[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 10, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 10, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              CONTINUATION OF STEWARDSHIP CONTRACT PROGRAM

  Mr. FORD. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 2100, relating to the 
continued authorization for the stewardship end result contract 
program, introduced earlier today by Senators DeConcini and Craig, that 
the bill be read a third time, passed; that the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, and that any statements appear at the appropriate 
place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.


              continuation of stewardship contract program

  Mr. DeCONCINI. Mr. President, I am introducing a bill today, along 
with my colleague from Idaho, Senator Craig, which would simply 
continue authorization for Stewardship End Result Contract Program for 
the U.S. Forest Service for an additional year. This bill also 
emphasizes the need to continue with the public involvement process 
while completing the environmental assessment [EA] and approving the 
EAs prior to the award of any contract.
  Similar language has been included in the Interior appropriations 
bills for 2 years. Language was also included in the Senate-passed 
Interior appropriations bill last year to expand the program. However, 
Mr. President, the House Interior Appropriations Committee conferees, 
in deference to jurisdictional concerns expressed by the House 
authorizing committee--Agriculture, did not accept the Senate language 
containing the expanded program. The conferees did, however, include 
language in the conference report directing the Forest Service to 
continue with the program as defined in the fiscal year 1993 
appropriations bill (P.L. 101-381, 106 Stat. 1403).
  However, it is my understanding that there may be some lingering 
questions within the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of 
Agriculture as to whether projects not yet under contract can be 
continued.
  Mr. President, this bill will eliminate all such questions. In 
addition, it will allow the Agriculture Committee to fully examine this 
program during the next Congress to consider whether further expansion 
or other program changes would be beneficial.
  I hope the Senate will pass this bill expeditiously, and I thank all 
my colleagues for their support.
  There being no objection, the bill (S. 2100) was considered, ordered 
to a third reading, was deemed read a third time, and passed, as 
follows:
       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 ``Stewardship End-Result 
     Contracts Demonstration Act''.

     SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

       (a) The purpose of this Act is to:
       (1) develop and implement, as national demonstration 
     projects, ecosystem-based, end result-oriented management 
     practices for forestry in general;
       (2) authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to demonstrate 
     the feasibility of end-result stewardship contracts for 
     national forests, State forests, and private forests in the 
     United States;
       (3) improve the management of and develop economically 
     efficient management tools for ecosystem-based management 
     applicable to all of the forest lands of the United States, 
     both private and public;
       (4) provide for rural development, rural jobs, and economic 
     transition opportunities for forest dependent communities 
     affected by changes in timber harvest volumes;
       (5) authorize an alternative management technique for pest 
     infested or pest damaged forest lands in general; and
       (6) provide additional opportunities to achieve mandates 
     established in:
       (A) The Multiple-Use Sustained Yield Act of 1960 (Public 
     Law 86-517);
       (B) The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning 
     Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-378);
       (C) The Clarke-McNary Act of 1924 (Public Law 68-270);
       (D) The Deposit of Sale Instruments in Treasury Act of 1940 
     (Public Law 75-631);
       (E) The Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of 1977 
     (Public Law 95-192); and
       (F) The Twenty-Five Percent Fund Act (35 Stat. 251).

     SEC. 3. USE OF TIMBER REVENUES.

       (a) Authorization.--The Secretary of Agriculture, acting 
     through the officers of the National Forest Service in charge 
     of the forest lands referred to in subsection (b), may apply 
     all or a part of the revenues received for timber removed 
     from such lands under a stewardship end-result contract as an 
     offset against the cost of stewardship services provided, 
     including--
       (1) site preparation;
       (2) replanting;
       (3) silviculture programs;
       (4) recreation;
       (5) wildlife habitat enhancement;
       (6) soil conservation; and
       (7) other multiple-use enhancements.
       (b) Applicability.--The authority granted in this act may 
     be applied to the management of--
       (1) the Green Mountain National Forest of Vermont;
       (2) the White Mountain National Forest of New Hampshire and 
     Maine;
       (3) the Talladega, Tuskegee, Conecuh and William B. 
     Bankhead National Forest of Alabama;
       (4) acquired and other lands in the Angora Project, Lake 
     Tahoe Basin Management Unit;
       (5) the Kendrick Project, Coconino National Forest; and
       (6) the Priest Lake Ranger District Project, Idaho 
     Panhandle National Forest.
       (c) Environmental Assessment.--The National Environment 
     Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) shall apply to 
     the projects referred to in subsection (b), prior to the 
     award of any contract.

     SEC. 4. DISSEMINATION OF RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION RESULTS.

       (a) The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized and directed 
     to disseminate the results of the research and demonstration 
     efforts authorized under this Act that are of the benefit to 
     private and public forest owners.
       (b) The Secretary may use the authorities granted to him 
     in:
       (1) The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Research 
     Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-307);
       (2) The McIntyre-Stennis Act of 1962 (76 Stat. 806); and
       (3) The Wood Residue Utilization Act of 1980 (Public Law 
     96-554).

     SEC. 5. EXPIRATION

       This Act shall be effective during the period beginning on 
     the date of enactment of this Act and ending on December 31, 
     1994.

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