IB 
Union Calendar No. 190 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2720 
[Report No. 109–341, Part I] 
To further the purposes of the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Ad-
justment Act of 1992 by directing the Secretary of the Interior, acting 
through the Commissioner of Reclamation, to carry out an assessment 
and demonstration program to control salt cedar and Russian olive, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 26, 2005 
Mr. PEARCE (for himself, Mr. OSBORNE, Mr. BONILLA, Mr. CONAWAY, Mr. 
HUNTER, Mr. SALAZAR, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, and Mrs. CUBIN) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Re-
sources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period 
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
DECEMBER 13, 2005 
Reported from the Committee on Resources 
DECEMBER 13, 2005 
Additional sponsors: Mr. UDALL of New Mexico and Ms. HERSETH 
DECEMBER 13, 2005 
Committee on Agriculture discharged; committed to the Committee of the 
Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed 
A BILL 
To further the purposes of the Reclamation Projects Author-
ization and Adjustment Act of 1992 by directing the 
Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commis-
sioner of Reclamation, to carry out an assessment and 
demonstration program to control salt cedar and Russian 
olive, 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 ‘‘Salt Cedar and Rus-
sian Olive Control Demonstration Act’’. 
SEC. 2. SALT CEDAR AND RUSSIAN OLIVE CONTROL DEM-
ONSTRATION PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of the Interior 
(referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Secretary’’), acting 
through the Commissioner of Reclamation and the Direc-
tor of the United States Geological Survey and in coopera-
tion with the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary 
of Defense, shall carry out a salt cedar (Tamarix spp) and 
Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) assessment and 
demonstration program— 
(1) to assess the extent of the infestation by 
salt cedar and Russian olive trees in the western 
United States; 
(2) to demonstrate strategic solutions for— 
(A) the long-term management of salt 
cedar and Russian olive trees; and
(B) the reestablishment of native vegeta-
tion; and 
(3) to assess economic means to dispose of bio-
mass created as a result of removal of salt cedar and 
Russian olive trees. 
(b) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.—As soon 
as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary and the Secretary of Agriculture shall enter into 
a memorandum of understanding providing for the admin-
istration of the program established under subsection (a). 
(c) ASSESSMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date on which funds are made available to carry 
out this Act, the Secretary shall complete an assess-
ment of the extent of salt cedar and Russian olive 
infestation on public and private land in the western 
United States. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In addition to describing 
the acreage of and severity of infestation by salt 
cedar and Russian olive trees in the western United 
States, the assessment shall— 
(A) consider existing research on methods 
to control salt cedar and Russian olive trees;
(B) consider the feasibility of reducing 
water consumption by salt cedar and Russian 
olive trees; 
(C) consider methods of and challenges as-
sociated with the revegetation or restoration of 
infested land; and 
(D) estimate the costs of destruction of 
salt cedar and Russian olive trees, related bio-
mass removal, and revegetation or restoration 
and maintenance of the infested land. 
(3) REPORT.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Energy and Nat-
ural Resources and the Committee on Agri-
culture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate 
and the Committee on Resources and the Com-
mittee on Agriculture of the House of Rep-
resentatives a report that includes the results of 
the assessment conducted under paragraph (1). 
(B) CONTENTS.—The report submitted 
under subparagraph (A) shall identify— 
(i) long-term management and fund-
ing strategies identified under subsection 
(d) that could be implemented by Federal, 
State, tribal, and private land managers
and owners to address the infestation by 
salt cedar and Russian olive; 
(ii) any deficiencies in the assessment 
or areas for additional study; and 
(iii) any field demonstrations that 
would be useful in the effort to control salt 
cedar and Russian olive. 
(d) LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall identify 
and document long-term management and funding 
strategies that— 
(A) could be implemented by Federal, 
State, tribal, and private land managers in ad-
dressing infestation by salt cedar and Russian 
olive trees; and 
(B) should be tested as components of 
demonstration projects under subsection (e). 
(2) GRANTS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may 
provide grants to eligible entities to provide 
technical experience, support, and recommenda-
tions relating to the identification and docu-
mentation of long-term management and fund-
ing strategies under paragraph (1).
(B) ELIGIBLE
ENTITIES.—Institutions of 
higher education and nonprofit organizations 
with an established background and expertise in 
the public policy issues associated with the con-
trol of salt cedar and Russian olive trees shall 
be eligible for a grant under subparagraph (A). 
(C) MINIMUM AMOUNT.—The amount of a 
grant provided under subparagraph (A) shall be 
not less than $250,000. 
(e) DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date on which funds are made available to 
carry out this Act, the Secretary shall establish a 
program that selects and funds not less than 5 
projects proposed by and implemented in collabora-
tion with Federal agencies, units of State and local 
government, national laboratories, Indian tribes, in-
stitutions of higher education, individuals, organiza-
tions, or soil and water conservation districts to 
demonstrate and evaluate the most effective methods 
of controlling salt cedar and Russian olive trees. 
(2) PROJECT REQUIREMENTS.—The demonstra-
tion projects under paragraph (1) shall—