IB
Union Calendar No. 299
105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 2886
[Report No. 105–527]
To provide for a demonstration project in the Stanislaus National Forest,
California, under which a private contractor will perform multiple re-
source management activities for that unit of the National Forest Sys-
tem.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NOVEMBER 7, 1997
Mr. DOOLITTLE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Resources
MAY 12, 1998
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on November 7, 1997]
A BILL
To provide for a demonstration project in the Stanislaus
National Forest, California, under which a private con-
tractor will perform multiple resource management ac-
tivities for that unit of the National Forest System.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Granite Watershed En-
hancement and Protection Act of 1998’’.
SEC. 
2. 
DEMONSTRATION 
RESOURCE 
MANAGEMENT
PROJECT, STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST,
CALIFORNIA, TO ENHANCE AND PROTECT
THE GRANITE WATERSHED.
(a) RESOURCE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT AUTHOR-
IZED.—The Secretary of Agriculture may enter into a con-
tract with a single private contractor to perform multiple
resource management activities on Federal lands within the
Stanislaus National Forest in the State of California for
the purpose of demonstrating enhanced ecosystem health
and water quality, and significantly reducing the risk of
catastrophic wildfire, in the Granite watershed at a reduced
cost to the Government. The contract shall be for a term
of five years.
(b) AUTHORIZED
MANAGEMENT
ACTIVITIES.—The
types of resource management activities performed under
the contract shall include the following:
(1) Reduction of forest fuel loads through the use
of precommercial and commercial thinning and pre-
scribed burns.
(2) Monitoring of ecosystem health and water
quality in the Granite watershed.
(3) Monitoring of the presence of wildlife in the
area in which management activities are performed
and the effect of the activities on wildlife presence.
(4) Such other resource management activities as
the Secretary considers appropriate to demonstrate
enhanced ecosystem health and water quality in the
Granite watershed.
(c) COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL LAW AND SPOTTED
OWL GUIDELINES.—All resource management activities
performed under the contract shall be performed in a man-
ner consistent with applicable Federal law and the stand-
ards and guidelines for the conservation of the California
spotted owl (as set forth in the California Spotted Owl
Sierran Province Interim Guidelines or the subsequently
issued final guidelines, whichever is in effect).
(d) FUNDING.—
(1) SOURCES OF FUNDS.—To provide funds for
the resource management activities to be performed
under the contract, the Secretary may use—
(A) funds appropriated to carry out this
section;
(B) funds specifically provided to the Forest
Service to implement projects to demonstrate en-
hanced water quality and protect aquatic and
upland resources;