada Concerning Pacific Salmon, 1985 (hereafter referred to as the “1999 Pacific Salmon Treaty Agreement”) there are hereby established a Northern Boundary and Transboundary Rivers Restoration and Enhancement Fund (hereafter referred to as the “Northern Fund”) and a Southern Boundary Restoration and Enhancement Fund (hereafter referred to as the “Southern Fund”) to be held by the Pacific Salmon Commission. The Northern Fund and Southern Fund shall be invested in interest bearing accounts, bonds, securities, or other investments in order to achieve the highest annual yield consistent with protecting the principal of each Fund. Income from investments made pursuant to this paragraph shall be available until expended, without appropriation or fiscal year limitation, for programs and activities relating to salmon restoration and enhancement, salmon research, the conservation of salmon habitat, and implementation of the Pacific Salmon Treaty and related agreements. Amounts provided by grants under this subsection may be held in interest bearing accounts prior to the disbursement of such funds for program purposes, and any interest earned may be retained for program purposes without further appropriation. The Northern Fund and Southern Fund are subject to the laws governing Federal appropriations and funds and to unrestricted circulars of the Office of Management and Budget. Recipients of amounts from either Fund shall keep separate accounts and such records as are reasonably necessary to disclose the use of the funds as well as to facilitate effective audits.
(2)(A)As provided in the 1999 Pacific Salmon Treaty Agreement, amounts made available from the Northern Fund pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be administered by a Northern Fund Committee, which shall be comprised of three representatives of the Government of Canada, and three representatives of the United States. The three United States representatives shall be the United States Commissioner and Alternate Commissioner appointed (or designated) from a list submitted by the Governor of Alaska for appointment to the Pacific Salmon Commission and the Regional Administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service for the Alaska Region. Only programs and activities consistent with the purposes in paragraph (1) which affect the geographic area from Cape Caution, Canada to Cape Suckling, Alaska may be approved for funding by the Northern Fund Committee.
(B)As provided in the 1999 Pacific Salmon Treaty Agreement, amounts made available from the Southern Fund pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be administered by a Southern Fund Committee, which shall be comprised of three representatives of Canada and three representatives of the United States. The United States representatives shall be appointed by the Secretary of Commerce: one shall be selected from a list of three qualified individuals submitted by the Governors of the States of Washington and Oregon; one shall be selected from a list of three qualified individuals submitted by the treaty Indian tribes (as defined by the Secretary of Commerce); and one shall be the Regional Administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service for the Northwest Region. Only programs and activities consistent with the purposes in paragraph (1) which affect the geographic area south of Cape Caution, Canada may be approved for funding by the Southern Fund Committee.
(b)(1)None of the funds authorized by this section for implementation of the 1999 Pacific Salmon Treaty Agreement shall be made available until each of the following conditions to the 1999 Pacific Salmon Treaty Agreement has been fulfilled—
(A)stipulations are revised and court orders requested as set forth in the letter of understanding of the United States negotiators dated June 22, 1999. If such orders are not requested by December 31, 1999, this condition shall be considered unfulfilled; and
(B)a determination is made that—
(i)the entry by the United States into the 1999 Pacific Salmon Treaty Agreement;
(ii)the conduct of the Alaskan fisheries pursuant to the 1999 Pacific Salmon Treaty Agreement, without further clarification or modification of the management regimes contained therein; and
(iii)the decision by the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council to continue to defer its management authority over salmon to the State of Alaska are not likely to cause jeopardy to, or adversely modify designated critical habitat of, any salmonid species listed under Public Law 93–205, as amended [16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.], in any fishery subject to the Pacific Salmon Treaty.
(2)If the requests for orders in subparagraph (1)(A) are withdrawn after December 31, 1999, or if such orders are not entered by March 1, 2000, amounts in the Northern Fund and the Southern Fund shall be transferred to the general fund of the United States Treasury.
(3)During the term of the 1999 Pacific Salmon Treaty Agreement, the Secretary of Commerce shall determine whether Southern United States fisheries are likely to cause jeopardy to, or adversely modify designated critical habitat of, any salmonid species listed under Public Law 93–205, as amended, before the Secretary of Commerce may initiate or reinitiate consultation on Alaska fisheries under such Act.
(4)During the term of the 1999 Pacific Salmon Treaty Agreement, the Secretary of Commerce may not initiate or reinitiate consultation on Alaska fisheries under section 7 of Public Law 93–205, as amended [16 U.S.C. 1536], until—
(A)the Pacific Salmon Commission has had a reasonable opportunity to implement the provisions of the 1999 Pacific Salmon Treaty Agreement, including the harvest responses pursuant to paragraph 9, chapter 3 of Annex IV to the Pacific Salmon Treaty; and
(B)he determines, in consultation with the United States Section of the Pacific Salmon Commission, that implementation actions under the 1999 Agreement will not return escapements as expeditiously as possible to maximum sustainable yield or other biologically-based escapement objectives agreed to by the Pacific Salmon Commission.
(5)The Secretary of Commerce shall notify the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives of his intent to initiate or reinitiate consultation on Alaska fisheries.
(6)(A)For purposes of this section, “Alaska fisheries” means all directed Pacific salmon fisheries off the coast of Alaska that are subject to the Pacific Salmon Treaty.
(B)For purposes of this section, “Southern United States fisheries” means all directed Pacific salmon fisheries in Washington, Oregon, and the Snake River basin of Idaho that are subject to the Pacific Salmon Treaty.
(c)
(d)(1)(A)For capitalizing the Northern Fund there is authorized to be appropriated in fiscal years 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003 a total of $75,000,000.
(B)For capitalizing the Southern Fund there is authorized to be appropriated in fiscal years 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003 a total of $65,000,000.
(C)To provide economic adjustment assistance to fishermen pursuant to the 1999 Pacific Salmon Treaty Agreement, there is authorized to be appropriated in fiscal years 2000, 2001, and 2002 a total of $30,000,000.
(2)(A)For salmon habitat restoration, salmon stock enhancement, sustainable salmon fisheries, and salmon research, including the construction of salmon research and related facilities, there is authorized to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2000, 2001, 2002, and 11 So in original. The word “and” probably should not appear. 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009, $90,000,000 to the States of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, and California. Amounts appropriated pursuant to this subparagraph shall be made available as direct payments. The State of Alaska may allocate a portion of any funds it receives under this subsection to eligible activities outside Alaska.
(B)For salmon habitat restoration, salmon stock enhancement, salmon research, and supplementation activities, there is authorized to be appropriated in each of fiscal years 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003, $10,000,000 to be divided between the Pacific Coastal tribes (as defined by the Secretary of Commerce) and the Columbia River tribes (as defined by the Secretary of Commerce).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Public Law 93–205, referred to in subsec. (b)(1)(B)(iii), (3), is Pub. L. 93–205, Dec. 28, 1973, 87 Stat. 884, known as the Endangered Species Act of 1973, which is classified generally to chapter 35 (§ 1531 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1531 of this title and Tables. Codification Section is comprised of section 16 of Pub. L. 99–5. section 16(c) of Pub. L. 99–5 amended section 3632 of this title. Pub. L. 109–479, § 302(d)(1), which directed that the text of section 623 of title VI of H.R. 3421 (113 Stat. 1501A–56), as introduced on November 17, 1999, enacted into law by section 1000(a)(1) of Pub. L. 106–113 and amended by Pub. L. 106–533, 114 Stat. 2762A–108, be transferred to and renumbered as section 16 of the Pacific Salmon Treaty Act, was executed by transferring Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(1) [title VI, § 623], as amended by Pub. L. 106–553, § 1(a)(2) [title VI, § 628], to and renumbering it as section 16 of Pub. L. 99–5, which is the Pacific Salmon Treaty Act of 1985, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. See source credit above.

Amendments

2009—Subsec. (d)(2)(A). Pub. L. 111–8, which directed amendment of “Section (d)(2)(A) of title 16 U.S.C. 3645” by inserting “Nevada,” after “Idaho,”, was executed by making the amendment to section 16 of Pub. L. 99–5, which is classified to this section, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. 2007—Pub. L. 109–479, § 302(d)(1)(B)(ii), inserted section catchline. Subsec. (d)(2)(A). Pub. L. 109–479, § 302(d)(2), inserted “sustainable salmon fisheries,” after “enhancement,”, “2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009,” after “2003,”, and “Idaho,” after “Oregon,”. 2004—Pub. L. 108–447, which directed the amendment of section 628(2)(A) of the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001, Pub. L. 106–553, by substituting “2005” for “2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003” and inserting “Idaho,” after “Oregon,”, was not executed, because this section was enacted by Pub. L. 106–113, and section 628 of the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001, was an amendatory provision. See 2007 Amendment note above and 2000 Amendment note below. 2000—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 106–553, § 1(a)(2) [title VI, § 628(a)], which directed the amendment of par. (1) by striking out “The Northern Fund and Southern Fund shall each receive $10,000,000 of the amounts authorized by this section.”, was executed by striking out “The Northern Fund and Southern Fund shall each receive $10,000,000, of the amounts authorized by this section.” after the second sentence, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 106–553, § 1(a)(2) [title VI, § 628(b)], added subsec. (d) and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (d). Text read as follows: “(1) For capitalizing the Northern Fund and the Southern Fund, there is authorized to be appropriated in fiscal year 2000, $20,000,000. “(2) For salmon habitat restoration, salmon stock enhancement, salmon research, and implementation of the 1999 Pacific Salmon Treaty Agreement and related agreements, there is authorized to be appropriated in fiscal year 2000, $50,000,000 to the States of California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. The State of Alaska may allocate a portion of any funds it receives under this subsection to eligible activities outside Alaska. “(3) For salmon habitat restoration, salmon stock enhancement, salmon research, and implementation of the 1999 Pacific Salmon Treaty Agreement and related agreements, there is authorized to be appropriated $6,000,000 in fiscal year 2000 to the Pacific Coastal tribes (as defined by the Secretary of Commerce) and $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2000 to the Columbia River tribes (as defined by the Secretary of Commerce). Funds appropriated to the States under the authority of this section shall be subject to a 25 percent non-Federal match requirement. In addition, not more than 3 percent of such funds shall be available for administrative expenses, with the exception of funds used in the Washington State for the Forest and Fish Agreement.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Committee on Resources of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Natural Resources of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Jan. 5, 2007.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 3645

Title 16Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73