[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4021 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4021

 To authorize a study to determine the best scientific method for the 
       long-term protection of California's giant sequoia groves.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 16, 2000

Mr. Radanovich (for himself, Mr. Thomas, and Mr. Dooley) introduced the 
    following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To authorize a study to determine the best scientific method for the 
       long-term protection of California's giant sequoia groves.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Giant Sequoia Groves Protection and 
Management Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. STUDY.

    (a) Study of Giant Sequoia Groves.--Within 30 days of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall enter into an agreement 
with and provide funding, to the National Academy of Sciences 
(``NAS''), the Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources, (``Board''), 
to conduct a detailed, comprehensive study of the ecology, management 
and protection of sequoia groves within the Sequoia National Forest and 
to provide science-based recommendations for future management.
            (1) Contents.--The study shall identify and consider--
                    (A) the best management practices necessary to 
                protect, restore and maintain the long-term health, and 
                to ensure adequate regeneration and expansion of the 
                giant sequoia groves, including methods of reducing the 
                potential for catastrophic fire and loss to insects and 
                disease;
                    (B) the adequacy of existing federal and state 
                forest management regulations, programs and practices 
                in the Sequoia National Forest with regard to the 
                objectives in subparagraph (1)(A);
                    (C) the adequacy of existing federal and state 
                forest management regulations, programs and practices 
                on the forests outside of the sequoia groves in terms 
                of how they affect the health of the sequoia groves;
                    (D) recommendations and conclusions regarding how 
                federal and state forest management could be 
                coordinated and improved to achieve the goals in 
                subparagraph (1)(A).
            (2) Consultation.--In preparation of the study, the Board 
        shall consult with the relevant state and federal regulatory 
        authorities to identify and evaluate relevant regulations, 
        programs and practices.
            (3) Existing literature.--The Board shall review and 
        synthesize published literature pertaining to giant sequoia, 
        including the 1996 Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project Report to 
        Congress and its analysis of giant sequoia health.
    (b) Report.--No later than 18 months after the date on which the 
agreement is entered under subsection (a), the Board shall submit a 
final report to the appropriate federal agencies, the Congress and the 
Governor of California.
    (c) Funds.--From the funds made available for roads and trails 
within the U.S. Forest Service, the Secretary shall provide to the NAS 
such funds as it requests, not to exceed $800,000 for the purpose of 
conducting this analysis.
    (d) National Monuments.--On or after the date of enactment, no 
lands within the boundaries of the Sequoia National Forest shall be 
available for proclamation as a national monument by the President of 
the United States, under the authority granted by the Act of June 8, 
1906 (34 Stat. 225, 16 U.S.C. 431; popularly known as the Antiquities 
Act of 1906) until at least 90 days after publication of the final 
report authorized in subsection (b).
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