985 
(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this 
section shall take effect on January 1, 2009. 
(f) STUDY REGARDING INFORMATION RETURNS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Treasury 
shall study the effect and feasibility of delaying the 
date for furnishing statements under sections 6042(c), 
6045, 6049(c)(2)(A), and 6050N(b) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 until February 15 following the 
year to which such statements relate. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 6 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 
Treasury shall report to Congress on the results of the 
study conducted under paragraph (1). Such report 
shall include the Secretary’s findings regarding— 
(A) the effect on tax administration of such 
delay, and 
(B) other administrative or legislative op-
tions to improve compliance and ease burdens on 
taxpayers and brokers with respect to such state-
ments. 
SEC. 1565. EXTENSION OF ADDITIONAL 0.2 PERCENT FUTA 
SURTAX. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3301 (relating to rate of 
tax) is amended—
986 
(1) by striking ‘‘2007’’ in paragraph (1) and in-
serting ‘‘2008’’, and 
(2) by striking ‘‘2008’’ in paragraph (2) and in-
serting ‘‘2009’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this 
section shall apply to wages paid after December 31, 2007. 
SEC. 1566. TERMINATION OF TREATMENT OF NATURAL GAS 
DISTRIBUTION LINES AS 15-YEAR PROPERTY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 168(e)(3)(E)(viii) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking 
‘‘January 1, 2011’’ and inserting ‘‘December 4, 2007’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The amendments made by 
this section shall apply to property placed in service 
after December 3, 2007. 
(2) EXCEPTION.—The amendments made by this 
section shall not apply to any property with respect 
to which the taxpayer or a related party has entered 
into a binding contract for the construction thereof on 
or before December 3, 2007, or, in the case of self-con-
structed property, has started construction on or be-
fore such date.
987 
SEC. 1567. TIME FOR PAYMENT OF CORPORATE ESTIMATED 
TAXES. 
The percentage under subparagraph (B) of section 
401(1) of the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation 
Act of 2005 in effect on the date of the enactment of this 
Act is increased by 6.25 percentage points. 
SEC. 1568. MODIFICATION OF PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO 
FILE PARTNERSHIP RETURNS. 
(a) EXTENSION
OF
TIME
LIMITATION.—Section 
6698(a) (relating to failure to file partnership returns) is 
amended by striking ‘‘5 months’’ and inserting ‘‘12 
months’’. 
(b) INCREASE IN PENALTY AMOUNT.—Paragraph (1) 
of section 6698(b) is amended by striking ‘‘$50’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘$80’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this 
section shall apply to returns required to be filed after the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
Subtitle F—Secure Rural Schools 
SEC. 1571. SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY 
SELF-DETERMINATION PROGRAM. 
(a) REAUTHORIZATION
OF
THE
SECURE
RURAL 
SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY SELF-DETERMINATION ACT OF 
2000.—The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-De-
termination Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 500 note; Public Law
988 
106–393) is amended by striking sections 1 through 403 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
‘‘This Act may be cited as the ‘Secure Rural Schools 
and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000’. 
‘‘SEC. 2. PURPOSES. 
‘‘The purposes of this Act are— 
‘‘(1) to stabilize and transition payments to 
counties to provide funding for schools and roads that 
supplements other available funds; 
‘‘(2) to make additional investments in, and cre-
ate additional employment opportunities through, 
projects that— 
‘‘(A)(i) improve the maintenance of existing 
infrastructure; 
‘‘(ii) implement stewardship objectives that 
enhance forest ecosystems; and 
‘‘(iii) restore and improve land health and 
water quality; 
‘‘(B) enjoy broad-based support; and 
‘‘(C) have objectives that may include— 
‘‘(i) road, trail, and infrastructure 
maintenance or obliteration; 
‘‘(ii) soil productivity improvement;
989 
‘‘(iii) improvements in forest ecosystem 
health; 
‘‘(iv) watershed restoration and main-
tenance; 
‘‘(v) the restoration, maintenance, and 
improvement of wildlife and fish habitat; 
‘‘(vi) the control of noxious and exotic 
weeds; and 
‘‘(vii) the reestablishment of native spe-
cies; and 
‘‘(3) 
to 
improve 
cooperative 
relationships 
among— 
‘‘(A) the people that use and care for Fed-
eral land; and 
‘‘(B) the agencies that manage the Federal 
land. 
‘‘SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘In this Act: 
‘‘(1) ADJUSTED
SHARE.—The term ‘adjusted 
share’ means the number equal to the quotient ob-
tained by dividing— 
‘‘(A) the number equal to the quotient ob-
tained by dividing— 
‘‘(i) the base share for the eligible coun-
ty; by
990 
‘‘(ii) the income adjustment for the eli-
gible county; by 
‘‘(B) the number equal to the sum of the 
quotients obtained under subparagraph (A) and 
paragraph (8)(A) for all eligible counties. 
‘‘(2) BASE SHARE.—The term ‘base share’ means 
the number equal to the average of— 
‘‘(A) the quotient obtained by dividing— 
‘‘(i) the number of acres of Federal 
land described in paragraph (7)(A) in each 
eligible county; by 
‘‘(ii) the total number acres of Federal 
land in all eligible counties in all eligible 
States; and 
‘‘(B) the quotient obtained by dividing— 
‘‘(i) the amount equal to the average of 
the 3 highest 25-percent payments and safe-
ty net payments made to each eligible State 
for each eligible county during the eligi-
bility period; by 
‘‘(ii) the amount equal to the sum of 
the amounts calculated under clause (i) and 
paragraph (9)(B)(i) for all eligible counties 
in all eligible States during the eligibility 
period.
991 
‘‘(3) COUNTY PAYMENT.—The term ‘county pay-
ment’ means the payment for an eligible county cal-
culated under section 101(b). 
‘‘(4) ELIGIBLE
COUNTY.—The term ‘eligible 
county’ means any county that— 
‘‘(A) contains Federal land (as defined in 
paragraph (7)); and 
‘‘(B) elects to receive a share of the State 
payment or the county payment under section 
102(b). 
‘‘(5) ELIGIBILITY PERIOD.—The term ‘eligibility 
period’ means fiscal year 1986 through fiscal year 
1999. 
‘‘(6) ELIGIBLE STATE.—The term ‘eligible State’ 
means a State or territory of the United States that 
received a 25-percent payment for 1 or more fiscal 
years of the eligibility period. 
‘‘(7) FEDERAL LAND.—The term ‘Federal land’ 
means— 
‘‘(A) land within the National Forest Sys-
tem, as defined in section 11(a) of the Forest and 
Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 
1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a)) exclusive of the Na-
tional Grasslands and land utilization projects 
designated as National Grasslands administered
992 
pursuant to the Act of July 22, 1937 (7 U.S.C. 
1010–1012); and 
‘‘(B) such portions of the revested Oregon 
and California Railroad and reconveyed Coos 
Bay Wagon Road grant land as are or may 
hereafter come under the jurisdiction of the De-
partment of the Interior, which have heretofore 
or may hereafter be classified as timberlands, 
and power-site land valuable for timber, that 
shall be managed, except as provided in the 
former section 3 of the Act of August 28, 1937 
(50 Stat. 875; 43 U.S.C. 1181c), for permanent 
forest production. 
‘‘(8) 50-PERCENT ADJUSTED SHARE.—The term 
‘50-percent adjusted share’ means the number equal to 
the quotient obtained by dividing— 
‘‘(A) the number equal to the quotient ob-
tained by dividing— 
‘‘(i) the 50-percent base share for the 
eligible county; by 
‘‘(ii) the income adjustment for the eli-
gible county; by 
‘‘(B) the number equal to the sum of the 
quotients obtained under subparagraph (A) and 
paragraph (1)(A) for all eligible counties.
993 
‘‘(9) 50-PERCENT BASE SHARE.—The term ‘50- 
percent base share’ means the number equal to the av-
erage of— 
‘‘(A) the quotient obtained by dividing— 
‘‘(i) the number of acres of Federal 
land described in paragraph (7)(B) in each 
eligible county; by 
‘‘(ii) the total number acres of Federal 
land in all eligible counties in all eligible 
States; and 
‘‘(B) the quotient obtained by dividing— 
‘‘(i) the amount equal to the average of 
the 3 highest 50-percent payments made to 
each eligible county during the eligibility 
period; by 
‘‘(ii) the amount equal to the sum of 
the amounts calculated under clause (i) and 
paragraph (2)(B)(i) for all eligible counties 
in all eligible States during the eligibility 
period. 
‘‘(10) 50-PERCENT PAYMENT.—The term ‘50-per-
cent payment’ means the payment that is the sum of 
the 50-percent share otherwise paid to a county pur-
suant to title II of the Act of August 28, 1937 (chap-
ter 876; 50 Stat. 875; 43 U.S.C. 1181f), and the pay-
994 
ment made to a county pursuant to the Act of May 
24, 1939 (chapter 144; 53 Stat. 753; 43 U.S.C. 1181f– 
1 et seq.). 
‘‘(11) FULL FUNDING AMOUNT.—The term ‘full 
funding amount’ means— 
‘‘(A) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and 
‘‘(B) for fiscal year 2009 and each fiscal 
year thereafter, the amount that is equal to 85 
percent of the full funding amount for the pre-
ceding fiscal year. 
‘‘(12) INCOME ADJUSTMENT.—The term ‘income 
adjustment’ means the square of the quotient obtained 
by dividing— 
‘‘(A) the per capita personal income for 
each eligible county; by 
‘‘(B) the median per capita personal income 
of all eligible counties. 
‘‘(13) PER
CAPITA
PERSONAL
INCOME.—The 
term ‘per capita personal income’ means the most re-
cent per capita personal income data, as determined 
by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. 
‘‘(14) SAFETY NET PAYMENTS.—The term ‘safety 
net payments’ means the special payment amounts 
paid to States and counties required by section 13982 
or 13983 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
995 
of 1993 (Public Law 103–66; 16 U.S.C. 500 note; 43 
U.S.C. 1181f note). 
‘‘(15) SECRETARY CONCERNED.—The term ‘Sec-
retary concerned’ means— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary of Agriculture or the des-
ignee of the Secretary of Agriculture with respect 
to the Federal land described in paragraph 
(7)(A); and 
‘‘(B) the Secretary of the Interior or the des-
ignee of the Secretary of the Interior with respect 
to the Federal land described in paragraph 
(7)(B). 
‘‘(16) STATE PAYMENT.—The term ‘State pay-
ment’ means the payment for an eligible State cal-
culated under section 101(a). 
‘‘(17) 25-PERCENT PAYMENT.—The term ‘25-per-
cent payment’ means the payment to States required 
by the sixth paragraph under the heading of ‘FOR-
EST SERVICE’ in the Act of May 23, 1908 (35 Stat. 
260; 16 U.S.C. 500), and section 13 of the Act of 
March 1, 1911 (36 Stat. 963; 16 U.S.C. 500).
996 
‘‘TITLE 
I—SECURE 
PAYMENTS 
FOR STATES AND COUNTIES 
CONTAINING FEDERAL LAND 
‘‘SEC. 101. SECURE PAYMENTS FOR STATES CONTAINING 
FEDERAL LAND. 
‘‘(a) STATE PAYMENT.—For each of fiscal years 2008 
through 2011, the Secretary of Agriculture shall calculate 
for each eligible State an amount equal to the sum of the 
products obtained by multiplying— 
‘‘(1) the adjusted share for each eligible county 
within the eligible State; by 
‘‘(2) the full funding amount for the fiscal year. 
‘‘(b) COUNTY PAYMENT.—For each of fiscal years 2008 
through 2011, the Secretary of the Interior shall calculate 
for each eligible county that received a 50-percent payment 
during the eligibility period an amount equal to the product 
obtained by multiplying— 
‘‘(1) the 50-percent adjusted share for the eligible 
county; by 
‘‘(2) the full funding amount for the fiscal year. 
‘‘SEC. 102. PAYMENTS TO STATES AND COUNTIES. 
‘‘(a) PAYMENT AMOUNTS.—Except as provided in sec-
tion 103, the Secretary of the Treasury shall pay to— 
‘‘(1) a State or territory of the United States an 
amount equal to the sum of the amounts elected under
997 
subsection (b) by each county within the State or ter-
ritory for— 
‘‘(A) if the county is eligible for the 25-per-
cent payment, the share of the 25-percent pay-
ment; or 
‘‘(B) the share of the State payment of the 
eligible county; and 
‘‘(2) a county an amount equal to the amount 
elected under subsection (b) by each county for— 
‘‘(A) if the county is eligible for the 50-per-
cent payment, the 50-percent payment; or 
‘‘(B) the county payment for the eligible 
county. 
‘‘(b) ELECTION TO RECEIVE PAYMENT AMOUNT.— 
‘‘(1) ELECTION; SUBMISSION OF RESULTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The election to receive 
a share of the State payment, the county pay-
ment, a share of the State payment and the 
county payment, a share of the 25-percent pay-
ment, the 50-percent payment, or a share of the 
25-percent payment and the 50-percent payment, 
as applicable, shall be made at the discretion of 
each affected county by August 1, 2008, and Au-
gust 1 of each second fiscal year thereafter, in ac-
cordance with paragraph (2), and transmitted to
998 
the Secretary concerned by the Governor of each 
eligible State. 
‘‘(B) FAILURE TO TRANSMIT.—If an elec-
tion for an affected county is not transmitted to 
the Secretary concerned by the date specified 
under subparagraph (A), the affected county 
shall be considered to have elected to receive a 
share of the State payment, the county payment, 
or a share of the State payment and the county 
payment, as applicable. 
‘‘(2) DURATION OF ELECTION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A county election to re-
ceive a share of the 25-percent payment or 50- 
percent payment, as applicable, shall be effective 
for 2 fiscal years. 
‘‘(B) FULL FUNDING AMOUNT.—If a county 
elects to receive a share of the State payment or 
the county payment, the election shall be effective 
for all subsequent fiscal years through fiscal year 
2011. 
‘‘(3) SOURCE OF PAYMENT AMOUNTS.—The pay-
ment to an eligible State or eligible county under this 
section for a fiscal year shall be derived from— 
‘‘(A) any revenues, fees, penalties, or mis-
cellaneous receipts, exclusive of deposits to any
999 
relevant trust fund, special account, or perma-
nent operating funds, received by the Federal 
Government from activities by the Bureau of 
Land Management or the Forest Service on the 
applicable Federal land; and 
‘‘(B) to the extent of any shortfall, out of 
any amounts in the Treasury of the United 
States not otherwise appropriated. 
‘‘(c) DISTRIBUTION
AND
EXPENDITURE
OF
PAY-
MENTS.— 
‘‘(1) DISTRIBUTION METHOD.—A State that re-
ceives a payment under subsection (a) for Federal 
land described in section 3(7)(A) shall distribute the 
appropriate payment amount among the appropriate 
counties in the State in accordance with— 
‘‘(A) the Act of May 23, 1908 (16 U.S.C. 
500); and 
‘‘(B) section 13 of the Act of March 1, 1911 
(36 Stat. 963; 16 U.S.C. 500). 
‘‘(2) EXPENDITURE PURPOSES.—Subject to sub-
section (d), payments received by a State under sub-
section (a) and distributed to counties in accordance 
with paragraph (1) shall be expended as required by 
the laws referred to in paragraph (1).
1000 
‘‘(d) EXPENDITURE RULES
FOR ELIGIBLE COUN-
TIES.— 
‘‘(1) ALLOCATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) USE OF PORTION IN SAME MANNER AS 
25-PERCENT PAYMENT OR 50-PERCENT PAYMENT, 
AS APPLICABLE.—Except as provided in para-
graph (3)(B), if an eligible county elects to re-
ceive its share of the State payment or the coun-
ty payment, not less than 80 percent, but not 
more than 85 percent, of the funds shall be ex-
pended in the same manner in which the 25-per-
cent payments or 50-percent payment, as appli-
cable, are required to be expended. 
‘‘(B) ELECTION AS TO USE OF BALANCE.— 
Except as provided in subparagraph (C), an eli-
gible county shall elect to do 1 or more of the fol-
lowing with the balance of any funds not ex-
pended pursuant to subparagraph (A): 
‘‘(i) Reserve any portion of the balance 
for projects in accordance with title II. 
‘‘(ii) Reserve not more than 7 percent 
of the total share for the eligible county of 
the State payment or the county payment 
for projects in accordance with title III.
1001 
‘‘(iii) Return the portion of the balance 
not reserved under clauses (i) and (ii) to the 
Treasury of the United States. 
‘‘(C) COUNTIES
WITH
MODEST
DISTRIBU-
TIONS.—In the case of each eligible county to 
which more than $100,000, but less than 
$350,000, is distributed for any fiscal year pur-
suant to either or both of paragraphs (1)(B) and 
(2)(B) of subsection (a), the eligible county, with 
respect to the balance of any funds not expended 
pursuant to subparagraph (A) for that fiscal 
year, shall— 
‘‘(i) reserve any portion of the balance 
for— 
‘‘(I) carrying out projects under 
title II; 
‘‘(II) carrying out projects under 
title III; or 
‘‘(III) a combination of the pur-
poses described in subclauses (I) and 
(II); or 
‘‘(ii) return the portion of the balance 
not reserved under clause (i) to the Treas-
ury of the United States. 
‘‘(2) DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.—
1002 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Funds reserved by an 
eligible county under subparagraph (B)(i) or 
(C)(i) of paragraph (1) for carrying out projects 
under title II shall be deposited in a special ac-
count in the Treasury of the United States. 
‘‘(B) 
AVAILABILITY.—Amounts 
deposited 
under subparagraph (A) shall— 
‘‘(i) be available for expenditure by the 
Secretary concerned, without further appro-
priation; and 
‘‘(ii) remain available until expended 
in accordance with title II. 
‘‘(3) ELECTION.— 
‘‘(A) NOTIFICATION.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—An eligible county 
shall notify the Secretary concerned of an 
election by the eligible county under this 
subsection not later than September 30 of 
each fiscal year. 
‘‘(ii) FAILURE TO ELECT.—Except as 
provided in subparagraph (B), if the eligi-
ble county fails to make an election by the 
date specified in clause (i), the eligible 
county shall—
1003 
‘‘(I) be considered to have elected 
to expend 85 percent of the funds in 
accordance with paragraph (1)(A); and 
‘‘(II) return the balance to the 
Treasury of the United States. 
‘‘(B) COUNTIES
WITH
MINOR
DISTRIBU-
TIONS.—In the case of each eligible county to 
which less than $100,000 is distributed for any 
fiscal year pursuant to either or both of para-
graphs (1)(B) and (2)(B) of subsection (a), the 
eligible county may elect to expend all the funds 
in the same manner in which the 25-percent 
payments or 50-percent payments, as applicable, 
are required to be expended. 
‘‘(e) TIME FOR PAYMENT.—The payments required 
under this section for a fiscal year shall be made as soon 
as practicable after the end of that fiscal year. 
‘‘SEC. 103. TRANSITION PAYMENTS TO THE STATES OF CALI-
FORNIA, OREGON, AND WASHINGTON. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ADJUSTED
AMOUNT.—The term ‘adjusted 
amount’ means, with respect to a covered State— 
‘‘(A) for fiscal year 2008, 90 percent of— 
‘‘(i) the sum of the amounts paid for 
fiscal year 2006 under section 102(a)(2) (as
1004 
in effect on September 29, 2006) for the eli-
gible counties in the covered State that have 
elected under section 102(b) to receive a 
share of the State payment for fiscal year 
2008; and 
‘‘(ii) the sum of the amounts paid for 
fiscal year 2006 under section 103(a)(2) (as 
in effect on September 29, 2006) for the eli-
gible counties in the State of Oregon that 
have elected under section 102(b) to receive 
the county payment for fiscal year 2008; 
‘‘(B) for fiscal year 2009, 76 percent of— 
‘‘(i) the sum of the amounts paid for 
fiscal year 2006 under section 102(a)(2) (as 
in effect on September 29, 2006) for the eli-
gible counties in the covered State that have 
elected under section 102(b) to receive a 
share of the State payment for fiscal year 
2009; and 
‘‘(ii) the sum of the amounts paid for 
fiscal year 2006 under section 103(a)(2) (as 
in effect on September 29, 2006) for the eli-
gible counties in the State of Oregon that 
have elected under section 102(b) to receive
1005 
the county payment for fiscal year 2009; 
and 
‘‘(C) for fiscal year 2010, 65 percent of— 
‘‘(i) the sum of the amounts paid for 
fiscal year 2006 under section 102(a)(2) (as 
in effect on September 29, 2006) for the eli-
gible counties in the covered State that have 
elected under section 102(b) to receive a 
share of the State payment for fiscal year 
2010; and 
‘‘(ii) the sum of the amounts paid for 
fiscal year 2006 under section 103(a)(2) (as 
in effect on September 29, 2006) for the eli-
gible counties in the State of Oregon that 
have elected under section 102(b) to receive 
the county payment for fiscal year 2010. 
‘‘(2) COVERED STATE.—The term ‘covered State’ 
means each of the States of California, Oregon, and 
Washington. 
‘‘(b) TRANSITION PAYMENTS.—For each of fiscal years 
2008 through 2010, in lieu of the payment amounts that 
otherwise would have been made under paragraphs (1)(B) 
and (2)(B) of section 102(a), the Secretary of the Treasury 
shall pay the adjusted amount to each covered State and 
the eligible counties within the covered State, as applicable.
1006 
‘‘(c) DISTRIBUTION OF ADJUSTED AMOUNT IN OREGON 
AND WASHINGTON.—It is the intent of Congress that the 
method of distributing the payments under subsection (b) 
among the counties in the States of Oregon and Washington 
for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2010 be in the same 
proportion that the payments were distributed to the eligi-
ble counties in fiscal year 2006. 
‘‘(d) DISTRIBUTION OF PAYMENTS IN CALIFORNIA.— 
The following payments shall be distributed among the eli-
gible counties in the State of California in the same propor-
tion that payments under section 102(a)(2) (as in effect on 
September 29, 2006) were distributed to the eligible counties 
for fiscal year 2006: 
‘‘(1) Payments to the State of California under 
subsection (b). 
‘‘(2) The shares of the eligible counties of the 
State payment for California under section 102 for 
fiscal year 2011. 
‘‘(e) TREATMENT OF PAYMENTS.—For purposes of this 
Act, any payment made under subsection (b) shall be con-
sidered to be a payment made under section 102(a). 
‘‘TITLE II—SPECIAL PROJECTS 
ON FEDERAL LAND 
‘‘SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘In this title:
1007 
‘‘(1) PARTICIPATING
COUNTY.—The term ‘par-
ticipating county’ means an eligible county that elects 
under section 102(d) to expend a portion of the Fed-
eral funds received under section 102 in accordance 
with this title. 
‘‘(2) PROJECT FUNDS.—The term ‘project funds’ 
means all funds an eligible county elects under section 
102(d) to reserve for expenditure in accordance with 
this title. 
‘‘(3) RESOURCE
ADVISORY
COMMITTEE.—The 
term ‘resource advisory committee’ means— 
‘‘(A) an advisory committee established by 
the Secretary concerned under section 205; or 
‘‘(B) an advisory committee determined by 
the Secretary concerned to meet the requirements 
of section 205. 
‘‘(4) RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The term 
‘resource management plan’ means— 
‘‘(A) a land use plan prepared by the Bu-
reau of Land Management for units of the Fed-
eral land described in section 3(7)(B) pursuant 
to section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712); or 
‘‘(B) a land and resource management plan 
prepared by the Forest Service for units of the
1008 
National Forest System pursuant to section 6 of 
the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources 
Planning Act of 1974l (16 U.S.C. 1604). 
‘‘SEC. 202. GENERAL LIMITATION ON USE OF PROJECT 
FUNDS. 
‘‘(a) LIMITATION.—Project funds shall be expended 
solely on projects that meet the requirements of this title. 
‘‘(b) AUTHORIZED USES.—Project funds may be used 
by the Secretary concerned for the purpose of entering into 
and implementing cooperative agreements with willing 
Federal agencies, State and local governments, private and 
nonprofit entities, and landowners for protection, restora-
tion, and enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat, and 
other resource objectives consistent with the purposes of this 
Act on Federal land and on non-Federal land where projects 
would benefit the resources on Federal land. 
‘‘SEC. 203. SUBMISSION OF PROJECT PROPOSALS. 
‘‘(a) SUBMISSION OF PROJECT PROPOSALS TO SEC-
RETARY CONCERNED.— 
‘‘(1) 
PROJECTS
FUNDED
USING
PROJECT 
FUNDS.—Not later than September 30 for fiscal year 
2008, and each September 30 thereafter for each suc-
ceeding fiscal year through fiscal year 2011, each re-
source advisory committee shall submit to the Sec-
retary concerned a description of any projects that the
1009 
resource advisory committee proposes the Secretary 
undertake using any project funds reserved by eligible 
counties in the area in which the resource advisory 
committee has geographic jurisdiction. 
‘‘(2) PROJECTS FUNDED USING OTHER FUNDS.— 
A resource advisory committee may submit to the Sec-
retary concerned a description of any projects that the 
committee proposes the Secretary undertake using 
funds from State or local governments, or from the 
private sector, other than project funds and funds ap-
propriated and otherwise available to do similar 
work. 
‘‘(3) JOINT
PROJECTS.—Participating counties 
or other persons may propose to pool project funds or 
other funds, described in paragraph (2), and jointly 
propose a project or group of projects to a resource 
advisory committee established under section 205. 
‘‘(b) REQUIRED DESCRIPTION OF PROJECTS.—In sub-
mitting proposed projects to the Secretary concerned under 
subsection (a), a resource advisory committee shall include 
in the description of each proposed project the following in-
formation: 
‘‘(1) The purpose of the project and a description 
of how the project will meet the purposes of this title. 
‘‘(2) The anticipated duration of the project.
1010 
‘‘(3) The anticipated cost of the project. 
‘‘(4) The proposed source of funding for the 
project, whether project funds or other funds. 
‘‘(5)(A) Expected outcomes, including how the 
project will meet or exceed desired ecological condi-
tions, maintenance objectives, or stewardship objec-
tives. 
‘‘(B) An estimate of the amount of any timber, 
forage, and other commodities and other economic ac-
tivity, including jobs generated, if any, anticipated as 
part of the project. 
‘‘(6) A detailed monitoring plan, including fund-
ing needs and sources, that— 
‘‘(A) tracks and identifies the positive or 
negative impacts of the project, implementation, 
and provides for validation monitoring; and 
‘‘(B) includes an assessment of the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(i) Whether or not the project met or 
exceeded desired ecological conditions; cre-
ated local employment or training opportu-
nities, including summer youth jobs pro-
grams such as the Youth Conservation 
Corps where appropriate.
1011 
‘‘(ii) Whether the project improved the 
use of, or added value to, any products re-
moved from land consistent with the pur-
poses of this title. 
‘‘(7) An assessment that the project is to be in 
the public interest. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZED
PROJECTS.—Projects proposed 
under subsection (a) shall be consistent with section 2. 
‘‘SEC. 204. EVALUATION AND APPROVAL OF PROJECTS BY 
SECRETARY CONCERNED. 
‘‘(a) CONDITIONS
FOR
APPROVAL
OF
PROPOSED 
PROJECT.—The Secretary concerned may make a decision 
to approve a project submitted by a resource advisory com-
mittee under section 203 only if the proposed project satis-
fies each of the following conditions: 
‘‘(1) The project complies with all applicable 
Federal laws (including regulations). 
‘‘(2) The project is consistent with the applicable 
resource management plan and with any watershed 
or subsequent plan developed pursuant to the resource 
management plan and approved by the Secretary 
concerned. 
‘‘(3) The project has been approved by the re-
source advisory committee in accordance with section
1012 
205, including the procedures issued under subsection 
(e) of that section. 
‘‘(4) A project description has been submitted by 
the resource advisory committee to the Secretary con-
cerned in accordance with section 203. 
‘‘(5) The project will improve the maintenance of 
existing infrastructure, implement stewardship objec-
tives that enhance forest ecosystems, and restore and 
improve land health and water quality. 
‘‘(b) ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS.— 
‘‘(1) REQUEST FOR PAYMENT BY COUNTY.—The 
Secretary concerned may request the resource advi-
sory committee submitting a proposed project to agree 
to the use of project funds to pay for any environ-
mental review, consultation, or compliance with ap-
plicable environmental laws required in connection 
with the project. 
‘‘(2) CONDUCT OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW.—If 
a payment is requested under paragraph (1) and the 
resource advisory committee agrees to the expenditure 
of funds for this purpose, the Secretary concerned 
shall conduct environmental review, consultation, or 
other compliance responsibilities in accordance with 
Federal laws (including regulations). 
‘‘(3) EFFECT OF REFUSAL TO PAY.—
1013 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—If a resource advisory 
committee does not agree to the expenditure of 
funds under paragraph (1), the project shall be 
deemed withdrawn from further consideration by 
the Secretary concerned pursuant to this title. 
‘‘(B) EFFECT
OF
WITHDRAWAL.—A with-
drawal under subparagraph (A) shall be deemed 
to be a rejection of the project for purposes of sec-
tion 207(c). 
‘‘(c) DECISIONS OF SECRETARY CONCERNED.— 
‘‘(1) REJECTION OF PROJECTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A decision by the Sec-
retary concerned to reject a proposed project 
shall be at the sole discretion of the Secretary 
concerned. 
‘‘(B) NO ADMINISTRATIVE APPEAL OR JUDI-
CIAL REVIEW.—Notwithstanding any other pro-
vision of law, a decision by the Secretary con-
cerned to reject a proposed project shall not be 
subject to administrative appeal or judicial re-
view. 
‘‘(C) NOTICE
OF
REJECTION.—Not later 
than 30 days after the date on which the Sec-
retary concerned makes the rejection decision, the 
Secretary concerned shall notify in writing the
1014 
resource advisory committee that submitted the 
proposed project of the rejection and the reasons 
for rejection. 
‘‘(2) NOTICE OF PROJECT APPROVAL.—The Sec-
retary concerned shall publish in the Federal Register 
notice of each project approved under subsection (a) 
if the notice would be required had the project origi-
nated with the Secretary. 
‘‘(d) SOURCE AND CONDUCT OF PROJECT.—Once the 
Secretary concerned accepts a project for review under sec-
tion 203, the acceptance shall be deemed a Federal action 
for all purposes. 
‘‘(e) IMPLEMENTATION OF APPROVED PROJECTS.— 
‘‘(1) COOPERATION.—Notwithstanding chapter 
63 of title 31, United States Code, using project funds 
the Secretary concerned may enter into contracts, 
grants, and cooperative agreements with States and 
local governments, private and nonprofit entities, and 
landowners and other persons to assist the Secretary 
in carrying out an approved project. 
‘‘(2) BEST VALUE CONTRACTING.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For any project involv-
ing a contract authorized by paragraph (1) the 
Secretary concerned may elect a source for per-
formance of the contract on a best value basis.
1016 
‘‘(i) the harvesting or collection of mer-
chantable timber; and 
‘‘(ii) the sale of the timber. 
‘‘(B) ANNUAL
PERCENTAGES.—Under the 
pilot program, the Secretary concerned shall en-
sure that, on a nationwide basis, not less than 
the following percentage of all approved projects 
involving the sale of merchantable timber are 
implemented using separate contracts: 
‘‘(i) For fiscal year 2008, 35 percent. 
‘‘(ii) For fiscal year 2009, 45 percent. 
‘‘(iii) For each of fiscal years 2010 and 
2011, 50 percent. 
‘‘(C) INCLUSION IN PILOT PROGRAM.—The 
decision whether to use separate contracts to im-
plement a project involving the sale of merchant-
able timber shall be made by the Secretary con-
cerned after the approval of the project under 
this title. 
‘‘(D) ASSISTANCE.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary con-
cerned may use funds from any appro-
priated account available to the Secretary 
for the Federal land to assist in the admin-
1017 
istration of projects conducted under the 
pilot program. 
‘‘(ii) MAXIMUM
AMOUNT
OF
ASSIST-
ANCE.—The total amount obligated under 
this 
subparagraph 
may 
not 
exceed 
$1,000,000 for any fiscal year during which 
the pilot program is in effect. 
‘‘(E) REVIEW AND REPORT.— 
‘‘(i) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 
September 30, 2010, the Comptroller Gen-
eral shall submit to the Committees on Ag-
riculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and En-
ergy and Natural Resources of the Senate 
and the Committees on Agriculture and 
Natural Resources of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report assessing the pilot pro-
gram. 
‘‘(ii) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Secretary 
concerned shall submit to the Committees on 
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and 
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate 
and the Committees on Agriculture and 
Natural Resources of the House of Rep-
resentatives an annual report describing the 
results of the pilot program.
1018 
‘‘(f) REQUIREMENTS FOR PROJECT FUNDS.—The Sec-
retary shall ensure that at least 50 percent of all project 
funds be used for projects that are primarily dedicated— 
‘‘(1) to road maintenance, decommissioning, or 
obliteration; or 
‘‘(2) to restoration of streams and watersheds. 
‘‘SEC. 205. RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMITTEES. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE OF RESOURCE 
ADVISORY COMMITTEES.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary concerned 
shall establish and maintain resource advisory com-
mittees to perform the duties in subsection (b), except 
as provided in paragraph (4). 
‘‘(2) PURPOSE.—The purpose of a resource advi-
sory committee shall be— 
‘‘(A) to improve collaborative relationships; 
and 
‘‘(B) to provide advice and recommenda-
tions to the land management agencies consistent 
with the purposes of this title. 
‘‘(3) ACCESS TO RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMIT-
TEES.—To ensure that each unit of Federal land has 
access to a resource advisory committee, and that 
there is sufficient interest in participation on a com-
mittee to ensure that membership can be balanced in
1019 
terms of the points of view represented and the func-
tions to be performed, the Secretary concerned may, 
establish resource advisory committees for part of, or 
1 or more, units of Federal land. 
‘‘(4) EXISTING ADVISORY COMMITTEES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An advisory committee 
that meets the requirements of this section, a re-
source advisory committee established before Sep-
tember 29, 2006, or an advisory committee deter-
mined by the Secretary concerned before Sep-
tember 29, 2006, to meet the requirements of this 
section may be deemed by the Secretary con-
cerned to be a resource advisory committee for 
the purposes of this title. 
‘‘(B) CHARTER.—A charter for a committee 
described in subparagraph (A) that was filed on 
or before September 29, 2006, shall be considered 
to be filed for purposes of this Act. 
‘‘(C) BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT ADVI-
SORY COMMITTEES.—The Secretary of the Inte-
rior may deem a resource advisory committee 
meeting the requirements of subpart 1784 of part 
1780 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations, as 
a resource advisory committee for the purposes of 
this title.
1020 
‘‘(b) DUTIES.—A resource advisory committee shall— 
‘‘(1) review projects proposed under this title by 
participating counties and other persons; 
‘‘(2) propose projects and funding to the Sec-
retary concerned under section 203; 
‘‘(3) provide early and continuous coordination 
with appropriate land management agency officials 
in recommending projects consistent with purposes of 
this Act under this title; 
‘‘(4) provide frequent opportunities for citizens, 
organizations, tribes, land management agencies, and 
other interested parties to participate openly and 
meaningfully, beginning at the early stages of the 
project development process under this title; 
‘‘(5)(A) monitor projects that have been approved 
under section 204; and 
‘‘(B) advise the designated Federal official on the 
progress of the monitoring efforts under subparagraph 
(A); and 
‘‘(6) make recommendations to the Secretary 
concerned for any appropriate changes or adjustments 
to the projects being monitored by the resource advi-
sory committee. 
‘‘(c) APPOINTMENT BY THE SECRETARY.— 
‘‘(1) APPOINTMENT AND TERM.—