I 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1294 
To establish a program that will generate dependable economic activity for 
counties and local governments containing National Forest System land 
through a management-focused approach, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 20, 2013 
Mr. LABRADOR (for himself, Mr. AMODEI, Mr. GOSAR, Mr. MCCLINTOCK, Mr. 
PEARCE, and Mr. YOUNG of Alaska) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the 
Committee on Natural Resources, 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 establish a program that will generate dependable eco-
nomic activity for counties and local governments con-
taining National Forest System land through a manage-
ment-focused approach, 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. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Self-Sufficient Community Lands Act’’. 
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(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Purpose. 
Sec. 3. Definitions. 
Sec. 4. Establishment of community forest demonstration areas. 
Sec. 5. Board of Trustees. 
Sec. 6. Management of community forest demonstration areas. 
Sec. 7. Distribution of funds from Community Forest Demonstration Area. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to generate dependable 
economic activity for counties and local governments 
through sustainable forest management. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) BOARD OF TRUSTEES.—The term ‘‘Board 
of Trustees’’ means the Board of Trustees appointed 
by the Governor of a State for the community forest 
demonstration area established for the State. 
(2) 
COMMUNITY
FOREST
DEMONSTRATION 
AREA.—The term ‘‘community forest demonstration 
area’’ means a community forest demonstration area 
established for a State under section 4. 
(3) NATIONAL
FOREST
SYSTEM.—The term 
‘‘National Forest System’’ has the meaning given 
that term in section 11(a) of the Forest and Range-
land Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 
U.S.C. 1609(a)), except that the term does not in-
clude the National Grasslands and land utilization 
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projects designated as National Grasslands adminis-
tered pursuant to the Act of July 22, 1937 (7 
U.S.C. 1010–1012). 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Agriculture or the designee of the 
Secretary of Agriculture. 
(5) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ includes the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. 
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMUNITY FOREST DEM-
ONSTRATION AREAS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT REQUIRED; TIME FOR ESTAB-
LISHMENT.—Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall 
establish the community forest demonstration area or 
areas of a State at the request of the Board of Trustees 
appointed to manage community forest demonstration 
area land in that State. 
(b) COVERED LAND.— 
(1) INCLUSION OF NATIONAL FOREST SYSTEM 
LAND.—The community forest demonstration areas 
of a State shall consist of the National Forest Sys-
tem land in the State identified for inclusion by the 
Board of Trustees of that State. 
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(2) EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN LAND.—A commu-
nity forest demonstration area shall not include Na-
tional Forest System land— 
(A) that is a component of the National 
Wilderness Preservation System; or 
(B) on which the removal of vegetation is 
specifically prohibited by Federal law. 
(c) CONDITIONS ON ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) ACREAGE
REQUIREMENT.—A community 
forest demonstration area must include at least 
200,000 acres of National Forest System land. 
(2) MANAGEMENT
LAW
REQUIREMENT.—A 
community forest demonstration area may be estab-
lished in a State only if the State has a forest prac-
tices law or regulatory structure applicable to State 
or privately owned forest land in the State. 
(3) REVENUE SHARING REQUIREMENT.—As a 
condition of the inclusion in a community forest 
demonstration area of National Forest System land 
located in a particular county in a State, the county 
must enter into an agreement with the Governor of 
the State that requires that, in utilizing revenues re-
ceived by the county under section 7, the county 
shall continue to meet any obligations under applica-
ble State law as provided under title I of the Secure 
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Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination 
Act of 2000 (16 U.S.C. 7111 et seq.) or as provided 
in the sixth paragraph under the heading ‘‘FOREST 
SERVICE’’ in the Act of May 23, 1908 (16 U.S.C. 
500) and section 13 of the Act of March 1, 1911 
(16 U.S.C. 500). 
(d) TREATMENT UNDER CERTAIN OTHER LAWS.— 
National Forest System land included in a community for-
est demonstration area shall not be considered Federal 
land for purposes of making payments to counties under 
the sixth paragraph under the heading ‘‘FOREST SERV-
ICE’’ in the Act of May 23, 1908 (16 U.S.C. 500) and 
section 13 of the Act of March 1, 1911 (16 U.S.C. 500). 
(e) 
RECOGNITION
OF
VALID
AND
EXISTING 
RIGHTS.—Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit 
or restrict— 
(1) access to National Forest System land in-
cluded in a community forest demonstration area for 
hunting, fishing, and other related purposes; or 
(2) valid and existing rights regarding such Na-
tional Forest System land, including rights of any 
federally recognized Indian tribe. 
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SEC. 5. BOARD OF TRUSTEES. 
(a) APPOINTMENT.—A community forest demonstra-
tion area for a State shall be managed by a Board of 
Trustees appointed by the Governor of the State. 
(b) COMPOSITION.—The Board of Trustees for a 
community forest demonstration area in a State shall in-
clude, but is not limited to, the following members: 
(1) One member who holds county or local 
elected office, appointed from each county or local 
governmental unit in the State containing commu-
nity forest demonstration area land. 
(2) One member who represents the commercial 
timber, wood products, or milling industry. 
(3) One member who represents persons hold-
ing Federal grazing or other land use permits. 
(4) One member who represents recreational 
users of National Forest System land. 
(c) TERMS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except in the case of certain 
initial appointments required by paragraph (2), 
members of a Board of Trustees shall serve for a 
term of three years. 
(2) INITIAL APPOINTMENTS.—In making initial 
appointments to a Board of Trustees, the Governor 
making the appointments shall stagger terms so that 
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at least one-third of the members will be replaced 
every three years. 
(d) COMPENSATION.—Members of a Board of Trust-
ees shall serve without pay, but may be reimbursed from 
the funds made available for the management of a commu-
nity forest demonstration area for the actual and nec-
essary travel and subsistence expenses incurred by mem-
bers in the performance of their duties. 
SEC. 6. MANAGEMENT OF COMMUNITY FOREST DEM-
ONSTRATION AREAS. 
(a) ASSUMPTION OF MANAGEMENT.— 
(1) CONFIRMATION.—The Board of Trustees 
appointed for a community forest demonstration 
area shall assume all management authority with re-
gard to the community forest demonstration area as 
soon as the Secretary confirms that— 
(A) the National Forest System land to be 
included in the community forest demonstration 
area meets the requirements of subsections (b) 
and (c) of section 4; and 
(B) the Board of Trustees has been duly 
appointed under section 5 and is able to con-
duct business. 
(2) SCOPE
AND
TIME
FOR
CONFIRMATION.— 
The determination of the Secretary under paragraph 
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(1) is limited to confirming whether the conditions 
specified in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of such 
paragraph have been satisfied. The Secretary shall 
make the determination not later than 60 days after 
the date of the appointment of the Board of Trust-
ees. 
(3) EFFECT OF FAILURE TO CONFIRM.—If the 
Secretary determines that either or both conditions 
specified in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph 
(1) are not satisfied for confirmation of a Board of 
Trustees, the Secretary shall— 
(A) promptly notify the Governor of the af-
fected State and the Board of Trustees of the 
reasons preventing confirmation; and 
(B) make a new determination under para-
graph (2) within 60 days after receiving a new 
request from the Board of Trustees that ad-
dresses the reasons that previously prevented 
confirmation. 
(b) MANAGEMENT
RESPONSIBILITIES.—Upon as-
sumption of management of a community forest dem-
onstration area, the Board of Trustees for the community 
forest demonstration area shall manage the land and re-
sources of the community forest demonstration area and 
the occupancy and use thereof in conformity with this Act, 
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and to the extent not in conflict with this Act, the laws 
and regulations applicable to management of State forest 
lands in the State in which the community forest dem-
onstration area is located. 
(c) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER FEDERAL LAWS.— 
The administration and management of a community for-
est demonstration area, including implementing actions, 
shall not be considered Federal action and shall be subject 
to the following only to the extent that such laws apply 
to the State administration and management of forest 
lands in the State in which the community forest dem-
onstration area is located: 
(1) The Federal Water Pollution Control Act 
(33 U.S.C. 1251 note). 
(2) The Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.). 
(3) The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). 
(4) Federal laws and regulations governing pro-
curement by Federal agencies. 
(5) Other Federal laws. 
(d) CONSULTATION.— 
(1) WITH
INDIAN
TRIBES.—The Board of 
Trustees for a community forest demonstration area 
shall cooperate and consult with Indian tribes on 
management policies and practices for the commu-
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nity forest demonstration area that may affect the 
Indian tribes. The Board of Trustees may allow the 
use of lands within the community forest demonstra-
tion area for religious and cultural uses by Native 
Americans. 
(2) 
WITH
COLLABORATIVE
GROUPS.—The 
Board of Trustees for a community forest dem-
onstration area shall consult with any applicable for-
est collaborative group. 
(e) RECREATION.—Nothing in this section shall af-
fect public use and recreation within a community forest 
demonstration area. 
(f) FIRE MANAGEMENT.—The Secretary shall pro-
vide fire presuppression, suppression, and rehabilitation 
services on and with respect to a community forest dem-
onstration area to the same extent generally authorized 
in other units of the National Forest System. 
SEC. 7. DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS FROM COMMUNITY FOR-
EST DEMONSTRATION AREA. 
(a) RETENTION OF FUNDS FOR MANAGEMENT.—The 
Board of Trustees of a community forest demonstration 
area may retain such sums as the Board of Trustees con-
siders to be necessary from amounts generated from that 
community forest demonstration area to fund the manage-
ment, administration, restoration, operation and mainte-
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