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WASHINGTON – Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) today announced the introduction in both the House and Senate of revised legislation that establishes a new system to preserve the environmental quality of the Long Island Sound (LIS).
Since first introducing the bill in the Senate in April, Lieberman has worked with stakeholders and with the House Long Island Sound Caucus to hone and sharpen the bill, and the new version introduced in both the Senate and the House today reflects those efforts. He was joined in introducing the Senate bill by Senators Chris Dodd, Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Hillary Clinton (D-NY), and by Connecticut and New York members House Long Island Sound Caucus delegations, who introduced the identical companion bill in the House.
“What would it say about us if a national treasure like Long Island Sounds that has evolved over millions and millions of years can’t survive the stewardship of our generation?” Senator Lieberman asked. “The health of the Long Island Sound is crucial to our region’s economy, quality of life and heritage. My colleagues and I have been working to restore the integrity of the Sound for nearly a decade and this legislation brings us a step closer towards putting the Sound on a sound footing for the future.”
The legislation establishes a broad-based “Long Island Sound Stewardship Advisory Committee” comprised of all LIS stakeholders, including federal, state, public interest and landowners representatives. The Committee would be charged with evaluating the parcels of land within the LIS region and designating crucial parcels as “Stewardship Sites” eligible for special preservation funds. Under the legislation, owners apply to have their property identified by the Committee as a Stewardship Site at which point they become eligible for a variety of financial options to preserve the environmental and public access features of that property. The legislation authorizes $40 million for the Committee’s budget, to be drawn from VA-HUD appropriations bill.
The major additions to the version introduced in the House today include:
- Using a cutting-edge scientific method that uses computers and satellites to evaluate the biodiversity and recreational potential of possible Stewardship Sites;
- Using a specific management framework for the Committee that is designed for managing natural resources like the LIS. This framework mandates that the Committee review its actions and learn from its successes and mistakes to better adapt to the changing nature of natural resources;
- Inserting specific provisions that protect private property owners, and
- Designating the Committee as an advisory committee.
Lieberman first began efforts to protect the LIS more than a decade ago, when he sponsored legislation that established a Long Island Sound office within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The LIS EPA office identified the LIS region as vulnerable to degradation and with the Senators’ support established the Long Island Sound Study to develop a plan for protection of the Sound. In 2000, Lieberman kicked of a “Listen to the Sound” campaign, which comprised of a series of public meetings in Connecticut and New York focused on establishing a comprehensive network of open space and natural areas along the Sound’s rim, as well as creating more opportunities for public access and habitat restoration.
In 2002 the EPA released the results of its LIS study, which concluded that coordinated action to save the Sound was necessary. Building on recommendations from the EPA’s LIS Study and on feedback from his public meetings, Lieberman introduced the initial Long Island Sound Stewardship Act of 2004 (LISSA) in April, joined by Senators Chris Dodd, Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton. The Senate and House introduction today of a more detailed bill and the unified support of the Connecticut and New York Congressional delegations gave Lieberman cause to predict passage of the bill in the near future.
“We’re taking this one step at a time, but I think there is a real chance we could pass the bill this year,” Lieberman said. “The legislation enjoys broad support in Connecticut and New York, and we have been working with Senate leaders to move the legislation through the Senate. If we can do that, it could mean smooth sailing for the bill and ultimately for the Sound.”
The full text of the bill is available upon request.
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