I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2316 
To generate dependable economic activity for counties and local governments 
containing National Forest System land by establishing a demonstration 
program for local, sustainable forest management, and for other pur-
poses. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 14, 2015 
Mr. LABRADOR (for himself, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, Mrs. LUMMIS, Mr. 
AMODEI, and Mr. GOSAR) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee 
on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To generate dependable economic activity for counties and 
local governments containing National Forest System 
land by establishing a demonstration program for local, 
sustainable forest management, 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. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Self-Sufficient Com-
munity Lands Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. PURPOSE AND DEFINITIONS. 
(a) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to generate 
dependable economic activity for counties and local gov-
ernments by establishing a demonstration program for 
local, sustainable forest management. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 
(1) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The term ‘‘Advi-
sory Committee’’ means the Advisory Committee ap-
pointed by the Governor of a State for the commu-
nity 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 3. 
(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 
projects designated as National Grasslands adminis-
tered pursuant to the Act of July 22, 1937 (7 
U.S.C. 1010–1012). 
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(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. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMUNITY FOREST DEM-
ONSTRATION AREAS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT REQUIRED; TIME FOR ESTAB-
LISHMENT.—Subject to subsection (c) and not later than 
one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Agriculture shall establish a community for-
est demonstration area at the request of the Advisory 
Committee appointed to manage community forest dem-
onstration 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 
Advisory Committee of that State. 
(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; 
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(B) on which the removal of vegetation is 
specifically prohibited by Federal statute; 
(C) National Monuments; or 
(D) over which administration jurisdiction 
was first assumed by the Forest Service under 
title III. 
(c) CONDITIONS ON ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) ACREAGE
REQUIREMENT.—A community 
forest demonstration area must include at least 
200,000 acres of National Forest System land. If 
the unit of the National Forest System in which a 
community forest demonstration area is being estab-
lished contains more than 5,000,000 acres, the com-
munity forest demonstration area may include 
900,000 or more acres of National Forest System 
land. 
(2) MANAGEMENT LAW OR BEST MANAGEMENT 
PRACTICES
REQUIREMENT.—A community forest 
demonstration area may be established in a State 
only if the State— 
(A) has a forest practices law applicable to 
State or privately owned forest land in the 
State; or 
(B) has established silvicultural best man-
agement practices or other regulations for for-
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est management practices related to clean 
water, soil quality, wildlife or forest health. 
(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(b), the county 
shall continue to meet any obligations under applica-
ble State law as provided under title I of the Secure 
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— 
(1) making payments to counties under the 
sixth paragraph under the heading ‘‘FOREST 
SERVICE’’ in the Act of May 23, 1908 (16 U.S.C. 
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500), and section 13 of the Act of March 1, 1911 
(16 U.S.C. 500); or 
(2) title I. 
(e) ACREAGE LIMITATION.—Not more than a total 
of 4,000,000 acres of National Forest System land may 
be established as community forest demonstration areas. 
(f) 
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. 
SEC. 4. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
(a) APPOINTMENT.—A community forest demonstra-
tion area for a State shall be managed by an Advisory 
Committee appointed by the Governor of the State. 
(b) COMPOSITION.—The Advisory Committee 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 
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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 an Advisory Committee shall serve for 
a term of three years. 
(2) INITIAL APPOINTMENTS.—In making initial 
appointments to an Advisory Committee, the Gov-
ernor making the appointments shall stagger terms 
so that at least one-third of the members will be re-
placed every three years. 
(d) COMPENSATION.—Members of a Advisory Com-
mittee shall serve without pay, but may be reimbursed 
from the funds made available for the management of a 
community forest demonstration area for the actual and 
necessary travel and subsistence expenses incurred by 
members in the performance of their duties. 
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SEC. 5. MANAGEMENT OF COMMUNITY FOREST DEM-
ONSTRATION AREAS. 
(a) ASSUMPTION OF MANAGEMENT.— 
(1) CONFIRMATION.—The Advisory Committee 
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 3; 
(B) the Advisory Committee has been duly 
appointed under section 4 and is able to con-
duct business; and 
(C) provision has been made for essential 
management services for the community forest 
demonstration area. 
(2) SCOPE
AND
TIME
FOR
CONFIRMATION.— 
The determination of the Secretary under paragraph 
(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 Advisory Com-
mittee. 
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