[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 691 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 691
To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into cooperative
agreements and contracts with the Nebraska State Forester to carry out
watershed restoration and protection activities on National Forest
System land in the State of Nebraska.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 21, 2003
Mr. Hagel introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
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A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to enter into cooperative
agreements and contracts with the Nebraska State Forester to carry out
watershed restoration and protection activities on National Forest
System land in the State of Nebraska.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. WATERSHED RESTORATION AND PROTECTION ACTIVITIES IN THE STATE
OF NEBRASKA.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture.
(2) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Nebraska.
(3) State forester.--The term ``State Forester'' means the
Nebraska State Forester.
(b) Cooperative Agreements and Contracts.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may enter into a cooperative
agreement or contract, including a sole source contract, with
the State Forester, under which the State Forester may carry
out eligible watershed restoration and protection activities on
National Forest System land in the State if similar or
complementary activities are being carried out by the State
Forester on State or private land that is located within the
same watershed as the National Forest System land.
(2) Eligible activities.--Watershed restoration and
protection activities that are eligible to be carried out by
the State Forester under paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) treatment of insect-infected trees;
(B) reduction of hazardous fuels; and
(C) other activities to restore or improve
watersheds across ownership boundaries.
(c) Agency Agreement.--Except as provided in subsection (f), a
cooperative agreement or contract under subsection (b)(1) may authorize
the State Forester to be an agent of the Secretary for the purpose of
carrying out the watershed restoration or protection activities under
the cooperative agreement or contract.
(d) Subcontracts Authorized.--In carrying out the watershed
restoration or protection activities under subsection (b), the State
Forester may enter into subcontracts in accordance with applicable
contract procedures of the State.
(e) Timber Sales.--Subsections (d) and (g) of section 14 of the
National Forest Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 472a) shall not apply
to watershed restoration and protection activities carried out by the
State Forester under subsection (b).
(f) No Delegation of Duties Under NEPA.--With respect to any
watershed restoration or protection activity of the State Forester
carried out or proposed to be carried out under subsection (b), the
Secretary shall not delegate to the State Forester or to any other
employee of the State Forest Service any of the duties of the Secretary
under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.).
(g) Termination of Authority.--The authority of the Secretary to
enter into cooperative agreements or contracts under this section
terminates on September 30, 2006.
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