Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 114 Part 2.djvu/988

 114 STAT. 1626 PUBLIC LAW 106-393—OCT. 30, 2000 (6) to develop, demonstrate, and evaluate ecologically sound forest restoration techniques. SEC. 604. DEFINITIONS. As used in this title— (1) the term "Secretar)^' means the Secretary of Agriculture acting through the Chief of the Forest Service; and (2) the term "stakeholder" includes: tribal governments, educational institutions, landowners, and other interested public and private entities. SEC. 605. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM. <a) FOREST RESTORATION PROGRAM. — The Secretary shall establish a cooperative forest restoration program in New Mexico in order to provide cost-share grants to stakeholders for experimental forest restoration projects that are designed through a collaborative process (hereinafter referred to as the "Collaborative Forest Restoration Program"). The projects may be entirely on, or on any combination of. Federal, Tribal, State, County, or Municipal forest lands. The Federal share of an individual project cost shall not exceed 80 percent of the total cost. The 20-percent matching may be in the form of cash or in-kind contribution. (b) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. —To be eligible to receive funding under this title, a project shall— (1) address the following objectives— (A) reduce the threat of large, high intensity wildfires and the negative effects of excessive competition between trees by restoring ecosystem functions, structures, and species composition, including the reduction of non-native species populations; (B) re-establish fire regimes approximating those that shaped forest ecosystems prior to fire suppression; (C) preserve old and large trees; (D) replant trees in deforested areas if they exist in the proposed project area; and (E) improve the use of, or add value to, small diameter trees; (2) comply with all Federal and State environmental laws; (3) include a diverse and balanced group of stakeholders as well as appropriate Federal, Tribal, State, County, and Municipal government representatives in the design, implementation, and monitoring of the project; (4) incorporate current scientific forest restoration information; and (5) include a multiparty assessment to— (A) identify both the existing ecological condition of the proposed project area and the desired future condition; and (B) report, upon project completion, on the positive or negative impact and effectiveness of the project including improvements in local management skills and on the ground results; (6) create local emplo3niient or training opportunities within the context of accomplishing restoration objectives, that are consistent with the purposes of this title, including summer youth jobs programs such as the Youth Conservation Corps where appropriate; (7) not exceed 4 years in length;

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