I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1595
To further cooperation and support among Federal land managers and des-
ignated gateway communities where the results of such cooperation and 
support are likely to be mutually beneficial, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 3, 2003
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN (for herself and Mr. RAHALL) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources, and in addition 
to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To further cooperation and support among Federal land 
managers and designated gateway communities where 
the results of such cooperation and support are likely 
to be mutually beneficial, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 
1. 
COOPERATION 
AND 
SUPPORT 
FOR 
DES-
IGNATED GATEWAY COMMUNITIES. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Healthy Public Lands, Healthy Communities Act’’.
(b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, COOPERATION, AND 
TRAINING.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Inte-
rior and the Secretary of Agriculture may cooperate 
with and may provide technical assistance to any 
designated gateway community where the relevant 
Secretary determines that the results of such co-
operation and assistance are likely to benefit both 
the protection of resources managed by the Sec-
retary and the community. 
(2) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—At the request of 
the government of a designated gateway community, 
the relevant Secretary may assign, on a temporary 
basis, an agency employee or contractor to work 
with the community to develop mutually compatible 
land use or management plans or policies for the 
general area. 
(3) TRAINING SESSIONS.—The Secretary of the 
Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture may offer 
training sessions for elected and appointed officials 
of designated gateway communities at which such 
officials can obtain a better understanding of—
(A) agency planning processes; and 
(B) the methods by which they can partici-
pate most meaningfully in the development of
agency plans, decisions, and policies, including 
information regarding the process whereby 
units of local government may obtain status as 
cooperating agencies under the National Envi-
ronmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 
et seq.). 
(4) COORDINATION OF LAND USE.—To the ex-
tent consistent with the laws governing the adminis-
tration of the Federal public lands, and at the re-
quest of the government of a designated gateway 
community, the Secretary of the Interior and the 
Secretary of Agriculture may enter into cooperative 
agreements with designated gateway communities to 
provide for coordination between—
(A) the land use inventory, planning, and 
management activities for Federal lands admin-
istered by the relevant Secretary; 
(B) the land use inventory, planning, and 
management activities for lands administered 
by the designated gateway community; and 
(C) where relevant, such cooperative agree-
ments may also include the land use planning 
and management activities of other Federal 
agencies, agencies of the State in which the 
Federal lands are located, and local and tribal
governments in the vicinity of the Federal 
lands. 
(5) INTERAGENCY COOPERATION AND COORDI-
NATION.—To the extent practicable and when con-
sistent with applicable laws and regulations of each 
respective Federal land management agency, when 
the plans and activities of 2 or more Federal land 
management agencies are anticipated to have a sig-
nificant impact on a designated gateway community, 
the Federal land agencies involved may consolidate 
and coordinate their plans and planning processes to 
facilitate the participation of the designated gateway 
community in the planning processes. 
(6) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—
There is authorized to be appropriated not more 
than $1,000,000 in any fiscal year for use by the 
relevant Secretary to carry out this section. 
(c) GRANTS.—
(1) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of the Interior 
and the Secretary of Agriculture may make grants 
to designated gateway communities for the purposes 
described in this section. 
(2) CRITERIA.—The Secretaries shall jointly de-
velop criteria for awarding of grants under this sub-
section.