16 Usc 2101

16USC2101.doc

Annual Wildfire Report

16 USC 2101

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[CITE: 16USC2101]

 
                         TITLE 16--CONSERVATION
 
               CHAPTER 41--COOPERATIVE FORESTRY ASSISTANCE
 
Sec. 2101. Findings, purpose, and policy


(a) Findings

    Congress finds that--
        (1) most of the productive forest land of the United States is 
    in private, State, and local governmental ownership, and the 
    capacity of the United States to produce renewable forest resources 
    is significantly dependent on such non-Federal forest lands;
        (2) adequate supplies of timber and other forest resources are 
    essential to the United States, and adequate supplies are dependent 
    on efficient methods for establishing, managing, and harvesting 
    trees and processing, marketing, and using wood and wood products;
        (3) nearly one-half of the wood supply of the United States 
    comes from nonindustrial private timberlands and such percentage 
    could rise with expanded assistance programs;
        (4) managed forest lands provide habitats for fish and wildlife, 
    as well as aesthetics, outdoor recreation opportunities, and other 
    forest resources;
        (5) the soil, water, and air quality of the United States can be 
    maintained and improved through good stewardship of privately held 
    forest resources;
        (6) insects and diseases affecting trees occur and sometimes 
    create emergency conditions on all land, whether Federal or non-
    Federal, and efforts to prevent and control such insects and 
    diseases often require coordinated action by both Federal and non-
    Federal land managers;
        (7) fires in rural areas threaten human lives, property, forests 
    and other resources, and Federal-State cooperation in forest fire 
    protection has proven effective and valuable;
        (8) trees and forests are of great environmental and economic 
    value to urban areas;
        (9) managed forests contribute to improving the quality, 
    quantity, and timing of water yields that are of broad benefit to 
    society;
        (10) over half the forest lands of the United States are in need 
    of some type of conservation treatment;
        (11) forest landowners are being faced with increased pressure 
    to convert their forest land to development and other purposes;
        (12) increased population pressures and user demands are being 
    placed on private, as well as public, landholders to provide a wide 
    variety of products and services, including fish and wildlife 
    habitat, aesthetic quality, and recreational opportunities;
        (13) stewardship of privately held forest resources requires a 
    long-term commitment that can be fostered through local, State, and 
    Federal governmental actions;
        (14) the Department of Agriculture, through the coordinated 
    efforts of its agencies with forestry responsibilities, cooperating 
    with other Federal agencies, State foresters, and State political 
    subdivisions, has the expertise and experience to assist private 
    landowners in achieving individual goals and public benefits 
    regarding forestry;
        (15) the products and services resulting from nonindustrial 
    private forest land stewardship provide income and employment that 
    contribute to the economic health and diversity of rural 
    communities; \1\
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    \1\ See 1990 Amendment note below.
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        (16) sustainable agroforestry systems and tree planting in 
    semiarid lands can improve environmental quality and maintain farm 
    yields and income; and \1\
        (18) \2\ the same forest resource supply, protection, and 
    management issues that exist in the United States are also present 
    on an international scale, and the forest and rangeland renewable 
    resources of the world are threatened by deforestation due to 
    conversion to agriculture of lands better suited to other purposes, 
    over-grazing, over-harvesting, and other causes which pose a direct 
    adverse threat to people, the global environment, and the world 
    economy.\1\
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    \2\ So in original. Probably should be ``(17)''.
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(b) Purpose

    It is the purpose of this chapter to authorize the Secretary of 
Agriculture (hereafter in this chapter referred to as the 
``Secretary''), with respect to non-Federal forest lands in the United 
States, and forest lands in foreign countries, of the United States, to 
assist in--
        (1) the establishment of a coordinated and cooperative Federal, 
    State, and local forest stewardship program for management of the 
    non-Federal forest lands;
        (2) the encouragement of the production of timber;
        (3) the prevention and control of insects and diseases affecting 
    trees and forests;
        (4) the prevention and control of rural fires;
        (5) the efficient utilization of wood and wood residues, 
    including the recycling of wood fiber;
        (6) the improvement and maintenance of fish and wildlife 
    habitat;
        (7) the planning and conduct of urban forestry programs;
        (8) broadening existing forest management, fire protection, and 
    insect and disease protection programs on non-Federal forest lands 
    to meet the multiple use objectives of landowners in an 
    environmentally sensitive manner;
        (9) providing opportunities to private landowners to protect 
    ecologically valuable and threatened non-Federal forest lands; and
        (10) strengthening educational, technical, and financial 
    assistance programs that provide assistance to owners of non-Federal 
    forest lands in the United States, and forest lands in foreign 
    countries,.\3\
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    \3\ So in original.
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(c) Policy

    It is the policy of Congress that it is in the national interest for 
the Secretary to work through and in cooperation with State foresters, 
or equivalent State officials, nongovernmental organizations, and the 
private sector in implementing Federal programs affecting non-Federal 
forest lands.

(d) Construction

    This chapter shall be construed to complement the policies and 
direction under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning 
Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.).

(Pub. L. 95-313, Sec. 2, July 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 365; Pub. L. 101-513, 
title VI, Sec. 611(b)(1), (2), formerly Sec. 607(b)(1), (2), Nov. 5, 
1990, 104 Stat. 2072, renumbered Sec. 611(b)(1), (2), Pub. L. 102-574, 
Sec. 2(a)(1), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4593; Pub. L. 101-624, title XII, 
Sec. 1212, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3521.)

                       References in Text

    This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (b) and (d), was in the 
original ``this Act'', meaning Pub. L. 95-313, July 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 
365, known as the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978. For 
complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note 
set out below and Tables.
    The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974, 
referred to in subsec. (d), is Pub. L. 93-378, Aug. 17, 1974, 88 Stat. 
476, as amended, which is classified generally to subchapter I 
(Sec. 1600 et seq.) of chapter 36 of this title. For complete 
classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out 
under section 1600 of this title and Tables.

                          Codification

    Pub. L. 101-513 and Pub. L. 101-624 were approved by the President 
after Congress adjourned and in reverse order of passage by Congress. 
Accordingly, the amendments made by Pub. L. 101-624 were executed to 
text prior to the amendments made by Pub. L. 101-513 to reflect the 
probable intent of Congress.


                               Amendments

    1990--Pub. L. 101-624 amended section generally, substituting 
present provisions for provisions which set forth Congressional findings 
and declarations, and statements of purpose and national interest, and 
which related to application with forest and rangeland renewable 
resources provisions. See Codification note above.
    Pub. L. 101-513, Sec. 607(b)(1), directed the amendment of subsec. 
(a) by striking out ``and'' at end of par. (16), substituting ``; and'' 
for period at end of par. (17), and adding par. (18) at end. The 
amendment of pars. (16) and (17) was executed to pars. (15) and (16) to 
reflect the probable intent of Congress. See Codification note above.
    Pub. L. 101-513, Sec. 607(b)(2), which directed the amendment of 
subsec. (b) by inserting ``in the United States, and forest lands in 
foreign countries,'' after ``non-Federal forest lands,'' the first place 
it appears and in paragraph (10), was executed by making the insertion 
after ``non-Federal forest lands'' to reflect the probable intent of 
Congress. See Codification note above.


                             Effective Date

    Section 17, formerly section 14, of Pub. L. 95-313, as renumbered 
Sec. 17 by Pub. L. 101-624, title XII, Sec. 1215(1), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 
Stat. 3525, provided that: ``The provisions of this Act [see Short Title 
note below] shall become effective October 1, 1978.''


                      Short Title of 1990 Amendment

    Section 1201 of title XII of Pub. L. 101-624 provided that: ``This 
title [enacting sections 582a-8, 1648, 1649, 1674a, 2103a to 2103c, 
2106a, 2113, and 2114 of this title, amending this section and sections 
1642, 1672, 1674, 2102 to 2106, and 2108 to 2110 of this title, and 
enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 
582a, 1601, 1642, and 2112 of this title] may be cited as the `Forest 
Stewardship Act of 1990'.''


                               Short Title

    Section 1 of Pub. L. 95-313 provided: ``That this Act [enacting this 
chapter, amending sections 1510 and 1606 of this title, repealing 
sections 565, 566, 567, 568c to 568e, 594-1 to 594-5, 594a, and 1509 of 
this title, and sections 2651 to 2654 of Title 7, Agriculture, enacting 
provisions set out as notes under this section and section 1606 of this 
title, and repealing provisions set out as notes under sections 568c and 
594-1 of this title] may be cited as the `Cooperative Forestry 
Assistance Act of 1978'.''


                    America the Beautiful Act of 1990

    Subtitle C (Secs. 1261-1266) of title XII of Pub. L. 101-624, as 
amended by Pub. L. 102-237, title X, Sec. 1018(e), Dec. 13, 1991, 105 
Stat. 1905, provided that:
``SEC. 1261. SHORT TITLE.
    ``This subtitle may be cited as the `America the Beautiful Act of 
1990'.
``SEC. 1262. FINDINGS.
    ``Congress finds that--
        ``(1) trees and forests provide beauty and diversity to both 
    rural and urban landscapes;
        ``(2) trees and forests protect the United States's soil, water, 
    and wetland resources by filtering runoff and preventing erosion;
        ``(3) trees and forests provide food and cover for many species 
    of wildlife;
        ``(4) trees and forests provide shade, block winds, and add 
    moisture to the air, thereby mitigating the urban `heat island' 
    effect and significantly reducing energy use;
        ``(5) trees and forests make important contributions to the 
    environmental, social, and economic well-being of both rural and 
    urban areas across the United States; and
        ``(6) stewardship of trees and forests could be significantly 
    enhanced by encouraging, promoting, and supporting partnerships and 
    community service projects involving individuals, youth groups, 
    organizations, businesses and governments at all levels.
``SEC. 1263. PURPOSES.
    ``The purposes of this subtitle are to--
        ``(1) authorize the President to designate a private nonprofit 
    foundation as eligible for a one-time grant from the Secretary of 
    Agriculture, to be used for promoting public awareness and a spirit 
    of volunteerism, soliciting private sector contributions, and 
    overseeing the use of these contributions to encourage tree planting 
    projects in communities and urban areas;
        ``(2) promote the principles of basic forest stewardship through 
    the nationwide planting, improvement, and maintenance of trees in 
    order to increase reforestation, enhance the environmental and 
    aesthetic qualities of the United States's rural and urban areas, 
    and reduce global carbon dioxide levels;
        ``(3) authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to provide 
    increased financial and technical assistance to State forestry 
    agencies and others, and enter into cost-sharing agreements with 
    individuals, for the purpose of encouraging owners of nonindustrial 
    private lands to plant and maintain trees and improve forests in 
    rural areas; and
        ``(4) authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to provide 
    increased financial and technical assistance to State forestry 
    agencies and others for the purpose of encouraging units of local 
    government, civic groups, and individuals to plant and maintain 
    trees and improve forests in communities and urban areas.
``SEC. 1264. TREE PLANTING FOUNDATION.
    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to authorize the 
President to designate a private nonprofit Foundation as eligible to 
receive a grant from the Department of Agriculture to be used--
        ``(1) to provide grants, including matching grants, to 
    qualifying nonprofit organizations (including youth groups), 
    municipalities, counties, towns and townships for the implementation 
    of programs to promote public awareness and a spirit of volunteerism 
    in support of tree planting, maintenance, management, protection, 
    and cultivation projects in rural areas, communities and urban areas 
    throughout the United States;
        ``(2) to solicit public and private sector contributions through 
    the mobilization of individuals, businesses, governments, and 
    community organizations with the goal of increasing the number of 
    trees planted, maintained, managed, and protected in rural areas, 
    communities and urban environments;
        ``(3) to accept and administer public and private gifts and make 
    grants, including matching grants, to encourage local participation, 
    for the planting, maintenance, management, protection, and 
    cultivation of trees; and
        ``(4) to ensure that our descendants will be able to share their 
    ancestors' pride when referring to their land as `America the 
    Beautiful'.
    ``(b) Authority.--The President is authorized to designate a private 
nonprofit organization (hereafter in this section referred to as the 
`Foundation') as eligible to receive funds pursuant to subsections (d) 
and (e) upon determining that such organization can, consistent with its 
charter, carry out the purposes stated in subsection (a), and that the 
officers of such organization have the experience and expertise 
necessary to direct the activities of the organization. Nothing in this 
section shall be construed to make officers, employees, or members of 
the board of directors of the Foundation officers or employees of the 
United States. The Foundation shall be a private and nonprofit 
organization and not an agency or establishment of the United States.
    ``(c) Implementation.--The Foundation shall carry out this section 
in accordance with the purposes stated in subsection (a).
    ``(d) Funding.--For fiscal year 1991, the Secretary is authorized to 
make a grant of not to exceed $25,000,000 to the Foundation.
    ``(e) Use of Funds.--Funds made available pursuant to subsection (d) 
shall be granted to the Foundation by the Secretary to enable the 
Foundation to carry out the purposes specified in subsection (a).
    ``(f) Interest.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
Foundation may hold funds made available pursuant to subsection (e) in 
interest-bearing accounts prior to the disbursement of the funds for 
purposes specified in subsection (a) and may retain to carry out such 
purposes any interest earned on the deposits.
    ``(g) Limitations on Uses of Funds.--
        ``(1) In general.--The Foundation may use funds provided by this 
    section only for making grants to qualified organizations, 
    municipalities, counties, towns and townships for the implementation 
    of projects and activities that are consistent with the purposes 
    specified in subsection (a).
        ``(2) Qualified organizations.--For the purposes of this 
    section, qualified organizations shall consist of those 
    organizations that meet the requirements of section 501(c)(3) of the 
    Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3)) and have 
    demonstrated a capability to implement the project or activity for 
    which the Foundation funds will be used.
    ``(h) Compensation from Outside Sources.--An officer or employee of 
the Foundation may not receive any salary or other compensation for 
services rendered to the Foundation from any source other than the 
Foundation.
    ``(i) Stock and Dividends.--The Foundation shall not issue any 
shares of stock or declare or pay any dividends.
    ``(j) Lobbying.--The Foundation shall not engage in lobbying or 
propaganda for the purpose of influencing legislation and shall not 
participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any 
candidate for public office.
    ``(k) Salary; Travel and Expenses; Conflicts of Interest.--
        ``(1) Personal benefit from funds.--No part of the funds of the 
    Foundation shall inure to the benefit of any board member, officer, 
    or employee of the Foundation, except as salary or reasonable 
    compensation for services or expenses.
        ``(2) Travel and expense reimbursement.--Compensation for board 
    members shall be limited to reimbursement for reasonable costs of 
    travel and expenses.
        ``(3) Conflicts of interest.--No director, officer, or employee 
    of the Foundation shall participate, directly or indirectly, in the 
    consideration or determination of any question before the Foundation 
    affecting--
            ``(A) the financial interests of the director, officer, or 
        employee; or
            ``(B) the interests of any corporation, partnership, entity, 
        or organization in which such director, officer, or employee--
                ``(i) is an officer, director, or trustee; or
                ``(ii) has any direct or indirect financial interest.
    ``(l) Records; Audits.--The Foundation shall ensure that--
        ``(1) each recipient of assistance provided through the 
    Foundation under this section maintains, for at least 5 years after 
    the receipt of the assistance, separate accounts with respect to the 
    assistance and such records as may be reasonably necessary to 
    disclose fully--
            ``(A) the amount and the disposition by the recipient of the 
        proceeds of the assistance;
            ``(B) the total cost of the project or undertaking in 
        connection with which the assistance is given or used;
            ``(C) the amount and nature of that portion of the cost of 
        the project or undertaking supplied by other sources; and
            ``(D) such other records as will facilitate an effective 
        audit; and
        ``(2) the Foundation and any duly authorized representative of 
    the Foundation shall have access, for the purpose of audit and 
    examination, to any books, documents, papers, and records of the 
    recipient that are pertinent to assistance provided through the 
    Foundation under this section.
    ``(m) Audits.--
        ``(1) Independent audits.--For the fiscal year in which the 
    Foundation receives the grant awarded under subsection (e), and for 
    the succeeding 5 fiscal years, the accounts of the Foundation shall 
    be audited annually in accordance with generally accepted auditing 
    standards by an independent certified public accountant or an 
    independent licensed public accountant certified or licensed by a 
    regulatory authority of a State or other political subdivision of 
    the United States. The report of each such independent audit shall 
    be included in the annual report required by subsection (n).
        ``(2) Agency audits.--For the fiscal year in which the 
    Foundation receives the grant awarded under subsection (d), and for 
    the succeeding 5 fiscal years, the financial transactions undertaken 
    pursuant to this section by the Foundation may be audited by any 
    agency designated by the President.
    ``(n) Annual Reports.--
        ``(1) In general.--Not later than 3 months after the conclusion 
    of each fiscal year, the Foundation shall publish an annual report 
    that includes a comprehensive and detailed report of the operations, 
    activities, financial condition, and accomplishments of the 
    Foundation under this subtitle during the fiscal year.
        ``(2) Termination.--The obligation of the Foundation to publish 
    annual reports pursuant to this subsection shall terminate after 
    publication of the report incorporating the findings of the final 
    audit in accordance with procedures required by subsection (l).
    ``(o) Prohibition on Commercial Harvest.--Trees planted pursuant to 
a program receiving funds under this section may not be commercially 
harvested and sold for Christmas trees.
    ``(p) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated $25,000,000 to be granted by the Secretary of Agriculture 
to the Foundation. All funds appropriated under this section may remain 
available until expended.
``SEC. 1265. RURAL TREE PLANTING AND FOREST MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
    ``The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to establish a rural 
tree planting and forest management program as a special component of 
the forest stewardship program and the stewardship incentive program 
established under sections 5 and 6 of the Cooperative Forestry 
Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2102) [16 U.S.C. 2103a, 2103b] (as 
amended by subtitle A). Such program shall terminate on December 31, 
2001.
``SEC. 1266. COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING AND IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
    ``The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to establish a 
community tree planting and improvement program as a special component 
of the urban and community forestry assistance program established under 
section 9 of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 
2105) (as amended by section 1219). Such program shall terminate on 
December 31, 2001.''


                        Tree Planting Initiative

    Pub. L. 99-198, title XII, Sec. 1256, as added by Pub. L. 101-624, 
title XIV, Sec. 1441(a), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3601, set forth policy 
relating to maintenance, afforestation, and reforestation of forest 
lands and provisions relating to implementation of policy and agreements 
with State forestry agencies, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 104-127, title 
III, Sec. 336(e), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1007.


          Transfer of Forest Tree Nursery Facilities to States

    Pub. L. 87-492, June 25, 1962, 76 Stat. 107, provided: ``That the 
Congress recognizes that for many years the United States and certain 
States have cooperated in the production of tree planting stock for use 
in the reforestation of the public and private lands of the Nation; that 
the program of production of tree planting stock which was initiated and 
pursued under the Soil Bank Act (7 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) [repealed] was 
carried on under written agreements which provided for (a) cooperation 
between the Forest Service, on behalf of the United States, and the 
States which participated in the program, (b) payments to said States 
for costs and expenses incurred in the development of nursery 
facilities, (c) the holding of such funds by the States in trust for the 
purpose of carrying out the provisions of said agreements, and (d) 
restoration to the trust fund of an amount equal to the residual value 
of any supplies, materials, equipment, or improvements acquired or 
constructed with trust funds and transferred to State forestry work 
other than the soil bank program; that such program under said Soil Bank 
Act has been discontinued, but the need for the trees continues to be 
great; that the States and Federal Government are cooperating in the 
procurement, production, and distribution of forest-tree seeds and 
plants under section 4 of the Clarke-McNary Act of June 7, 1924 (16 
U.S.C. 567), and in the reforestation of lands under title IV of the 
Agricultural Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 568e and 568g); and that said 
participating States need the said supplies, materials, equipment, or 
improvements for use in connection with their respective forestry 
programs, and it is in the public interest to permit these States to use 
said property without the requirement that payment be made for the 
residual value thereof.
    ``Sec. 2. For the purpose of assisting those States which 
participated in the program carried on under the Soil Bank Act [section 
1801 et seq. of Title 7, Agriculture] [repealed] in continuing the 
production of needed tree planting stock and in other forestry programs, 
the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to permit any supplies, 
materials, equipment, or improvements acquired or constructed with trust 
funds under the agreements referred to in section 1 to be used in such 
State forestry work as may further the objectives of related Federal 
programs, as he may approve, without the requirement that any payment be 
made by the State into the trust funds.''


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