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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. 
‘‘(B) FACTORS.—The Secretary concerned 
shall determine best value based on such factors 
as— 
‘‘(i) the technical demands and com-
plexity of the work to be done; 
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‘‘(ii)(I) the ecological objectives of the 
project; and 
‘‘(II) the sensitivity of the resources 
being treated; 
‘‘(iii) the past experience by the con-
tractor with the type of work being done, 
using the type of equipment proposed for 
the project, and meeting or exceeding de-
sired ecological conditions; and 
‘‘(iv) the commitment of the contractor 
to hiring highly qualified workers and local 
residents. 
‘‘(3) 
MERCHANTABLE
TIMBER
CONTRACTING 
PILOT PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(A) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary con-
cerned shall establish a pilot program to imple-
ment a certain percentage of approved projects 
involving the sale of merchantable timber using 
separate contracts for— 
‘‘(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 
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the following percentage of all approved projects 
involving the sale of merchantable timber are 
implemented using separate contracts: 
‘‘(i) For fiscal year 2007, 25 percent. 
‘‘(ii) For fiscal year 2008, 35 percent. 
‘‘(iii) For fiscal year 2009, 45 percent. 
‘‘(iv) 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-
istration of projects conducted under the 
pilot program. 
‘‘(ii) MAXIMUM
AMOUNT
OF
ASSIST-
ANCE.—The total amount obligated under 
this 
subparagraph 
may 
not 
exceed 
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$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, 2009, 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. 
‘‘(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 
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‘‘(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 
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.— 
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