Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2015

To amend the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act to enhance recreational opportunities, environmental restoration activities, and forest management activities in the Lake Tahoe Basin, and for other purposes. 1. Short title (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2015 (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title. Sec. 2. Findings and purposes. Sec. 3. Definitions. Sec. 4. Improved administration of the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. Sec. 5. Authorized programs. Sec. 6. Program performance and accountability. Sec. 7. Technical corrections and conforming amendments. Sec. 8. Authorization of appropriations. Sec. 9. Land conveyances to improve management efficiencies of State and Federal lands. Sec. 10. Modification of land acquisition authority under Santini-Burton Act and Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998. Sec. 11. Availability of categorical exclusion for Lake Tahoe herbicide applications to control certain aquatic weeds. 2. Findings and purposes Section 2 of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act ( Public Law 106–506 2. Findings and purposes (a) Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) Lake Tahoe— (A) is one of the largest, deepest, and clearest fresh-water lakes in the world; (B) has a distinctive cobalt blue color, a biologically diverse alpine setting, and remarkable water clarity; and (C) is recognized as a natural resource of special significance, so that even world-traveler Mark Twain called Lake Tahoe the fairest picture the whole earth affords (2) In addition to being a scenic and ecological treasure, the Lake Tahoe Basin is one of the outstanding recreational resources of the United States, which— (A) offers skiing, water sports, biking, camping, and hiking to millions of visitors each year; and (B) contributes significantly to the economies of California, Nevada, and the United States. (3) The economy in the Lake Tahoe Basin is dependent on the natural beauty and recreation opportunities of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding area. (4) Forests in the Lake Tahoe Basin suffer from over a century of fire damage, periodic drought, and mismanagement, which have resulted in— (A) high tree density and mortality; (B) the loss of biological diversity; and (C) a large quantity of combustible forest fuels, which significantly increases the threat of catastrophic fire and insect infestation. (5) The establishment of several aquatic and terrestrial invasive species (including perennial pepperweed, milfoil, and Asian clam) threatens the ecosystem of the Lake Tahoe Basin, and the likelihood exists for the introduction and establishment of other invasive species (such as yellow starthistle, New Zealand mud snail, Zebra mussel, and quagga mussel). (6) 75 percent of the land in the Lake Tahoe Basin is administered by the Federal Government, which makes it a Federal responsibility to significantly contribute to the restoration of the ecological health of the Lake Tahoe Basin. (b) Purposes The purposes of this Act are as follows: (1) To identify ways and pursue options to expand the environmental threshold carrying capacity of the Lake Tahoe Basin. (2) To enable the Chief of the Forest Service, the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Administrator, in cooperation with the Planning Agency and the States of California and Nevada, to fund, plan, and implement significant forest management and invasive species control activities in the Lake Tahoe Basin. (3) To ensure that Federal, State, local, regional, tribal, and private entities continue to work together to manage lands and forests in the Lake Tahoe Basin. (4) To support local governments in the Lake Tahoe Basin in efforts related fire risk reduction and forest management activities. (5) To prioritize public recreational access to public lands in the Lake Tahoe Basin. (6) To ensure that management of Federal land and forests in the Lake Tahoe Basin is conducted with the understanding that— (A) public forests are renewable assets that should be managed, rather than neglected, and that excess timber should be harvested to generate continuing revenue for care of the public’s land, in accordance with a good neighbor policy; and (B) the Federal Government will defer to local communities whenever possible with regard to land acquisition and land regulations or restrictions. . 3. Definitions Section 3 of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act ( Public Law 106–506 3. Definitions In this Act: (1) Administrator The term Administrator (2) Assistant secretary The term Assistant Secretary (3) Chair The term Chair (4) Compact The term Compact Public Law 96–551 (5) Directors The term Directors (A) the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and (B) the Director of the United States Geological Survey. (6) Environmental threshold carrying capacity The term environmental threshold carrying capacity (7) Federal partnership The term Federal Partnership (8) Forest management activity The term forest management activity (A) prescribed burning for ecosystem health and hazardous fuels reduction; (B) mechanical treatments, including forest thinning, sale of commercial timber and firewood, and brush mastication; (C) management of non-native, invasive species; (D) erosion control and water runoff mitigation on land adversely impacted by wildland fire; and (E) other activities consistent with Forest Service practices, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. (9) Maps The term Maps LTRA USFS-CA Land Exchange/North Shore USFS-CA Land Exchange/West Shore USFS-CA Land Exchange/South Shore (10) National wildland fire code The term national wildland fire code (A) the most recent publication of the National Fire Protection Association codes numbered 1141, 1142, 1143, and 1144; (B) the most recent publication of the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code of the International Code Council; or (C) any other code that the Secretary determines provides the same, or better, standards for protection against wildland fire as a code described in subparagraph (A) or (B). (11) Planning agency The term Planning Agency Public Law 91–148 Public Law 96–551 (12) Secretary The term Secretary (13) Watercraft The term watercraft . 4. Improved administration of the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Section 4 of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act ( Public Law 106–506 (c) Forest management activities (1) Coordination For the purpose of increasing efficiencies and maximizing the compatibility of management practices across public property boundaries, in conducting forest management activities in the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, the Secretary shall coordinate, as appropriate, with— (A) the Administrator; (B) State and local agencies; and (C) county governments, local governments, and local fire departments. (2) Multiple benefits In conducting forest management activities in the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, the Secretary shall conduct the activities in a manner that— (A) except as provided in paragraph (3), promotes multiple management benefits, including— (i) reducing forest fuels; (ii) enhancing and seeking ways to increase recreational opportunities; (iii) preserving existing and traditional uses; (iv) producing a sustainable yield of natural resource production; and (v) allowing for economic development; and (B) helps achieve, maintain, and identify ways to expand the environmental threshold carrying capacities established by the Planning Agency. (3) Cost-Benefit determination Notwithstanding paragraph (2)(A), the promotion of multiple management benefits shall not be required if the Secretary determines that management for multiple benefits would excessively increase the cost of a program in relation to the additional benefits gained from the management activity. The Secretary shall make each cost-benefit determination made under this paragraph publicly available. (4) Availability of categorical exclusion for certain forest management projects A forest management activity conducted in the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit for the purpose of reducing forest fuels is categorically excluded from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4331 et seq. (A) notwithstanding section 423 of the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2009 (division E of Public Law 111–8 (B) is developed— (i) in coordination with impacted parties, specifically including representatives of local governments, such as county supervisors or county commissioners; and (ii) in consultation with other interested parties; and (C) is consistent with the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit land and resource management plan. (d) Arbitration process (1) In general Any challenge to a forest management activity in the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit shall be addressed using arbitration consistent with this subsection. (2) Who may seek Any person who sought administrative review for the forest management activity and who is not satisfied with the decision made under the administrative review process may file a demand for arbitration regarding the covered active management project in accordance with chapter 1 (A) be filed not more than 15 days after the date on which the administrative review decision was issued; and (B) include a proposal describing the modifications sought to the forest management activity. (3) Intervening parties Not later than 15 days after the date on which the demand for arbitration was filed, any person that submitted a public comment on the forest management activity subject to arbitration may intervene in the arbitration— (A) by endorsing the activity or the modification proposal; or (B) by submitting a proposal to further modify the activity. (4) Appointment of arbitrator The United States District Court in the district in which the forest management activity is located shall appoint the arbitrator to conduct the arbitration proceedings in accordance with this subsection and chapter 1 (5) Selection of proposals (A) In general Within 30 days after appointment under paragraph (1), the arbitrator shall determine whether the proposal submitted by an objector or an intervening party or the forest management activity as approved by the Secretary best meets the purpose and needs described in the environmental analysis conducted, in accordance with this Act, for the forest management activity. (B) Modification prohibited The arbitrator appointed under paragraph (4) may not modify any of the proposals submitted with the demand for arbitration or a request to intervene. (6) Effect of decision The decision of an arbitrator with respect to the forest management activity— (A) shall not be considered a major Federal action; and (B) shall be binding. (7) Prohibition on restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, and injunctions pending appeal No restraining order, preliminary injunction, or injunction pending appeal shall be issued by an appellate court of the United States with respect to the decision of an arbitrator with respect to the forest management activity. (e) Environmental threshold carrying capacity The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit shall support the attainment of the environmental threshold carrying capacities and identify and pursue the means to expand those capacities. (f) Cooperative authorities (1) In general During fiscal years 2016 through 2020, the Secretary, in conjunction with land adjustment programs, may enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with States, units of local government, and other public and private entities to provide for fuel reduction, erosion control, reforestation, and similar management activities on Federal land and non-Federal land within the programs. (2) Extended duration of stewardship contracts Notwithstanding subsection (d)(3) of section 604 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 ( 16 U.S.C. 6591c (g) Commercial product receipts (1) Retention The Secretary shall retain any commercial product receipts generated as part of forest management activities or cooperative activities conducted in the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit under subsection (c) or (g), other than stewardship contracts described in subsection (g)(2). (2) Availability and use Receipts retained under paragraph (1) shall be available to the Secretary for the purpose of funding additional forest management activities and cooperative activities, developed through a collaborative process with representatives from local governments with jurisdiction over lands within the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. (3) Obligation limit The obligation and expenditure of receipts retained under this subsection shall be subject to such fiscal-year limitation as may be specified in an Act making appropriations for the Forest Service for a fiscal year. . 5. Authorized programs Section 5 of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act ( Public Law 106–506 5. Authorized programs (a) In general The Secretary, the Assistant Secretary, the Directors, and the Administrator, in coordination with the Planning Agency and the States of California and Nevada, may carry out or provide financial assistance to any program described in subsection (b) or (c). (b) Fire risk reduction and forest management (1) In general Of the amounts appropriated for a fiscal year pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in subsection (a) of section 12, as amended by section 8 of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2015 (A) The Lake Tahoe Basin Multi-Jurisdictional Fuel Reduction and Wildfire Prevention Strategy 10-Year Plan. (B) Competitive grants for fuels work to be awarded by the Secretary to communities that have adopted national wildland fire codes to implement the applicable portion of the plan referred to in subparagraph (A). (C) Restoration activities related to any residual or future wildfire damage. (D) Washoe Tribe fire risk reduction and forest management programs on tribal lands within the Lake Tahoe Basin. (E) Development of an updated Lake Tahoe Basin multijurisdictional fuel reduction and wildfire prevention strategy, consistent with the requirement that forest management activities in the Lake Tahoe Basin promote multiple management benefits as described in section 4(c) of this Act (as added by section 4 of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2015 (F) Development of updated community wildfire protection plans by local fire districts. (2) Priority Units of local government in the Lake Tahoe Basin that have dedicated funding for inspections and enforcement of defensible space regulations shall be given priority for amounts provided under this subsection. (3) Cost-sharing requirements (A) In general As a condition on the receipt of funds, communities or local fire districts that receive funds under this subsection shall provide a 25-percent match. (B) Form of non-Federal share (i) In general The non-Federal share required under subparagraph (A) may be in the form of cash contributions or in-kind contributions, including providing labor, equipment, supplies, space, and other operational needs. (ii) Credit for certain dedicated funding There shall be credited toward the non-Federal share required under subparagraph (A) any dedicated funding of the communities or local fire districts for a fuels reduction management program, defensible space inspections, or dooryard chipping. (C) Documentation Communities and local fire districts shall— (i) maintain a record of in-kind contributions that describes— (I) the monetary value of the in-kind contributions; and (II) the manner in which the in-kind contributions assist in accomplishing project goals and objectives; and (ii) document in all requests for Federal funding, and include in the total project budget, evidence of the commitment to provide the non-Federal share through in-kind contributions. (c) Invasive species management (1) In general Of the amounts appropriated for a fiscal year pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in subsection (a) of section 12, as amended by section 8 of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2015 (2) Description of activities The Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, in coordination with the Planning Agency, the California Department of Fish and Game, and the Nevada Department of Wildlife, shall deploy strategies consistent with the Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan to prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species into the Lake Tahoe Basin. (3) Required elements of strategies The strategies referred to in paragraph (2) shall provide for the following: (A) Combined inspection and decontamination stations shall be established in the Lake Tahoe Basin. As provided in paragraph (4), these stations may be operated by the States of California and Nevada, local governments, or private entities. (B) Watercraft shall not be allowed to launch in waters of the Lake Tahoe Basin unless the watercraft has been inspected in accordance with the Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plan. (4) Certification The Planning Agency shall certify the State of California, the State of Nevada, local agencies, or private entities to perform inspection and decontamination activities described in paragraph (3)(A) at locations inside or outside the Lake Tahoe Basin if such activities are conducted in a manner consistent with the standards established by this subsection. (5) Applicability The strategies developed under this subsection shall apply to all watercraft to be launched on water within the Lake Tahoe Basin. (6) Fees An entity performing inspection and decontamination activities described in paragraph (3)(A) may collect fees for such activities, but not higher than the level sufficient to cover the costs of operation of inspection and decontamination stations under this subsection. (7) Violations (A) In general Any person that launches or attempts to launch a watercraft not in compliance with strategies deployed under this subsection shall be guilty of an infraction and shall be subject to a fine in the amount provided in title 18, United States Code. (B) Other authorities Any fine imposed under this paragraph shall be separate from penalties assessed under any other authority. (8) Limitation The strategies deployed under paragraph (2), including the specific elements required by paragraph (3), may be modified if the Secretary of the Interior, in a nondelegable capacity and in consultation with the Planning Agency, the States of California and Nevada, and State and local governments, issues a determination that alternative measures will be no less effective at preventing introduction of aquatic invasive species into Lake Tahoe. (9) Supplemental authority The authority under this subsection is supplemental to all actions taken by non-Federal regulatory authorities. (10) Savings clause Nothing in this title restricts, affects, or amends any other law or the authority of any department, instrumentality, or agency of the United States, or any State or political subdivision thereof, respecting the control of invasive species. . 6. Program performance and accountability Section 6 of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act ( Public Law 106–506 6. Program performance and accountability (a) Program performance and accountability (1) In general Of the amounts appropriated for a fiscal year pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in subsection (a) of section 12, as amended by section 8 of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2015 (2) Planning agency Of the amounts made available to the Secretary under paragraph (1), not less than 50 percent shall be made available to the Planning Agency to carry out the program oversight, coordination, and outreach activities under subsections (d) and (e). (b) Consultation In carrying out this Act, the Secretary, the Administrator, and the Directors shall, as appropriate and in a timely manner, consult with the heads of the Washoe Tribe, applicable Federal, State, regional, county, and local governmental agencies, and the Lake Tahoe Federal Advisory Committee. (c) Corps of Engineers; interagency agreements (1) In general The Assistant Secretary may enter into interagency agreements with non-Federal interests in the Lake Tahoe Basin to use Lake Tahoe Partnership-Miscellaneous General Investigations funds to provide programmatic technical assistance for forest management or invasive species control activities. (2) Local cooperation agreements (A) In general Before providing technical assistance under this section, the Assistant Secretary shall enter into a local cooperation agreement with a non-Federal interest to provide for the technical assistance. (B) Components The agreement entered into under subparagraph (A) shall— (i) describe the nature of the technical assistance; (ii) describe any legal and institutional structures necessary to ensure the effective long-term viability of the end products by the non-Federal interest; and (iii) include cost-sharing provisions in accordance with subparagraph (C). (C) Federal share (i) In general The Federal share of program costs under each local cooperation agreement under this paragraph shall be 75 percent. (ii) Form The Federal share may be in the form of reimbursements of program costs. (iii) Credit The non-Federal interest may receive credit toward the non-Federal share for the reasonable costs of related technical activities completed by the non-Federal interest before entering into a local cooperation agreement with the Assistant Secretary under this paragraph. (d) Public outreach and education (1) In general The Secretary, the Administrator, and the Directors will coordinate with the Planning Agency to conduct public education and outreach programs, including encouraging— (A) owners of land and residences in the Lake Tahoe Basin to implement defensible space; and (B) owners of land and residences in the Lake Tahoe Basin and visitors to the Lake Tahoe Basin to help prevent the introduction and proliferation of invasive species. (2) Scientific and technical guidance The Director of the United States Geological Survey shall provide scientific and technical guidance to public outreach and education programs conducted under this subsection. (3) Required coordination Public outreach and education programs for aquatic invasive species under this subsection shall— (A) be coordinated with county governments in the Lake Tahoe Basin and Lake Tahoe Basin tourism and business organizations; and (B) include provisions for the programs to extend outside of the Lake Tahoe Basin. (e) Effectiveness evaluating and monitoring In carrying out this Act, the Secretary, the Administrator, and the Directors, in coordination with the Planning Agency and States of California and Nevada, shall— (1) develop and implement a plan for integrated monitoring, assessment, and applied research to evaluate the effectiveness programs funded under this Act; and (2) include in each program funded under this section funds for monitoring and assessment of results at the program level. . 7. Technical corrections and conforming amendments (a) Technical correction Section 4(b)(3) of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act ( Public Law 106–506 basin Basin (b) Relationship to other laws Section 11 of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act ( Public Law 106–506 , Director, or Administrator Secretary (c) Tahoe Regional Planning Compact Update Paragraph (c) of Article V of the Tahoe Regional Planning Compact included in the first section of Public Law 96–551 maintain the regional plan and, in so doing, shall ensure that the regional plan reflects changing economic conditions and the economic effect of regulation on commerce 8. Authorization of appropriations Section 12 of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act ( Public Law 106–506 12. Authorization of appropriations (a) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2025. (b) Source of funds Amounts made available to carry out this Act shall be derived from— (1) amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in subsection (a) and the amendment made by section 7 of this Act; and (2) special use fees collected within the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and made available under subsection (c). (c) Additional Funding from Special Use Fees (1) Retention of certain fees (A) Deposit Fees collected for recreation and non-recreation special uses within the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit shall be deposited in a special fund in the Treasury, which shall be available to the Secretary as provided in subparagraph (B). (B) Availability and use Fees deposited under subparagraph (A) shall be available to the Secretary, in such amounts as may be provided in an Act making appropriations for the Forest Service for a fiscal year, for the purpose of providing additional funds to carry out this Act in excess of amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in subsection (a). (C) Obligation limit The obligation and expenditure of fees deposited under subparagraph (A) shall be subject to appropriation and such fiscal-year limitation as may be specified in an Act making appropriations for the Forest Service for a fiscal year. (2) Use of retained fees (A) Fees collected for recreation special uses In the case of fees collected for recreation special uses within the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit that are deposited under paragraph (1) and appropriated for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall use the funds to establish, maintain, and expand recreation improvements, specifically existing and traditional uses, within the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, including trails, facilities, activities, interpretation, and on-the-ground presence of Forest Service personnel. (B) Fees collected for non-recreation special uses In the case of fees collected for non-recreation special uses within the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit that are deposited under paragraph (1) and appropriated for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall use the funds to support other activities authorized by this Act. (3) Collaborative process The Secretary shall make decisions under paragraph (2) regarding the use of fees appropriated for a fiscal year through a collaborative process with representatives from local governments, such as county supervisors and county commissioners, with jurisdiction over lands within the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. (d) Effect on other funds Amounts made available to carry out this Act— (1) shall be in addition to any other amounts made available to the Secretary, the Administrator, or the Directors for expenditure in the Lake Tahoe Basin; and (2) shall not reduce allocations for other Regions of the Forest Service. (e) Cost-Sharing requirement Except as provided in subsection (b)(3) of section 5 of this Act, as amended by section 5 of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2015 . 9. Land conveyances to improve management efficiencies of State and Federal lands (a) California conveyance Section 3(b) of Public Law 96–586 (1) by striking (b) Lands (b) Administration of acquired land (1) In general Land ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (2) Conveyance to california (A) In general If the State of California (acting through the California Tahoe Conservancy and the California Department of Parks and Recreation) offers to donate to the United States acceptable title to the non-Federal land described in subparagraph (B)(i), the Secretary of Agriculture— (i) may accept the offer; and (ii) not later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary receives acceptable title to the non-Federal land described in subparagraph (B)(i), convey to the State of California, subject to valid existing rights and for no consideration, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Federal land that is acceptable to the State of California. (B) Description of land (i) Non-federal land The non-Federal land referred to in subparagraph (A) includes— (I) the approximately 1,981 acres of land administered by the California Tahoe Conservancy and identified on the Maps as Conservancy to the United States Forest Service (II) the approximately 187 acres of land administered by California State Parks and identified on the Maps as State Parks to the U.S. Forest Service (ii) Federal land The Federal land referred to in subparagraph (A) includes the approximately 1,995 acres of Forest Service land identified on the Maps as U.S. Forest Service to Conservancy and State Parks (C) Use of land The land conveyance authorized under this paragraph shall— (i) be for the purpose of consolidating Federal and State ownerships and improving management efficiencies; and (ii) not result in any substantial reduction in public access or reduction in availability of existing and traditional public recreation uses. (D) Continuation of special use permits The land conveyance authorized under this paragraph shall be subject to the condition that the State of California accept all special use permits applicable, as of the date of the enactment of this subparagraph, to the National Forest System land described in subparagraph (B)(ii) for the duration of such permits, and subject to the terms and conditions of such permits. . (b) Nevada conveyance Section 3(b) of Public Law 96–586 (3) Conveyance to Nevada (A) In general At the request of the State of Nevada, the Secretary of Agriculture may convey, without consideration, the land or interests in land described in subparagraph (B) to the State, subject to appropriate deed restrictions to protect public access and existing or traditional public recreational uses of the conveyed land. (B) Description of land The land referred to in subparagraph (A) includes the approximately 39 acres of National Forest System land identified on the map entitled State of Nevada Conveyances Van Sickle Unit USFS Inholding (C) Use of land The land conveyance authorized under this paragraph shall— (i) be for the purpose of consolidating Federal and State ownerships and improving management efficiencies; and (ii) not result in any substantial reduction in public access or reduction in availability of existing and traditional public recreation uses. (D) Continuation of special use permits The land conveyance authorized under this paragraph shall be subject to the condition that the State of Nevada accept all special use permits applicable, as of the date of the enactment of this subparagraph, to the National Forest System land described in subparagraph (B) for the duration of such permits, and subject to the terms and conditions of such permits. . (c) Authorization for conveyance of Forest Service urban lots (1) Conveyance authority The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to convey all urban lots within the Lake Tahoe Basin under the administrative jurisdiction of the Forest Service. (2) Consideration A conveyance under the authority of paragraph (1) shall require consideration in an amount equal to the fair-market value of the conveyed lot. (3) Availability and use The proceeds from conveyances under paragraph (1) shall be retained by the Secretary of Agriculture and used for the purpose of— (A) purchasing inholdings throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin; or (B) providing additional funds to carry out the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act ( Public Law 106–506 (4) Obligation limit The obligation and expenditure of proceeds retained under this subsection shall be subject to such fiscal-year limitation as may be specified in an Act making appropriations for the Forest Service for a fiscal year. (5) Inholding defined In paragraph (3)(A), the term inholding 10. Modification of land acquisition authority under Santini-Burton Act and Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998 (a) Additional land acquisition criteria Section 3(a)(1) of Public Law 96–586 and, with respect to any land acquisition under this section within the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit that is proposed after the date of the enactment of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2015 (b) Consent of local government required Section 3(a) of Public Law 96–586 (6) Consent of local government required With respect to any land acquisition under this section within the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit that is proposed after the date of the enactment of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2015 . (c) Administrative expenses Section 3 of Public Law 96–586 (h) Administrative expenses related to land adjustments Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations in subsection (g) shall be available to the Secretary of Agriculture to cover staffing costs and related expenses incurred to accomplish land adjustments in the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit to create more efficient land management patterns. . (d) Conforming amendments to Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998 Section 5(a) of the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998 ( Public Law 105–263 (4) Additional requirements related to acquisitions in Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit With respect to any land acquisition under this subsection within the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit that is proposed after the date of the enactment of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2015 (A) obtain the consent of each county within whose boundaries the parcel of land is located; and (B) certify that, in addition to being environmentally sensitive land, the parcel of land will provide critical access for recreational use and resolve significant inholding issues in that the parcel is wholly surrounded by National Forest System land. . 11. Availability of categorical exclusion for Lake Tahoe herbicide applications to control certain aquatic weeds (a) Finding Congress finds that ongoing efforts to eradicate Eurasian watermilfoil and curlyleaf pondweed in Lake Tahoe, using mechanical methods has had only limited success, threatening the rest of Lake Tahoe with the spread of these non-native aquatic invasive plants. (b) Availability of categorical exclusion Any project to be conducted by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency that will use a registered herbicide to eradicate Eurasian watermilfoil and curlyleaf pondweed from the south end of Lake Tahoe, known as the Lake Tahoe Keys, is categorically excluded from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ( 42 U.S.C. 4331 et seq. (c) Registered herbicide defined In this section, the term registered herbicide February 1, 2016 Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources February 1, 2016 The Committees on Agriculture Transportation and Infrastructure

Summary: Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2015 This bill revises and reauthorizes through FY2025 the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act. (Sec. 4) The bill adds additional requirements for the management of the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, including by requiring the U.S. Forest Service to coordinate with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), state and local agencies, county governments, local governments, and local fire departments. The Forest Service must also conduct forest management activities in the basin in a manner that: (1) helps achieve and maintain the environmental threshold carrying capacities established by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency; and (2) promotes multiple ecosystem benefits, unless such activities would excessively increase the cost of a program. (The environmental threshold carrying capacities are the environmental standards necessary to maintain a significant scenic, recreational, educational, scientific or natural value of the region or to maintain public health and safety within the region.) The bill excludes certain activities that reduce forest fuels in the basin management unit from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The bill establishes a binding arbitration process for challenges to forest management activities in the basin management unit. The basin management unit must support the attainment of the environmental threshold carrying capacities and identify and pursue the means to expand those capacities. The environmental threshold carrying capacities are the environmental standards necessary to maintain a significant scenic, recreational, educational, scientific or natural value of the region or to maintain public health and safety within the region. During FY2016-FY2020, the Forest Service may enter into contracts or cooperative agreements with public and private entities to provide for fuel reduction, erosion control, reforestation, and similar management activities on federal land and nonfederal land within the programs in the basin. The term for an agreement or contract may be more than 10 years, but no more than 20 years. The Forest Service must retain any commercial product funds generated as part of forest management activities or cooperative activities conducted in the basin management unit, other than certain stewardship contracts. (Sec. 5) The Forest Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and the EPA, in coordination with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and the states of California and Nevada, may carry out or provide financial assistance to certain programs in the basin concerning: (1) fire risk reduction and forest management, and (2) aquatic invasive species management. The bill establishes civil penalties for launching watercrafts into the basin that are not compliant with invasive species strategies deployed under the bill. (Sec. 6) The Corps of Engineers may enter into interagency agreements with nonfederal interests in the basin and use Lake Tahoe Partnership-Miscellaneous General Investigations funds for providing technical assistance for forest management or invasive species control activities. The Forest Service, the EPA, the USFWS, and the USGS must coordinate with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency to conduct public education and outreach programs. The Forest Service, the EPA, the USFWS, and the USGS, in coordination with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and the states of California and Nevada, must develop and implement a plan for monitoring, assessment, and research to evaluate the effectiveness of programs funded under this bill. (Sec. 8) The bill outlines how fees collected for special uses within the basin may be used. (Sec. 9) The bill amends the Santini-Burton Act to authorize: (1) a donation from the California Tahoe Conservancy and the California Department of Parks and Recreation to the Forest Service of 1,981 acres of land administered by the Conservancy and 187 acres of land administered by California State Parks; and (2) a transfer from the Forest Service to Nevada of 39 acres of land known as the Van Sickle Unit USFS Inholding. The bill authorizes the Forest Service to convey all of its urban lots within the basin. The proceeds from conveying urban lots must be used to purchase parcels of private land that are surrounded by federal land. (Sec. 11) Projects conducted by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency that will use a registered herbicide to eradicate Eurasian watermilfoil and curlyleaf pondweed from the south end of Lake Tahoe, known as the Lake Tahoe Keys, are categorically excluded from the requirements of the NEPA.