-CITE-
    7 USC CHAPTER 95 - RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY    01/03/2007

-EXPCITE-
    TITLE 7 - AGRICULTURE
    CHAPTER 95 - RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY

-HEAD-
            CHAPTER 95 - RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY        

-MISC1-
               SUBCHAPTER I - FORESTRY RURAL REVITALIZATION           
    Sec.                                                     
    6601.       Forestry rural revitalization.                        

        SUBCHAPTER II - NATIONAL FOREST-DEPENDENT RURAL COMMUNITIES    
    6611.       Findings and purposes.                                
    6612.       Definitions.                                          
    6613.       Rural natural resources and economic diversification
                 action teams.                                        
    6614.       Action plan implementation.                           
    6615.       Training and education.                               
    6616.       Loans to economically disadvantaged rural communities.
    6617.       Authorization of appropriations and spending
                 authority.                                           

-End-

-CITE-
    7 USC SUBCHAPTER I - FORESTRY RURAL REVITALIZATION          01/03/2007

-EXPCITE-
    TITLE 7 - AGRICULTURE
    CHAPTER 95 - RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY
    SUBCHAPTER I - FORESTRY RURAL REVITALIZATION

-HEAD-
               SUBCHAPTER I - FORESTRY RURAL REVITALIZATION           

-End-

-CITE-
    7 USC Sec. 6601                                             01/03/2007

-EXPCITE-
    TITLE 7 - AGRICULTURE
    CHAPTER 95 - RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY
    SUBCHAPTER I - FORESTRY RURAL REVITALIZATION

-HEAD-
    Sec. 6601. Forestry rural revitalization

-STATUTE-
    (a) Establishment of economic development and global marketing
      program
      The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Extension
    Service and the Cooperative Extension System, and in consultation
    with the Forest Service, shall establish and implement educational
    programs and provide technical assistance to assist businesses,
    industries, and policymakers to create jobs, raise incomes, and
    increase public revenues in manners consistent with environmental
    concerns.
    (b) Activities
      Each program established under subsection (a) of this section
    shall - 
        (1) transfer technologies to natural resource-based industries
      in the United States to make such industries more efficient,
      productive, and competitive;
        (2) assist businesses to identify global marketing
      opportunities, conduct business on an international basis, and
      market themselves more effectively; and
        (3) train local leaders in strategic community economic
      development.
    (c) Types of programs
      The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish specific programs
    under subsection (a) of this section to - 
        (1) deliver educational services focused on community economic
      analysis, economic diversification, economic impact analysis,
      retention and expansion of existing commodity and noncommodity
      industries, amenity resource and tourism development, and
      entrepreneurship focusing on forest lands and rural communities;
        (2) use Cooperative Extension System databases and analytical
      tools to help communities diversify their economic bases, add
      value locally to raw forest product materials, and retain
      revenues by helping to develop local businesses and industries to
      supply forest products locally; and
        (3) use the full resources of the Cooperative Extension
      Service, including land-grant universities and county offices, to
      promote economic development that is sustainable and
      environmentally sound.
    (d) Rural revitalization technologies
      (1) In general
        The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the
      Forest Service, in consultation with the State and Private
      Forestry Technology Marketing Unit at the Forest Products
      Laboratory, and in collaboration with eligible institutions, may
      carry out a program - 
          (A) to accelerate adoption of technologies using biomass and
        small-diameter materials;
          (B) to create community-based enterprises through marketing
        activities and demonstration projects; and
          (C) to establish small-scale business enterprises to make use
        of biomass and small-diameter materials.
      (2) Authorization of appropriations
        There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
      subsection $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008.

-SOURCE-
    (Pub. L. 101-624, title XXIII, Sec. 2371, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat.
    4045; Pub. L. 108-148, title II, Sec. 202, Dec. 3, 2003, 117 Stat.
    1902.)

-MISC1-
                                AMENDMENTS                            
      2003 - Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 108-148 added subsec. (d).

                                SHORT TITLE                            
      Section 2372 of Pub. L. 101-624 provided that: "This chapter
    [chapter 2 (Secs. 2372-2379) of subtitle G of title XXIII of Pub.
    L. 101-624, enacting subchapter II (Sec. 6611 et seq.) of this
    chapter] may be cited as the 'National Forest-Dependent Rural
    Communities Economic Diversification Act of 1990'."

-End-

-CITE-
    7 USC SUBCHAPTER II - NATIONAL FOREST-DEPENDENT RURAL
           COMMUNITIES                                     01/03/2007

-EXPCITE-
    TITLE 7 - AGRICULTURE
    CHAPTER 95 - RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY
    SUBCHAPTER II - NATIONAL FOREST-DEPENDENT RURAL COMMUNITIES

-HEAD-
        SUBCHAPTER II - NATIONAL FOREST-DEPENDENT RURAL COMMUNITIES    

-End-

-CITE-
    7 USC Sec. 6611                                             01/03/2007

-EXPCITE-
    TITLE 7 - AGRICULTURE
    CHAPTER 95 - RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY
    SUBCHAPTER II - NATIONAL FOREST-DEPENDENT RURAL COMMUNITIES

-HEAD-
    Sec. 6611. Findings and purposes

-STATUTE-
    (a) Findings
      The Congress finds that - 
        (1) the economic well-being of rural America is vital to our
      national growth and prosperity;
        (2) the economic well-being of many rural communities depends
      upon the goods and services that are derived from National Forest
      System land;
        (3) the economies of many of these communities suffer from a
      lack of industrial and business diversity;
        (4) this lack of diversity is particularly serious in
      communities whose economies are predominantly dependent on timber
      and recreation resources and where management decisions made on
      National Forest System land by Federal and private organizations
      may disrupt the supply of those resources;
        (5) the Forest Service has expertise and resources that could
      be directed to promote modernization and economic diversification
      of existing industries and services based on natural resources;
        (6) the Forest Service has the technical expertise to provide
      leadership, in cooperation with other governmental agencies and
      the private sector, to assist rural communities dependent upon
      National Forest System land resources to upgrade existing
      industries and diversify by developing new economic activity in
      non-forest-related industries; and
        (7) technical assistance, training, education, and other
      assistance provided by the Department of Agriculture can be
      targeted to provide immediate help to those rural communities in
      greatest need.
    (b) Purposes
      The purposes of this subchapter are - 
        (1) to provide assistance to rural communities that are located
      in or near National Forest System land and that are economically
      dependent upon natural resources or are likely to be economically
      disadvantaged by Federal or private sector land management
      practices;
        (2) to aid in diversifying such communities' economic bases;
      and
        (3) to improve the economic, social, and environmental well-
      being of rural America.

-SOURCE-
    (Pub. L. 101-624, title XXIII, Sec. 2373, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat.
    4046; Pub. L. 106-113, div. B, Sec. 1000(a)(3) [title III, Sec.
    345(a)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1535, 1501A-203.)

-MISC1-
                                AMENDMENTS                            
      1999 - Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 106-113, Sec. 1000(a)(3) [title
    III, Sec. 345(a)(1)(A)], substituted "National Forest System land;"
    for "national forests;".
      Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 106-113, Sec. 1000(a)(3) [title III, Sec.
    345(a)(1)(B)], substituted "National Forest System land" for "the
    national forests".
      Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 106-113, Sec. 1000(a)(3) [title III, Sec.
    345(a)(1)(C)], substituted "natural resources;" for "forest
    resources;".
      Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 106-113, Sec. 1000(a)(3) [title III, Sec.
    345(a)(1)(D)], substituted "National Forest System land resources"
    for "national forest resources".
      Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 106-113, Sec. 1000(a)(3) [title III, Sec.
    345(a)(2)], substituted "National Forest System land" for "national
    forests" and "natural resources" for "forest resources".

-End-

-CITE-
    7 USC Sec. 6612                                             01/03/2007

-EXPCITE-
    TITLE 7 - AGRICULTURE
    CHAPTER 95 - RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY
    SUBCHAPTER II - NATIONAL FOREST-DEPENDENT RURAL COMMUNITIES

-HEAD-
    Sec. 6612. Definitions

-STATUTE-
      As used in this subchapter:
        (1) The term "action team" means a rural natural resources and
      economic diversification action team established by the Secretary
      pursuant to section 6613(b) of this title.
        (2) The term "economically disadvantaged" means economic
      hardship due to the loss of jobs or income (labor or proprietor)
      derived from forestry, the wood products industry, or related
      commercial enterprises such as recreation and tourism in the
      national forest.
        (3) The term "rural community" means - 
          (A) any town, township, municipality, or other similar unit
        of general purpose local government, or any area represented by
        a not-for-profit corporation or institution organized under
        State or Federal law to promote broad based economic
        development, or unit of general purpose local government, as
        approved by the Secretary, that has a population of not more
        than 10,000 individuals, is located within a county in which at
        least 15 percent of the total primary and secondary labor and
        proprietor income is derived from forestry, wood products, and
        forest-related industries such as recreation, forage
        production, and tourism and that is located within the
        boundary, or within 100 miles of the boundary, of a national
        forest; or
          (B) any county that is not contained within a Metropolitan
        Statistical Area as defined by the United States Office of
        Management and Budget, in which at least 15 percent of the
        total primary and secondary labor and proprietor income is
        derived from forestry, wood products, and forest-related
        industries such as recreation, forage production, and tourism
        and that is located within the boundary, or within 100 miles of
        the boundary, of a national forest.

        (4) The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Agriculture.

-SOURCE-
    (Pub. L. 101-624, title XXIII, Sec. 2374, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat.
    4046; Pub. L. 103-115, Oct. 26, 1993, 107 Stat. 1117; Pub. L. 106-
    113, div. B, Sec. 1000(a)(3) [title III, Sec. 345(b)], Nov. 29,
    1999, 113 Stat. 1535, 1501A-203.)

-MISC1-
                                AMENDMENTS                            
      1999 - Par. (1). Pub. L. 106-113 substituted "natural resources"
    for "forestry".
      1993 - Par. (3). Pub. L. 103-115 amended par. (3) generally.
    Prior to amendment, par. (3) read as follows: "The term 'rural
    community' means - 
        "(A) any town, township, municipality, or other similar unit of
      general purpose local government having a population of not more
      than 10,000 individuals (according to the latest decennial
      census) that is located in a county where at least 15 percent of
      the total primary and secondary labor and proprietor income is
      derived from forestry, wood products, and forest-related
      industries such as recreation and tourism; or
        "(B) any county or similar unit of general purpose local
      government having a population of not more than 22,550
      individuals (according to the latest decennial census) in which
      at least 15 percent of the total primary and secondary labor and
      proprietor income is derived from forestry, wood products, and
      forest-related industries such as recreation and tourism,
    that is located within the boundary, or within 100 miles of the
    boundary, of a national forest."

-End-

-CITE-
    7 USC Sec. 6613                                             01/03/2007

-EXPCITE-
    TITLE 7 - AGRICULTURE
    CHAPTER 95 - RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY
    SUBCHAPTER II - NATIONAL FOREST-DEPENDENT RURAL COMMUNITIES

-HEAD-
    Sec. 6613. Rural natural resources and economic diversification
      action teams

-STATUTE-
    (a) Requests for assistance
      Economically disadvantaged rural communities may request
    assistance from the Secretary in identifying opportunities that
    will promote economic improvement and diversification and
    revitalization.
    (b) Establishment
      Upon request, the Secretary may establish rural natural resources
    and economic diversification action teams to prepare an action plan
    to provide technical assistance to economically disadvantaged
    communities. The action plan shall identify opportunities to
    promote economic diversification and enhance local economies now
    dependent upon National Forest System land resources. The action
    team may also identify opportunities to use value-added products
    and services derived from National Forest System land resources.
    (c) Organization
      The Secretary shall design and organize any action team
    established pursuant to subsection (b) of this section to meet the
    unique needs of the requesting rural community. Each action team
    shall be directed by an employee of the Forest Service and may
    include personnel from other agencies within the Department of
    Agriculture, from other Federal and State departments and agencies,
    and from the private sector.
    (d) Cooperation
      In preparing action plans, the Secretary may cooperate with State
    and local governments, universities, private companies,
    individuals, and nonprofit organizations for procurement of
    services determined necessary or desirable.
    (e) Eligibility
      The Secretary shall ensure that no substantially similar
    geographical or defined local area in a State receives a grant for
    technical assistance to an economically disadvantaged community
    under this subchapter and a grant for assistance under a designated
    rural development program during any continuous five-year period.
    (f) Approval
      After reviewing requests under this section for financial and
    economic feasibility and viability, the Secretary shall approve and
    implement in accordance with section 6614 of this title those
    action plans that will achieve the purposes of this subchapter.
    (g) "Designated rural development program" defined
      In this section, the term "designated rural development program"
    means a program carried out under section 1924(b), 1926(a), or
    1932(e) of this title for which funds are available at any time
    during the fiscal year.

-SOURCE-
    (Pub. L. 101-624, title XXIII, Sec. 2375, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat.
    4047; Pub. L. 104-127, title VII, Sec. 753(b)(1), Apr. 4, 1996, 110
    Stat. 1131; Pub. L. 106-113, div. B, Sec. 1000(a)(3) [title III,
    Sec. 345(c)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1535, 1501A-204.)

-MISC1-
                                AMENDMENTS                            
      1999 - Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106-113 substituted "natural
    resources" for "forestry" and substituted "National Forest System
    land resources" for "national forest resources" in two places.
      1996 - Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 104-127, Sec. 753(b)(1)(A), struck
    out ", as defined in section 2008(b)(2) of this title," before
    "during any".
      Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 104-127, Sec. 753(b)(1)(B), added subsec.
    (g).

-End-

-CITE-
    7 USC Sec. 6614                                             01/03/2007

-EXPCITE-
    TITLE 7 - AGRICULTURE
    CHAPTER 95 - RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY
    SUBCHAPTER II - NATIONAL FOREST-DEPENDENT RURAL COMMUNITIES

-HEAD-
    Sec. 6614. Action plan implementation

-STATUTE-
    (a) In general
      Action plans shall be implemented, insofar as practicable, to
    upgrade existing industries to use natural resources more
    efficiently and to expand the economic base of rural communities so
    as to alleviate or reduce their dependence on National Forest
    System land resources.
    (b) Assistance
      To implement action plans, the Secretary may make grants and
    enter into cooperative agreements and contracts to provide
    necessary technical and related assistance. Such grants,
    cooperative agreements, and contracts may be with the affected
    rural community, State and local governments, universities,
    corporations, and other persons.
    (c) Limitation
      The Federal contribution to the overall implementation of an
    action plan shall not exceed 80 percent of the total cost of the
    plan, including administrative and other costs. In calculating the
    Federal contribution, the Secretary shall take into account the
    fair market value of equipment, personnel, and services provided.
    (d) Available authority
      The Secretary may use the Secretary's authority under the
    Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2101 et
    seq.) and other Federal, State, and local governmental authorities
    in implementing action plans.
    (e) Consistency with forest plans
      The implementation of action plans shall be consistent with land
    and resource management plans.

-SOURCE-
    (Pub. L. 101-624, title XXIII, Sec. 2376, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat.
    4048; Pub. L. 106-113, div. B, Sec. 1000(a)(3) [title III, Sec.
    345(d)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1535, 1501A-204.)

-REFTEXT-
                            REFERENCES IN TEXT                        
      The Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978, referred to in
    subsec. (d), is Pub. L. 95-313, July 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 365, as
    amended, which is classified principally to chapter 41 (Sec. 2101
    et seq.) of Title 16, Conservation. For complete classification of
    this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section
    2101 of Title 16 and Tables.

-MISC1-
                                AMENDMENTS                            
      1999 - Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106-113 substituted "natural
    resources" for "forest resources" and "National Forest System land
    resources" for "national forest resources".

-End-

-CITE-
    7 USC Sec. 6615                                             01/03/2007

-EXPCITE-
    TITLE 7 - AGRICULTURE
    CHAPTER 95 - RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY
    SUBCHAPTER II - NATIONAL FOREST-DEPENDENT RURAL COMMUNITIES

-HEAD-
    Sec. 6615. Training and education

-STATUTE-
    (a) Programs
      In furtherance of an action plan, the Secretary may use the
    Extension Service and other appropriate agencies of the Department
    of Agriculture to develop and conduct education programs that
    assist businesses, elected or appointed officials, and individuals
    in rural communities to deal with the effects of a transition from
    being economically disadvantaged to economic diversification. These
    programs may include - 
        (1) community economic analysis and strategic planning;
        (2) methods for improving and retooling enterprises now
      dependent on National Forest System land resources;
        (3) methods for expanding enterprises and creating new economic
      opportunities by emphasizing economic opportunities in other
      industries or services not dependent on National Forest System
      land resources; and
        (4) assistance in the evaluation, counseling, and enhancement
      of vocational skills, training in basic and remedial literacy
      skills, assistance in job seeking skills, and training in
      starting or operating a business enterprise.
    (b) Existing educational and training programs
      Insofar as practicable, the Secretary shall use existing Federal,
    State, and private education resources in carrying out these
    programs.

-SOURCE-
    (Pub. L. 101-624, title XXIII, Sec. 2377, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat.
    4048; Pub. L. 106-113, div. B, Sec. 1000(a)(3) [title III, Sec.
    345(e)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1535, 1501A-204.)

-MISC1-
                                AMENDMENTS                            
      1999 - Subsec. (a)(2), (3). Pub. L. 106-113, which directed
    substitution of "National Forest System land resources" for
    "national forest resources" in pars. (3) and (4), was executed by
    making the substitution in pars. (2) and (3) to reflect the
    probable intent of Congress.

-End-

-CITE-
    7 USC Sec. 6616                                             01/03/2007

-EXPCITE-
    TITLE 7 - AGRICULTURE
    CHAPTER 95 - RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY
    SUBCHAPTER II - NATIONAL FOREST-DEPENDENT RURAL COMMUNITIES

-HEAD-
    Sec. 6616. Loans to economically disadvantaged rural communities

-STATUTE-
    (a) In general
      The Secretary, under such terms and conditions as the Secretary
    shall establish, may make loans to economically disadvantaged rural
    communities for the purposes of securing technical assistance and
    services to aid in the development and implementation of action
    plans, including planning for - 
        (1) improving existing facilities in the community that may
      generate employment or revenue;
        (2) expanding existing infrastructure, facilities, and services
      to capitalize on opportunities to diversify economies now
      dependent on National Forest System land resources; and
        (3) supporting the development of new industries or commercial
      ventures unrelated to National Forest System land resources.
    (b) Interest rates
      The interest rates on a loan made pursuant to this section shall
    be as determined by the Secretary, but not in excess of the current
    average market yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the
    United States with remaining periods to maturity comparable to the
    maturity of such loan, plus not to exceed 1 percent, as determined
    by the Secretary, and rounded to the nearest one-eighth of 1
    percent.

-SOURCE-
    (Pub. L. 101-624, title XXIII, Sec. 2378, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat.
    4048; Pub. L. 106-113, div. B, Sec. 1000(a)(3) [title III, Sec.
    345(f)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1535, 1501A-204.)

-MISC1-
                                AMENDMENTS                            
      1999 - Subsec. (a)(2), (3). Pub. L. 106-113 substituted "National
    Forest System land resources" for "national forest resources".

-End-

-CITE-
    7 USC Sec. 6617                                             01/03/2007

-EXPCITE-
    TITLE 7 - AGRICULTURE
    CHAPTER 95 - RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY
    SUBCHAPTER II - NATIONAL FOREST-DEPENDENT RURAL COMMUNITIES

-HEAD-
    Sec. 6617. Authorization of appropriations and spending authority

-STATUTE-
    (a) Authorization of appropriations
      Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, there are
    authorized to be appropriated - 
        (1) an amount not to exceed 5 percent of the sum of - 
          (A) the sums received by the Secretary from sales of timber
        and other products of the forests; and
          (B) user fees paid in connection with the use of forest
        lands; and

        (2) such additional sums as may be necessary to carry out the
      purposes of this subchapter.
    (b) Limitation on authorization
      Subsection (a) of this section shall not in any way affect
    payments to the States pursuant to section 500 of title 16.
    (c) Spending authority
      Any spending authority (as defined in section 651 of title 2)
    provided in this subchapter shall be effective for any fiscal year
    only to such extent or in such amounts as are provided in
    appropriation Acts.

-SOURCE-
    (Pub. L. 101-624, title XXIII, Sec. 2379, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat.
    4049.)

-End-