[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 144 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 144
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program to
provide assistance to eligible weed management entities to control or
eradicate noxious weeds on public and private land.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL AND ERADICATION.
The Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.) is amended by
adding at the end the following new subtitle:
``Subtitle E--Noxious Weed Control and Eradication
``SEC. 451. SHORT TITLE.
``This subtitle may be cited as the `Noxious Weed Control and
Eradication Act of 2004'.
``SEC. 452. DEFINITIONS.
``In this subtitle:
``(1) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian Tribe' has the
meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
``(2) Weed management entity.--The term `weed management
entity' means an entity that--
``(A) is recognized by the State in which it is
established;
``(B) is established for the purpose of or has
demonstrable expertise and significant experience in
controlling or eradicating noxious weeds and increasing
public knowledge and education concerning the need to
control or eradicate noxious weeds;
``(C) may be multijurisdictional and
multidisciplinary in nature;
``(D) may include representatives from Federal,
State, local, or, where applicable, Indian Tribe
governments, private organizations, individuals, and
State-recognized conservation districts or State-
recognized weed management districts; and
``(E) has existing authority to perform land
management activities on Federal land if the proposed
project or activity is on Federal lands.
``(3) Federal lands.--The term `Federal lands' means those
lands owned and managed by the United States Forest Service or
the Bureau of Land Management.
``SEC. 453. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a program to
provide financial and technical assistance to control or eradicate
noxious weeds.
``(b) Grants.--Subject to the availability of appropriations under
section 457(a), the Secretary shall make grants under section 454 to
weed management entities for the control or eradication of noxious
weeds.
``(c) Agreements.--Subject to the availability of appropriations
under section 457(b), the Secretary shall enter into agreements under
section 455 with weed management entities to provide financial and
technical assistance for the control or eradication of noxious weeds.
``SEC. 454. GRANTS TO WEED MANAGEMENT ENTITIES.
``(a) Consultation and Consent.--In carrying out a grant under this
subtitle, the weed management entity and the Secretary shall--
``(1) if the activities funded under the grant will take
place on Federal land, consult with the heads of the Federal
agencies having jurisdiction over the land; or
``(2) obtain the written consent of the non-Federal
landowner.
``(b) Grant Considerations.--In determining the amount of a grant
to a weed management entity, the Secretary shall consider--
``(1) the severity or potential severity of the noxious
weed problem;
``(2) the extent to which the Federal funds will be used to
leverage non-Federal funds to address the noxious weed problem;
``(3) the extent to which the weed management entity has
made progress in addressing the noxious weeds problem; and
``(4) other factors that the Secretary determines to be
relevant.
``(c) Use of Grant Funds; Cost Shares.--
``(1) Use of grants.--A weed management entity that
receives a grant under subsection (a) shall use the grant funds
to carry out a project authorized by subsection (d) for the
control or eradication of a noxious weed.
``(2) Cost shares.--
``(A) Federal cost share.--The Federal share of the
cost of carrying out an authorized project under this
section exclusively on non-Federal land shall not
exceed 50 percent.
``(B) Form of non-federal cost share.--The non-
Federal share of the cost of carrying out an authorized
project under this section may be provided in cash or
in kind.
``(d) Authorized Projects.--Projects funded by grants under this
section include the following:
``(1) Education, inventories and mapping, management,
monitoring, methods development, and other capacity building
activities, including the payment of the cost of personnel and
equipment that promote control or eradication of noxious weeds.
``(2) Other activities to control or eradicate noxious
weeds or promote control or eradication of noxious weeds.
``(e) Application.--To be eligible to receive assistance under this
section, a weed management entity shall prepare and submit to the
Secretary an application containing such information as the Secretary
shall by regulation require.
``(f) Selection of Projects.--Projects funded under this section
shall be selected by the Secretary on a competitive basis, taking into
consideration the following:
``(1) The severity of the noxious weed problem or potential
problem addressed by the project.
``(2) The likelihood that the project will prevent or
resolve the problem, or increase knowledge about resolving
similar problems.
``(3) The extent to which the Federal funds will leverage
non-Federal funds to address the noxious weed problem addressed
by the project.
``(4) The extent to which the program will improve the
overall capacity of the United States to address noxious weed
control and management.
``(5) The extent to which the weed management entity has
made progress in addressing noxious weed problems.
``(6) The extent to which the project will provide a
comprehensive approach to the control or eradication of noxious
weeds.
``(7) The extent to which the project will reduce the total
population of noxious weeds.
``(8) The extent to which the project promotes cooperation
and participation between States that have common interests in
controlling and eradicating noxious weeds.
``(9) Other factors that the Secretary determines to be
relevant.
``(g) Regional, State, and Local Involvement.--In determining which
projects receive funding under this section, the Secretary shall, to
the maximum extent practicable--
``(1) rely on technical and merit reviews provided by
regional, State, or local weed management experts; and
``(2) give priority to projects that maximize the
involvement of State, local and, where applicable, Indian Tribe
governments.
``(h) Special Consideration.--The Secretary shall give special
consideration to States with approved weed management entities
established by Indian Tribes and may provide an additional allocation
to a State to meet the particular needs and projects that the weed
management entity plans to address.
``SEC. 455. AGREEMENTS.
``(a) Consultation and Consent.--In carrying out an agreement under
this section, the Secretary shall--
``(1) if the activities funded under the agreement will
take place on Federal land, consult with the heads of the
Federal agencies having jurisdiction over the land; or
``(2) obtain the written consent of the non-Federal
landowner.
``(b) Application of Other Laws.--The Secretary may enter into
agreements under this section with weed management entities
notwithstanding sections 6301 through 6309 of title 31, United States
Code, and other laws relating to the procurement of goods and services
for the Federal Government.
``(c) Eligible Activities.--Activities carried out under an
agreement under this section may include the following:
``(1) Education, inventories and mapping, management,
monitoring, methods development, and other capacity building
activities, including the payment of the cost of personnel and
equipment that promote control or eradication of noxious weeds.
``(2) Other activities to control or eradicate noxious
weeds.
``(d) Selection of Activities.--Activities funded under this
section shall be selected by the Secretary taking into consideration
the following:
``(1) The severity of the noxious weeds problem or
potential problem addressed by the activities.
``(2) The likelihood that the activity will prevent or
resolve the problem, or increase knowledge about resolving
similar problems.
``(3) The extent to which the activity will provide a
comprehensive approach to the control or eradication of noxious
weeds.
``(4) The extent to which the program will improve the
overall capacity of the United States to address noxious weed
control and management.
``(5) The extent to which the project promotes cooperation
and participation between States that have common interests in
controlling and eradicating noxious weeds.
``(6) Other factors that the Secretary determines to be
relevant.
``(e) Regional, State, and Local Involvement.--In determining which
activities receive funding under this section, the Secretary shall, to
the maximum extent practicable--
``(1) rely on technical and merit reviews provided by
regional, State, or local weed management experts; and
``(2) give priority to activities that maximize the
involvement of State, local, and, where applicable,
representatives of Indian Tribe governments.
``(f) Rapid Response Program.--At the request of the Governor of a
State, the Secretary may enter into a cooperative agreement with a weed
management entity in that State to enable rapid response to outbreaks
of noxious weeds at a stage which rapid eradication and control is
possible and to ensure eradication or immediate control of the noxious
weeds if--
``(1) there is a demonstrated need for the assistance;
``(2) the noxious weed is considered to be a significant
threat to native fish, wildlife, or their habitats, as
determined by the Secretary;
``(3) the economic impact of delaying action is considered
by the Secretary to be substantial; and
``(4) the proposed response to such threat--
``(A) is technically feasible;
``(B) economically responsible; and
``(C) minimizes adverse impacts to the structure
and function of an ecosystem and adverse effects on
nontarget species and ecosystems.
``SEC. 456. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PROGRAMS.
``Funds under this Act (other than those made available for section
455(f)) are intended to supplement, not replace, assistance available
to weed management entities, areas, and districts for control or
eradication of noxious weeds on Federal lands and non-Federal lands.
The provision of funds to a weed management entity under this Act
(other than those made available for section 455(f)) shall have no
effect on the amount of any payment received by a county from the
Federal Government under chapter 69 of title 31, United States Code.
``SEC. 457. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``(a) Grants.--To carry out section 454, there are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary $7,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2005
through 2009, of which not more than 5 percent of the funds made
available for a fiscal year may be used by the Secretary for
administrative costs.
``(b) Agreements.--To carry out section 455 of this subtitle, there
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $7,500,000 for each
of fiscal years 2005 through 2009, of which not more than 5 percent of
the funds made available for a fiscal year may be used by the Secretary
for administrative costs of Federal agencies.''.
SEC. 2. TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.
The table of sections in section 1(b) of the Agricultural Risk
Protection Act of 2000 is amended by inserting after the item relating
to section 442 the following:
``Subtitle E--Noxious Weed Control and Eradication
``Sec. 451. Short title.
``Sec. 452. Definitions.
``Sec. 453. Establishment of program.
``Sec. 454. Grants to weed management entities.
``Sec. 455. Agreements.
``Sec. 456. Relationship to other programs.
``Sec. 457. Authorization of Appropriations.''.
Passed the Senate October 10, 2004.
Attest:
Secretary.
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 144
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a program to
provide assistance to eligible weed management entities to control or
eradicate noxious weeds on public and private land.