Title VI: Comprehensive Everglades Restoration
Approves the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, as contained in a specified report dated April 1, 1999, as a framework for modifications and operational changes to the Central and Southern Florida Project that are needed to restore, preserve, and protect the South Florida ecosystem while providing for other water-related needs of the region, including water supply and flood protection. Directs the Secretary to integrate such Project with ongoing Federal and State projects and activities under WRDA 1996. Authorizes the Secretary to implement Project modifications that are described in the Plan and will produce a substantial benefit to the restoration, preservation, and protection of the South Florida ecosystem. Approves with limitations the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge and the Southern Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem.
Prohibits any appropriation from being made for a Plan project until the President and the Governor of Florida enter into a binding agreement to ensure that water made available under the Plan is not otherwise used until sufficient reservations of water for the restoration of the natural system exist. Provides for enforcement of such requirement.
Requires the Secretary and the non-Federal sponsor to develop project implementation reports.
Prohibits Plan implementation from reducing current flood protection levels.
Directs the Secretary and Governor to develop an agreement for resolving disputes associated with Plan implementation.
Requires the Secretary, Secretary of the Interior, and Governor to establish an independent scientific review panel to review the Plan's progress toward achieving its natural system restoration goals.
Requires the Secretary to report to Congress a determination as to whether the ongoing Biscayne Aquifer Storage and Recovery Program in Dade County, Florida, has a substantial benefit to the restoration, preservation, and protection of the South Florida ecosystem.
Expresses the sense of Congress that
- development at the site of the former Homestead Air Force Base could potentially cause significant air, water, and noise pollution and result in the degradation of adjacent national parks
- Federal agencies charged with determining the reuse of such site should carefully consider the environmental impacts of reuse options
- the redevelopment of such site should be consistent with South Florida ecosystem restoration goals
- the Secretary of the Air Force should take certain action so that reuse can proceed expeditiously
- after conveyance of surplus property, the Secretary should reuse such property in a manner consistent with the goals of the Plan; and (6) the Secretary should report to the appropriate congressional committees on actions taken.
Read more about this topic: Water Resources Development Act Of 2000
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