[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 46 (Friday, March 21, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S4295]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. HAGEL:
  S. 691. A bill to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to enter 
into cooperative agreements and contracts with the Nebraska State 
Forester to carry out watershed restoration and protection activities 
on National Forest System land in the State of Nebraska; to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 691

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

     SECTION 1. WATERSHED RESTORATION AND PROTECTION ACTIVITIES IN 
                   THE STATE OF NEBRASKA.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Agriculture.
       (2) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Nebraska.
       (3) State forester.--The term ``State Forester'' means the 
     Nebraska State Forester.
       (b) Cooperative Agreements and Contracts.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary may enter into a cooperative 
     agreement or contract, including a sole source contract, with 
     the State Forester, under which the State Forester may carry 
     out eligible watershed restoration and protection activities 
     on National Forest System land in the State if similar or 
     complementary activities are being carried out by the State 
     Forester on State or private land that is located within the 
     same watershed as the National Forest System land.
       (2) Eligible activities.--Watershed restoration and 
     protection activities that are eligible to be carried out by 
     the State Forester under paragraph (1) shall include--
       (A) treatment of insect-infected trees;
       (B) reduction of hazardous fuels; and
       (C) other activities to restore or improve watersheds 
     across ownership boundaries.
       (c) Agency Agreement.--Except as provided in subsection 
     (f), a cooperative agreement or contract under subsection 
     (b)(1) may authorize the State Forester to be an agent of the 
     Secretary for the purpose of carrying out the watershed 
     restoration or protection activities under the cooperative 
     agreement or contract.
       (d) Subcontracts Authorized.--In carrying out the watershed 
     restoration or protection activities under subsection (b), 
     the State Forester may enter into subcontracts in accordance 
     with applicable contract procedures of the State.
       (e) Timber Sales.--Subsections (d) and (g) of section 14 of 
     the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (16 U.S.C. 472a) 
     shall not apply to watershed restoration and protection 
     activities carried out by the State Forester under subsection 
     (b).
       (f) No Delegation of Duties Under NEPA.--With respect to 
     any watershed restoration or protection activity of the State 
     Forester carried out or proposed to be carried out under 
     subsection (b), the Secretary shall not delegate to the State 
     Forester or to any other employee of the State Forest Service 
     any of the duties of the Secretary under the National 
     Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
       (g) Termination of Authority.--The authority of the 
     Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements or contracts 
     under this section terminates on September 30, 2006.

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