II 111th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 552 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 9, 2009 Mr. Schumer (for himself and Mrs. Gillibrand) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to encourage owners and operators of privately-held farm, ranch, and forest land to voluntarily make their land available for access by the public for maple-tapping activities under programs administered by States and tribal governments.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Maple Tapping Access Program Act of 2009.

2.

Maple tapping access program

Chapter 5 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. 3839bb et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

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Maple tapping access program

(a)

Definition of maple tapping

In this section, the term maple tapping means the collection of sap from any species of tree in the genus Acer for the purpose of boiling to produce food. (b)

Program

The Secretary shall establish a voluntary public access program under which States and tribal governments may apply for grants to encourage owners and operators of privately-held farm, ranch, and forest land to voluntarily make that land available for access by the public for maple-tapping activities under programs administered by the States and tribal governments. (c)

Applications

In submitting applications for a grant under the program, a State or tribal government shall describe— (1)the benefits that the State or tribal government intends to achieve by encouraging public access to private farm and ranch land for maple tapping; and (2)the methods that will be used to achieve those benefits. (d)

Priority

In approving applications and awarding grants under the program, the Secretary shall give priority to States and tribal governments that propose— (1)to maximize participation by offering a program the terms of which are likely to meet with widespread acceptance among landowners; (2)to ensure that land enrolled under the State or tribal government program has an appropriate stock of trees suitable for maple tapping; and (3)to use additional Federal, State, tribal government, or private resources in carrying out the program. (e)

Relationship to other laws

Nothing in this section preempts a State or tribal government law (including any State or tribal government liability law). (f)

Regulations

The Secretary shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to carry out this section. (g)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2013.

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