Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008


The Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 was an act passed in the 110th United States Congress and enacted on May 8, 2008.

Legislative history

The bill was introduced by Senator Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, a Democrat and the chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, on March 10, 2008, as S. 2739. It was a "bicameral and bipartisan" package of land and water federal lands bills considered as an omnibus bill.
The bill was reported by the Energy and Natural Resources Committee on March 11. It passed the full Senate on April 10 on a 91-4 vote, with five Senators not voting. It passed the United States House of Representatives on April 29 on a 291-117 vote, with 23 Representatives not voting. The bill passed the House under a motion to suspend the rules and pass. It was signed into law by President George W. Bush on May 8, 2008.
The long title of the act is A bill to authorize certain programs and activities in the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service, and the Department of Energy, to implement further the Act approving the Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America, to amend the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003, and for other purposes.

Provisions

Title I is entitled "Forest Service Authorizations":
Title II is entitled "Bureau of Land Management Authorizations":
Title III is entitled "National Park Service Authorizations":
Subtitle A—Cooperative Agreements has only one section, Sec. 301, which authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to "enter into cooperative agreements with State, local, or tribal governments, other Federal agencies, other public entities, educational institutions, private nonprofit organizations, or participating private landowners for the purpose of protecting natural resources of units of the National Park System through collaborative efforts on land inside and outside of National Park System units," and sets terms and conditions, limitations, and authorizes appropriations for such cooperative agreements. One of the terms is that cooperative agreements must provide clear and direct benefits to natural resources in units of the NPS such as the preservation of riparian systems, eradication of invasive exotic species, and restoration of native wildlife habitat"
Subtitle B—Boundary Adjustments and Authorizations includes three sections:
Subtitle C—Studies includes seven sections:
Subtitle D—Memorials, Commissions, and Museums includes the following sections:
The National Parks Conservation Association and League of Conservation Voters supported the bill.