II

103D CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. 1839

To authorize a study of the equity of Forest Service regional funding

allocations, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

FEBRUARY 9 (legislative day, JANUARY 25), 1994

Mr. BINGAMAN introduced the following bill; which was read twice and

referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

A BILL

To authorize a study of the equity of Forest Service regional

funding allocations, and for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Forest Service Equity

5 Study Act of 1994’’.

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

7 Congress finds that—

8 (1) data supplied by the Forest Service docu9 ments that some National Forest System regions re10 ceive more funding on a per unit basis than others
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1 for recreation management, wildlife and fish man2 agement, road maintenance, and other activities;

3 (2) the ecological integrity of some regions is

4 compromised by the funding disparity;

5 (3) the regional funding of the Forest Service

6 should be equitable, and significant disparities

7 should be eliminated;

8 (4) the funding methodology and practices of

9 the Forest Service should support the policy goals of

10 the National Forest System, particularly ecosystem

11 management; and

12 (5) the regional funding methodology and prac13 tices of the Forest Service should reflect the diverse

14 needs of the national forests.

15 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

16 As used in this Act—

17 (1) the term ‘‘funding’’ means the annual fiscal

18 year allocation received by each region;

19 (2) the term ‘‘region’’ refers to the 9 regions

20 into which the Forest Service divides the country for

21 purposes of planning and implementing activities in

22 the National Forest System;

23 (3) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary

24 of Agriculture; and
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1 (4) the term ‘‘unit’’ refers to measures of use

2 or activity in the National Forest System, includ3 ing—

4 (A) visitor days;

5 (B) nontimber acreage;

6 (C) miles maintained;

7 (D) animal unit months;

8 (E) people at one time (PAOT) days; and

9 (F) any other measure of use or activity

10 commonly associated with the regions.

11 SEC. 4. EQUITY STUDY.

12 (a) AUTHORIZATION.—Not later than 1 year after

13 the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall con14 duct a study detailing the regional funding allocation sys15 tem of the National Forest Service.

16 (b) SUBJECT OF STUDY.—As part of the study, the

17 Secretary shall—

18 (1) analyze the methodology and rationale be19 hind regional funding decisions made prior to the

20 date the study is conducted;

21 (2) examine the fairness of allocations among

22 regions, taking into account the unit burdens of each

23 region; and

24 (3) examine the relationships between funding

25 allocations, Forest Service goals, and the diverse
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1 needs of the regions based on ecological factors, such

2 as threatened, endangered, and sensitive species, for3 est health, rangeland and watershed conditions, and

4 public demand for multiple use services.

5 (c) CONTRACT.—The Secretary may enter into a con6 tract with an independent entity to carry out the study

7 pursuant to subsection (a).

8 (d) REPORT.—Upon completion of the study author9 ized under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit a re10 port to Congress that includes—

11 (1) recommendations for changes and improve12 ments in regional funding patterns and methodology

13 to eliminate funding disparities among regions;

14 (2) recommendations for changes in regional

15 funding patterns to reflect Forest Service goals and

16 regional needs;

17 (3) an assessment of whether the recommended

18 changes can be implemented administratively or will

19 require congressional action; and

20 (4) a plan for implementation of the rec21 ommended changes.

22 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

23 There are authorized to be appropriated such sums

24 as are necessary to carry out this Act.

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