HR 6148
117th Congress
House
Environmental Protection
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advisory bodies
Alabama
Aquatic ecology
Department of Commerce
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Environmental education
Environmental regulatory procedures
Forests, forestry, trees
Government information and archives
Gulf of Mexico
Historic sites and heritage areas
Hunting and fishing
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine and inland water transportation
Outdoor recreation
Parks, recreation areas, trails
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection
Alabama Underwater Forest National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act
Introduced: December 7, 2021
See on congress.gov
Everywhere this bill has been
3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 17, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
Dec 7, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Dec 7, 2021
Introduced in House
Plain-English summary
Alabama Underwater Forest National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act
This bill designates an ancient cypress forest in the Gulf of Mexico as the Alabama Underwater Forest National Marine Sanctuary under the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972.
In the sanctuary, the following activities are prohibited:
- cutting, removing, or any kind of subsurface salvage of the cypress trees;
- lowering certain devices (e.g., dredging) below the surface of the water;
- detonating explosives below the surface of the water;
- drilling or coring the seabed; and
- lowering, laying, positioning, or raising any type of seabed cable or cable-laying device.
However, the prohibitions do not apply to
- fishing, diving, mooring, or similar recreational or commercial activities;
- necessary operations of public vessels;
- construction or placement of artificial reef structures for the purpose of enhancing fishery resources, fishing opportunities, or recreational diving opportunities;
- exploration, development, or production of oil or gas projects authorized before this bill's enactment; and
- certain other activities authorized by the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) must develop a comprehensive management plan for the sanctuary. NOAA must also establish an advisory council for the sanctuary.
What's happening now
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
Committees of jurisdiction
2