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[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3102 Introduced in House (IH)]

108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3102

To utilize the expertise of New Mexico State University, the University 
of Arizona, and Northern Arizona University in conducting studies under 
 the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 in connection with the 
grazing allotments and range and continuing range analysis for National 
 Forest System lands in New Mexico and Arizona, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 16, 2003

  Mr. Pearce introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                         Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
To utilize the expertise of New Mexico State University, the University 
of Arizona, and Northern Arizona University in conducting studies under 
 the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 in connection with the 
grazing allotments and range and continuing range analysis for National 
 Forest System lands in New Mexico and Arizona, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR STUDIES RELATED TO FOREST SERVICE 
              GRAZING ALLOTMENTS, NEW MEXICO AND ARIZONA.

    (a) Use of State Cooperative Institutions.--
            (1) Cooperative agreements.--The Secretary of Agriculture 
        shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the State 
        cooperative institutions specified in paragraph (2) to use such 
        institutions to conduct all studies required by the National 
        Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4331 et seq.) and 
        perform related activities in connection with the 10-year plan 
        of the Forest Service grazing allotments for National Forest 
        System lands in New Mexico and Arizona.
            (2) Covered institutions.--The State cooperative 
        institutions referred to in paragraph (1) are New Mexico State 
        University, the University of Arizona, and Northern Arizona 
        University.
    (b) Covered Studies.--The studies and related activities referred 
to in subsection (a) shall include at a minimum the following:
            (1) Range studies.
            (2) Human dimension studies.
            (3) Economic impact studies.
            (4) Cumulative effects shown in all studies.
            (5) Involvement in the planning and implementing of the 10-
        year plan.
            (6) Water quality studies.
    (c) Range Analysis.--The Secretary shall also utilize the State 
cooperative institutions specified in subsection (a)(2) to perform all 
range and continuing range analysis for National Forest System lands in 
New Mexico and Arizona, including the following activities:
            (1) Monitoring, including the conduct of vegetative 
        monitoring to determine long-term conditions and trends, as 
        consistent with the Public Rangelands Improvement Act of 1978 
        (43 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.), Federal Land Policy and Management 
        Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), and the Forest and 
        Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 
        1600 et seq.).
            (2) Involvement in consultation required by section 7 of 
        the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536).
            (3) Involvement in the planning and implementation of 
        annual operating plans.
    (d) Relation to ESA Consultation Requirement.--The United States 
Fish and Wildlife Service shall assign an employee to serve as a member 
of the NEPA study team. Assignment of this employee shall be deemed to 
satisfy the consultation requirements of section 7 of the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536).
    (e) Funding.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary $10,000,000 to carry out this section. The Secretary may also 
utilize savings realized by reduction in Forest Service costs due to 
competitive outsourcing, as proposed by Office of Management and Budget 
Circular A-76.
                                 <all>
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