[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6697-6699]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         SALT CEDAR AND RUSSIAN OLIVE CONTROL DEMONSTRATION ACT

  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2720) to further the purposes of the Reclamation Projects 
Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 by directing the Secretary of 
the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation, to carry 
out an assessment and demonstration program to control salt cedar and 
Russian olive, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2720

       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 ``Salt Cedar and Russian Olive 
     Control Demonstration Act''.

     SEC. 2. SALT CEDAR AND RUSSIAN OLIVE CONTROL DEMONSTRATION 
                   PROGRAM.

       (a) Establishment.--The Secretary of the Interior (referred 
     to in this Act as the ``Secretary''), acting through the 
     Commissioner of Reclamation and the Director of the United 
     States Geological Survey and in cooperation with the 
     Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Defense, shall 
     carry out a salt cedar (Tamarix spp) and Russian olive 
     (Elaeagnus angustifolia) assessment and demonstration 
     program--
       (1) to assess the extent of the infestation by salt cedar 
     and Russian olive trees in the western United States;
       (2) to demonstrate strategic solutions for--
       (A) the long-term management of salt cedar and Russian 
     olive trees; and
       (B) the reestablishment of native vegetation; and
       (3) to assess economic means to dispose of biomass created 
     as a result of removal of salt cedar and Russian olive trees.
       (b) Memorandum of Understanding.--As soon as practicable 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and 
     the Secretary of Agriculture shall enter into a memorandum of 
     understanding providing for the administration of the program 
     established under subsection (a).
       (c) Assessment.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date on 
     which funds are made available to carry out this Act, the 
     Secretary shall complete an assessment of the extent of salt 
     cedar and Russian olive infestation on public and private 
     land in the western United States.
       (2) Requirements.--In addition to describing the acreage of 
     and severity of infestation by salt cedar and Russian olive 
     trees in the western United States, the assessment shall--
       (A) consider existing research on methods to control salt 
     cedar and Russian olive trees;
       (B) consider the feasibility of reducing water consumption 
     by salt cedar and Russian olive trees;
       (C) consider methods of and challenges associated with the 
     revegetation or restoration of infested land; and
       (D) estimate the costs of destruction of salt cedar and 
     Russian olive trees, related biomass removal, and 
     revegetation or restoration and maintenance of the infested 
     land.
       (3) Report.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary shall submit to the 
     Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee 
     on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate and the 
     Committee on Resources and the Committee on Agriculture of 
     the House of Representatives a report that includes the 
     results of the assessment conducted under paragraph (1).
       (B) Contents.--The report submitted under subparagraph (A) 
     shall identify--
       (i) long-term management and funding strategies identified 
     under subsection (d) that could be implemented by Federal, 
     State, tribal, and private land managers and owners to 
     address the infestation by salt cedar and Russian olive;
       (ii) any deficiencies in the assessment or areas for 
     additional study; and
       (iii) any field demonstrations that would be useful in the 
     effort to control salt cedar and Russian olive.
       (d) Long-Term Management Strategies.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall identify and document 
     long-term management and funding strategies that--
       (A) could be implemented by Federal, State, tribal, and 
     private land managers in addressing infestation by salt cedar 
     and Russian olive trees; and
       (B) should be tested as components of demonstration 
     projects under subsection (e).
       (2) Grants.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary may provide grants to 
     eligible entities to provide technical experience, support, 
     and recommendations relating to the identification and 
     documentation of long-term management and funding strategies 
     under paragraph (1).
       (B) Eligible entities.--Institutions of higher education 
     and nonprofit organizations with an established background 
     and expertise in the public policy issues associated with the 
     control of salt cedar and Russian olive trees shall be 
     eligible for a grant under subparagraph (A).
       (C) Minimum amount.--The amount of a grant provided under 
     subparagraph (A) shall be not less than $250,000.
       (e) Demonstration Projects.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date on 
     which funds are made available to carry out this Act, the 
     Secretary shall establish a program that selects and funds 
     not less than 5 projects proposed by and implemented in 
     collaboration with Federal agencies, units of State and local 
     government, national laboratories, Indian tribes, 
     institutions of higher education, individuals, organizations, 
     or soil and water conservation districts to demonstrate and 
     evaluate the most effective methods of controlling salt cedar 
     and Russian olive trees.
       (2) Project requirements.--The demonstration projects under 
     paragraph (1) shall--
       (A) be carried out over a time period and to a scale 
     designed to fully assess long-term management strategies;
       (B) implement salt cedar or Russian olive tree control 
     using 1 or more methods for each project in order to assess 
     the full range of control methods, including--
       (i) airborne application of herbicides;
       (ii) mechanical removal; and
       (iii) biocontrol methods, such as the use of goats or 
     insects;
       (C) individually or in conjunction with other demonstration 
     projects, assess the effects of and obstacles to combining 
     multiple control methods and determine optimal combinations 
     of control methods;
       (D) assess soil conditions resulting from salt cedar and 
     Russian olive tree infestation and means to revitalize soils;

[[Page 6698]]

       (E) define and implement appropriate final vegetative 
     states and optimal revegetation methods, with preference for 
     self-maintaining vegetative states and native vegetation, and 
     taking into consideration downstream impacts, wildfire 
     potential, and water savings;
       (F) identify methods for preventing the regrowth and 
     reintroduction of salt cedar and Russian olive trees;
       (G) monitor and document any water savings from the control 
     of salt cedar and Russian olive trees, including impacts to 
     both groundwater and surface water;
       (H) assess wildfire activity and management strategies;
       (I) assess changes in wildlife habitat;
       (J) determine conditions under which removal of biomass is 
     appropriate (including optimal methods for the disposal or 
     use of biomass); and
       (K) assess economic and other impacts associated with 
     control methods and the restoration and maintenance of land.
       (f) Disposition of Biomass.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date on 
     which funds are made available to carry out this Act, the 
     Secretary, in cooperation with the Secretary of Agriculture, 
     shall complete an analysis of economic means to use or 
     dispose of biomass created as a result of removal of salt 
     cedar and Russian olive trees.
       (2) Requirements.--The analysis shall--
       (A) determine conditions under which removal of biomass is 
     economically viable;
       (B) consider and build upon existing research by the 
     Department of Agriculture and other agencies on beneficial 
     uses of salt cedar and Russian olive tree fiber; and
       (C) consider economic development opportunities, including 
     manufacture of wood products using biomass resulting from 
     demonstration projects under subsection (e) as a means of 
     defraying costs of control.
       (g) Costs.--
       (1) In general.--With respect to projects and activities 
     carried out under this Act--
       (A) the assessment under subsection (c) shall be carried 
     out at a cost of not more than $4,000,000;
       (B) the identification and documentation of long-term 
     management strategies under subsection (d)(1) and the 
     provision of grants under subsection (d)(2) shall be carried 
     out at a cost of not more than $2,000,000;
       (C) each demonstration project under subsection (e) shall 
     be carried out at a Federal cost of not more than $7,000,000 
     (including costs of planning, design, implementation, 
     maintenance, and monitoring); and
       (D) the analysis under subsection (f) shall be carried out 
     at a cost of not more than $3,000,000.
       (2) Cost-sharing.--
       (A) In general.--The assessment under subsection (c), the 
     identification and documentation of long-term management 
     strategies under subsection (d), a demonstration project or 
     portion of a demonstration project under subsection (e) that 
     is carried out on Federal land, and the analysis under 
     subsection (f) shall be carried out at full Federal expense.
       (B) Demonstration projects carried out on non-federal 
     land.--
       (i) In general.--The Federal share of the costs of any 
     demonstration project funded under subsection (e) that is not 
     carried out on Federal land shall not exceed 75 percent.
       (ii) Form of non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of 
     the costs of a demonstration project that is not carried out 
     on Federal land may be provided in the form of in-kind 
     contributions, including services provided by a State agency 
     or any other public or private partner.
       (h) Cooperation.--In carrying out the assessment under 
     subsection (c), the demonstration projects under subsection 
     (e), and the analysis under subsection (f), the Secretary 
     shall cooperate with and use the expertise of Federal 
     agencies and the other entities specified in subsection 
     (e)(1) that are actively conducting research on or 
     implementing salt cedar and Russian olive tree control 
     activities.
       (i) Independent Review.--The Secretary shall subject to 
     independent review--
       (1) the assessment under subsection (c);
       (2) the identification and documentation of long-term 
     management strategies under subsection (d);
       (3) the demonstration projects under subsection (e); and
       (4) the analysis under subsection (f).
       (j) Reporting.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress an 
     annual report that describes the results of carrying out this 
     Act, including a synopsis of any independent review under 
     subsection (i) and details of the manner and purposes for 
     which funds are expended.
       (2) Public access.--The Secretary shall facilitate public 
     access to all information that results from carrying out this 
     Act.
       (k) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out this Act--
       (A) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2006; and
       (B) $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2010.
       (2) Administrative costs.--Not more 15 percent of amounts 
     made available under paragraph (1) shall be used to pay the 
     administrative costs of carrying out the program established 
     under subsection (a).
       (l) Termination of Authority.--This Act and the authority 
     provided by this Act terminate on the date that is 5 years 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Mexico (Mr. Pearce) and the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce).


                             General Leave

  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Mexico?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2720 would further the purposes of the Reclamation 
Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 by directing the 
Secretary of the Interior to carry out assessment and demonstration 
programs to control salt cedar and Russian olive.
  Salt cedar and Russian olive are small, deciduous harmful trees 
widely distributed along riparian areas in the Western United States, 
particularly along the Colorado, Rio Grande, Pecos and Gila Rivers. 
They are known both for their phenomenal reproductive output and their 
ability to deplete scarce water resources. According to experts, one 
salt cedar tree can absorb 300 gallons a day. In fact, studies have 
shown that salt cedar dries up 800 billion gallons more water per year 
than the native cottonwood tree that it is replacing. Given these 
facts, most can agree that controlling salt cedar and Russian olive is 
important for water salvage, riparian restoration, salinity control, 
wildfire control and habitat restoration.
  H.R. 2720 will begin to address these problems by providing sound 
science and in turn developing and expanding on innovative approaches 
to control these harmful weeds. I urge adoption of the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may control.
  Mr. Speaker, at the outset, let me congratulate my fellow New 
Mexican, Representative Steve Pearce, for his leadership on this issue. 
I am also proud to be a cosponsor of his legislation.
  H.R. 2720 creates a research program to control two invasive shrubs: 
the salt cedar and the Russian olive. Introduced in the 19th century, 
both the salt cedar and the Russian olive flourish in a variety of soil 
types and tolerate shade well. Unfortunately, these invasive plants 
have invaded many streams across the West, forcing out native 
cottonwoods. Because the salt cedar and Russian olive utilize more 
water than native plants, their presence along streams is disrupting to 
water flow and water availability. H.R. 2720 will create both research 
and pilot programs to study effective control and long-term management 
of these shrubs. I am pleased to be a cosponsor of H.R. 2720.
  I would also like to recognize my colleagues Representative Mark 
Udall, Representative John Salazar and Representative Stephanie 
Herseth, who are all cosponsors of this important legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, we support H.R. 2720.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PEARCE. I thank the gentleman for his support for the bill and 
his hard work on the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to a 
hardworking member of the Agriculture Committee who has been a leader 
on invasive species issues, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Salazar).
  Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank both gentlemen from 
New Mexico.
  I rise today in support of the Salt Cedar and Russian Olive Control 
Demonstration Act and urge swift passage

[[Page 6699]]

of the measure. I would like to recognize Representative Pearce and 
other cosponsors of the bill for their leadership in this desperately 
needed legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, the Southwestern United States is experiencing another 
severe drought and water is going to be in short supply again, as it 
has been in the last few years. This legislation will help to address 
our western water needs.
  The salt cedar, or tamarisk plant, consumes large quantities of 
water, upwards of 200 gallons per day per plant. This is a non-native 
species that needs to be removed from our Nation's rivers and stream 
beds. It is estimated that these invasive plants occupy up to 1.6 
million acres.
  According to the Tamarisk Coalition of the Western United States, we 
are probably losing between 2 to 4.5 million acre feet of water per 
year. This would be enough water for 20 million people, or 1 million 
acres of irrigated farmland.
  The tamarisk is a very difficult plant to control, and there are 
already efforts under way in Colorado and other Western States to 
control it. This legislation will help these folks by providing the 
necessary funding to look at better ways to control this species. By 
passing this bill, it will help Western States deal with drought 
concerns and continued growth. It benefits all water users in the West.
  Just recently, the seven basin States of the Colorado River reached 
an agreement on how to manage the River. One section that the parties 
agreed upon was control of this invasive species. This bill will help 
these States meet their objectives.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation is vital to the West, and I urge my 
colleagues to support passage of this bill.
  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2720, 
the Salt Cedar and Russian Olive Control Demonstration Act.
  Riparian lands in the western U.S. have been severely affected by 
many activities and actions, including the salt cedar plant. In my 
district and throughout much of the Rio Grande River Basin we are 
plagued with this invasive species.
  This deciduous shrub or small tree from Eurasia has displaced native 
vegetation on approximately 1.6 million acres of land in the West and 
will continue to spread. Although salt cedar is the ``poster child'' of 
non-native plants impacting western rivers, other non-natives, such as 
Russian olive, cohabit with salt cedar and are important to control in 
order to restore riparian health.
  Salt cedar thickets harm the surrounding environment by narrowing and 
channelizing streams and rivers; displacing native vegetation such as 
cottonwoods, willows, and adjacent dryland plant communities; providing 
poor habitat for livestock, wild animals, and birds; increasing 
wildfire hazards; and limiting human use of the waterways.
  While each of these points is important to one or more 
constituencies, the single most critical problem is that salt cedar 
steals water. The West may be losing 2 million to 4.5 million acre-feet 
of water per year due to the presence of salt cedar, which is beyond 
what native plants would likely use. The water needs of 20 million 
people or one million acres of irrigated farmland could be met with 
that amount of water.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2720 would address this problem by requiring the 
Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation and the Director of the U.S. 
Geological Survey, in association with the Secretary of Agriculture and 
the Secretary of Defense, to create and deploy an assessment and 
demonstration program for salt cedar and Russian olive.
  This program would first assess the extent of the infestation of both 
species in the western U.S., develop and demonstrate strategic 
solutions for long-term management and funding strategies of salt cedar 
and Russian olive and the reestablishment of native vegetation, and 
assess the economic means to dispose of biomass created as a result of 
removal of salt cedar and Russian olive trees.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2720 is essential to dealing with the salt cedar 
and Russian olive problem in the West, and I ask my colleagues to join 
me in supporting this much-needed legislation.
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, having no further speakers, I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, again I express my appreciation to Mr. Udall 
from New Mexico for his hard work and support of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield back the 
balance of my time, requesting all Members to support H.R. 2720.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2720.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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