All Amreicans Need To Know
About This!
Dear Fellow Sportsmen...
I'm forwarding to you an email sent to me by a good friend and
someone who also enjoys hunting and fishing as much as I do.
It contains a link to U.S. House Bill 501, sponsored by U.S.
Congressman Ed Markey, which seeks, as a first step, to establish a
regional governmental council for "coordinating" and "planning" the
decisions affecting the "use" and "sustainable development" of all
American coastal areas; including the Great Lakes and Jersey shore.
And of course this new "Regional Council" will supersede both in
mandate and authority any constitutionally controlled, state run,
fish and game commissions.
The general mandates for the Regional Councils created in
Congressman Markey's legislation are:
1. To coordinated regional planning efforts in decisions affecting
the sustainable development and use of Federal renewable and
nonrenewable resources on, in, or above the ocean including the
Great Lakes.
2. To offer Greater coordination among stakeholders regarding
conservation of, and the sustainable development and use of, Federal
renewable and nonrenewable resources of the oceans, coasts, and
Great Lakes.
3. To force Americans to have a greater reliance on a
multi-objective management approaches that integrate regional
economic and "social objectives" (I shudder to think what that
means) into water management decisions.
4. To develop a "Strategic Plan" for the sustainable development and
use of America's coastal waters, including for the development of
renewable and non-renewable energy in any given Region.
B. Regional "strategic" mandates include:
1. To Identify a Region's renewable and non-renewable resources
including current and potential energy resources.
2. To identify and inventory existing (and potential) habitat for
fishing, recreational use and energy development.
3. To document the health and relative environmental sensitivity of
these waters.
4. To identify marine habitat types and important ecological areas.
5. To assess the local "marine economy" and "cultural attributes"
while "developing a socioeconomic baseline" - (for what purpose
remained unstated... but it sounds duplicitously diabolical).
6. To gather and prioritize the scientific and economic data
necessary to develop Strategic Plans.
Note on item #6: A "Strategic Plan" to do what, is never
explicitly stated. However, as can be discerned from the
legislation itself, it's a plan for the implementation of Agenda 21
and Sustainable Development of America's coastal areas,
clandestinely, vis-à-vis the Gulf oil disaster.
C. Coastal areas to be governed are:
(1) PACIFIC REGION- The Pacific Coordination Region, which shall
consist of the coastal waters and Exclusive Economic Zone adjacent
to the States of Washington, Oregon, and California.
(2) GULF OF MEXICO REGION- The Gulf of Mexico Coordination Region,
which shall consist of the coastal waters and Exclusive Economic
Zone adjacent to the States of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and
Alabama, and the west coast of Florida.
(3) NORTH ATLANTIC REGION- The North Atlantic Coordination Region,
which shall consist of the coastal waters and Exclusive Economic
Zone adjacent to the States of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
(4) MID-ATLANTIC REGION- The Mid-Atlantic Coordination Region, which
shall consist of the coastal waters and Exclusive Economic Zone
adjacent to the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.
(5) SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION- The South Atlantic Coordination Region,
which shall consist of the coastal waters and Exclusive Economic
Zone adjacent to the States of North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia, the east coast of Florida, and the Straits of Florida
Planning Area.
(6) ALASKA REGION- The Alaska Coordination Region, which shall
consist of the coastal waters and Exclusive Economic Zone adjacent
to the State of Alaska.
(7) PACIFIC ISLANDS REGION- The Pacific Islands Coordination Region,
which shall consist of the coastal waters and Exclusive Economic
Zone adjacent to the State of Hawaii, the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and Guam.
(8) CARIBBEAN REGION- The Caribbean Coordination Region, which shall
consist of the coastal waters and Exclusive Economic Zone adjacent
to Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands.
(9) GREAT LAKES REGION- The Great Lakes Coordination Region, which
shall consist of waters of the Great Lakes in the States of
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
D. Public input: Not to worry. At a couple of
different points along the way, as this plan is being implemented,
the average American taxpayer will be allowed a "public comment
period". Just before, that is, the power-that-be enact their
Agenda 21 plans for Sustainable Development over any objections you
and I may have.
That said, I hope you'll take the time to look over the information
I'm sending along as at some point this legislation, or something
very much like it, will effect you, your families and your standard
of living - not to mention the sports we all love and enjoy so much.
Please feel free share this information with everyone you know,
including other hunting, fishing and outdoor use organizations...
it's that important.
Regards,
Si Contino
PS: Below, please find the email I received on November 14,
2011.
----------------------------------------------
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: "Coordination Regions" & "Exclusive Economic
Zones"
From:
Date: Mon, November 14, 2011 2:36 am
In case you haven't seen this.
Talk about a [communist] system of regional governance!
Don
1. [112th] H.R.501 : Implementing the Recommendations of the BP Oil
Spill Commission Act of 2011 -
- To provide for the implementation of the recommendations of the
National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and
Offshore Drilling, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Markey, Edward J. [MA-7] (introduced 1/26/2011)
Cosponsors (14) Related Bills: H.R.1352, H.R.1870, H.R.2260
Latest Major Action: 2/25/2011 Referred to House subcommittee.
Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
758 . [112th] (Introduced in House - IH)[H.R.501.IH ]
Excerpt: SEC. 501. REGIONAL COORDINATION.
(a) In General- The purpose of this title is to promote--
(1) better coordination, communication, and collaboration between
Federal agencies with authorities for ocean, coastal, and Great
Lakes management; and
(2) coordinated and collaborative regional planning efforts using
the best available science, and to ensure the protection and
maintenance of marine ecosystem health, in decisions affecting the
sustainable development and use of Federal renewable and
nonrenewable resources on, in, or above the ocean (including the
Outer Continental Shelf) and the Great Lakes for the long-term
economic and environmental benefit of the United States.
(b) Objectives of Regional Efforts- Such regional efforts shall
achieve the following objectives:
(1) Greater systematic communication and coordination among Federal,
coastal State, and affected tribal governments concerned with the
conservation of and the sustainable development and use of Federal
renewable and nonrenewable resources of the oceans, coasts, and
Great Lakes.
(2) Greater reliance on a multiobjective, science- and
ecosystem-based, spatially explicit management approach that
integrates regional economic, ecological, affected tribal, and
social objectives into ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes management
decisions.
(3) Identification and prioritization of shared State and Federal
ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes management issues.
(4) Identification of data and information needed by the Regional
Coordination Councils established under section 602.
(c) Regions- There are hereby designated the following Coordination
Regions:
(1) PACIFIC REGION- The Pacific Coordination Region, which shall
consist of the coastal waters and Exclusive Economic Zone adjacent
to the States of Washington, Oregon, and California.
(2) GULF OF MEXICO REGION- The Gulf of Mexico Coordination Region,
which shall consist of the coastal waters and Exclusive Economic
Zone adjacent to the States of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and
Alabama, and the west coast of Florida.
(3) NORTH ATLANTIC REGION- The North Atlantic Coordination Region,
which shall consist of the coastal waters and Exclusive Economic
Zone adjacent to the States of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
(4) MID-ATLANTIC REGION- The Mid-Atlantic Coordination Region, which
shall consist of the coastal waters and Exclusive Economic Zone
adjacent to the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.
(5) SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION- The South Atlantic Coordination Region,
which shall consist of the coastal waters and Exclusive Economic
Zone adjacent to the States of North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia, the east coast of Florida, and the Straits of Florida
Planning Area.
(6) ALASKA REGION- The Alaska Coordination Region, which shall
consist of the coastal waters and Exclusive Economic Zone adjacent
to the State of Alaska.
(7) PACIFIC ISLANDS REGION- The Pacific Islands Coordination Region,
which shall consist of the coastal waters and Exclusive Economic
Zone adjacent to the State of Hawaii, the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and Guam.
(8) CARIBBEAN REGION- The Caribbean Coordination Region, which shall
consist of the coastal waters and Exclusive Economic Zone adjacent
to Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands.
(9) GREAT LAKES REGION- The Great Lakes Coordination Region, which
shall consist of waters of the Great Lakes in the States of
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
SEC. 502. REGIONAL COORDINATION COUNCILS.
(a) In General- Within 180 days after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality, in
consultation with the affected coastal States and affected Indian
tribes, shall establish or designate a Regional Coordination Council
for each of the Coordination Regions designated by section 601(c).
(b) Membership-
(1) FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES- Within 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Chairman of the Council on Environmental
Quality shall publish the titles of the officials of each Federal
agency and department that shall participate in each Council. The
Councils shall include representatives of each Federal agency and
department that has authorities related to the development of ocean,
coastal, or Great Lakes policies or engages in planning, management,
or scientific activities that significantly affect or inform the use
of ocean, coastal, or Great Lakes resources. The Chairman of the
Council on Environmental Quality shall determine which Federal
agency representative shall serve as the chairperson of each
Council.
(2) COASTAL STATE REPRESENTATIVES-
(A) NOTICE OF INTENT TO PARTICIPATE- The Governor of each coastal
State within each Coordination Region designated by section 601(c)
shall within 3 months after the date of enactment of this Act,
inform the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality whether
or not the State intends to participate in the Regional Coordination
Council for the Region.
(B) APPOINTMENT OF RESPONSIBLE STATE OFFICIAL- If a coastal State
intends to participate in such Council, the Governor of the coastal
State shall appoint an officer or employee of the coastal State
agency with primary responsibility for overseeing ocean and coastal
policy or resource management to that Council.
(C) ALASKA REGIONAL COORDINATION COUNCIL- The Regional Coordination
Council for the Alaska Coordination Region shall include
representation from each of the States of Alaska, Washington, and
Oregon, if appointed by the Governor of that State in accordance
with this paragraph.
(3) REGIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL REPRESENTATION- A
representative of each Regional Fishery Management Council with
jurisdiction in the Coordination Region of a Regional Coordination
Council (who is selected by the Regional Fishery Management Council)
and the executive director of the interstate marine fisheries
commission with jurisdiction in the Coordination Region of a
Regional Coordination Council shall each serve as a member of the
Council.
(4) REGIONAL OCEAN PARTNERSHIP REPRESENTATION- A representative of
any Regional Ocean Partnership that has been established for any
part of the Coordination Region of a Regional Coordination Council
may appoint a representative to serve on the Council in addition to
any Federal or State appointments.
(5) TRIBAL REPRESENTATION- An appropriate tribal official selected
by affected Indian tribes situated in the affected Coordination
Region may elect to appoint a representative of such tribes
collectively to serve as a member of the Regional Coordination
Council for that Region.
(6) LOCAL REPRESENTATION- The Chairman of the Council on
Environmental Quality shall, in consultation with the Governors of
the coastal States within each Coordination Region, identify and
appoint representatives of county and local governments, as
appropriate, to serve as members of the Regional Coordination
Council for that Region.
(c) Advisory Committee- Each Regional Coordination Council shall
establish advisory committees for the purposes of public and
stakeholder input and scientific advice, made up of a balanced
representation from the energy, shipping, transportation, commercial
and recreational fishing, and recreation industries, from marine
environmental nongovernmental organizations, and from scientific and
educational authorities with expertise in the conservation and
management of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources to advise
the Council during the development of Regional Assessments and
Regional Strategic Plans and in its other activities.
(d) Coordination With Existing Programs- Each Regional Coordination
Council shall build upon and complement current State, multistate,
and regional capacity and governance and institutional mechanisms to
manage and protect ocean waters, coastal waters, and ocean
resources.
SEC. 503. REGIONAL STRATEGIC PLANS.
(a) Initial Regional Assessment-
(1) IN GENERAL- Each Regional Coordination Council, shall, within
one year after the date of enactment of this Act, prepare an initial
assessment of its Coordination Region that shall identify
deficiencies in data and information necessary to informed
decisionmaking by Federal, State, and affected tribal governments
concerned with the conservation of and management of the oceans,
coasts, and Great Lakes. Each initial assessment shall to the extent
feasible--
(A) identify the Coordination Region's renewable and non renewable
resources, including current and potential energy resources, except
for the assessment for the Great Lakes Coordination Region, for
which the Regional Coordination Council for such Coordination Region
shall only identify the Great Lakes Coordination Region's renewable
energy resources, including current and potential renewable energy
resources;
(B) identify and include a spatially and temporally explicit
inventory of existing and potential uses of the Coordination Region,
including fishing and fish habitat, recreation, and energy
development;
(C) document the health and relative environmental sensitivity of
the marine ecosystem within the Coordination Region, including a
comprehensive survey and status assessment of species, habitats, and
indicators of ecosystem health;
(D) identify marine habitat types and important ecological areas
within the Coordination Region;
(E) assess the Coordination Region's marine economy and cultural
attributes and include regionally-specific ecological and
socio-economic baseline data;
(F) identify and prioritize additional scientific and economic data
necessary to inform the development of Strategic Plans; and
(G) include other information to improve decision making as
determined by the Regional Coordination Council.
(2) DATA- Each initial assessment shall--
(A) use the best available data;
(B) collect and provide data in a spatially explicit manner wherever
practicable and provide such data to the interagency comprehensive
digital mapping initiative as described in section 2 of Public Law
109-58 (42 U.S.C. 15801); and
(C) make publicly available any such data that is not classified
information.
(3) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION- Each Regional Coordination Council shall
provide adequate opportunity for review and input by stakeholders
and the general public during the preparation of the initial
assessment and any revised assessments.
(b) Regional Strategic Plans-
(1) REQUIREMENT- Each Regional Coordination Council shall, within 3
years after the completion of the initial regional assessment,
prepare and submit to the Chairman of the Council on Environmental
Quality a multiobjective, science- and ecosystem-based, spatially
explicit, integrated Strategic Plan in accordance with this
subsection for the Council's Coordination Region.
(2) OBJECTIVE AND GOALS- The objective of the Strategic Plans under
this subsection shall be to foster comprehensive, integrated, and
sustainable development and use of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes
resources, while protecting marine ecosystem health and sustaining
the long-term economic and ecosystem values of the oceans, coasts,
and Great Lakes.
(3) CONTENTS- Each Strategic Plan prepared by a Regional
Coordination Council shall--
(A) be based on the initial regional assessment and updates for the
Coordination Region under subsections (a) and (c), respectively;
(B) foster the sustainable and integrated development and use of
ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources in a manner that protects
the health of marine ecosystems;
(C) identify areas with potential for siting and developing
renewable and nonrenewable energy resources in the Coordination
Region covered by the Strategic Plan, except for the Strategic Plan
for the Great Lakes Coordination Region which shall identify only
areas with potential for siting and developing renewable energy
resources in the Great Lakes Coordination Region;
(D) identify other current and potential uses of the ocean and
coastal resources in the Coordination Region;
(E) identify and recommend long-term monitoring needs for ecosystem
health and socioeconomic variables within the Coordination Region
covered by the Strategic Plan;
(F) identify existing State and Federal regulating authorities
within the Coordination Region covered by the Strategic Plan and
measures to assist those authorities in carrying out their
responsibilities;
(G) identify best available technologies to minimize adverse
environmental impacts and use conflicts in the development of ocean
and coastal resources in the Coordination Region;
(H) identify additional research, information, and data needed to
carry out the Strategic Plan;
(I) identify performance measures and benchmarks for purposes of
fulfilling the responsibilities under this section to be used to
evaluate the Strategic Plan's effectiveness;
(J) define responsibilities and include an analysis of the gaps in
authority, coordination, and resources, including funding, that must
be filled in order to fully achieve those performance measures and
benchmarks; and
(K) include such other information at the Chairman of the Council on
Environmental Quality determines is appropriate.
(4) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION- Each Regional Coordination Council shall
provide adequate opportunities for review and input by stakeholders
and the general public during the development of the Strategic Plan
and any Strategic Plan revisions.
(c) Updated Regional Assessments- Each Regional Coordination Council
shall update the initial regional assessment prepared under
subsection (a) in coordination with each Strategic Plan revision
under subsection (e), to provide more detailed information regarding
the required elements of the assessment and to include any relevant
new information that has become available in the interim.
(d) Review and Approval-
(1) COMMENCEMENT OF REVIEW- Within 10 days after receipt of a
Strategic Plan under this section, or any revision to such a
Strategic Plan, from a Regional Coordination Council, the Chairman
of the Council of Environmental Quality shall commence a review of
the Strategic Plan or the revised Strategic Plan, respectively.
(2) PUBLIC NOTICE AND COMMENT- Immediately after receipt of such a
Strategic Plan or revision, the Chairman of the Council of
Environmental Quality shall publish the Strategic Plan or revision
in the Federal Register and provide an opportunity for the
submission of public comment for a 90-day period beginning on the
date of such publication.
(3) REQUIREMENTS FOR APPROVAL- Before approving a Strategic Plan, or
any revision to a Strategic Plan, the Chairman of the Council on
Environmental Quality must find that the Strategic Plan or
revision--
(A) complies with subsection (b); and
(B) complies with the purposes of this title as identified in
section 601(a) and the objectives identified in section 601(b).
(4) DEADLINE FOR COMPLETION- Within 180 days after the receipt of a
Strategic Plan, or a revision to a Strategic Plan, the Chairman of
the Council of Environmental Quality shall approve or disapprove the
Strategic Plan or revision. If the Chairman disapproves the
Strategic Plan or revision, the Chairman shall transmit to the
Regional Coordination Council that submitted the Strategic Plan or
revision, an identification of the deficiencies and recommendations
to improve it. The Council shall submit a revised Strategic Plan or
revision to such plan with 180 days after receiving the
recommendations from the Chairman.
(e) Plan Revision- Each Strategic Plan shall be reviewed and revised
by the relevant Regional Coordination Council at least once every 5
years. Such review and revision shall be based on the most recently
updated regional assessment. Any proposed revisions to the Strategic
Plan shall be submitted to the Chairman of the Council on
Environmental Quality for review and approval pursuant to this
section.
-------------------------------
112th Congress "Bill Text" (2011-2012) H.R.501IH
From the Library of Congress:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.501: |