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Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974

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Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 34 Forest Service Land Management Planning Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 October 22, 1976 (Pub. L. 93-378, 88 Stat. 476; 16 U.S.C. 1600 note, 1600 to 1614) Sec. 1 That this Act may be cited as the the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of ‘Forest and Rangeland Renewable 1960 (74 Stat. 215; 16 U.S.C. 528-531), Resources Planning Act of 1974. and public participation in the develop- ment of the program; Congressional findings (4) the new knowledge derived from Sec. 2 The Congress finds that - coordinated public and private research (1) the management of the Nation’s programs will promote a sound technical renewable resources is highly complex and ecological base for effective and the uses, demand for, and supply of management, use, and protection of the the various resources are subject to Nation’s renewable resources; change over time; (5) inasmuch as the majority of the (2) the public interest is served by the Nation’s forests and rangeland is under Forest Service, Department of Agricul- private, State, and local governmental ture, in cooperation with other agencies, management and the Nation’s major assessing the Nation’s renewable capacity to produce goods and services resources, and developing and preparing is based on these nonfederally managed a national renewable resource program, renewable resources, the Federal which is periodically reviewed and Government should be a catalyst to updated; encourage and assist these owners in the efficient long-term use and improve- (3) to serve the national interest, the ment of these lands and their renewable renewable resource program must be resources consistent with the principles based on a comprehensive assessment of sustained yield and multiple use; of present and anticipated uses, demand for, and supply of renewable resources (6) the Forest Service, by virtue of its from the Nation’s public and private statutory authority for management of forests and rangelands, through analysis the National Forest System, research of environmental and economic impacts, and cooperative programs, and its role coordination of multiple use and sus- as an agency in the Department of tained yield opportunities as provided in Agriculture, has both a responsibility and an opportunity to be a leader in Forest Service Land Management Planning 35 assuring that the Nation maintains a (1) an analysis of present and antici- natural resource conservation posture pated uses, demand for, and supply of that will meet the requirements of our the renewable resources, with consider- people in perpetuity; and ation of the international resource situation, and an emphasis of pertinent (7) recycled timber product materials supply and demand and price relation- are as much a part of our renewable ship trends; forest resources as are the trees from which they originally came, and in order (2) an inventory, based on information to extend our timber and timber fiber developed by the Forest Service and resources and reduce pressures for other Federal agencies, of present and timber production from Federal lands, potential renewable resources, and an the Forest Service should expand its evaluation of opportunities for improving research in the use of recycled and their yield of tangible and intangible waste timber product materials, develop goods and services, together with techniques for the substitution of these estimates of investment costs and direct secondary materials for primary materi- and indirect returns to the Federal als, and promote and encourage the use Government; of recycled timber product materials. (3) a description of Forest Service (16 U.S.C. 1600) programs and responsibilities in re- Renewable Resource Assessment search, cooperative programs and management of the National Forest Sec. 3 (a) Preparation by Secretary of System, their interrelationships, and the Agriculture; time of preparation, updating relationship of these programs and and contents responsibilities to public and private In recognition of the vital importance of activities; America’s renewable resources of the (4) a discussion of important policy forest, range, and other associated lands considerations, laws, regulations, and to the Nation’s social and economic well- other factors expected to influence and being, and of the necessity for a long term affect significantly the use, ownership, perspective in planning and undertaking and management of forest, range, and related national renewable resource other associated lands; and 1 programs administered by the Forest (5) an analysis of the potential effects Service, the Secretary of Agriculture shall of global climate change on the condi- prepare a Renewable Resource Assess- tion of renewable resources on the ment (hereinafter called the “Assess- forests and rangelands of the United ment”). The Assessment shall be pre- States; and pared not later than December 31, 1975, and shall be updated during 1979 and (6) an analysis of the rural and urban each tenth year thereafter, and shall forestry opportunities to mitigate the include but not be limited to - buildup of atmospheric carbon dioxide 36 Forest Service Land Management Planning and reduce the risk of global climate technologies for improving wood fiber change, 2 utilization. (b) Omitted (d) 3 Public involvement; consultation with governmental departments and agencies (c) Contents of Assessments In developing the reports required under The Secretary shall report in the 1979 and subsection (c) of this section, the Secre- subsequent Assessments on: tary shall provide opportunity for public (1) the additional fiber potential in the involvement and shall consult with other National Forest System including, but interested governmental departments and not restricted to, forest mortality, agencies. growth, salvage potential, potential (d) Congressional policy of multiple use increased forest products sales, eco- sustained yield management; examination nomic constraints, alternate markets, and certification of lands; estimate of contract considerations, and other appropriations necessary for reforestation multiple use considerations; and other treatment; budget requirements; (2) the potential for increased utilization authorization of appropriations of forest and wood product wastes in (1) It is the policy of the Congress that the National Forest System and on other all forested lands in the National Forest lands, and of urban wood wastes and System shall be maintained in appropri- wood product recycling, including ate forest cover with species of trees, recommendations to the Congress for degree of stocking, rate of growth, and actions which would lead to increased conditions of stand designed to secure utilization of material now being wasted the maximum benefits of multiple use both in the forests and in manufactured sustained yield management in accor- products; and dance with land management plans. (3) the milling and other wood fiber Accordingly, the Secretary is directed to product fabrication facilities and their identify and report to the Congress location in the United States, noting the annually at the time of submission of the public and private forested areas that President’s budget together with the supply such facilities, assessing the annual report provided for under section degree of utilization into product form of 1606(c) of this title, beginning with harvested trees by such facilities, and submission of the President’s budget for setting forth the technology appropriate fiscal year 1978, the amount and to facilities to improve utilization either location by forests and States and by individually or in aggregate the units of productivity class, where practicable, of harvested trees and to reduce wasted all lands in the National Forest System wood fibers. The Secretary shall set where objectives of land management forth a program to encourage the plans indicate the need to reforest areas adoption by these facilities of these that have been cut-over or otherwise Forest Service Land Management Planning 37 denuded or deforested, and all lands beginning of the fiscal year. The with stands of trees that are not grow- Secretary’s estimate of sums necessary, ing at their best potential rate of growth. in addition to the sums available under All national forest lands treated from other authorities, for accomplishment of year to year shall be examined after the the reforestation and other treatment of first and third growing seasons and National Forest System lands under this certified by the Secretary in the report section shall be provided annually for provided for under this subsection as to inclusion in the President’s budget and stocking rate, growth rate in relation to shall also be transmitted to the Speaker potential and other pertinent measures. of the House and the President of the Any lands not certified as satisfactory Senate together with the annual report shall be returned to the backlog and provided for under section 1606(c) of scheduled for prompt treatment. The this title at the time of submission of the level and types of treatment shall be President’s budget to the Congress those which secure the most effective beginning with the budget for fiscal year mix of multiple use benefits. 1978. The sums estimated as necessary for reforestation and other treatment (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of shall include moneys needed to secure section 1607 of this title, the Secretary seed, grow seedlings, prepare sites, shall annually for eight years following plant trees, thin, remove deleterious
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