Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 114 Part 4.djvu/629

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PUBLIC LAW 106-541—DEC. 11, 2000 114 STAT. 2691 Deadline. Contracts. (i) in existence on the date of enactment of this Act; and (ii) in accordance with applicable law. (C) No EFFECT ON TRIBAL COMPACT. —Nothing in this section amends, alters, prevents, or otherwise abrogates rights of the Seminole Indian Tribe of Florida under the compact among the Seminole Tribe of Florida, the State, and the South Florida Water Management District, defining the scope and use of water rights of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, as codified by section 7 of the Seminole Indian Land Claims Settlement Act of 1987 (25 U.S.C. 1772e). (i) DISPUTE RESOLUTION. — (1) IN GENERAL.— The Secretary and the Governor shall within 180 days from the date of enactment of this Act develop an agreement for resolving disputes between the Corps of Engineers and the State associated with the implementation of the Plan. Such agreement shall establish a mechanism for the timely and efficient resolution of disputes, including— (A) a preference for the resolution of disputes between the Jacksonville District of the Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District; (B) a mechanism for the Jacksonville District of the Corps of Engineers or the South Florida Water Management District to initiate the dispute resolution process for unresolved issues; (C) the establishment of appropriate timeframes and intermediate steps for the elevation of disputes to the Governor and the Secretary; and (D) a mechanism for the final resolution of disputes, Deadline within 180 days from the date that the dispute resolution process is initiated under subparagraph (B). (2) CONDITION FOR REPORT APPROVAL. —The Secretary shall not approve a project implementation report under this section until the agreement established under this subsection has been executed. (3) No EFFECT ON LAW. — Nothing in the agreement established under this subsection shall alter or amend any existing Federal or State law, or the responsibility of any party to the agreement to comply with any Federal or State law. (j) INDEPENDENT SCIENTIFIC REVIEW. — (1) IN GENERAL. — The Secretary, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Governor, in consultation with the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, shall establish an independent scientific review panel convened by a body, such as the National Academy of Sciences, to review the Plan's progress toward achieving the natural system restoration goals of the Plan. (2) REPORT.—The panel described in paragraph (1) shall produce a biennial report to Congress, the Secretary, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Governor that includes an assessment of ecological indicators and other measures of progress in restoring the ecology of the natural system, based on the Plan. (k) OUTREACH AND ASSISTANCE.— (1) SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS OWNED AND OPERATED BY SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUALS. — Establishment.