Sec. 102. National reforestation task force
753 words·~3 min read·
/bill/116/hr/5859/ih/section-102·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Within 6 months following enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall form a task force to assist the Secretary with meeting the targets required to be set under section 101. Within 1 year following the establishment of this task force, the task force shall submit to the Secretary a report, which shall include— recommendations and alternatives for national wood growth targets established under section 101; the feasibility of such recommendations; yearly growth targets required to achieve the national wood growth targets established under section 101, taking into consideration yearly sustainable increases in domestic timber harvest, natural regeneration, adverse natural and anthropogenic events, and other factors impacting the growth rate of all domestic forestland; program and policy recommendations designed to achieve the national wood growth targets established under section 101, while still maintaining yearly sustainable increases in the amount of boardfeet harvested from public lands; program and policy recommendations designed to stimulate the domestic and international timber markets; and program and policy recommendations designed to improve the natural regeneration rate of public forest through active forest management.
Following the submission of the report described in paragraph (1), the task force shall provide continued oversight of the implementation of the national wood growth target, and provide the Secretary with— yearly reports on the progress made towards achieving the national wood growth targets established under section 101; and ongoing program and policy recommendations designed to achieve the national wood growth targets established under section 101. The task force shall— submit to Congress a copy of the report under paragraph (1); and not later than 2 years after the report under paragraph
(1)is submitted to the Secretary and Congress, and every 5 years thereafter, submit a report to Congress on the implementation of, and progress towards meeting, the targets set under section 101. The task force shall consist of 7 ex officio members and 8 discretionary members. The ex officio members of the task force are— the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service or an individual designated by the Director; the Director of the Bureau of Land Management or an individual designated by the Director; the Director of the National Park Service or an individual designated by the Director; the Chief of the Forest Service or an individual designated by the Chief; the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service or an individual designated by the Chief; the Administrator of the Farm Service Agency or an individual designated by the Administrator; and the Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs or an individual designated by the Director. The Secretary shall appoint 1 discretionary member from each of the following: A State land management agency. A private forest landowner with total land holdings of greater than 1,000,000 acres. A private forest landowner with total land holdings of less than 1,000,000 acres. A sawmill, pulp, or paper manufacturer which relies on the sale of federal timber for at least 25 percent of their fiber supply. An energy company, cooperative, or utility which provides customers with energy at least partially derived from the combustion of wood biomass. A land conservation nonprofit with previous experience in collaborative forestland restoration projects greater than 100,000 acres. A Tribal resource management organization with previous experience managing Tribal timberland. A wildlife conservation nonprofit with previous experience in collaborative forestland restoration projects greater than 100,000 acres. An urban resource conservation organization, with previous experience in urban and community reforestation projects. Each discretionary member appointed to the task force under paragraph (1)(B) may be appointed and removed at the discretion of the Secretary. No individual may be appointed to the task force as a discretionary member under paragraph (1)(B) while serving as an officer or employee of the Federal Government. Members of the task force shall serve without pay. A member of the task force may be reimbursed for travel and lodging incurred while attending a meeting of the task force or any other meeting of members approved for reimbursement by the task force in the same amounts and under the same conditions as Federal employees under section 5703 of title 5, United States Code. The expenses of the Task Force that the Secretary determines to be reasonable and appropriate shall be paid by the Secretary. The Secretary shall make personnel of the Department of Agriculture available to the task force for administrative support, technical services, and staff support the Secretary determines necessary to carry out this section. The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the task force.