I 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4790 

To promote innovative approaches to outdoor recreation on Federal land 

and to open up opportunities for collaboration with non-Federal partners, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 17, 2016 

Mr. BLUMENAUER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on 

Agriculture, Education and the Workforce, Armed Services, Energy and 

Commerce, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be 

subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 

of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To promote innovative approaches to outdoor recreation on 

Federal land and to open up opportunities for collaboration with non-Federal partners, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Recreation Not Red-Tape Act’’. 

6 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 

7 this Act is as follows: 


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Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Definitions. 

Sec. 3. Sense of Congress regarding outdoor recreation. 

TITLE I—MODERNIZING RECREATION PERMITTING 

Sec. 101. Special recreation permitting. 

Sec. 102. Coordination of Federal and State recreation pass sales. 

Sec. 103. Online purchases of National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands 

Pass. 

TITLE II—ACCESSING THE OUTDOORS 

Sec. 201. Access for servicemembers and veterans. 

Sec. 202. Access for kids. 

Sec. 203. Access for seniors. 

TITLE III—MAKING RECREATION A PRIORITY 

Sec. 301. Labor statistics study. 

Sec. 302. Extension of seasonal recreation opportunities. 

Sec. 303. Recreation performance metrics. 

Sec. 304. Recreation mission. 

Sec. 305. Deposit of ski area permit rental fees in Federal Lands Recreation 

Enhancement Act account. 

Sec. 306. National Recreation Area System. 

TITLE IV—MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC LAND 

Subtitle A—Volunteers 

Sec. 401. Private-sector volunteer enhancement program. 

Sec. 402. Forest Service volunteer liability. 

Subtitle B—Priority Trail Maintenance 

Sec. 411. Definition of Secretaries. 

Sec. 412. Priority trail maintenance program. 

Sec. 413. Priority Trail Maintenance Program Fund. 

Sec. 414. Interagency trail management. 

Subtitle C—Public Lands Service Corps Act Amendments 

Sec. 421. Amendment to short title. 

Sec. 422. Reference. 

Sec. 423. Amendments to Public Lands Service Corps Act of 1993. 

Sec. 424. Direct hire authority. 

1 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

2 In this Act: 

3 (1) FEDERAL LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCY.— 

4 The term ‘‘Federal land management agency’’ has 

5 the meaning given the term in section 802 of the 


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1 Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 

2 U.S.C. 6801). 

3 (2) FEDERAL RECREATIONAL LAND AND

4 WATER.—The term ‘‘Federal recreational land and 

5 water’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘Federal 

6 recreational lands and waters’’ in section 802 of the 

7 Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 

8 U.S.C. 6801). 

9 (3) SECRETARIES.—Except as otherwise pro10 vided in this Act, the term ‘‘Secretaries’’ means— 

11 (A) the Secretary of the Interior; and 

12 (B) the Secretary of Agriculture 

13 SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING OUTDOOR 

14 RECREATION. 

15 It is the sense of Congress that— 

16 (1) outdoor recreation and the 

17 $646,000,000,000 outdoor industry that outdoor 

18 recreation supports are vital to the United States; 

19 (2) access to outdoor recreation on land and 

20 waters of the United States is important to the 

21 health and wellness of all people of the United 

22 States, especially young people; 

23 (3) $524,800,000,000 of the amount described 

24 in paragraph (1) contributes to the travel and tourVerDate Sep 11 2014 05:42 Mar 18, 2016 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4790.IH H4790

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1 ism industry of the United States, which generates 

2 over $2,000,000,000,000 in annual spending; 

3 (4) outdoor recreation, hunting, and fishing are 

4 appropriate uses of public land; 

5 (5) access to healthy public land and water is 

6 critical to supporting the uses described in para7 graph (4); 

8 (6) the States are uniquely positioned to im9 prove conditions for sustainable outdoor recreation 

10 opportunities, funding, and access; 

11 (7) Congress supports the creation of outdoor 

12 recreation sector leadership positions within the eco13 nomic development offices of States or in the office 

14 of the Governor, as well as coordination with recre15 ation and tourism organizations within the State to 

16 guide the growth of this sector, as evidenced by re17 cent examples in the States of Colorado, Utah, and 

18 Washington; 

19 (8) State and local recreation and tourism of20 fices play a pivotal role in— 

21 (A) coordinating State outdoor recreation 

22 policies, management, and promotion among 

23 Federal, State, and local agencies and entities; 

24 (B) disseminating information, increasing 

25 awareness, and growing demand for outdoor 


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1 recreation experiences among visitors across the 

2 United States and throughout the world; 

3 (C) improving funding for, access to, and 

4 participation in outdoor recreation; and 

5 (D) promoting economic development in 

6 the State by coordinating with stakeholders, im7 proving recreational opportunities, and recruit8 ing outdoor recreation businesses; 

9 (9) Congress supports the coordination and col10 laboration of the Federal and State land and water 

11 management agencies in the delivery of visitor serv12 ices and management of outdoor recreation for the 

13 United States; and 

14 (10) Congress recognizes— 

15 (A) the growing role that recreation has on 

16 Federal public land; 

17 (B) the need to provide adequate staffing 

18 within Federal land management agencies to fa19 cilitate sustainable and accessible outdoor recre20 ation opportunities; and 

21 (C) the important role that volunteers and 

22 volunteer partnerships play in maintaining pub23 lic land. 


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1 TITLE I—MODERNIZING 

2 RECREATION PERMITTING 

3 SEC. 101. SPECIAL RECREATION PERMITTING. 

4 Section 803(h) of the Federal Lands Recreation En5 hancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6802(h)) is amended— 

6 (1) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and inserting 

7 the following: 

8 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; and 

9 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

10 ‘‘(2) OUTFITTERS AND GUIDES.— 

11 ‘‘(A) DEFINITIONS.—In this paragraph: 

12 ‘‘(i) ASSOCIATED AGENCY.—The term 

13 ‘associated agency’ means any agency that 

14 manages land on which a trip that is the 

15 subject of a special recreation permit 

16 would be conducted after departing the 

17 land managed by the lead agency. 

18 ‘‘(ii) LEAD AGENCY.—The term ‘lead 

19 agency’ means the agency that manages 

20 the land from which a trip that is the sub21 ject of the special recreation permit origi22 nates. 

23 ‘‘(B) OUTFITTER AND GUIDE PERMITS.— 

24 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—In issuing special 

25 recreation permits or charging special 


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1 recreation permit fees in connection with 

2 the issuance of permits under paragraph 

3 (1) with respect to outfitters and guides, 

4 within a reasonable time after the date of 

5 enactment of the Recreation Not Red-Tape 

6 Act, the Director of the Bureau of Land 

7 Management and the Chief of the Forest 

8 Service shall adopt a consistent and uni9 form permitting process in accordance with 

10 clause (ii) across agencies and district 

11 boundaries, in consultation with the public, 

12 including stakeholder groups that rep13 resent the interests of organizations that 

14 facilitate outdoor access. 

15 ‘‘(ii) PERMITTING PROCESS.—The 

16 permitting process described in clause (i) 

17 shall include— 

18 ‘‘(I) standard paperwork that is 

19 concise and understandable to the 

20 general public; 

21 ‘‘(II) a standard submission proc22 ess; 

23 ‘‘(III) consistent deadlines; and 


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1 ‘‘(IV) outreach materials to help 

2 outfitters and guides navigate the per3 mitting process. 

4 ‘‘(C) PERMIT FOR CROSS-JURISDICTIONAL

5 TRIPS.—In the case of a trip that will cross ju6 risdictional boundaries— 

7 ‘‘(i) only 1 permit application shall be 

8 required; 

9 ‘‘(ii) the permit application required 

10 under clause (i) shall be— 

11 ‘‘(I) the application required by 

12 the lead agency; and 

13 ‘‘(II) submitted to the lead agen14 cy; 

15 ‘‘(iii) the Secretaries shall coordinate, 

16 consistent with the authority of the Secre17 taries under section 330 of the Depart18 ment of the Interior and Related Agencies 

19 Appropriations Act, 2001 (43 U.S.C. 

20 1703), to develop, in consultation with the 

21 public (including stakeholder groups that 

22 represent the interests of organizations 

23 that facilitate outdoor access), a process 

24 for issuing 1 joint permit that covers the 

25 entirety of the trip; and 


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1 ‘‘(iv) the Secretaries shall consider the 

2 findings, requirements, interests, and 

3 needs of the lead agency and any associ4 ated agencies when developing the permit 

5 process developed under clause (iii). 

6 ‘‘(D) REASONABLE TIMEFRAME.—The 

7 Secretaries shall complete the permitting proc8 ess under subparagraph (B) within a reasonable 

9 timeframe. 

10 ‘‘(E) ONLINE AVAILABILITY.—To the max11 imum extent practicable, where feasible and ef12 ficient, the Secretaries shall make available— 

13 ‘‘(i) all special recreation permit appli14 cations, to be filled out and submitted on15 line; and 

16 ‘‘(ii) online information regarding— 

17 ‘‘(I) the application process; and 

18 ‘‘(II) the means by which an ap19 plicant can contact the Secretaries for 

20 guidance on the permit process before 

21 submitting a permit application.’’. 


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1 SEC. 102. COORDINATION OF FEDERAL AND STATE RECRE2 ATION PASS SALES. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Federal Lands Recreation 

4 Enhancement Act is amended by inserting after section 

5 805 (16 U.S.C. 6804) the following: 

6 ‘‘SEC. 805A. COORDINATION OF FEDERAL AND STATE 

7 RECREATION PASS SALES. 

8 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.— 

9 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries are encour10 aged to work with States to coordinate the sale of 

11 Federal and State recreation passes in a way that 

12 allows a purchaser to buy both a Federal pass and 

13 a State pass in the same location and in the same 

14 transaction. 

15 ‘‘(2) INCLUDED PASSES.—Passes covered by 

16 the program established under paragraph (1) in17 clude— 

18 ‘‘(A) a National Parks and Federal Rec19 reational Lands Pass under section 805; and 

20 ‘‘(B) a pass that shall cover any fees 

21 charged by participating States and localities 

22 for entrance and recreational use of parks and 

23 public land in the participating States. 

24 ‘‘(b) AGREEMENTS WITH STATES.— 

25 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries, after con26 sultation with the States, may enter into agreements 


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1 with States to coordinate the sale of passes as de2 scribed in subsection (a)(1). 

3 ‘‘(2) NOTICE.—In entering into an agreement 

4 under paragraph (1), the Secretaries shall publish in 

5 the Federal Register a notice describing the agree6 ment.’’. 

7 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 805(a)(9) 

8 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 

9 U.S.C. 6804(a)(9)) is amended by inserting ‘‘and section 

10 805A’’ before the period at the end. 

11 SEC. 103. ONLINE PURCHASES OF NATIONAL PARKS AND 

12 FEDERAL RECREATIONAL LANDS PASS. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 805(a)(6) of the Federal 

14 Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 

15 6804(a)(6)) is amended by striking subparagraph (A) and 

16 inserting the following: 

17 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries shall 

18 sell the National Parks and Federal Rec19 reational Lands Pass— 

20 ‘‘(i) at all Federal recreational lands 

21 and waters at which an entrance fee or a 

22 standard amenity recreation fee is charged; 

23 ‘‘(ii) at such other locations as the 

24 Secretaries consider appropriate and fea25 sible; and 


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1 ‘‘(iii) through the website of each of 

2 the Federal land management agencies and 

3 the websites of the relevant units and 

4 subunits of those agencies, with— 

5 ‘‘(I) a prominent link on each 

6 website; and 

7 ‘‘(II) information about where 

8 and when passes are needed.’’. 

9 (b) ENTRANCE PASS AND AMENITY FEES.—The Sec10 retaries shall make available for purchase or payment on11 line, if appropriate and feasible, for each unit where passes 

12 and fees are required— 

13 (1) all entrance fees under section 803(e) of the 

14 Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 

15 U.S.C. 6802(e)); 

16 (2) all standard amenity recreation fees under 

17 section 803(f) of that Act (16 U.S.C. 6802(f)); and 

18 (3) all expanded amenity recreation fees under 

19 section 803(g) of that Act (16 U.S.C. 6802(g)). 

20 TITLE II—ACCESSING THE 

21 OUTDOORS 

22 SEC. 201. ACCESS FOR SERVICEMEMBERS AND VETERANS. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries are encouraged to 

24 work with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 

25 Veterans Affairs on ways to ensure veterans have access 


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1 to the outdoors and to outdoor programs as a part of the 

2 basic services provided to veterans. 

3 (b) INCLUSION OF INFORMATION.—Each branch of 

4 the Armed Forces is encouraged to include information 

5 about outdoor recreation in the materials and counseling 

6 services provided in the Transition Assistance Program, 

7 including— 

8 (1) the benefits of outdoor recreation for phys9 ical and mental health; 

10 (2) maps of parks, trails, and other recreation 

11 sites within 200 miles of military bases; 

12 (3) resources to access guided outdoor trips; 

13 and 

14 (4) information regarding the Public Land 

15 Corps of the National Park Service. 

16 (c) OUTDOOR RECREATION PROGRAM ATTEND17 ANCE.—Each branch of the Armed Forces is encouraged 

18 to permit members of the Armed Forces on active duty 

19 status, at the discretion of the commander of the member, 

20 to use not more than 7 days of a Permissive Temporary 

21 Duty Assignment allotted to the member to attend an out22 door recreation program following deployment. 

23 SEC. 202. ACCESS FOR KIDS. 

24 (a) AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL PASSES.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries shall make 

2 available free of charge a certain quantity of Amer3 ica the Beautiful passes, to be determined by the 

4 Secretaries, to schools receiving funds under part A 

5 of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Edu6 cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.) in each 

7 State for use by the school or by students enrolled 

8 in the school and their families. 

9 (2) DURATION.—A pass shall be valid for a pe10 riod of 1 year. 

11 (3) RENEWAL.—On request of a school de12 scribed in paragraph (1), the Secretaries may renew 

13 each pass provided under paragraph (1) upon expi14 ration. 

15 (b) EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS.—Each pass made 

16 available under subsection (a) shall be accompanied 

17 with— 

18 (1) educational materials on how to access and 

19 use the land covered by the pass; and 

20 (2) information on available programming and 

21 guided activities. 

22 (c) CURRICULA FOR SCHOOLS.—The Federal land 

23 management agencies shall coordinate to provide materials 

24 or curricula for all elementary schools and secondary 

25 schools— 


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1 (1) to provide to students education on— 

2 (A) nearby land covered by the pass; and 

3 (B) activities available on that land; 

4 (2) to encourage field trips to that land; and 

5 (3) to encourage involvement in the Every Kid 

6 in a Park Program of the National Park Service. 

7 SEC. 203. ACCESS FOR SENIORS. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries are encouraged to 

9 increase programs focused on improving education about, 

10 and access to, outdoor recreation opportunities on public 

11 land for individuals that are age 55 or older. 

12 (b) VOLUNTEERISM.—The Corporation for National 

13 and Community Service and the Federal Interagency 

14 Team on Volunteerism are encouraged to work together 

15 to increase engagement of individuals that are age 55 or 

16 older in volunteer opportunities, particularly volunteer op17 portunities on public land, through the websites of the or18 ganizations. 

19 TITLE III—MAKING RECREATION 

20 A PRIORITY 

21 SEC. 301. LABOR STATISTICS STUDY. 

22 The Secretaries, in consultation with the head of each 

23 Federal agency with jurisdiction over Federal land, shall 

24 conduct a study on, and quantify, the overall impact that 


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1 recreation on Federal recreational land and water has on 

2 the economy and labor market of the United States. 

3 SEC. 302. EXTENSION OF SEASONAL RECREATION OPPOR4 TUNITIES. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—The relevant unit managers of 

6 land managed by the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land 

7 Management, and the National Park Service, through the 

8 respective land management planning processes of those 

9 agencies, may— 

10 (1) identify areas of Federal recreational land 

11 and water in which recreation use is highly seasonal; 

12 (2) develop a management plan for extending 

13 the recreation season or increasing recreation use in 

14 a sustainable manner during the offseason; and 

15 (3) make information about extended season 

16 schedules and related recreational opportunities 

17 available to the public and local communities. 

18 (b) INCLUSIONS.—The management plan developed 

19 under subsection (a)(2) may include— 

20 (1) the addition of facilities that would increase 

21 recreation use during the offseason; and 

22 (2) improvement of access to the area to extend 

23 the season. 

24 (c) REQUIREMENT.—The management plan devel25 oped under subsection (a)(2) shall be compatible with all 


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1 applicable Federal laws, regulations, and policies, includ2 ing land use plans. 

3 SEC. 303. RECREATION PERFORMANCE METRICS. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Chief of the Forest Service 

5 and the Director of the Bureau of Land Management shall 

6 include in any evaluation of the land under the jurisdiction 

7 of the Chief and the Director and in the performance eval8 uation of the land managers, the use of the land for recre9 ation and achievement of stated recreation and tourism 

10 goals in the land management plans. 

11 (b) METRICS.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—The metrics used to evaluate 

13 recreation and tourism outcomes shall ensure— 

14 (A) the advancement of recreation and 

15 tourism goals; and 

16 (B) the ability of the land manager to en17 hance the outdoor experience of the visitor. 

18 (2) INCLUSIONS.—The metrics referred to para19 graph (1) may include, to the maximum extent prac20 ticable— 

21 (A) the number of first-time visitors; 

22 (B) the number of repeat visitors; 

23 (C) the number of school and youth groups 

24 that visited; 


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1 (D) the number of recreational and envi2 ronmental educational programs offered and the 

3 success of those programs; 

4 (E) visitor satisfaction; and 

5 (F) the maintenance of existing recreation 

6 infrastructure. 

7 SEC. 304. RECREATION MISSION. 

8 (a) DEFINITION OF FEDERAL AGENCY.—In this sec9 tion, the term ‘‘Federal agency’’ means each of— 

10 (1) the Corps of Engineers; 

11 (2) the Bureau of Reclamation; and 

12 (3) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 

13 (b) MISSION.—With respect to the mission of the 

14 Federal agency, each Federal agency shall consider how 

15 land and water management decisions can enhance recre16 ation opportunities and the recreation economy. 

17 SEC. 305. DEPOSIT OF SKI AREA PERMIT RENTAL FEES IN 

18 FEDERAL LANDS RECREATION ENHANCE19 MENT ACT ACCOUNT. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 701(a) of the Omnibus 

21 Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 (16 

22 U.S.C. 497c(a)) is amended— 

23 (1) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘(a) The 

24 Secretary’’ and inserting the following: 

25 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.— 


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1 ‘‘(1) RENTAL CHARGES.—The Secretary’’; and 

2 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

3 ‘‘(2) DEPOSITS.—Revenues collected under 

4 paragraph (1) shall be— 

5 ‘‘(A) deposited in the applicable special ac6 count in the Treasury established under section 

7 807 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhance8 ment Act (16 U.S.C. 6806); and 

9 ‘‘(B) administered and distributed in ac10 cordance with that section.’’. 

11 (b) DISTRIBUTION OF SKI AREA PERMIT FEE REVE12 NUES.—Section 807 of the Federal Lands Recreation En13 hancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6806) is amended by adding 

14 at the end the following: 

15 ‘‘(f) DISTRIBUTION OF SKI AREA PERMIT FEE REV16 ENUES.— 

17 ‘‘(1) LOCAL DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.— 

18 ‘‘(A) RETENTION OF REVENUES.—Not less 

19 than 80 percent of the ski area permit fees col20 lected at a specific unit or area of the Federal 

21 land management agency shall remain available 

22 for expenditure, without further appropriation, 

23 until expended at that unit or area. 

24 ‘‘(B) REDUCTION.—The Secretary may re25 duce the percentage allocation otherwise appliVerDate Sep 11 2014 05:42 Mar 18, 2016 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4790.IH H4790

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1 cable under subparagraph (A) to a unit or area 

2 of a Federal land management agency, but not 

3 below 45 percent, for a fiscal year for revenues 

4 collected from ski areas if the Secretary deter5 mines that the ski area permit fee revenues col6 lected at the unit or area exceed the reasonable 

7 needs of the unit or area for which expenditures 

8 may be made for that fiscal year. 

9 ‘‘(2) AGENCY-WIDE DISTRIBUTION OF

10 FUNDS.— 

11 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The balance of ski 

12 area revenues not distributed in accordance 

13 with paragraph (1)(A) shall remain available to 

14 that Federal land management agency for ex15 penditure on an agency-wide basis, without fur16 ther appropriation, until expended. 

17 ‘‘(B) OTHER REVENUE.—The balance of 

18 ski area revenues not distributed in accordance 

19 with paragraph (1)(B) shall remain available to 

20 that Federal land management agency for ex21 penditure only on Federal land units with ski 

22 area permits, without further appropriation, 

23 until expended in accordance with the require24 ments of section 808(a)(2).’’. 

25 (c) USE OF FEES.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 808(a) of the Fed2 eral Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 

3 6807(a)) is amended— 

4 (A) in paragraph (3), by redesignating 

5 subparagraphs (A) through (F) as clauses (i) 

6 through (vi), respectively, and indenting appro7 priately; 

8 (B) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), 

9 and (3) as subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), re10 spectively, and indenting appropriately; 

11 (C) by striking the subsection designation 

12 and heading and all that follows through 

13 ‘‘Amounts available’’ in the matter preceding 

14 subparagraph (A) (as redesignated) and insert15 ing the following: 

16 ‘‘(a) USE OF FEES.— 

17 ‘‘(1) RECREATION FEES.—Amounts available’’; 

18 and 

19 (D) by adding at the end the following: 

20 ‘‘(2) SKI AREA PERMIT FEES.—Ski area permit 

21 fees may be used only for— 

22 ‘‘(A) recreation special use permit proc23 essing, administration, implementation, support, 

24 staff time, and training; 


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1 ‘‘(B) implementation of the Ski Area Rec2 reational Opportunity Enhancement Act of 

3 2011 (16 U.S.C. 497b note; Public Law 112– 

4 46); 

5 ‘‘(C) improving and increasing ski area 

6 recreational opportunities; 

7 ‘‘(D) maintaining and enhancing facilities 

8 used by recreation permit holders; and 

9 ‘‘(E) interpretation, visitor information, 

10 visitor service, and signage to enhance— 

11 ‘‘(i) visitor experience on Federal land 

12 associated with ski area permits; and 

13 ‘‘(ii) support of the Forest Service Av14 alanche Information and Education Pro15 gram.’’. 

16 (2) LIMITATION ON USE OF FEES.—Section 

17 808(b) of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhance18 ment Act (16 U.S.C. 6807(b)) is amended by insert19 ing ‘‘or ski area permit fees’’ after ‘‘any recreation 

20 fees’’. 

21 (3) ADMINISTRATION, OVERHEAD, AND INDI22 RECT COSTS.—Section 808(c) of the Federal Lands 

23 Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. 6807(c)) is 

24 amended by inserting ‘‘or ski area permit fee’’ after 

25 ‘‘the recreation fee’’. 


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1 (4) TRANSITIONAL EXCEPTION.—Section 

2 808(d) of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhance3 ment Act (16 U.S.C. 6807(d)) is amended in the 

4 matter preceding paragraph (1) by inserting ‘‘(other 

5 than amounts derived from ski area permit fees)’’ 

6 after ‘‘agency’’. 

7 (5) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 802 

8 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act 

9 (16 U.S.C. 6801) is amended— 

10 (A) by redesignating paragraphs (12) and 

11 (13) as paragraphs (13) and (14), respectively; 

12 and 

13 (B) by inserting after paragraph (11) the 

14 following: 

15 ‘‘(12) SKI AREA PERMIT FEES.—The term ‘ski 

16 area permit fees’ means the fee collected from ski 

17 area permittees on land managed by— 

18 ‘‘(A) the Forest Service; 

19 ‘‘(B) the National Park Service; or 

20 ‘‘(C) the Bureau of Land Management.’’. 

21 (d) SAVINGS PROVISIONS.— 

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this section af23 fects the Act of April 24, 1950 (commonly known as 

24 the ‘‘Granger-Thye Act’’) (64 Stat. 82, chapter 97), 

25 as applied to ski areas. 


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1 (2) MAINTENANCE OF FUNDING.—Revenue 

2 from ski area permit fees retained and allocated 

3 under this section shall supplement (and not sup4 plant) other Federal funding for the basic operation 

5 and maintenance of Federal land under permit to 

6 ski areas or other costs associated with managing, 

7 administering, or implementing ski area permits not 

8 covered by distribution under this section. 

9 SEC. 306. NATIONAL RECREATION AREA SYSTEM. 

10 (a) DECLARATION OF POLICY.—It is the policy of the 

11 United States that— 

12 (1) certain natural landscapes be conserved and 

13 managed for sustainable outdoor recreational and 

14 other benefits for the people of the United States; 

15 and 

16 (2) in addition to protecting landscapes for the 

17 ecological, intrinsic, historic, or scientific value, cer18 tain landscapes should be protected and managed 

19 primarily for the social, spiritual, and health benefits 

20 the landscapes provide for people through outdoor 

21 recreation, for the specific and meaningful experi22 ences made possible by unique and specific land23 scapes, and for the contributions these landscapes 

24 make in support of the outdoor recreation economy. 


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1 (b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to es2 tablish a National Recreation Area System— 

3 (1) to recognize areas that possess remarkable 

4 recreational values; 

5 (2) to recognize that land with remarkable rec6 reational values may also possess other important 

7 values that underpin the remarkable recreation val8 ues, including, at a minimum— 

9 (A) ecological and watershed values; 

10 (B) historical and cultural values; 

11 (C) scenic value; 

12 (D) fish and wildlife values; and 

13 (E) geological, archeological, and paleon14 tological values; 

15 (3) to manage System units for— 

16 (A) the benefit and recreational enjoyment 

17 of present and future generations; and 

18 (B) conservation and restoration of the im19 portant values described in paragraph (2); 

20 (4) to highlight that recreation contributes sig21 nificantly to the economy, particularly in rural and 

22 gateway communities; 

23 (5) to ensure the protection of public land for 

24 the benefit of a variety of recreational pursuits 


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1 where appropriate, including both motorized and 

2 nonmotorized uses; 

3 (6) to recognize that recreation goals and con4 servation goals can both be achieved in the manage5 ment of public land; and 

6 (7) to provide access to sustainable recreation 

7 opportunities and enhance public enjoyment of pub8 lic land. 

9 (c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

10 (1) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ 

11 means— 

12 (A) the Secretary of the Interior, acting 

13 through the Director of the Bureau of Land 

14 Management with respect to land administered 

15 by the Bureau of Land Management; or 

16 (B) the Secretary of Agriculture, acting 

17 through the Chief of the Forest Service, with 

18 respect to National Forest System land. 

19 (2) SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘System’’ means the 

20 National Recreation Area System established by 

21 subsection (d). 

22 (3) SYSTEM UNIT.—The term ‘‘System unit’’ 

23 means a System unit designated pursuant to sub24 section (d). 


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1 (d) COMPOSITION.—There is established a National 

2 Recreation Area System, to be comprised of— 

3 (1) National Recreation Areas described in sub4 section (i); and 

5 (2) the System units designated by Congress on 

6 or after the date of enactment of this Act. 

7 (e) ADMINISTRATION.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall manage 

9 each System unit in a manner that enhances the re10 markable recreational and other important values of 

11 the System unit, consistent with subsection (a), and 

12 provides for the enjoyment by this and future gen13 erations. 

14 (2) STATE, TRIBAL, AND LOCAL INVOLVE15 MENT.—Each State, tribal, and local government is 

16 encouraged to cooperate in the planning and admin17 istration of System units that include or adjoin land 

18 under the jurisdiction of the State, tribal, or local 

19 government. 

20 (3) FISH AND WILDLIFE.— 

21 (A) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this section 

22 affects the jurisdiction or responsibilities of a 

23 State with respect to fish and wildlife in a Sys24 tem unit. 

25 (B) APPLICABLE LAW.— 


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1 (i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided 

2 in clause (ii), hunting and fishing shall be 

3 permitted on System units under applica4 ble Federal and State laws (including regu5 lations). 

6 (ii) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary— 

7 (I) may designate zones in which 

8 and time periods during which no 

9 hunting shall be permitted for reasons 

10 of public safety, administration, or 

11 public use and enjoyment; and 

12 (II) in carrying out subclause (I), 

13 shall issue appropriate regulations 

14 after consultation with the wildlife 

15 agency of each State affected. 

16 (4) OTHER LAND MANAGEMENT DESIGNA17 TIONS.— 

18 (A) WILDERNESS AREAS.— 

19 (i) IN GENERAL.—Any portion of a 

20 wilderness area that is located within the 

21 System unit shall be administered in ac22 cordance with the Wilderness Act (16 

23 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.). 

24 (ii) APPLICATION.—In carrying out 

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1 tween the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 

2 et seq.) and this section, the more restric3 tive provision shall apply. 

4 (B) WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS.— 

5 (i) IN GENERAL.—Any portion of a 

6 wild and scenic river that is located within 

7 the System unit shall be administered in 

8 accordance with the Wild and Scenic Riv9 ers Act (16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.) and this 

10 section. 

11 (ii) APPLICATION.—In carrying out 

12 clause (i), in the event of any conflict be13 tween the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 

14 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.) and this section, the 

15 more restrictive provision shall apply. 

16 (C) NATIONAL SCENIC AND HISTORIC

17 TRAILS.— 

18 (i) IN GENERAL.—Any portion of a 

19 National Scenic or Historic Trial that is 

20 located within the System unit shall be ad21 ministered in accordance with the National 

22 Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1241 et 

23 seq.). 

24 (ii) APPLICATION.—In carrying out 

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1 tween the National Trails System Act (16 

2 U.S.C. 1241 et seq.) and this section, the 

3 more restrictive provision shall apply. 

4 (5) WATER RIGHTS.—Nothing in this section 

5 affects any valid or vested water right in existence 

6 on the date of enactment of this Act. 

7 (f) COMPONENTS OF NATIONAL RECREATION AREA

8 SYSTEM.— 

9 (1) MAP; LEGAL DESCRIPTION.— 

10 (A) IN GENERAL.—For System units es11 tablished on or after the date of enactment of 

12 this Act, as soon as practicable after the date 

13 of designation of a System unit, the Secretary 

14 shall prepare a map and legal description of the 

15 System unit. 

16 (B) FORCE OF LAW.—The map and legal 

17 description filed under subparagraph (A) shall 

18 have the same force and effect as if included in 

19 this section, except that the Secretary may cor20 rect typographical errors in the map and legal 

21 description. 

22 (C) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The map and 

23 legal description filed under subparagraph (A) 

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1 tion in the appropriate offices of the Bureau of 

2 Land Management and Forest Service. 

3 (2) COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN.— 

4 (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries shall 

5 prepare a comprehensive management plan for 

6 each System unit within the jurisdiction of the 

7 Secretaries that is designated by Congress after 

8 the date of enactment of this Act to provide for 

9 the protection and enjoyment of the remarkable 

10 recreational and other important values of the 

11 System unit. 

12 (B) TIMING.—A comprehensive manage13 ment plan described in subparagraph (A)— 

14 (i) shall be prepared, and regularly re15 viewed and updated, as a part of the reg16 ular land management planning process of 

17 the applicable agency; and 

18 (ii) unless the planning cycle of the 

19 applicable agency coincides with the des20 ignation of the System unit, shall be ini21 tially completed not later than 3 years 

22 after the date of designation of the System 

23 unit as part of the revision of plans of the 

24 applicable agency. 


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1 (C) REQUIREMENTS.—A comprehensive 

2 management plan prepared under subparagraph 

3 (A) shall— 

4 (i) identify the existing, and to the ex5 tent practicable, prospective remarkable 

6 recreational and other important values of 

7 the System unit; 

8 (ii) ensure the System unit is man9 aged to protect and enhance purposes for 

10 which the System unit was established; 

11 (iii) ensure the System unit is man12 aged to protect and enhance the resources 

13 that make the area suitable for designation 

14 under subsection (d)(2) in accordance with 

15 subsection (a); 

16 (iv) be coordinated with resource man17 agement planning for affected adjacent 

18 Federal land; and 

19 (v) be prepared in consultation with 

20 States, political subdivisions of the State, 

21 affected Indian tribes, and the public. 

22 (D) NOTICE.—The Secretary shall publish 

23 in the Federal Register notice of the completion 

24 and availability of a plan prepared under this 

25 paragraph. 


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1 (E) UPDATE.—The Secretary shall periodi2 cally review and update applicable management 

3 plans prepared under this paragraph to address 

4 the values described in paragraphs (1) and (2) 

5 of subsection (b). 

6 (g) POTENTIAL ADDITIONS TO NATIONAL RECRE7 ATION AREA SYSTEM.— 

8 (1) ELIGIBLE AREA.—An area eligible for inclu9 sion in the System is an area that possesses 1 or 

10 more of the values described in paragraphs (1) and 

11 (2) of subsection (b). 

12 (2) POTENTIAL ADDITIONS.—In carrying out 

13 the land management planning process, the Sec14 retary shall— 

15 (A) identify eligible areas that possess re16 markable recreational and other important val17 ues described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of sub18 section (b); 

19 (B) develop and maintain a list of eligible 

20 areas as potential additions to the System; and 

21 (C) consider recommendations by the Gov22 ernor of an affected State or territory for po23 tential additions to the System. 


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1 (h) WITHDRAWALS.—Subject to valid existing rights, 

2 any land designated as a System unit under this section 

3 is withdrawn from all forms of— 

4 (1) entry, appropriation, or disposal under the 

5 public land laws; 

6 (2) location, entry, and patent under the mining 

7 laws; and 

8 (3) disposition under all laws pertaining to min9 eral and geothermal leasing or mineral materials. 

10 (i) EXISTING NATIONAL RECREATION AREAS.—Each 

11 National Recreation Area established as of the date of en12 actment of this Act and administered by the Secretary of 

13 Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Serv14 ice, or the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the 

15 Director of the Bureau of Land Management, before the 

16 date of enactment of this Act shall be— 

17 (1) deemed to be a unit of the System; and 

18 (2) notwithstanding subsection (e), adminis19 tered under law pertaining to that System unit. 

20 (j) STANDARD FEES.—In accordance with sections 

21 803 through 808 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 

22 2005 (16 U.S.C. 6802–6807), the Secretary may establish 

23 a standard amenity fee at each of the areas within the 

24 National Recreation Area System that are managed by the 

25 Bureau of Land Management or the Forest Service, if— 


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1 (1) the purpose of the fee is to enhance visitor 

2 services and stewardship of the recreation area; and 

3 (2) the establishment of a fee is not prohibited 

4 by other Federal law. 

5 (k) COMPLIANCE WITH EXISTING LAWS.—Nothing 

6 in this section modifies any obligation— 

7 (1) of the Secretary to prepare or implement a 

8 land use plan in accordance with section 202 of the 

9 Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 

10 (43 U.S.C. 1712) or section 6 of the Forest and 

11 Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 

12 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604); 

13 (2) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 

14 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); 

15 (3) under the Federal Water Pollution Control 

16 Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.); or 

17 (4) under any other applicable law. 

18 (l) CONFLICT WITH OTHER LAWS.—In the case of 

19 a conflict between the provisions of this section and other 

20 law, the more restrictive provisions shall apply. 

21 (m) NATIVE AMERICAN TREATY RIGHTS.—Nothing 

22 in this section alters, modifies, enlarges, diminishes, or ab23 rogates the treaty rights of any Indian tribe, including any 

24 off-reservation reserved rights. 


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1 TITLE IV—MAINTENANCE OF 

2 PUBLIC LAND 

3 Subtitle A—Volunteers 

4 SEC. 401. PRIVATE-SECTOR VOLUNTEER ENHANCEMENT 

5 PROGRAM. 

6 (a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to pro7 mote private-sector volunteer programs within the Depart8 ment of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture 

9 to enhance stewardship, recreation access, and sustain10 ability of the resources, values, and facilities of the Fed11 eral land managed by the Federal land management agen12 cies. 

13 (b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

14 (1) FEDERAL LAND.—The term ‘‘Federal land’’ 

15 means any land— 

16 (A) owned by the United States; and 

17 (B) managed by the head of a Federal 

18 land management agency. 

19 (2) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term ‘‘Sec20 retary concerned’’ means— 

21 (A) the Secretary of Agriculture (acting 

22 through the Chief of the Forest Service), with 

23 respect to National Forest System land; and 


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1 (B) the Secretary of the Interior, with re2 spect to land managed by the Bureau of Land 

3 Management. 

4 (3) VOLUNTEER.—The term ‘‘volunteer’’ means 

5 any individual who performs volunteer services under 

6 this section. 

7 (c) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary concerned 

8 shall develop an initiative to further enhance private-sector 

9 volunteer programs and to actively promote private-sector 

10 volunteer opportunities and provide outreach and coordi11 nation to the private sector. 

12 (d) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS FOR STEWARDSHIP

13 OF FEDERAL LAND.— 

14 (1) AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO AGREE15 MENTS.—The Secretary concerned may enter into 

16 cooperative agreements (in accordance with section 

17 6305 of title 31, United States Code) with private 

18 agencies, organizations, institutions, corporations, 

19 individuals, or other entities to carry out 1 or more 

20 projects or programs with a Federal land manage21 ment agency in accordance with this section. 

22 (2) PROJECT AND PROGRAM INSTRUCTIONS.— 

23 The Secretary concerned shall include in the cooper24 ative agreement the desired outcomes of the project 


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1 or program and the guidelines for the volunteers to 

2 follow, including— 

3 (A) the physical boundaries of the project 

4 or program; 

5 (B) the equipment the volunteers are au6 thorized to use to complete the project or pro7 gram; 

8 (C) the training the volunteers are re9 quired to complete, including agency consider10 ation and incorporation of trainings offered by 

11 qualified nongovernmental organizations and 

12 volunteer partner organizations; 

13 (D) the actions the volunteers are author14 ized to take to complete the project or program; 

15 and 

16 (E) any other information that the Sec17 retary concerned determines necessary for the 

18 volunteer group to complete the project or pro19 gram. 

20 (3) AUTHORIZED PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS.— 

21 Subject to paragraph (4), the Secretary concerned 

22 may use a cooperative agreement to carry out 

23 projects and programs for Federal land that— 

24 (A) promote the stewardship of resources 

25 of Federal land by volunteers; 


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1 (B) support maintaining the resources, 

2 trails, and facilities on Federal land in a sus3 tainable manner; 

4 (C) increase awareness, understanding, 

5 and stewardship of Federal land through the 

6 development, publication, or distribution of edu7 cational materials and products; and 

8 (D) advance education concerning the Fed9 eral land and the missions of the Federal land 

10 management agencies through the use of the 

11 Federal land as outdoor classrooms and devel12 opment of other educational programs. 

13 (4) CONDITIONS ON USE OF AUTHORITY.—The 

14 Secretary concerned may use a cooperative agree15 ment under paragraph (1) to carry out a project or 

16 program for the Federal land only if the project or 

17 program— 

18 (A) complies with all Federal laws (includ19 ing regulations) and policies; 

20 (B) is consistent with an applicable man21 agement plan for any Federal land and waters 

22 involved; 

23 (C) is monitored by the relevant Federal 

24 land management agency during the project 

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1 pliance with the instructions under paragraph 

2 (2); and 

3 (D) satisfies such other terms and condi4 tions as the Secretary concerned determines to 

5 be appropriate. 

6 SEC. 402. FOREST SERVICE VOLUNTEER LIABILITY. 

7 Section 3 of the Volunteers in the National Forests 

8 Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 558c) is amended by adding at 

9 the end the following: 

10 ‘‘(e) INCLUSION.—For purposes of subsections (b), 

11 (c), and (d), the term ‘volunteer’ includes a person pro12 viding volunteer services to the Secretary— 

13 ‘‘(1) who is recruited, trained, and supported by 

14 a cooperator under a mutual benefit agreement with 

15 the Secretary; and 

16 ‘‘(2) who performs volunteer services under the 

17 collective supervision, guidance, and oversight of the 

18 Secretary and the cooperator as mutually agreed to 

19 by the Secretary and the cooperator.’’. 

20 Subtitle B—Priority Trail 

21 Maintenance 

22 SEC. 411. DEFINITION OF SECRETARIES. 

23 In this subtitle, the term ‘‘Secretaries’’ means— 

24 (1) the Secretary of the Interior; and 


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1 (2) the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through 

2 the Chief of the Forest Service. 

3 SEC. 412. PRIORITY TRAIL MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. 

4 (a) SELECTION OF PRIORITY LANDSCAPES.—In ac5 cordance with subsections (b) and (c), not later than 180 

6 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secre7 taries shall select not fewer than 9 and not more than 

8 15 priority landscapes for increased trail maintenance. 

9 (b) CRITERIA.—The priority landscapes selected 

10 under subsection (a) shall include a well-defined region in 

11 which— 

12 (1) the lack of trail maintenance has— 

13 (A) reduced access to public land; 

14 (B) led to an increase, or risk of increase, 

15 in harm to natural resources; 

16 (C) jeopardized public safety; or 

17 (D) increased future trail maintenance 

18 costs; 

19 (2) additional resources can meet unmet de20 mands on well-traveled trails; 

21 (3) trails— 

22 (A) have been, or are subsequently, des23 ignated as national recreation, scenic, or his24 toric trails; or 


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1 (B) are located within a designated Na2 tional Recreation Area or National Scenic Area; 

3 (4) trails have been identified as a priority in 

4 a Statewide comprehensive outdoor recreation plan; 

5 or 

6 (5) trails are located within a landscape identi7 fied as a priority under the large landscapes collabo8 rative process of the Secretaries. 

9 (c) REQUIREMENTS.—In selecting priority landscapes 

10 under subsection (a), the Secretaries shall— 

11 (1) provide opportunities for and consider any 

12 public input on priority landscapes received by not 

13 later than 90 days after the date of enactment of 

14 this Act; and 

15 (2) select not less than 1 priority landscape in 

16 each geographic region of the United States. 

17 (d) INCREASED TRAIL MAINTENANCE.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

19 after the date on which the Secretaries select the 

20 priority landscapes under subsection (a), the Secre21 taries shall develop a plan to substantially increase 

22 trail maintenance in each priority landscape. 

23 (2) CONTENTS.—In developing the plan under 

24 paragraph (1), the Secretaries shall— 


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1 (A) provide opportunities for and consider 

2 any public input on trail maintenance priorities 

3 and needs in each priority landscape; 

4 (B) consider the costs and benefits of in5 creased trail maintenance in each priority land6 scape; and 

7 (C) incorporate trail maintenance partners 

8 and volunteers, including youth organizations. 

9 (3) REQUIRED TRAIL MAINTENANCE.—In car10 rying out the plan developed under paragraph (1), 

11 the Secretaries shall substantially increase trail 

12 maintenance in each priority landscape. 

13 (e) REVISION.—The Secretaries— 

14 (1) shall periodically review the priority land15 scapes selected under subsection (a) to determine 

16 whether revisions to the priority landscapes are nec17 essary; and 

18 (2) may revise the priority landscapes, including 

19 by selecting new priority landscapes or removing ex20 isting priority landscapes, at the sole discretion of 

21 the Secretaries. 

22 SEC. 413. PRIORITY TRAIL MAINTENANCE PROGRAM FUND. 

23 There is established in the Treasury of the United 

24 States a fund to be known as the ‘‘Priority Trail Mainte25 nance Program Fund’’, consisting of such amounts as are 


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1 appropriated to the Priority Trail Maintenance Program 

2 Fund, for trail maintenance in the priority landscapes se3 lected by the Secretaries under section 412(a). 

4 SEC. 414. INTERAGENCY TRAIL MANAGEMENT. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries shall establish an 

6 interagency trail management plan under which Federal 

7 land management agencies shall coordinate so that trails 

8 that cross jurisdictional boundaries between the Federal 

9 land management agencies are managed and maintained 

10 in a uniform manner. 

11 (b) REQUIREMENT.—The plan established under sub12 section (a) shall ensure compliance with all Federal envi13 ronmental laws applicable to each jurisdiction. 

14 Subtitle C—Public Lands Service 

15 Corps Act Amendments 

16 SEC. 421. AMENDMENT TO SHORT TITLE. 

17 Section 201 of the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 

18 (16 U.S.C. 1701 note; 107 Stat. 848) is amended to read 

19 as follows: 

20 ‘‘SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCES. 

21 ‘‘(a) SHORT TITLE.—This title may be cited as the 

22 ‘Public Lands Service Corps Act of 1993’. 

23 ‘‘(b) REFERENCES.—Any reference contained in any 

24 law, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the 

25 United States to the ‘Public Lands Corps Act of 1993’ 


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1 shall be considered to be a reference to the ‘Public Lands 

2 Service Corps Act of 1993’.’’. 

3 SEC. 422. REFERENCE. 

4 A reference in this subtitle to ‘‘the Act’’ is a reference 

5 to the Public Lands Service Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 

6 1721 et seq.; title II of Public Law 91–378). 

7 SEC. 423. AMENDMENTS TO PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS 

8 ACT OF 1993. 

9 (a) NAME AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION CHANGES.— 

10 The Act is amended— 

11 (1) in the title heading, by striking ‘‘PUBLIC 

12 LANDS CORPS’’ and inserting ‘‘PUBLIC 

13 LANDS SERVICE CORPS’’; 

14 (2) in section 204 (16 U.S.C. 1723), in the 

15 heading, by striking ‘‘PUBLIC LANDS CORPS’’ and 

16 inserting ‘‘PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS’’; 

17 (3) in section 210(a)(2) (16 U.S.C. 

18 1729(a)(2)), in the heading, by striking ‘‘PUBLIC

19 LANDS’’; 

20 (4) by striking ‘‘Public Lands Corps’’ each 

21 place it appears and inserting ‘‘Corps’’; 

22 (5) by striking ‘‘conservation center’’ each place 

23 it appears and inserting ‘‘residential conservation 

24 center’’; 


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1 (6) by striking ‘‘conservation centers’’ each 

2 place it appears and inserting ‘‘residential conserva3 tion centers’’; 

4 (7) by striking ‘‘appropriate conservation 

5 project’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘appro6 priate natural and cultural resources conservation 

7 project’’; and 

8 (8) by striking ‘‘appropriate conservation 

9 projects’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘ap10 propriate natural and cultural resources conservation 

11 projects’’. 

12 (b) FINDINGS.—Section 202(a) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 

13 1721(a)) (as amended by subsection (a)) is amended— 

14 (1) in paragraph (1)— 

15 (A) by striking ‘‘Corps can benefit’’ and 

16 inserting ‘‘conservation corps can benefit’’; and 

17 (B) by striking ‘‘the natural and cultural’’ 

18 and inserting ‘‘natural and cultural’’; 

19 (2) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as 

20 paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; 

21 (3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol22 lowing: 

23 ‘‘(2) Participants in conservation corps receive 

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1 ence with conservation corps provides preparation 

2 for careers in public service. 

3 ‘‘(3) Young men and women who provide serv4 ice in support of rehabilitation, promotion, and res5 toration of the natural, cultural, historic, archae6 ological, recreational, and scenic treasures of the 

7 United States will gain an increased appreciation 

8 and understanding of the public lands and heritage 

9 of the United States, and of the value of public serv10 ice, and are likely to become life-long advocates for 

11 those values.’’; 

12 (4) in paragraph (4) (as redesignated by para13 graph (2)), by inserting ‘‘, cultural, historic, archae14 ological, recreational, and scenic’’ after ‘‘Many facili15 ties and natural’’; and 

16 (5) by adding at the end the following: 

17 ‘‘(6) The work of conservation corps can benefit 

18 communities adjacent to public lands and facilities 

19 through renewed civic engagement and participation 

20 by corps participants and those they serve, improved 

21 student achievement, and restoration and rehabilita22 tion of public assets.’’. 

23 (c) PURPOSE.—Section 202 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 

24 1721(b)) is amended by striking subsection (b) and insert25 ing the following: 


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1 ‘‘(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are— 

2 ‘‘(1) to introduce young men and women to 

3 public service while furthering their understanding 

4 and appreciation of the natural, cultural, historic, 

5 archaeological, recreational, and scenic resources of 

6 the United States; 

7 ‘‘(2) to facilitate training and recruitment op8 portunities in which service is credited as qualifying 

9 experience for careers in the management of such 

10 resources; 

11 ‘‘(3) to instill in a new generation of young men 

12 and women from across the United States, including 

13 young men and women from diverse backgrounds, 

14 the desire to seek careers in resource stewardship 

15 and public service by allowing them to work directly 

16 with professionals in agencies responsible for the 

17 management of the natural, cultural, historic, ar18 chaeological, recreational, and scenic resources of 

19 the United States; 

20 ‘‘(4) to perform, in a cost-effective manner, ap21 propriate natural and cultural resources conservation 

22 projects where such projects are not being performed 

23 by existing employees; 

24 ‘‘(5) to assist Federal, State, and local govern25 ments and Indian tribes in performing research and 


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1 public education tasks associated with the conserva2 tion of natural, cultural, historic, archaeological, rec3 reational, and scenic resources; 

4 ‘‘(6) to expand educational opportunities on 

5 public lands and by rewarding individuals who par6 ticipate in conservation corps with an increased abil7 ity to pursue higher education and job training; 

8 ‘‘(7) to promote public understanding and ap9 preciation of the missions and the natural and cul10 tural resources conservation work of the partici11 pating Federal agencies through training opportuni12 ties, community service and outreach, and other ap13 propriate means; and 

14 ‘‘(8) to create a grant program for Indian 

15 tribes to establish the Indian Youth Service Corps so 

16 that Indian youth can benefit from carrying out 

17 projects on Indian lands that the Indian tribes and 

18 communities determine to be priorities.’’. 

19 (d) DEFINITIONS.—Section 203 of the Act (16 

20 U.S.C. 1722) is amended— 

21 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through 

22 (7), (8) through (10), and (11) through (13) as 

23 paragraphs (5) through (9), (11) through (13), and 

24 (15) through (17), respectively; 


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1 (2) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and in2 serting the following: 

3 ‘‘(1) APPROPRIATE NATURAL AND CULTURAL

4 RESOURCES CONSERVATION PROJECT.—The term 

5 ‘appropriate natural and cultural resources conserva6 tion project’ means any project in support of or for 

7 the conservation, restoration, construction, or reha8 bilitation of natural, cultural, historic, archae9 ological, recreational, or scenic resources and pro10 grams. 

11 ‘‘(2) CONSULTING INTERN.—The term ‘con12 sulting intern’ means a consulting intern selected 

13 under section 206(a)(2). 

14 ‘‘(3) CORPS; PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS.— 

15 The terms ‘Corps’ and ‘Public Lands Service Corps’ 

16 mean the Public Lands Service Corps established by 

17 section 204(a). 

18 ‘‘(4) CORPS PARTICIPANT.—The term ‘Corps 

19 participant’ means an individual enrolled— 

20 ‘‘(A) in the Corps or the Indian Youth 

21 Service Corps; or 

22 ‘‘(B) as a resource assistant or consulting 

23 intern.’’; 

24 (3) by inserting after paragraph (9) (as redesig25 nated by paragraph (1)) the following: 


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1 ‘‘(10) INDIAN YOUTH SERVICE CORPS.—The 

2 term ‘Indian Youth Service Corps’ means a qualified 

3 youth or conservation corps established under sec4 tion 207 that— 

5 ‘‘(A) enrolls individuals between the ages 

6 of 15 and 25, inclusive, a majority of whom are 

7 Indians; and 

8 ‘‘(B) is established pursuant to a tribal 

9 resolution that describes the agreement between 

10 the Indian tribe and the qualified youth or con11 servation corps to operate an Indian Youth 

12 Service Corps program for the benefit of the 

13 members of the Indian tribe.’’; 

14 (4) by striking paragraph (12) (as redesignated 

15 by paragraph (1)) and inserting the following: 

16 ‘‘(12) PUBLIC LANDS.—The term ‘public lands’ 

17 means any land or water (or interest therein) owned 

18 or administered by the United States, including 

19 those areas of coastal and ocean waters, the Great 

20 Lakes and their connecting waters, and submerged 

21 lands over which the United States exercises juris22 diction, except that such term does not include In23 dian lands.’’; 

24 (5) in paragraph (13) (as redesignated by para25 graph (1))— 


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1 (A) in subparagraph (A)— 

2 (i) by striking ‘‘full-time,’’; 

3 (ii) by inserting ‘‘on eligible service 

4 lands’’ after ‘‘resource setting’’; and 

5 (iii) by striking ‘‘16’’ and inserting 

6 ‘‘15’’; 

7 (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking 

8 ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

9 (C) in subparagraph (C), by striking the 

10 period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

11 (D) by adding at the end the following: 

12 ‘‘(D) makes available for audit for each fis13 cal year for which the qualified youth or con14 servation corps receives Federal funds under 

15 this Act, all information pertaining to the ex16 penditure of the funds, any matching funds, 

17 and participant demographics.’’; 

18 (6) by inserting after paragraph (13) (as redes19 ignated by paragraph (1)) the following: 

20 ‘‘(14) RESIDENTIAL CONSERVATION CEN21 TERS.—The term ‘residential conservation centers’ 

22 means the facilities authorized under section 205.’’; 

23 (7) in paragraph (15) (as redesignated by para24 graph (1)), by striking ‘‘206’’ and inserting 

25 ‘‘206(a)(1)’’; and 


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1 (8) in paragraph (16) (as redesignated by para2 graph (1))— 

3 (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking 

4 ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

5 (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the 

6 period at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

7 (C) by adding at the end the following: 

8 ‘‘(C) with respect to the National Marine 

9 Sanctuary System, coral reefs, and other coast10 al, estuarine, and marine habitats, and other 

11 lands and facilities administered by the Na12 tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 

13 the Secretary of Commerce.’’. 

14 (e) PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE CORPS PROGRAM.—Sec15 tion 204 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1723) (as amended by sub16 section (a)) is amended— 

17 (1) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) and 

18 subsections (d) through (f) as subsections (c) and 

19 (d) and subsections (f) through (h), respectively; 

20 (2) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the 

21 following: 

22 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE

23 CORPS.—There is established in the Department of the 

24 Interior, the Department of Agriculture, and the Depart25 ment of Commerce a Public Lands Service Corps. 


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1 ‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF CORPS OFFICE; COORDI2 NATORS; LIAISON.— 

3 ‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFICES.— 

4 ‘‘(A) DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.— 

5 The Secretary of the Interior shall establish a 

6 department-level office to coordinate the Corps 

7 activities within the Department of the Interior. 

8 ‘‘(B) DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.— 

9 The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish 

10 within the Forest Service an office to coordinate 

11 the Corps activities within that agency. 

12 ‘‘(C) DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.—The 

13 Secretary of Commerce shall establish within 

14 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin15 istration an office to coordinate the Corps ac16 tivities within that agency. 

17 ‘‘(2) ESTABLISHMENT OF COORDINATORS.— 

18 The Secretary shall designate a Public Lands Serv19 ice Corps coordinator for each agency under the ju20 risdiction of the Secretary that administers Corps 

21 activities. 

22 ‘‘(3) ESTABLISHMENT OF LIAISON.—The Sec23 retary of the Interior shall establish an Indian Youth 

24 Service Corps liaison that will— 


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1 ‘‘(A) provide outreach to Indian tribes 

2 about opportunities for establishing Corps and 

3 Indian Youth Service Corps programs; and 

4 ‘‘(B) coordinate with the Tribal Liaison of 

5 the Corporation for National Service to identify 

6 and establish Corps and Indian Youth Service 

7 Corps opportunities for Indian youth.’’; 

8 (3) by striking subsection (c) (as redesignated 

9 by paragraph (1)) and inserting the following: 

10 ‘‘(c) PARTICIPANTS.— 

11 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may enroll 

12 in the Corps individuals who are— 

13 ‘‘(A) hired by an agency under the juris14 diction of the Secretary to perform work au15 thorized under this Act; or 

16 ‘‘(B) members of a qualified youth or con17 servation corps with which the Secretary has 

18 entered into a cooperative agreement to perform 

19 work authorized under this Act. 

20 ‘‘(2) RESOURCE ASSISTANTS AND CONSULTING

21 INTERNS.—The Secretary may also enroll in the 

22 Corps resource assistants and consulting interns in 

23 accordance with section 206(a). 


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1 ‘‘(3) ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.—To be eligi2 ble for enrollment as a Corps participant, an indi3 vidual shall— 

4 ‘‘(A)(i) be between the ages of 15 and 25, 

5 inclusive; or 

6 ‘‘(ii) in the case of a military veteran, be 

7 not older than 35; and 

8 ‘‘(B) satisfy the requirements of section 

9 137(a)(5) of the National and Community Serv10 ice Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12591(a)(5)). 

11 ‘‘(4) TERMS.—Each Corps participant may be 

12 enrolled in the Corps for a term of up to 2 years of 

13 service, which may be served over a period that ex14 ceeds 2 calendar years. 

15 ‘‘(5) CIVIL SERVICE.—An individual may be en16 rolled as a Corps participant without regard to the 

17 civil service and classification laws, rules, or regula18 tions of the United States. 

19 ‘‘(6) PREFERENCE.—The Secretary may estab20 lish a preference for the enrollment as Corps partici21 pants individuals who are economically, physically, 

22 or educationally disadvantaged. 

23 ‘‘(7) LOCAL PREFERENCE.—The Secretary may 

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1 ticipants individuals who live in the State or region 

2 in which the work is being performed.’’; 

3 (4) in subsection (d) (as redesignated by para4 graph (1))— 

5 (A) in paragraph (1)— 

6 (i) by striking ‘‘contracts and’’; and 

7 (ii) by striking ‘‘subsection (d)’’ and 

8 inserting ‘‘subsection (f)’’; 

9 (B) by striking paragraph (2); and 

10 (C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the 

11 following: 

12 ‘‘(2) RECRUITMENT.—The Secretary shall carry 

13 out, or enter into cooperative agreements to provide, 

14 a program to attract eligible youth to the Corps by 

15 publicizing Corps opportunities through high schools, 

16 colleges, employment centers, electronic media, and 

17 other appropriate institutions and means. 

18 ‘‘(3) PREFERENCE.—In entering into coopera19 tive agreements under paragraph (1) or awarding 

20 competitive grants to Indian tribes or tribally au21 thorized organizations under section 207, the Sec22 retary may give preference to qualified youth or con23 servation corps that are located in specific areas 

24 where a substantial portion of members are economi25 cally, physically, or educationally disadvantaged.’’; 


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1 (5) by inserting after subsection (d) (as redesig2 nated by paragraph (1)) the following: 

3 ‘‘(e) TRAINING.—For purposes of training, the Sec4 retary shall take into account training already received by 

5 Corps participants enrolled from qualified youth or con6 servation corps.’’; 

7 (6) in subsection (f) (as redesignated by para8 graph (1))— 

9 (A) in paragraph (1)— 

10 (i) in the heading, by striking ‘‘IN

11 GENERAL.—’’ and inserting ‘‘USE OF

12 CORPS; PROJECTS.—’’; 

13 (ii) by striking ‘‘The Secretary may 

14 utilize the Corps or any qualified youth or 

15 conservation corps to carry out’’ and in16 serting the following: 

17 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may 

18 use the Corps to carry out, with appropriate su19 pervision and training,’’; 

20 (iii) by striking ‘‘on public lands’’ and 

21 inserting on ‘‘on eligible service lands’’; 

22 and 

23 (iv) by adding at the end the fol24 lowing: 


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1 ‘‘(B) PROJECTS.—Appropriate natural and 

2 cultural resources conservation projects carried 

3 out under this section may include— 

4 ‘‘(i) protecting, restoring, or enhanc5 ing ecosystem components to promote spe6 cies recovery, improve biological diversity, 

7 enhance productivity and carbon sequestra8 tion, and enhance adaptability and resil9 ience of eligible service lands and resources 

10 to climate change and other natural and 

11 human disturbances; 

12 ‘‘(ii) promoting the health of eligible 

13 service lands, including— 

14 ‘‘(I) protecting and restoring wa15 tersheds and forest, grassland, ripar16 ian, estuarine, marine, or other habi17 tat; 

18 ‘‘(II) reducing the risk of 

19 uncharacteristically severe wildfire 

20 and mitigating damage from insects, 

21 disease, and disasters; 

22 ‘‘(III) controlling erosion; 

23 ‘‘(IV) controlling and removing 

24 invasive, noxious, or nonnative spe25 cies; and 


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1 ‘‘(V) restoring native species; 

2 ‘‘(iii) collecting biological, archae3 ological, and other scientific data, includ4 ing climatological information, species pop5 ulations and movement, habitat status, and 

6 other information; 

7 ‘‘(iv) assisting in historical and cul8 tural research, museum curatorial work, 

9 oral history projects, documentary photog10 raphy, and activities that support the cre11 ation of public works of art related to eligi12 ble service lands; and 

13 ‘‘(v) constructing, repairing, rehabili14 tating, and maintaining roads, trails, 

15 campgrounds and other visitor facilities, 

16 employee housing, cultural and historic 

17 sites and structures, and other facilities 

18 that further the purposes of this Act.’’; 

19 (B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and 

20 (3) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and 

21 (C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the 

22 following: 

23 ‘‘(2) VISITOR SERVICES.—The Secretary may— 

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1 tion, educational institution, friends group, or 

2 similar nonprofit partner organization for the 

3 purpose of providing training and work experi4 ence to Corps participants in areas such as 

5 sales, office work, accounting, and management, 

6 provided that the work experience directly re7 lates to the conservation and management of el8 igible service lands; and 

9 ‘‘(B) allow Corps participants to help pro10 mote visitor safety and enjoyment of eligible 

11 service lands, and assist in the gathering of vis12 itor use data. 

13 ‘‘(3) INTERPRETATION.—The Secretary may 

14 permit Corps participants to provide interpretation 

15 or education services for the public under the direct 

16 and immediate supervision of an agency employee— 

17 ‘‘(A) to provide orientation and informa18 tion services to visitors; 

19 ‘‘(B) to assist agency employees in the de20 livery of interpretive or educational programs 

21 where audience size, environmental conditions, 

22 safety, or other factors make such assistance 

23 desirable; 

24 ‘‘(C) to present programs that relate the 

25 personal experience of the Corps participants 


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1 for the purpose of promoting public awareness 

2 of the Corps, the role of the Corps in public 

3 land management agencies, and the availability 

4 of the Corps to potential participants; and 

5 ‘‘(D) to create nonpersonal interpretive 

6 products, such as website content, Junior Rang7 er program books, printed handouts, and audio8 visual programs.’’; 

9 (7) in subsection (g) (as redesignated by para10 graph (1))— 

11 (A) in the matter preceding the first para12 graph, by striking ‘‘those projects which’’ and 

13 inserting ‘‘priority projects and other projects 

14 that’’; and 

15 (B) by striking paragraph (2) and insert16 ing the following: 

17 ‘‘(2) will instill in Corps participants a work 

18 ethic and a sense of public service;’’; and 

19 (8) by adding at the end the following: 

20 ‘‘(i) OTHER PARTICIPANTS.—The Secretary may 

21 allow volunteers from other programs administered or des22 ignated by the Secretary to participate as volunteers in 

23 projects carried out under this section. 

24 ‘‘(j) CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECKS.— 


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1 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The requirements of sec2 tion 189D(b) of the National and Community Serv3 ice Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12645g(b)) shall apply 

4 to each individual age 18 or older seeking— 

5 ‘‘(A) to become a Corps participant; 

6 ‘‘(B) to receive funds authorized under this 

7 Act; or 

8 ‘‘(C) to supervise or otherwise have regular 

9 contact with Corps participants in activities au10 thorized under this Act. 

11 ‘‘(2) ELIGIBILITY PROHIBITION.—If any of 

12 paragraphs (1) through (4) of section 189D(c) of 

13 the National and Community Service Act of 1990 

14 (42 U.S.C. 12645g(c)) apply to an individual de15 scribed in paragraph (1), that individual shall not be 

16 eligible for the position or activity described in para17 graph (1), unless the Secretary provides an exemp18 tion for good cause.’’. 

19 (f) RESIDENTIAL CONSERVATION CENTERS AND

20 PROGRAM SUPPORT.—Section 205 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 

21 1724) is amended— 

22 (1) in subsection (b)— 

23 (A) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and in24 serting the following: 

25 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary’’; and 


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1 (B) by adding at the end the following: 

2 ‘‘(2) TEMPORARY HOUSING.—The Secretary 

3 may make arrangements with another Federal agen4 cy, State, local government, or private organization 

5 to provide temporary housing for Corps participants 

6 as needed and available. 

7 ‘‘(3) TRANSPORTATION.—In project areas 

8 where Corps participants reside at their own homes, 

9 the Secretary may provide transportation to and 

10 from project sites.’’; 

11 (2) by redesignating subsection (d) as sub12 section (e); 

13 (3) by inserting after subsection (c) the fol14 lowing: 

15 ‘‘(d) MENTORS.—The Secretary may recruit from 

16 programs, such as Federal volunteer and encore service 

17 programs, and from veterans groups, military retirees, and 

18 active duty personnel, such adults as may be suitable and 

19 qualified to provide training, mentoring, and crew-leading 

20 services to Corps participants.’’; and 

21 (4) in subsection (e) (as redesignated by para22 graph (2)), by striking ‘‘that are appropriate’’ and 

23 all that follows through the period and inserting 

24 ‘‘that the Secretary determines to be necessary for 

25 a residential conservation center.’’. 


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1 (g) RESOURCE ASSISTANTS AND CONSULTING IN2 TERNS.—Section 206 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1725) is 

3 amended— 

4 (1) in the section heading, by inserting ‘‘AND

5 CONSULTING INTERNS’’ before the period; and 

6 (2) by striking subsections (a) and (b) and in7 serting the following: 

8 ‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION.— 

9 ‘‘(1) RESOURCE ASSISTANTS.— 

10 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may 

11 provide individual placements of resource assist12 ants with any agency under the jurisdiction of 

13 the Secretary that carries out appropriate nat14 ural and cultural resources conservation 

15 projects to carry out research or resource pro16 tection activities on behalf of the agency. 

17 ‘‘(B) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for se18 lection as a resource assistant, an individual 

19 shall be at least 17 years of age. 

20 ‘‘(C) PREFERENCE.—In selecting resource 

21 assistants for placement under this paragraph, 

22 the Secretary shall give a preference to individ23 uals who are enrolled in an institution of higher 

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1 tention given to ensuring full representation of 

2 women and participants from Historically Black 

3 Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving in4 stitutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities. 

5 ‘‘(2) CONSULTING INTERNS.— 

6 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may 

7 provide individual placements of consulting in8 terns with any agency under the jurisdiction of 

9 the Secretary that carries out appropriate nat10 ural and cultural resources conservation 

11 projects to carry out management analysis ac12 tivities on behalf of the agency. 

13 ‘‘(B) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for se14 lection as a consulting intern, an individual 

15 shall be enrolled in, and have completed at least 

16 1 full year at, a graduate or professional school 

17 that has been accredited by an accrediting body 

18 recognized by the Secretary of Education. 

19 ‘‘(b) USE OF EXISTING NONPROFIT ORGANIZA20 TIONS.— 

21 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Whenever 1 or more non22 profit organizations can provide appropriate recruit23 ment and placement services to fulfill the require24 ments of this section, the Secretary may implement 

25 this section through such organizations. 


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1 ‘‘(2) EXPENSES.—Participating organizations 

2 shall contribute to the expenses of providing and 

3 supporting the resource assistants or consulting in4 terns from sources of funding other than the Sec5 retary, at a level of not less than 25 percent of the 

6 total costs of each participant in the resource assist7 ant or consulting intern program who has been re8 cruited and placed through that organization. 

9 ‘‘(3) REPORTING.—Each participating organi10 zation shall be required to submit an annual report 

11 evaluating the scope, size, and quality of the pro12 gram, including the value of work contributed by the 

13 resource assistants and consulting interns, to the 

14 mission of the agency.’’. 

15 (h) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—The Act is amended 

16 by redesignating sections 207 through 211 (16 U.S.C. 

17 1726 through 1730) as sections 209 through 213, respec18 tively. 

19 (i) INDIAN YOUTH SERVICE CORPS.—The Act is 

20 amended by inserting after section 206 (16 U.S.C. 1725) 

21 the following: 

22 ‘‘SEC. 207. INDIAN YOUTH SERVICE CORPS. 

23 ‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION OF COOPERATIVE AGREE24 MENTS AND COMPETITIVE GRANTS.—The Secretary is au25 thorized to enter into cooperative agreements with, or 


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1 make competitive grants to, Indian tribes and qualified 

2 youth or conservation corps for the establishment and ad3 ministration of Indian Youth Service Corps programs to 

4 carry out appropriate natural and cultural resources con5 servation projects on Indian lands. 

6 ‘‘(b) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive assist7 ance under this section, an Indian tribe or a qualified 

8 youth or conservation corps shall submit to the Secretary 

9 an application in such manner and containing such infor10 mation as the Secretary may require, including— 

11 ‘‘(1) a description of the methods by which In12 dian youth will be recruited for and retained in the 

13 Indian Youth Service Corps; 

14 ‘‘(2) a description of the projects to be carried 

15 out by the Indian Youth Service Corps; 

16 ‘‘(3) a description of how the projects were 

17 identified; and 

18 ‘‘(4) an explanation of the impact of, and the 

19 direct community benefits provided by, the proposed 

20 projects.’’. 

21 (j) GUIDANCE.—The Act is amended by inserting 

22 after section 207 (as amended by subsection (i)) the fol23 lowing: 


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1 ‘‘SEC. 208. GUIDANCE. 

2 ‘‘Not later than 18 months after the date on which 

3 funds are made available to the Secretary to carry out this 

4 Act, the Secretary shall issue guidelines for the manage5 ment of programs under the jurisdiction of the Secretary 

6 that are authorized under this Act.’’. 

7 (k) LIVING ALLOWANCES AND TERMS OF SERV8 ICE.—Section 209 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1726) (as redes9 ignated by subsection (h)) is amended by striking sub10 sections (a), (b), and (c) and inserting the following: 

11 ‘‘(a) LIVING ALLOWANCES.— 

12 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide 

13 each Corps participant with a living allowance in an 

14 amount established by the Secretary. 

15 ‘‘(2) TRAVEL COSTS.—The Secretary may reim16 burse Corps participants for travel costs at the be17 ginning and end of the term of service of the Corps 

18 participants. 

19 ‘‘(b) TERMS OF SERVICE.— 

20 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each Corps participant 

21 shall agree to participate for such term of service as 

22 may be established by the Secretary. 

23 ‘‘(2) CONSULTATIONS.—With respect to the In24 dian Youth Service Corps, the term of service shall 

25 be established in consultation with the affected In26 dian tribe or tribally authorized organization. 


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1 ‘‘(c) HIRING PREFERENCE AND FUTURE EMPLOY2 MENT.—The Secretary may— 

3 ‘‘(1) grant to a Corps participant credit for 

4 time served as a Corps participant, which may be 

5 used toward future Federal hiring; 

6 ‘‘(2) provide to a former participant of the 

7 Corps or the Indian Youth Service Corps non8 competitive hiring status for a period of not more 

9 than 2 years after the date on which the service of 

10 the candidate in the Corps or the Indian Youth 

11 Service Corps was complete, if the candidate— 

12 ‘‘(A) has served a minimum of 960 hours 

13 on an appropriate natural or cultural resources 

14 conservation project that included at least 120 

15 hours through the Corps or the Indian Youth 

16 Service Corps; and 

17 ‘‘(B) meets Office of Personnel Manage18 ment qualification standards for the position for 

19 which the candidate is applying; 

20 ‘‘(3) provide to a former resource assistant or 

21 consulting intern noncompetitive hiring status for a 

22 period of not more than 2 years after the date on 

23 which the individual has completed an under24 graduate or graduate degree, respectively, from an 

25 accredited institution, if the candidate— 


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1 ‘‘(A) successfully fulfilled the resource as2 sistant or consulting intern program require3 ments; and 

4 ‘‘(B) meets Office of Personnel Manage5 ment qualification standards for the position for 

6 which the candidate is applying; and 

7 ‘‘(4) provide, or enter into contracts or coopera8 tive agreements with qualified employment agencies 

9 to provide, alumni services such as job and edu10 cation counseling, referrals, verification of service, 

11 communications, and other appropriate services to 

12 Corps participants who have completed the term of 

13 service.’’. 

14 (l) NATIONAL SERVICE EDUCATIONAL AWARDS.— 

15 Section 210 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1727) (as redesignated 

16 by subsection (h)) is amended— 

17 (1) in subsection (a) (as amended by subsection 

18 (a)(4)), in the first sentence— 

19 (A) by striking ‘‘participant in the Corps 

20 or a resource assistant’’ and inserting ‘‘Corps 

21 participant’’; and 

22 (B) by striking ‘‘participant or resource as23 sistant’’ and inserting ‘‘Corps participant’’; and 

24 (2) in subsection (b)— 


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1 (A) by striking ‘‘either participants in the 

2 Corps or resource assistants’’ and inserting 

3 ‘‘Corps participants’’; and 

4 (B) by striking ‘‘or a resource assistant’’. 

5 (m) NONDISPLACEMENT.—Section 211 of the Act 

6 (16 U.S.C. 1728) (as redesignated by subsection (h)) is 

7 amended by striking ‘‘activities carried out’’ and all that 

8 follows through the period and inserting ‘‘Corps partici9 pants.’’. 

10 (n) FUNDING.—Section 212 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 

11 1729) (as redesignated by subsection (h)) is amended— 

12 (1) in subsection (a)— 

13 (A) in paragraph (1)— 

14 (i) in the second sentence, by striking 

15 ‘‘nonfederal sources’’ and inserting 

16 ‘‘sources other than the Secretary’’; and 

17 (ii) by inserting after the second sen18 tence the following: ‘‘The Secretary may 

19 pay up to 90 percent of the costs of a 

20 project if the Secretary determines that the 

21 reduction is necessary to enable participa22 tion from a greater range of organizations 

23 or individuals.’’; and 


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1 (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘or In2 dian Youth Service Corps’’ after ‘‘Corps’’ each 

3 place it appears; 

4 (2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 

5 following: 

6 ‘‘(b) FUNDS AVAILABLE UNDER NATIONAL AND

7 COMMUNITY SERVICE ACT.—To carry out this Act, the 

8 Secretary shall be eligible to apply for and receive assist9 ance under section 121(b) of the National and Community 

10 Service Act (42 U.S.C. 12571(b)).’’; and 

11 (3) in subsection (c)— 

12 (A) by striking ‘‘section 211’’ and insert13 ing ‘‘section 213’’; and 

14 (B) by inserting ‘‘or Indian Youth Service 

15 Corps’’ after ‘‘Corps’’. 

16 (o) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 

17 213 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1730) (as redesignated by sub18 section (h)) is amended— 

19 (1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘year’’ and all 

20 that follows through the period and inserting 

21 ‘‘year.’’; 

22 (2) by striking subsection (b); and 

23 (3) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub24 section (b). 


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74 

•HR 4790 IH

1 SEC. 424. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY. 

2 Section 121(a) of the Consolidated Appropriations 

3 Act, 2012 (16 U.S.C. 1725a(a)), is amended— 

4 (1) in paragraph (1)— 

5 (A) by inserting ‘‘and the Secretary of Ag6 riculture’’ after ‘‘Secretary of the Interior’’; 

7 (B) by striking ‘‘paragraph (1)’’ and in8 serting ‘‘paragraph (2)’’; and 

9 (C) by inserting ‘‘or the Department of 

10 Agriculture, as applicable,’’ after ‘‘Department 

11 of the Interior’’; and 

12 (2) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding 

13 subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘or consulting in14 tern’’ after ‘‘resource assistant’’. 

Æ 


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