Sec. 401. Private-sector volunteer enhancement program
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The purpose of this section is to promote private-sector volunteer programs within the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture to enhance stewardship, recreation access, and sustainability of the resources, values, and facilities of the Federal land managed by the Federal land management agencies. In this section: The term Federal land means any land— owned by the United States; and managed by the head of a Federal land management agency. The term Secretary concerned means— the Secretary of Agriculture (acting through the Chief of the Forest Service), with respect to National Forest System land; and the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to land managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
The term volunteer means any individual who performs volunteer services under this section. The Secretary concerned shall develop an initiative to further enhance private-sector volunteer programs and to actively promote private-sector volunteer opportunities and provide outreach and coordination to the private sector. The Secretary concerned may enter into cooperative agreements (in accordance with section 6305 of title 31, United States Code) with private agencies, organizations, institutions, corporations, individuals, or other entities to carry out 1 or more projects or programs with a Federal land management agency in accordance with this section.
The Secretary concerned shall include in the cooperative agreement the desired outcomes of the project or program and the guidelines for the volunteers to follow, including— the physical boundaries of the project or program; the equipment the volunteers are authorized to use to complete the project or program; the training the volunteers are required to complete, including agency consideration and incorporation of trainings offered by qualified nongovernmental organizations and volunteer partner organizations; the actions the volunteers are authorized to take to complete the project or program; and any other information that the Secretary concerned determines necessary for the volunteer group to complete the project or program.
Subject to paragraph (4), the Secretary concerned may use a cooperative agreement to carry out projects and programs for Federal land that— promote the stewardship of resources of Federal land by volunteers; support maintaining the resources, trails, and facilities on Federal land in a sustainable manner; increase awareness, understanding, and stewardship of Federal land through the development, publication, or distribution of educational materials and products; and advance education concerning the Federal land and the missions of the Federal land management agencies through the use of the Federal land as outdoor classrooms and development of other educational programs.
The Secretary concerned may use a cooperative agreement under paragraph
(1)to carry out a project or program for the Federal land only if the project or program— complies with all Federal laws (including regulations) and policies; is consistent with an applicable management plan for any Federal land and waters involved; is monitored by the relevant Federal land management agency during the project and after project completion to determine compliance with the instructions under paragraph (2); and satisfies such other terms and conditions as the Secretary concerned determines to be appropriate.