Bill > S224

This bill, the San Francisco Bay Restoration Act, amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, commonly known as the Clean Water Act, to establish a grant program for the restoration of San Francisco Bay. The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be authorized to provide funding to various state and local agencies, special districts, and public or nonprofit organizations for activities, studies, or projects that are identified on an annual priority list. These eligible activities include restoration projects and habitat improvements for fish, waterfowl, and wildlife, all aimed at advancing the goals of the comprehensive management plan for the San Francisco estuary. Importantly, these grants will cover a maximum of 75% of the total cost of eligible activities, with the remaining 25% needing to be provided from non-Federal sources. The bill also authorizes appropriations of $5,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2013 through 2017 to carry out this program, with a prohibition against using these funds for the administration of a management conference under the National Estuary Program.