[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2389 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.R.2389

                       One Hundred Sixth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE SECOND SESSION

           Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday,
             the twenty-fourth day of January, two thousand


                                 An Act


 
 To restore stability and predictability to the annual payments made to 
 States and counties containing National Forest System lands and public 
  domain lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management for use by the 
 counties for the benefit of public schools, roads, and other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Secure Rural 
Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings and purposes.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Sec. 4. Conforming amendment.

  TITLE I--SECURE PAYMENTS FOR STATES AND COUNTIES CONTAINING FEDERAL 
                                  LANDS

Sec. 101. Determination of full payment amount for eligible States and 
          counties.
Sec. 102. Payments to States from National Forest Service lands for use 
          by counties to benefit public education and transportation.
Sec. 103. Payments to counties from Bureau of Land Management lands for 
          use to benefit public safety, law enforcement, education, and 
          other public purposes.

               TITLE II--SPECIAL PROJECTS ON FEDERAL LANDS

Sec. 201. Definitions.
Sec. 202. General limitation on use of project funds.
Sec. 203. Submission of project proposals.
Sec. 204. Evaluation and approval of projects by Secretary concerned.
Sec. 205. Resource advisory committees.
Sec. 206. Use of project funds.
Sec. 207. Availability of project funds.
Sec. 208. Termination of authority.

                       TITLE III--COUNTY PROJECTS

Sec. 301. Definitions.
Sec. 302. Use of county funds.
Sec. 303. Termination of authority.

                   TITLE IV--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 401. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 402. Treatment of funds and revenues.
Sec. 403. Regulations.
Sec. 404. Conforming amendments.

             TITLE V--MINERAL REVENUE PAYMENTS CLARIFICATION

Sec. 501. Short title.
Sec. 502. Findings.
Sec. 503. Amendment of the Mineral Leasing Act.

                 TITLE VI--COMMUNITY FOREST RESTORATION

Sec. 601. Short title.
Sec. 602. Findings.
Sec. 603. Purposes.
Sec. 604. Definitions.
Sec. 605. Establishment of program.
Sec. 606. Selection process.
Sec. 607. Monitoring and evaluation.
Sec. 608. Report.
Sec. 609. Authorization of appropriations.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
        (1) The National Forest System, which is managed by the United 
    States Forest Service, was established in 1907 and has grown to 
    include approximately 192,000,000 acres of Federal lands.
        (2) The public domain lands known as revested Oregon and 
    California Railroad grant lands and the reconveyed Coos Bay Wagon 
    Road grant lands, which are managed predominantly by the Bureau of 
    Land Management were returned to Federal ownership in 1916 and 1919 
    and now comprise approximately 2,600,000 acres of Federal lands.
        (3) Congress recognized that, by its decision to secure these 
    lands in Federal ownership, the counties in which these lands are 
    situated would be deprived of revenues they would otherwise receive 
    if the lands were held in private ownership.
        (4) These same counties have expended public funds year after 
    year to provide services, such as education, road construction and 
    maintenance, search and rescue, law enforcement, waste removal, and 
    fire protection, that directly benefit these Federal lands and 
    people who use these lands.
        (5) To accord a measure of compensation to the affected 
    counties for the critical services they provide to both county 
    residents and visitors to these Federal lands, Congress determined 
    that the Federal Government should share with these counties a 
    portion of the revenues the United States receives from these 
    Federal lands.
        (6) Congress enacted in 1908 and subsequently amended a law 
    that requires that 25 percent of the revenues derived from National 
    Forest System lands be paid to States for use by the counties in 
    which the lands are situated for the benefit of public schools and 
    roads.
        (7) Congress enacted in 1937 and subsequently amended a law 
    that requires that 75 percent of the revenues derived from the 
    revested and reconveyed grant lands be paid to the counties in 
    which those lands are situated to be used as are other county 
    funds, of which 50 percent is to be used as other county funds.
        (8) For several decades primarily due to the growth of the 
    Federal timber sale program, counties dependent on and supportive 
    of these Federal lands received and relied on increasing shares of 
    these revenues to provide funding for schools and road maintenance.
        (9) In recent years, the principal source of these revenues, 
    Federal timber sales, has been sharply curtailed and, as the volume 
    of timber sold annually from most of the Federal lands has 
    decreased precipitously, so too have the revenues shared with the 
    affected counties.
        (10) This decline in shared revenues has affected educational 
    funding and road maintenance for many counties.
        (11) In the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, Congress 
    recognized this trend and ameliorated its adverse consequences by 
    providing an alternative annual safety net payment to 72 counties 
    in Oregon, Washington, and northern California in which Federal 
    timber sales had been restricted or prohibited by administrative 
    and judicial decisions to protect the northern spotted owl.
        (12) The authority for these particular safety net payments is 
    expiring and no comparable authority has been granted for 
    alternative payments to counties elsewhere in the United States 
    that have suffered similar losses in shared revenues from the 
    Federal lands and in the funding for schools and roads those 
    revenues provide.
        (13) There is a need to stabilize education and road 
    maintenance funding through predictable payments to the affected 
    counties, job creation in those counties, and other opportunities 
    associated with restoration, maintenance, and stewardship of 
    Federal lands.
        (14) Both the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management 
    face significant backlogs in infrastructure maintenance and 
    ecosystem restoration that are difficult to address through annual 
    appropriations.
        (15) There is a need to build new, and strengthen existing, 
    relationships and to improve management of public lands and waters.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are as follows:
        (1) To stabilize payments to counties to provide funding for 
    schools and roads that supplements other available funds.
        (2) To make additional investments in, and create additional 
    employment opportunities through, projects that improve the 
    maintenance of existing infrastructure, implement stewardship 
    objectives that enhance forest ecosystems, and restore and improve 
    land health and water quality. Such projects shall enjoy broad-
    based support with objectives that may include, but are not limited 
    to--
            (A) road, trail, and infrastructure maintenance or 
        obliteration;
            (B) soil productivity improvement;
            (C) improvements in forest ecosystem health;
            (D) watershed restoration and maintenance;
            (E) restoration, maintenance and improvement of wildlife 
        and fish habitat;
            (F) control of noxious and exotic weeds; and
            (G) reestablishment of native species.
        (3) To improve cooperative relationships among the people that 
    use and care for Federal lands and the agencies that manage these 
    lands.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
        (1) Federal lands.--The term ``Federal lands'' means--
            (A) lands within the National Forest System, as defined in 
        section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources 
        Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a)) exclusive of the 
        National Grasslands and land utilization projects designated as 
        National Grasslands administered pursuant to the Act of July 
        22, 1937 (7 U.S.C. 1010-1012); and
            (B) such portions of the revested Oregon and California 
        Railroad and reconveyed Coos Bay Wagon Road grant lands as are 
        or may hereafter come under the jurisdiction of the Department 
        of the Interior, which have heretofore or may hereafter be 
        classified as timberlands, and power-site lands valuable for 
        timber, that shall be managed, except as provided in the former 
        section 3 of the Act of August 28, 1937 (50 Stat. 875; 43 
        U.S.C. 1181c), for permanent forest production.
        (2) Eligibility period.--The term ``eligibility period'' means 
    fiscal year 1986 through fiscal year 1999.
        (3) Eligible county.--The term ``eligible county'' means a 
    county that received 50-percent payments for one or more fiscal 
    years of the eligibility period or a county that received a portion 
    of an eligible State's 25-percent payments for one or more fiscal 
    years of the eligibility period. The term includes a county 
    established after the date of the enactment of this Act so long as 
    the county includes all or a portion of a county described in the 
    preceding sentence.
        (4) Eligible state.--The term ``eligible State'' means a State 
    that received 25-percent payments for one or more fiscal years of 
    the eligibility period.
        (5) Full payment amount.--The term ``full payment amount'' 
    means the amount calculated for each eligible State and eligible 
    county under section 101.
        (6) 25-percent payment.--The term ``25-percent payment'' means 
    the payment to States required by the sixth paragraph under the 
    heading of ``FOREST SERVICE'' in the Act of May 23, 1908 (35 Stat. 
    260; 16 U.S.C. 500), and section 13 of the Act of March 1, 1911 (36 
    Stat. 963; 16 U.S.C. 500).
        (7) 50-percent payment.--The term ``50-percent payment'' means 
    the payment that is the sum of the 50-percent share otherwise paid 
    to a county pursuant to title II of the Act of August 28, 1937 
    (chapter 876; 50 Stat. 875; 43 U.S.C. 1181f), and the payment made 
    to a county pursuant to the Act of May 24, 1939 (chapter 144; 53 
    Stat. 753; 43 U.S.C. 1181f-1 et seq.).
        (8) Safety net payments.--The term ``safety net payments'' 
    means the special payment amounts paid to States and counties 
    required by section 13982 or 13983 of the Omnibus Budget 
    Reconciliation Act of 1993 (Public Law 103-66; 16 U.S.C. 500 note; 
    43 U.S.C. 1181f note).

SEC. 4. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.

    Section 6903(a)(1)(C) of title 31, United States Code, is amended 
by inserting after ``(16 U.S.C. 500)'' the following: ``or the Secure 
Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000''.

  TITLE I--SECURE PAYMENTS FOR STATES AND COUNTIES CONTAINING FEDERAL 
                                 LANDS

SEC. 101. DETERMINATION OF FULL PAYMENT AMOUNT FOR ELIGIBLE STATES AND 
              COUNTIES.

    (a) Calculation Required.--
        (1) Eligible states.--For fiscal years 2001 through 2006, the 
    Secretary of the Treasury shall calculate for each eligible State 
    that received a 25-percent payment during the eligibility period an 
    amount equal to the average of the three highest 25-percent 
    payments and safety net payments made to that eligible State for 
    the fiscal years of the eligibility period.
        (2) Bureau of land management counties.--For fiscal years 2001 
    through 2006, the Secretary of the Treasury shall calculate for 
    each eligible county that received a 50-percent payment during the 
    eligibility period an amount equal to the average of the three 
    highest 50-percent payments and safety net payments made to that 
    eligible county for the fiscal years of the eligibility period.
    (b) Annual Adjustment.--For each fiscal year in which payments are 
required to be made to eligible States and eligible counties under this 
title, the Secretary of the Treasury shall adjust the full payment 
amount for the previous fiscal year for each eligible State and 
eligible county to reflect 50 percent of the changes in the consumer 
price index for rural areas (as published in the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics) that occur after publication of that index for fiscal year 
2000.

SEC. 102. PAYMENTS TO STATES FROM NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM LANDS FOR USE 
              BY COUNTIES TO BENEFIT PUBLIC EDUCATION AND 
              TRANSPORTATION.

    (a) Payment Amounts.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall pay an 
eligible State the sum of the amounts elected under subsection (b) by 
each eligible county for either--
        (1) the 25-percent payment under the Act of May 23, 1908 (16 
    U.S.C. 500), and section 13 of the Act of March 1, 1911 (16 U.S.C. 
    500); or
        (2) the full payment amount in place of the 25-percent payment.
    (b) Election To Receive Payment Amount.--
        (1) Election; submission of results.--The election to receive 
    either the full payment amount or the 25-percent payment shall be 
    made at the discretion of each affected county and transmitted to 
    the Secretary by the Governor of a State.
        (2) Duration of election.--A county election to receive the 25-
    percent payment shall be effective for two fiscal years. When a 
    county elects to receive the full payment amount, such election 
    shall be effective for all the subsequent fiscal years through 
    fiscal year 2006.
        (3) Source of payment amounts.--The payment to an eligible 
    State under this section for a fiscal year shall be derived from 
    any revenues, fees, penalties, or miscellaneous receipts, exclusive 
    of deposits to any relevant trust fund, or special accounts, 
    received by the Federal Government from activities by the Forest 
    Service on the Federal lands described in section 3(1)(A) and to 
    the extent of any shortfall, out of any funds in the Treasury not 
    otherwise appropriated.
    (c) Distribution and Expenditure of Payments.--
        (1) Distribution method.--A State that receives a payment under 
    subsection (a) shall distribute the payment among all eligible 
    counties in the State in accordance with the Act of May 23, 1908 
    (16 U.S.C. 500), and section 13 of the Act of March 1, 1911 (36 
    Stat. 963; 16 U.S.C. 500).
        (2) Expenditure purposes.--Subject to subsection (d), payments 
    received by a State under subsection (a) and distributed to 
    eligible counties shall be expended as required by the laws 
    referred to in paragraph (1).
    (d) Expenditure Rules for Eligible Counties.--
        (1) Allocations.--
            (A) Use of portion in same manner as 25-percent payments.--
        If an eligible county elects to receive its share of the full 
        payment amount, not less than 80 percent, but not more than 85 
        percent, of the funds shall be expended in the same manner in 
        which the 25-percent payments are required to be expended.
            (B) Election as to use of balance.--An eligible county 
        shall elect to do one or more of the following with the balance 
        of the funds not expended pursuant to subparagraph (A):
                (i) Reserve the balance for projects in accordance with 
            title II.
                (ii) Reserve the balance for projects in accordance 
            with title III.
                (iii) Return the balance to the General Treasury in 
            accordance with section 402(b).
        (2) Distribution of funds.--
            (A) Treatment of title ii funds.--Funds reserved by an 
        eligible county under paragraph (1)(B)(i) shall be deposited in 
        a special account in the Treasury of the United States and 
        shall be available for expenditure by the Secretary of 
        Agriculture, without further appropriation, and shall remain 
        available until expended in accordance with title II.
            (B) Treatment of title iii funds.--Funds reserved by an 
        eligible county under paragraph (1)(B)(ii) shall be available 
        for expenditure by the county and shall remain available, until 
        expended, in accordance with title III.
        (3) Election.--
            (A) In general.--An eligible county shall notify the 
        Secretary of Agriculture of its election under this subsection 
        not later than September 30 of each fiscal year. If the 
        eligible county fails to make an election by that date, the 
        county is deemed to have elected to expend 85 percent of the 
        funds to be received under this section in the same manner in 
        which the 25-percent payments are required to be expended, and 
        shall remit the balance to the Treasury of the United States in 
        accordance with section 402(b).
            (B) Counties with minor distributions.--Notwithstanding any 
        adjustment made pursuant to section 101(b) in the case of each 
        eligible county to which less than $100,000 is distributed for 
        any fiscal year pursuant to subsection (c)(1), the eligible 
        county may elect to expend all such funds in accordance with 
        subsection (c)(2).
    (e) Time for Payment.--The payment to an eligible State under this 
section for a fiscal year shall be made as soon as practicable after 
the end of that fiscal year.

SEC. 103. PAYMENTS TO COUNTIES FROM BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT LANDS FOR 
              USE TO BENEFIT PUBLIC SAFETY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, EDUCATION, 
              AND OTHER PUBLIC PURPOSES.

    (a) Payment.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall pay an eligible 
county either--
        (1) the 50-percent payment under the Act of August 28, 1937 (43 
    U.S.C. 1181f), or the Act of May 24, 1939 (43 U.S.C. 1181f-1) as 
    appropriate; or
        (2) the full payment amount in place of the 50-percent payment.
    (b) Election To Receive Full Payment Amount.--
        (1) Election; duration.--The election to receive the full 
    payment amount shall be made at the discretion of the county. Once 
    the election is made, it shall be effective for the fiscal year in 
    which the election is made and all subsequent fiscal years through 
    fiscal year 2006.
        (2) Source of payment amounts.--The payment to an eligible 
    county under this section for a fiscal year shall be derived from 
    any revenues, fees, penalties, or miscellaneous receipts, exclusive 
    of deposits to any relevant trust fund, or permanent operating 
    funds, received by the Federal Government from activities by the 
    Bureau of Land Management on the Federal lands described in section 
    3(1)(B) and to the extent of any shortfall, out of any funds in the 
    Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
    (c) Expenditure Rules for Eligible Counties.--
        (1) Allocations.--
            (A) Use of portion in same manner as 50-percent payments.--
        Of the funds to be paid to an eligible county pursuant to 
        subsection (a)(2), not less than 80 percent, but not more than 
        85 percent, of the funds distributed to the eligible county 
        shall be expended in the same manner in which the 50-percent 
        payments are required to be expended.
            (B) Election as to use of balance.--An eligible county 
        shall elect to do one or more of the following with the balance 
        of the funds not expended pursuant to subparagraph (A):
                (i) Reserve the balance for projects in accordance with 
            title II.
                (ii) Reserve the balance for projects in accordance 
            with title III.
                (iii) Return the balance to the General Treasury in 
            accordance with section 402(b).
        (2) Distribution of funds.--
            (A) Treatment of title ii funds.--Funds reserved by an 
        eligible county under paragraph (1)(B)(i) shall be deposited in 
        a special account in the Treasury of the United States and 
        shall be available for expenditure by the Secretary of the 
        Interior, without further appropriation, and shall remain 
        available until expended in accordance with title II.
            (B) Treatment of title iii funds.--Funds reserved by an 
        eligible county under paragraph (1)(B)(ii) shall be available 
        for expenditure by the county and shall remain available, until 
        expended, in accordance with title III.
        (3) Election.--An eligible county shall notify the Secretary of 
    the Interior of its election under this subsection not later than 
    September 30 of each fiscal year. If the eligible county fails to 
    make an election by that date, the county is deemed to have elected 
    to expend 85 percent of the funds received under subsection (a)(2) 
    in the same manner in which the 50-percent payments are required to 
    be expended and shall remit the balance to the Treasury of the 
    United States in accordance with section 402(b).
    (d) Time for Payment.--The payment to an eligible county under this 
section for a fiscal year shall be made as soon as practicable after 
the end of that fiscal year.

              TITLE II--SPECIAL PROJECTS ON FEDERAL LANDS

SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
        (1) Participating county.--The term ``participating county'' 
    means an eligible county that elects under section 102(d)(1)(B)(i) 
    or 103(c)(1)(B)(i) to expend a portion of the Federal funds 
    received under section 102 or 103 in accordance with this title.
        (2) Project funds.--The term ``project funds'' means all funds 
    an eligible county elects under sections 102(d)(1)(B)(i) and 
    103(c)(1)(B)(i) to reserve for expenditure in accordance with this 
    title.
        (3) Resource advisory committee.--The term ``resource advisory 
    committee'' means an advisory committee established by the 
    Secretary concerned under section 205, or determined by the 
    Secretary concerned to meet the requirements of section 205.
        (4) Resource management plan.--The term ``resource management 
    plan'' means a land use plan prepared by the Bureau of Land 
    Management for units of the Federal lands described in section 
    3(1)(B) pursuant to section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and 
    Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712) or a land and resource 
    management plan prepared by the Forest Service for units of the 
    National Forest System pursuant to section 6 of the Forest and 
    Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 
    1604).
        (5) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary concerned'' 
    means--
            (A) the Secretary of Agriculture or the designee of the 
        Secretary of Agriculture with respect to the Federal lands 
        described in section 3(1)(A); and
            (B) the Secretary of the Interior or the designee of the 
        Secretary of the Interior with respect to the Federal lands 
        described in section 3(1)(B).

SEC. 202. GENERAL LIMITATION ON USE OF PROJECT FUNDS.

    Project funds shall be expended solely on projects that meet the 
requirements of this title. Project funds may be used by the Secretary 
concerned for the purpose of entering into and implementing cooperative 
agreements with willing Federal agencies, State and local governments, 
private and nonprofit entities, and landowners for protection, 
restoration and enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat, and other 
resource objectives consistent with the purposes of this title on 
Federal land and on non-Federal land where projects would benefit these 
resources on Federal land.

SEC. 203. SUBMISSION OF PROJECT PROPOSALS.

    (a) Submission of Project Proposals to Secretary Concerned.--
        (1) Projects funded using project funds.--Not later than 
    September 30 for fiscal year 2001, and each September 30 thereafter 
    for each succeeding fiscal year through fiscal year 2006, each 
    resource advisory committee shall submit to the Secretary concerned 
    a description of any projects that the resource advisory committee 
    proposes the Secretary undertake using any project funds reserved 
    by eligible counties in the area in which the resource advisory 
    committee has geographic jurisdiction.
        (2) Projects funded using other funds.--A resource advisory 
    committee may submit to the Secretary concerned a description of 
    any projects that the committee proposes the Secretary undertake 
    using funds from State or local governments, or from the private 
    sector, other than project funds and funds appropriated and 
    otherwise available to do similar work.
        (3) Joint projects.--Participating counties or other persons 
    may propose to pool project funds or other funds, described in 
    paragraph (2), and jointly propose a project or group of projects 
    to a resource advisory committee established under section 205.
    (b) Required Description of Projects.--In submitting proposed 
projects to the Secretary concerned under subsection (a), a resource 
advisory committee shall include in the description of each proposed 
project the following information:
        (1) The purpose of the project and a description of how the 
    project will meet the purposes of this Act.
        (2) The anticipated duration of the project.
        (3) The anticipated cost of the project.
        (4) The proposed source of funding for the project, whether 
    project funds or other funds.
        (5) Expected outcomes, including how the project will meet or 
    exceed desired ecological conditions, maintenance objectives, or 
    stewardship objectives, as well as an estimation of the amount of 
    any timber, forage, and other commodities and other economic 
    activity, including jobs generated, if any, anticipated as part of 
    the project.
        (6) A detailed monitoring plan, including funding needs and 
    sources, that tracks and identifies the positive or negative 
    impacts of the project, implementation, and provides for validation 
    monitoring. The monitoring plan shall include an assessment of the 
    following: Whether or not the project met or exceeded desired 
    ecological conditions; created local employment or training 
    opportunities, including summer youth jobs programs such as the 
    Youth Conservation Corps where appropriate; and whether the project 
    improved the use of, or added value to, any products removed from 
    lands consistent with the purposes of this Act.
        (7) An assessment that the project is to be in the public 
    interest.
    (c) Authorized Projects.--Projects proposed under subsection (a) 
shall be consistent with section 2(b).

SEC. 204. EVALUATION AND APPROVAL OF PROJECTS BY SECRETARY CONCERNED.

    (a) Conditions for Approval of Proposed Project.--The Secretary 
concerned may make a decision to approve a project submitted by a 
resource advisory committee under section 203 only if the proposed 
project satisfies each of the following conditions:
        (1) The project complies with all applicable Federal laws and 
    regulations.
        (2) The project is consistent with the applicable resource 
    management plan and with any watershed or subsequent plan developed 
    pursuant to the resource management plan and approved by the 
    Secretary concerned.
        (3) The project has been approved by the resource advisory 
    committee in accordance with section 205, including the procedures 
    issued under subsection (e) of such section.
        (4) A project description has been submitted by the resource 
    advisory committee to the Secretary concerned in accordance with 
    section 203.
        (5) The project will improve the maintenance of existing 
    infrastructure, implement stewardship objectives that enhance 
    forest ecosystems, and restore and improve land health and water 
    quality.
    (b) Environmental Reviews.--
        (1) Payment of review costs.--
            (A) Request for payment by county.--The Secretary concerned 
        may request the resource advisory committee submitting a 
        proposed project to agree to the use of project funds to pay 
        for any environmental review, consultation, or compliance with 
        applicable environmental laws required in connection with the 
        project. When such a payment is requested and the resource 
        advisory committee agrees to the expenditure of funds for this 
        purpose, the Secretary concerned shall conduct environmental 
        review, consultation, or other compliance responsibilities in 
        accordance with Federal law and regulations.
            (B) Effect of refusal to pay.--If a resource advisory 
        committee does not agree to the expenditure of funds under 
        subparagraph (A), the project shall be deemed withdrawn from 
        further consideration by the Secretary concerned pursuant to 
        this title. Such a withdrawal shall be deemed to be a rejection 
        of the project for purposes of section 207(c).
    (c) Decisions of Secretary Concerned.--
        (1) Rejection of projects.--A decision by the Secretary 
    concerned to reject a proposed project shall be at the Secretary's 
    sole discretion. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a 
    decision by the Secretary concerned to reject a proposed project 
    shall not be subject to administrative appeal or judicial review. 
    Within 30 days after making the rejection decision, the Secretary 
    concerned shall notify in writing the resource advisory committee 
    that submitted the proposed project of the rejection and the 
    reasons for rejection.
        (2) Notice of project approval.--The Secretary concerned shall 
    publish in the Federal Register notice of each project approved 
    under subsection (a) if such notice would be required had the 
    project originated with the Secretary.
    (d) Source and Conduct of Project.--Once the Secretary concerned 
accepts a project for review under section 203, it shall be deemed a 
Federal action for all purposes.
    (e) Implementation of Approved Projects.--
        (1) Cooperation.--Notwithstanding chapter 63 of title 31, 
    United States Code, using project funds the Secretary concerned may 
    enter into contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements with 
    States and local governments, private and nonprofit entities, and 
    landowners and other persons to assist the Secretary in carrying 
    out an approved project.
        (2) Best value contracting.--For any project involving a 
    contract authorized by paragraph (1) the Secretary concerned may 
    elect a source for performance of the contract on a best value 
    basis. The Secretary concerned shall determine best value based on 
    such factors as:
            (A) The technical demands and complexity of the work to be 
        done.
            (B) The ecological objectives of the project and the 
        sensitivity of the resources being treated.
            (C) The past experience by the contractor with the type of 
        work being done, using the type of equipment proposed for the 
        project, and meeting or exceeding desired ecological 
        conditions.
            (D) The commitment of the contractor to hiring highly 
        qualified workers and local residents.
        (3) Merchantable material contracting pilot program.--
            (A) Establishment.--The Secretary concerned shall establish 
        a pilot program to implement a certain percentage of approved 
        projects involving the sale of merchantable material using 
        separate contracts for--
                (i) the harvesting or collection of merchantable 
            material; and
                (ii) the sale of such material.
            (B) Annual percentages.--Under the pilot program, the 
        Secretary concerned shall ensure that, on a nationwide basis, 
        not less than the following percentage of all approved projects 
        involving the sale of merchantable material are implemented 
        using separate contracts:
                (i) For fiscal year 2001, 15 percent.
                (ii) For fiscal year 2002, 25 percent.
                (iii) For fiscal year 2003, 25 percent.
                (iv) For fiscal year 2004, 50 percent.
                (v) For fiscal year 2005, 50 percent.
                (vi) For fiscal year 2006, 50 percent.
            (C) Inclusion in pilot program.--The decision whether to 
        use separate contracts to implement a project involving the 
        sale of merchantable material shall be made by the Secretary 
        concerned after the approval of the project under this title.
            (D) Assistance.--The Secretary concerned may use funds from 
        any appropriated account available to the Secretary for the 
        Federal lands to assist in the administration of projects 
        conducted under the pilot program. The total amount obligated 
        under this subparagraph may not exceed $1,000,000 for any 
        fiscal year during which the pilot program is in effect.
            (E) Review and report.--Not later than September 30, 2003, 
        the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on 
        Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, the 
        Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, the 
        Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives, and 
        the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives a 
        report assessing the pilot program. The Secretary concerned 
        shall submit to such committees an annual report describing the 
        results of the pilot program.
    (f) Requirements for Project Funds.--The Secretary shall ensure 
that at least 50 percent of all project funds be used for projects that 
are primarily dedicated--
        (1) to road maintenance, decommissioning, or obliteration; or
        (2) to restoration of streams and watersheds.

SEC. 205. RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMITTEES.

    (a) Establishment and Purpose of Resource Advisory Committees.--
        (1) Establishment.--The Secretary concerned shall establish and 
    maintain resource advisory committees to perform the duties in 
    subsection (b), except as provided in paragraph (4).
        (2) Purpose.--The purpose of a resource advisory committee 
    shall be to improve collaborative relationships and to provide 
    advice and recommendations to the land management agencies 
    consistent with the purposes of this Act.
        (3) Access to resource advisory committees.--To ensure that 
    each unit of Federal land has access to a resource advisory 
    committee, and that there is sufficient interest in participation 
    on a committee to ensure that membership can be balanced in terms 
    of the points of view represented and the functions to be 
    performed, the Secretary concerned may, establish resource advisory 
    committees for part of, or one or more, units of Federal lands.
        (4) Existing advisory committees.--Existing advisory committees 
    meeting the requirements of this section may be deemed by the 
    Secretary concerned, as a resource advisory committee for the 
    purposes of this title. The Secretary of the Interior may deem a 
    resource advisory committee meeting the requirements of subpart 
    1784 of part 1780 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations, as a 
    resource advisory committee for the purposes of this title.
    (b) Duties.--A resource advisory committee shall--
        (1) review projects proposed under this title by participating 
    counties and other persons;
        (2) propose projects and funding to the Secretary concerned 
    under section 203;
        (3) provide early and continuous coordination with appropriate 
    land management agency officials in recommending projects 
    consistent with purposes of this Act under this title; and
        (4) provide frequent opportunities for citizens, organizations, 
    tribes, land management agencies, and other interested parties to 
    participate openly and meaningfully, beginning at the early stages 
    of the project development process under this title.
    (c) Appointment by the Secretary.--
        (1) Appointment and term.--The Secretary concerned, shall 
    appoint the members of resource advisory committees for a term of 3 
    years beginning on the date of appointment. The Secretary concerned 
    may reappoint members to subsequent 3-year terms.
        (2) Basic requirements.--The Secretary concerned shall ensure 
    that each resource advisory committee established meets the 
    requirements of subsection (d).
        (3) Initial appointment.--The Secretary concerned shall make 
    initial appointments to the resource advisory committees not later 
    than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
        (4) Vacancies.--The Secretary concerned shall make appointments 
    to fill vacancies on any resource advisory committee as soon as 
    practicable after the vacancy has occurred.
        (5) Compensation.--Members of the resource advisory committees 
    shall not receive any compensation.
    (d) Composition of Advisory Committee.--
        (1) Number.--Each resource advisory committee shall be 
    comprised of 15 members.
        (2) Community interests represented.--Committee members shall 
    be representative of the interests of the following three 
    categories:
            (A) five persons who--
                (i) represent organized labor;
                (ii) represent developed outdoor recreation, off 
            highway vehicle users, or commercial recreation activities;
                (iii) represent energy and mineral development 
            interests;
                (iv) represent the commercial timber industry; or
                (v) hold Federal grazing permits, or other land use 
            permits within the area for which the committee is 
            organized.
            (B) five persons representing--
                (i) nationally recognized environmental organizations;
                (ii) regionally or locally recognized environmental 
            organizations;
                (iii) dispersed recreational activities;
                (iv) archaeological and historical interests; or
                (v) nationally or regionally recognized wild horse and 
            burro interest groups.
            (C) five persons who--
                (i) hold State elected office or their designee;
                (ii) hold county or local elected office;
                (iii) represent American Indian tribes within or 
            adjacent to the area for which the committee is organized;
                (iv) are school officials or teachers; or
                (v) represent the affected public at large.
        (3) Balanced representation.--In appointing committee members 
    from the three categories in paragraph (2), the Secretary concerned 
    shall provide for balanced and broad representation from within 
    each category.
        (4) Geographic distribution.--The members of a resource 
    advisory committee shall reside within the State in which the 
    committee has jurisdiction and, to extent practicable, the 
    Secretary concerned shall ensure local representation in each 
    category in paragraph (2).
        (5) Chairperson.--A majority on each resource advisory 
    committee shall select the chairperson of the committee.
    (e) Approval Procedures.--(1) Subject to paragraph (2), each 
resource advisory committee shall establish procedures for proposing 
projects to the Secretary concerned under this title. A quorum must be 
present to constitute an official meeting of the committee.
    (2) A project may be proposed by a resource advisory committee to 
the Secretary concerned under section 203(a), if it has been approved 
by a majority of members of the committee from each of the three 
categories in subsection (d)(2).
    (f) Other Committee Authorities and Requirements.--
        (1) Staff assistance.--A resource advisory committee may submit 
    to the Secretary concerned a request for periodic staff assistance 
    from Federal employees under the jurisdiction of the Secretary.
        (2) Meetings.--All meetings of a resource advisory committee 
    shall be announced at least one week in advance in a local 
    newspaper of record and shall be open to the public.
        (3) Records.--A resource advisory committee shall maintain 
    records of the meetings of the committee and make the records 
    available for public inspection.

SEC. 206. USE OF PROJECT FUNDS.

    (a) Agreement Regarding Schedule and Cost of Project.--
        (1) Agreement between parties.--The Secretary concerned may 
    carry out a project submitted by a resource advisory committee 
    under section 203(a) using project funds or other funds described 
    in section 203(a)(2), if, as soon as practicable after the issuance 
    of a decision document for the project and the exhaustion of all 
    administrative appeals and judicial review of the project decision, 
    the Secretary concerned and the resource advisory committee enter 
    into an agreement addressing, at a minimum, the following:
            (A) The schedule for completing the project.
            (B) The total cost of the project, including the level of 
        agency overhead to be assessed against the project.
            (C) For a multiyear project, the estimated cost of the 
        project for each of the fiscal years in which it will be 
        carried out.
            (D) The remedies for failure of the Secretary concerned to 
        comply with the terms of the agreement consistent with current 
        Federal law.
        (2) Limited use of federal funds.--The Secretary concerned may 
    decide, at the Secretary's sole discretion, to cover the costs of a 
    portion of an approved project using Federal funds appropriated or 
    otherwise available to the Secretary for the same purposes as the 
    project.
    (b) Transfer of Project Funds.--
        (1) Initial transfer required.--As soon as practicable after 
    the agreement is reached under subsection (a) with regard to a 
    project to be funded in whole or in part using project funds, or 
    other funds described in section 203(a)(2), the Secretary concerned 
    shall transfer to the applicable unit of National Forest System 
    lands or BLM District an amount of project funds equal to--
            (A) in the case of a project to be completed in a single 
        fiscal year, the total amount specified in the agreement to be 
        paid using project funds, or other funds described in section 
        203(a)(2); or
            (B) in the case of a multiyear project, the amount 
        specified in the agreement to be paid using project funds, or 
        other funds described in section 203(a)(2) for the first fiscal 
        year.
        (2) Condition on project commencement.--The unit of National 
    Forest System lands or BLM District concerned, shall not commence a 
    project until the project funds, or other funds described in 
    section 203(a)(2) required to be transferred under paragraph (1) 
    for the project, have been made available by the Secretary 
    concerned.
        (3) Subsequent transfers for multiyear projects.--For the 
    second and subsequent fiscal years of a multiyear project to be 
    funded in whole or in part using project funds, the unit of 
    National Forest System lands or BLM District concerned shall use 
    the amount of project funds required to continue the project in 
    that fiscal year according to the agreement entered into under 
    subsection (a). The Secretary concerned shall suspend work on the 
    project if the project funds required by the agreement in the 
    second and subsequent fiscal years are not available.

SEC. 207. AVAILABILITY OF PROJECT FUNDS.

    (a) Submission of Proposed Projects To Obligate Funds.--By 
September 30 of each fiscal year through fiscal year 2006, a resource 
advisory committee shall submit to the Secretary concerned pursuant to 
section 203(a)(1) a sufficient number of project proposals that, if 
approved, would result in the obligation of at least the full amount of 
the project funds reserved by the participating county in the preceding 
fiscal year.
    (b) Use or Transfer of Unobligated Funds.--Subject to section 208, 
if a resource advisory committee fails to comply with subsection (a) 
for a fiscal year, any project funds reserved by the participating 
county in the preceding fiscal year and remaining unobligated shall be 
available for use as part of the project submissions in the next fiscal 
year.
    (c) Effect of Rejection of Projects.--Subject to section 208, any 
project funds reserved by a participating county in the preceding 
fiscal year that are unobligated at the end of a fiscal year because 
the Secretary concerned has rejected one or more proposed projects 
shall be available for use as part of the project submissions in the 
next fiscal year.
    (d) Effect of Court Orders.--If an approved project under this Act 
is enjoined or prohibited by a Federal court, the Secretary concerned 
shall return the unobligated project funds related to that project to 
the participating county or counties that reserved the funds. The 
returned funds shall be available for the county to expend in the same 
manner as the funds reserved by the county under section 
102(d)(1)(B)(i) or 103(c)(1)(B)(i), whichever applies to the funds 
involved.

SEC. 208. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.

    The authority to initiate projects under this title shall terminate 
on September 30, 2006. Any project funds not obligated by September 30, 
2007, shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States.

                       TITLE III--COUNTY PROJECTS

SEC. 301. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
        (1) Participating county.--The term ``participating county'' 
    means an eligible county that elects under section 102(d)(1)(B)(ii) 
    or 103(c)(1)(B)(ii) to expend a portion of the Federal funds 
    received under section 102 or 103 in accordance with this title.
        (2) County funds.--The term ``county funds'' means all funds an 
    eligible county elects under sections 102(d)(1)(B)(ii) and 
    103(c)(1)(B)(ii) to reserve for expenditure in accordance with this 
    title.

SEC. 302. USE OF COUNTY FUNDS.

    (a) Limitation on County Fund Use.--County funds shall be expended 
solely on projects that meet the requirements of this title. A project 
under this title shall be approved by the participating county only 
following a 45-day public comment period, at the beginning of which the 
county shall--
        (1) publish a description of the proposed project in the 
    publications of local record; and
        (2) send the proposed project to the appropriate resource 
    advisory committee established under section 205, if one exists for 
    the county.
    (b) Authorized Uses.--
        (1) Search, rescue, and emergency services.--An eligible county 
    or applicable sheriff's department may use these funds as 
    reimbursement for search and rescue and other emergency services, 
    including fire fighting, performed on Federal lands and paid for by 
    the county.
        (2) Community service work camps.--An eligible county may use 
    these funds as reimbursement for all or part of the costs incurred 
    by the county to pay the salaries and benefits of county employees 
    who supervise adults or juveniles performing mandatory community 
    service on Federal lands.
        (3) Easement purchases.--An eligible county may use these funds 
    to acquire--
            (A) easements, on a willing seller basis, to provide for 
        nonmotorized access to public lands for hunting, fishing, and 
        other recreational purposes;
            (B) conservation easements; or
            (C) both.
        (4) Forest related educational opportunities.--A county may use 
    these funds to establish and conduct forest-related after school 
    programs.
        (5) Fire prevention and county planning.--A county may use 
    these funds for--
            (A) efforts to educate homeowners in fire-sensitive 
        ecosystems about the consequences of wildfires and techniques 
        in home siting, home construction, and home landscaping that 
        can increase the protection of people and property from 
        wildfires; and
            (B) planning efforts to reduce or mitigate the impact of 
        development on adjacent Federal lands and to increase the 
        protection of people and property from wildfires.
        (6) Community forestry.--A county may use these funds towards 
    non-Federal cost-share requirements of section 9 of the Cooperative 
    Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2105).

SEC. 303. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.

    The authority to initiate projects under this title shall terminate 
on September 30, 2006. Any county funds not obligated by September 30, 
2007 shall be available to be expended by the county for the uses 
identified in section 302(b).

                   TITLE IV--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SEC. 401. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this Act for fiscal years 2001 through 2006.

SEC. 402. TREATMENT OF FUNDS AND REVENUES.

    (a) Relation to Other Appropriations.--Funds appropriated pursuant 
to the authorization of appropriations in section 401 and funds made 
available to a Secretary concerned under section 206 shall be in 
addition to any other annual appropriations for the Forest Service and 
the Bureau of Land Management.
    (b) Deposit of Revenues and Other Funds.--All revenues generated 
from projects pursuant to title II, any funds remitted by counties 
pursuant to section 102(d)(1)(B)(iii) or section 103(c)(1)(B)(iii), and 
any interest accrued from such funds shall be deposited in the Treasury 
of the United States.

SEC. 403. REGULATIONS.

    The Secretaries concerned may jointly issue regulations to carry 
out the purposes of this Act.

SEC. 404. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

    Sections 13982 and 13983 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act 
of 1993 (Public Law 103-66; 16 U.S.C. 500 note; 43 U.S.C. 1181f note) 
are repealed.

            TITLE V--MINERAL REVENUE PAYMENTS CLARIFICATION

SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Mineral Revenue Payments 
Clarification Act of 2000''.

SEC. 502. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
        (1) Section 10201 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 
    1993 (Public Law 103-66; 107 Stat. 407) amended section 35 of the 
    Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 191) to change the sharing of 
    onshore mineral revenues and revenues from geothermal steam from a 
    50:50 split between the Federal Government and the States to a 
    complicated formula that entailed deducting from the State share of 
    leasing revenues ``50 percent of the portion of the enacted 
    appropriations of the Department of the Interior and any other 
    agency during the preceding fiscal year allocable to the 
    administration of all laws providing for the leasing of any onshore 
    lands or interest in land owned by the United States for the 
    production of the same types of minerals leasable under this Act or 
    of geothermal steam, and to enforcement of such laws * * *''.
        (2) There is no legislative record to suggest a sound public 
    policy rationale for deducting prior-year administrative expenses 
    from the sharing of current-year receipts, indicating that this 
    change was made primarily for budget scoring reasons.
        (3) The system put in place by this change in law has proved 
    difficult to administer and has given rise to disputes between the 
    Federal Government and the States as to the nature of allocable 
    expenses. Federal accounting systems have proven to be poorly 
    suited to breaking down administrative costs in the manner required 
    by the law. Different Federal agencies implementing this law have 
    used varying methodologies to identify allocable costs, resulting 
    in an inequitable distribution of costs during fiscal years 1994 
    through 1996. In November 1997, the Inspector General of the 
    Department of the Interior found that ``the congressionally 
    approved method for cost sharing deductions effective in fiscal 
    year 1997 may not accurately compute the deductions''.
        (4) Given the lack of a substantive rationale for the 1993 
    change in law and the complexity and administrative burden 
    involved, a return to the sharing formula prior to the enactment of 
    the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 is justified.

SEC. 503. AMENDMENT OF THE MINERAL LEASING ACT.

    Section 35(b) of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 191(b)) is 
amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) In determining the amount of payments to the States under 
this section, the amount of such payments shall not be reduced by any 
administrative or other costs incurred by the United States.''.

                 TITLE VI--COMMUNITY FOREST RESTORATION

SEC. 601. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Community Forest Restoration 
Act''.

SEC. 602. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
        (1) A century of fire suppression, logging, and livestock 
    grazing has altered the ecological balance of New Mexico's forests.
        (2) Some forest lands in New Mexico contain an unnaturally high 
    number of small diameter trees that are subject to large, high 
    intensity wildfires that can endanger human lives, livelihoods, and 
    ecological stability.
        (3) Forest lands that contain an unnaturally high number of 
    small diameter trees have reduced biodiversity and provide fewer 
    benefits to human communities, wildlife, and watersheds.
        (4) Healthy and productive watersheds minimize the threat of 
    large, high intensity wildfires, provide abundant and diverse 
    wildlife habitat, and produce a variety of timber and non-timber 
    products including better quality water and increased water flows.
        (5) Restoration efforts are more successful when there is 
    involvement from neighboring communities and better stewardship 
    will evolve from more diverse involvement.
        (6) Designing demonstration restoration projects through a 
    collaborative approach may--
            (A) lead to the development of cost effective restoration 
        activities;
            (B) empower diverse organizations to implement activities 
        which value local and traditional knowledge;
            (C) build ownership and civic pride; and
            (D) ensure healthy, diverse, and productive forests and 
        watersheds.

SEC. 603. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this title are--
        (1) to promote healthy watersheds and reduce the threat of 
    large, high intensity wildfires, insect infestation, and disease in 
    the forests in New Mexico;
        (2) to improve the functioning of forest ecosystems and enhance 
    plant and wildlife biodiversity by reducing the unnaturally high 
    number and density of small diameter trees on Federal, Tribal, 
    State, County, and Municipal forest lands;
        (3) to improve communication and joint problem solving among 
    individuals and groups who are interested in restoring the 
    diversity and productivity of forested watersheds in New Mexico;
        (4) to improve the use of, or add value to, small diameter 
    trees;
        (5) to encourage sustainable communities and sustainable 
    forests through collaborative partnerships, whose objectives are 
    forest restoration; and
        (6) to develop, demonstrate, and evaluate ecologically sound 
    forest restoration techniques.

SEC. 604. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this title--
        (1) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Agriculture 
    acting through the Chief of the Forest Service; and
        (2) the term ``stakeholder'' includes: tribal governments, 
    educational institutions, landowners, and other interested public 
    and private entities.

SEC. 605. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.

    (a) Forest Restoration Program.--The Secretary shall establish a 
cooperative forest restoration program in New Mexico in order to 
provide cost-share grants to stakeholders for experimental forest 
restoration projects that are designed through a collaborative process 
(hereinafter referred to as the ``Collaborative Forest Restoration 
Program''). The projects may be entirely on, or on any combination of, 
Federal, Tribal, State, County, or Municipal forest lands. The Federal 
share of an individual project cost shall not exceed 80 percent of the 
total cost. The 20-percent matching may be in the form of cash or in-
kind contribution.
    (b) Eligibility Requirements.--To be eligible to receive funding 
under this title, a project shall--
        (1) address the following objectives--
            (A) reduce the threat of large, high intensity wildfires 
        and the negative effects of excessive competition between trees 
        by restoring ecosystem functions, structures, and species 
        composition, including the reduction of non-native species 
        populations;
            (B) re-establish fire regimes approximating those that 
        shaped forest ecosystems prior to fire suppression;
            (C) preserve old and large trees;
            (D) replant trees in deforested areas if they exist in the 
        proposed project area; and
            (E) improve the use of, or add value to, small diameter 
        trees;
        (2) comply with all Federal and State environmental laws;
        (3) include a diverse and balanced group of stakeholders as 
    well as appropriate Federal, Tribal, State, County, and Municipal 
    government representatives in the design, implementation, and 
    monitoring of the project;
        (4) incorporate current scientific forest restoration 
    information; and
        (5) include a multiparty assessment to--
            (A) identify both the existing ecological condition of the 
        proposed project area and the desired future condition; and
            (B) report, upon project completion, on the positive or 
        negative impact and effectiveness of the project including 
        improvements in local management skills and on the ground 
        results;
        (6) create local employment or training opportunities within 
    the context of accomplishing restoration objectives, that are 
    consistent with the purposes of this title, including summer youth 
    jobs programs such as the Youth Conservation Corps where 
    appropriate;
        (7) not exceed 4 years in length;
        (8) not exceed a total annual cost of $150,000, with the 
    Federal portion not exceeding $120,000 annually, nor exceed a total 
    cost of $450,000 for the project, with the Federal portion of the 
    total cost not exceeding $360,000;
        (9) leverage Federal funding through in-kind or matching 
    contributions; and
        (10) include an agreement by each stakeholder to attend an 
    annual workshop with other stakeholders for the purpose of 
    discussing the cooperative forest restoration program and projects 
    implemented under this title. The Secretary shall coordinate and 
    fund the annual workshop. Stakeholders may use funding for projects 
    authorized under this title to pay for their travel and per diem 
    expenses to attend the workshop.

SEC. 606. SELECTION PROCESS.

    (a) After consulting with the technical advisory panel established 
in subsection (b), the Secretary shall select the proposals that will 
receive funding through the Collaborative Forest Restoration Program.
    (b) The Secretary shall convene a technical advisory panel to 
evaluate the proposals for forest restoration grants and provide 
recommendations regarding which proposals would best meet the 
objectives of the Collaborative Forest Restoration Program. The 
technical advisory panel shall consider eligibility criteria 
established in section 605, the effect on long-term management, and 
seek to use a consensus-based decisionmaking process to develop such 
recommendations. The panel shall be composed of 12 to 15 members, to be 
appointed by the Secretary as follows:
        (1) A State Natural Resource official from the State of New 
    Mexico.
        (2) At least two representatives from Federal land management 
    agencies.
        (3) At least one tribal or pueblo representative.
        (4) At least two independent scientists with experience in 
    forest ecosystem restoration.
        (5) Equal representation from--
            (A) conservation interests;
            (B) local communities; and
            (C) commodity interests.

SEC. 607. MONITORING AND EVALUATION.

    The Secretary shall establish a multiparty monitoring and 
evaluation process in order to assess the cumulative accomplishments or 
adverse impacts of the Collaborative Forest Restoration Program. The 
Secretary shall include any interested individual or organization in 
the monitoring and evaluation process. The Secretary also shall conduct 
a monitoring program to assess the short- and long-term ecological 
effects of the restoration treatments, if any, for a minimum of 15 
years.

SEC. 608. REPORT.

    No later than 5 years after the first fiscal year in which funding 
is made available for this program, the Secretary shall submit a report 
to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States 
Senate and the Committee on Resources of the United States House of 
Representatives. The report shall include an assessment on whether, and 
to what extent, the projects funded pursuant to this title are meeting 
the purposes of the Collaborative Forest Restoration Program.

SEC. 609. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 annually to 
carry out this title.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.