Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 117.djvu/1933

 117 STAT. 1914 16 USC 6576.

PUBLIC LAW 108–148—DEC. 3, 2003

SEC. 506. PROTECTIONS AND MEASURES.

(a) PROTECTIONS.—In the case of a landowner that enrolls land in the program and whose conservation activities result in a net conservation benefit for listed, candidate, or other species, the Secretary of Agriculture shall make available to the landowner safe harbor or similar assurances and protection under— (1) section 7(b)(4) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536(b)(4)); or (2) section 10(a)(1) of that Act (16 U.S.C. 1539(a)(1)). (b) MEASURES.—If protection under subsection (a) requires the taking of measures that are in addition to the measures covered by the applicable restoration plan agreed to under section 503, the cost of the additional measures, as well as the cost of any permit, shall be considered part of the restoration plan for purposes of financial assistance under section 504. 16 USC 6577.

SEC. 507. INVOLVEMENT BY OTHER AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS.

In carrying out this title, the Secretary of Agriculture may consult with— (1) nonindustrial private forest landowners; (2) other Federal agencies; (3) State fish and wildlife agencies; (4) State forestry agencies; (5) State environmental quality agencies; (6) other State conservation agencies; and (7) nonprofit conservation organizations. 16 USC 6578.

SEC. 508. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title— (1) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2004; and (2) such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2008.

TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS 16 USC 6591.

SEC. 601. FOREST STANDS INVENTORY AND MONITORING PROGRAM TO IMPROVE DETECTION OF AND RESPONSE TO ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS.

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agriculture shall carry out a comprehensive program to inventory, monitor, characterize, assess, and identify forest stands (with emphasis on hardwood forest stands) and potential forest stands— (1) in units of the National Forest System (other than those units created from the public domain); and (2) on private forest land, with the consent of the owner of the land. (b) ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED.—In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall address issues including— (1) early detection, identification, and assessment of environmental threats (including insect, disease, invasive species, fire, and weather-related risks and other episodic events); (2) loss or degradation of forests; (3) degradation of the quality forest stands caused by inadequate forest regeneration practices; (4) quantification of carbon uptake rates; and (5) management practices that focus on preventing further forest degradation.

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