Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 114 Part 4.djvu/631

 PUBLIC LAW 106-541—DEC. 11, 2000 114 STAT. 2693 (2) FUNDING FROM CORPS OF ENGINEERS CIVIL WORKS PRO- GRAM.— The President, as part of the annual budget of the United States Government, shall display under the accounts "Construction, General" and "Operation and Maintenance, General" of the title "Department of Defense—Civil, Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers—Civil", the total proposed funding level for each account for the Plan and the percentage such level represents of the overall levels in such accounts. The President shall also include an assessment of the impact such funding levels for the Plan would have on the budget year and long-term funding levels for the overall Corps of Engineers civil works program. (o) SURPLUS FEDERAL LANDS. —Section 390(f)(2)(A)(i) of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (110 Stat. 1023) is amended by inserting after "on or after the date of enactment of this Act" the following: "and before the date of enactment of the Water Resources Development Act of 2000". (p) SEVERABILITY. —I f any provision or remedy provided by this section is found to be unconstitutional or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, any remaining provisions in this section shall remain valid and enforceable. SEC. 602. SENSE OF CONGRESS CONCERNING HOMESTEAD AIR FORCE BASE. (a) FINDINGS.— Congress finds that— (1) the Everglades is an American treasure and includes uniquely-important and diverse wildlife resources and recreational opportunities; (2) the preservation of the pristine and natural character of the South Florida ecosystem is critical to the regional economy; (3) as this legislation demonstrates. Congress believes it to be a vital national mission to restore and preserve this ecosystem and accordingly is authorizing a significant Federal investment to do so; (4) Congress seeks to have the remaining property at the former Homestead Air Base conveyed and reused as expeditiously as possible, and several options for base reuse are being considered, including as a commercial airport; and (5) Congress is aware that the Homestead site is located in a sensitive environmental location, and that Biscayne National Park is only approximately 1,5 miles to the east, Everglades National Park approximately 8 miles to the west, and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary approximately 10 miles to the south. (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.— It is the sense of Congress that— (1) development at the Homestead site could potentially cause significant air, water, and noise pollution and result in the degradation of adjacent national parks and other protected Federal resources; (2) in their decisionmaking, the Federal agencies charged with determining the reuse of the remaining property at the Homestead base should carefully consider and weigh all available information concerning potential environmental impacts of various reuse options; (3) the redevelopment of the former base should be consistent with restoration goals, provide desirable numbers of

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