The
Association of National Estuary Programs is a not-for-profit
organization whose purpose is to promote a common vision for
the preservation and responsible stewardship of our nation's
estuaries and bays. Our members include citizens, representatives
of state and local governments and federal agencies, and businessmen
and women who are active in the 28 National Estuary Program
(NEP) sites throughout the United States. These diverse interest
groups maximize the benefit of the National Estuary Program
by sharing technical information and "lessons learned"
with other watershed-based programs.
The
National Estuary Program is established under Section 320 of
the Clean Water Act. The 106th Congress must reauthorize
Section 320 in order to provide continued support for NEP's
local, regional and national efforts to protect and restore
estuaries and their watersheds.
The
Association of National Estuary Programs supports efforts to
reauthorize this important law with the following provisions:
- Section
320 should be reauthorized for six years to allow for the
development and implementation of Comprehensive Conservation
and Management Plans (CCMPs) - working toward achievement
of long-term improvements to the quality of water, sediments
and air, the enhancement of habitat, and recovery of living
resources;
- Funding
for Section 320 should be set at a minimum of $50 million
per year of which not less than $1 million should be allocated
to each of the existing 28 NEPs in the nation to assist them
with the development and implementation of their CCMPs;
- The required
local match for both development and implementation of CCMPs
should be maintained at the current ratio of 75 percent federal
share and 25 percent state or local share.
These partnerships
will provide important federal support of the local, regional
and state partnerships created through the National Estuary
Program to restore and protect our nation's treasured estuaries
and bays. The federal dollars will supplement and leverage state,
local, tribal and private funds being used to implement CCMPs.
The
Association of National Estuary Programs will also consider
endorsing and actively supporting legislative proposals which
meet the following criteria:
- Such
proposals are consistent with and supportive of the purposes
of the National Estuary Program and the Association of National
Estuary Programs;
- Endorsing
such legislative proposals have the potential to create strategic
alliances which enable ANEP to more effectively accomplish
its mission, including the pursuit of legislation to reauthorize
and increase funding for the NEP;
- There
is a reasonable likelihood that ANEP can positively influence
the outcome of such legislative proposals.
Approved
by the ANEP Board of Directors on March 6, 2000.
