§1275 Columbia River Basin Restoration

Summary

Creates a Columbia River Basin Restoration Program at the EPA to coordinate and pay for cleanup and restoration across the U.S. part of the Columbia River watershed. The EPA must work with local groups and experts, track water quality trends, gather and study data to find causes of problems, and give competitive grants for projects that cut pollution, clean contaminated sites, improve water, monitor conditions, reduce runoff, protect habitat, or help the public get involved. The EPA must set up a voluntary Working Group made up of states, governors, tribes, local governments, industry, utilities, landowners, conservation districts, nonprofits, the public, and the Estuary Partnership to recommend and review projects. The Estuary Partnership will handle Working Group duties for the lower estuary while it is the management group for that area; if it stops, those duties move to the Working Group or a new management group. Definitions: Columbia River Basin — the U.S. part of the watershed. Estuary Partnership — the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership. Estuary Plan — the Partnership’s plan adopted October 20, 1999 (and any updates). Lower Columbia River Estuary — Bonneville Dam to the ocean and nearby tidal tributaries. Middle and Upper Columbia River Basin — the U.S. portion above Bonneville Dam. The law allows grants to states, tribes, regional and local agencies, nonprofits, and conservation districts. Federal funds may cover up to 75% of project costs (tribes may use federal funds for their share and EPA can increase the federal share). At least 25% of funds must go to the Lower Estuary and at least 25% to the Middle and Upper Basin (including the Snake River Basin); EPA may keep up to 5% for program work. Grant recipients must report progress. It authorizes $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 and 2021. The President must include a federal crosscut budget showing past, current, and proposed agency spending for Columbia Basin protection and restoration.