Title: To require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on lands that could be included in a National Forest in Hawai’i, and for other purposes.
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
This bill directs the Forest Service to conduct a study to identify available land within the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Oahu and Kauai that could be included in a national forest in Hawaii.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7045 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7045

  To require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on lands 
 that could be included in a National Forest in Hawai'i, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 28, 2020

 Mr. Case (for himself and Ms. Gabbard) introduced the following bill; 
        which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on lands 
 that could be included in a National Forest in Hawai'i, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. HAWAI'I NATIONAL FOREST STUDY.

    (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to identify lands within 
the study area that would--
            (1) support the conservation of biodiversity not found 
        elsewhere in the National Forest System;
            (2) support or expand the research mission of the Institute 
        of Pacific Islands Forestry;
            (3) promote shared stewardship with local communities, 
        including indigenous populations, the State of Hawai'i, and 
        non-profit groups; and
            (4) support or expand the international programs of the 
        Forest Service related to conservation of forest ecosystems, 
        sustainable forestry, protection of threatened, endangered, and 
        migratory species, controlling the spread of invasive species, 
        international reforestation, and other forest restoration 
        efforts.
    (b) Study Required.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct a study 
        to identify available land within the study area that could be 
        included in a National Forest in Hawai'i.
            (2) Coordination requirement.--The Secretary shall conduct 
        the study under paragraph (1) in coordination the Hawai'i 
        Department of Land and Natural Resources.
            (3) Consultation requirement.--In carrying out the study 
        under paragraph (1), the Secretary--
                    (A) shall consult with--
                            (i) the Hawai'i Department of Land and 
                        Natural Resources; and
                            (ii) the Hawai'i Department of Agriculture; 
                        and
                    (B) may consult with such other governmental or 
                nonprofit entities as the Secretary determines 
                appropriate.
            (4) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to 
        the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and 
        the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
        Representatives that identifies--
                    (A) available land within the study area that could 
                be included in a National Forest in Hawai'i;
                    (B) the ownership of the land within the study 
                area;
                    (C) any undeveloped land in the study area that may 
                be at risk of development; and
                    (D) any actions that could be carried out to 
                preserve the open and undeveloped character of the land 
                within the study area.
    (c) Effect.--Nothing in this section authorizes the Secretary to 
take any action that would affect the use of any land not owned by the 
United States.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Available land.--The term ``available land'' means any 
        land within the study areas that is--
                    (A) Federally owned;
                    (B) managed by a Federal land management agency in 
                partnership with a non-Federal entity; or
                    (C) land not described in subparagraph (A) or (B) 
                that fulfills the purpose of this section, as 
                determined by the Secretary.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.
            (3) Study area.--The term ``study area'' means the islands 
        of Hawai'i, Maui, Moloka'i, Lana'i, O'ahu and Kaua'i in the 
        State of Hawai'i.
            (4) Undeveloped land.--The term ``undeveloped land'' means 
        land--
                    (A) that is located within the study area;
                    (B) that is free or primarily free of structures; 
                and
                    (C) the development of which is likely to affect 
                adversely the scenic, research, wildlife, or 
                recreational value of the study area.
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