Puget Sound Federal Leadership Task Force

About

On December 23, 2022, the President signed into law H.R. 7776, the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, which amends the Clean Water Act by adding a Puget Sound Coordinated Recovery section. 

The new section establishes a Puget Sound Recovery National Program Office in EPA, and a Puget Sound Federal Leadership Task Force. 

Puget Sound Recovery National Program Office

• Coordinates and manages the Puget Sound Federal Leadership Task Force. 
• Coordinates Puget Sound restoration and protection activities across the EPA.
• Coordinates activities for the restoration and protection of the Salish Sea with Canadian authorities, the Pacific Salmon Commission, and the International Joint Commission. 

Puget Sound Federal Leadership Task Force

In collaboration with the state advisory committee and Puget Sound Tribal Management Conference, the Puget Sound Federal Leadership Task Force:

• Upholds federal trust responsibilities to restore and protect resources crucial to tribal treaty rights.
• Provides a venue for dialogue and communication across member agencies.
• Enables and encourages member agencies to act consistently with the objectives and priorities of the:
  • Puget Sound Action Agenda.
  • Salmon recovery plans.
  • Treaty Rights at Risk Initiative (pdf)(1.6 MB).
  • Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program. 
• Provides advice and support on scientific and technical issues. 
• Ensures that Puget Sound restoration and protection activities are consistent with national security interests.
• Develops and approves a federal action plan.

The Puget Sound Federal Action Plan leverages federal programs across agencies and serves to coordinate diverse programs and priorities for the restoration and protection of Puget Sound. 

Related Documents

Note that the Puget Sound Federal Leadership Task Force uses work products produced by the Puget Sound Federal Task Force, which operated under a Memorandum of Understanding from September 2016-December 2022.

• Puget Sound Coordinated Recovery Section of the Clean Water Act (pdf) (80.75 KB, December 23, 2022)
• Puget Sound Federal Task Force Action Plan 2022-2026 (pdf) (3.14 MB, May 2022)
• Puget Sound Federal Task Force 2017-2021 Progress Report (pdf) (3.21 MB, November 2021)
• Puget Sound Federal Task Force Accomplishments Report (pdf) (2.51 MB, August 2018)
• Puget Sound Federal Task Force Action Plan - Interim Draft 2017-2021 (pdf) (1.71 MB, January 2017)
• Puget Sound Federal Task Force Memorandum of Understanding (pdf) (3.77 MB, September 30, 2016)