Bill > S1408

This bill establishes the Chesapeake National Recreation Area as a new unit of the National Park System, spanning Maryland and Virginia, with the primary purpose of preserving, protecting, and providing public access to the natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources of the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding areas. The bill creates an Advisory Commission of 19 members (9 from Maryland, 9 from Virginia, and 1 from the Chesapeake Bay Commission) to provide recommendations on the recreation area's management, including representatives from various backgrounds such as environmental experts, commercial fishing and agricultural interests, youth, tribal communities, and state governors. The Secretary of the Interior will have the authority to acquire land for the recreation area through donations, purchases from willing sellers, exchanges, or transfers from other federal agencies, with a strict prohibition on using condemnation. The bill requires the development of a management plan within three years and establishes that the recreation area will be administered in coordination with existing Chesapeake Gateways and Bay Programs, while maintaining state jurisdiction over fish and wildlife management. The Advisory Commission will operate for seven years and will help guide the development and implementation of the recreation area's management strategies, with a focus on interpreting and enhancing public understanding of the Bay's significant resources.