WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the midst of housecleaning prior to a Christmas recess, the U.S. House passed legislation to improve access to federal waterways introduced by U.S. Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT).
Moore’s proposal – dubbed the the Modernizing Access to our Public Waters (MAPWaters) Act – passed the House by a voice vote on Dec. 18.
“Our federal waterways are an integral part of our nation’s natural beauty,” Moore explained after the vote. “It’s imperative that recreationalists are given the information they need to explore our waterways safely and legally.”
The goal of Moore’s proposed legislation will be to enhance access to the national’s outdoor recreational opportunities by digitizing and standardizing mapping information, including the access points and permissible uses of federal waters.
Federal waters are those that are subject to federal regulations, including the requirements that vessels observe federal statutes, such as visual distress signals, according to the Army Corps of Engineers.
The definition of federal waters includes coastal water (the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and all bays, sounds, harbors, rivers, inlets and more); the Great Lakes and waters connected to them; oceans and coastal waters within three nautical miles of the mainland of the United States; waters that are subject to the ebb and flow of tides; and waters that could affect interstate or foreign commerce.
Specifically, the MAPWaters Act would require that the secretaries of Agriculture and Interior develop interagency standard for data collection and dissemination of information related to federal waterways and fishing restrictions within 30 days of its enactment.
Moore’s proposal would also require that federal officials publish online Geographic Information System (GIS) data on federal waterways and fishing restrictions within four years.
“The MAPWaters Act will ensure that outdoor enthusiasts know how to access federal waterways while staying updated on changing rules and restrictions,” Moore added.
“This bill modernizes the ways that we share mapping and access data for federal waterways and promotes sustainable access to our naturel resources for future generations.”
The vote in the U.S. House sends Moore’s proposed legislation to the Senate for consideration, probably in the upcoming 119th Congress.