Act to Save America's Forests

Bill: 108-s-1938
Sponsor: Sen. Corzine, Jon S. [D-NJ]
Introduced: 2003-11-24 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Alabama
Alaska
Animal behavior
Animals
Archaeology
Arizona
Arkansas
Armed Forces and National Security
Arts, Culture, Religion
Biological warfare
California
Camping
Citizen lawsuits
Civil actions and liability
Colorado
Commemorations
Commerce
Conflict of interests
Crime and Law Enforcement
Cultural property
Damages
Department of Agriculture
Ecosystem management
Endangered species
Environmental Protection
Environmental law enforcement
Exotic plants
Federal advisory bodies
Fishery management
Fishing
Forest clearcutting
Forest conservation
Forest ecology
Forest management
Forest roads
Georgia
Government Operations and Politics
Government liability
Habitat conservation
Historic sites
History
Hunting
Idaho
Illinois
Indian lands
Infrastructure
Injunctions
Land use
Law
Legal fees
Logging
Lumber trade
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Michigan
Migratory bird conservation
Military bases
Mines and mineral resources
Minnesota
Minorities
Missouri
Montana
National forests
National recreation areas
Native Americans
New Mexico
Non-native species
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Old growth forests
Oregon
Religion
Restoration ecology
Road construction
Science, Technology, Communications
Scientists
South Carolina
South Dakota
Sports and Recreation
Sustainable forestry
Tennessee
Texas
Trails
Transportation and Public Works
Trees
Vermont
Virginia
Washington State
Water Resources Development
Watersheds
Wilderness areas
Wildlife refuges
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Summary:
action_date: 2003-11-24
text: 
Act to Save America's Forests - Amends the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 to revise eligibility criteria for members of the land and resource management scientific committee. Revises the committee termination date. 
Directs the Chief of the Forest Service, the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Director of the Bureau of Land Management to each prepare a continuous inventory of forest land administered by each agency head and to document whole-system measures that will be taken as a result of the inventory. 
 
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to provide for conservation and restoration of native biodiversity in forested areas. 
Prohibits clearcutting or other even-age logging operations on any stand or watershed on certain Federal land, National Forest System land, and National Wildlife Refuge System land. Provides for Federal enforcement and a private right of action. 
Designates special areas which shall be subject to restrictions on road construction and logging in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas,Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. 
Requires the Secretaries concerned to appoint a committee of independent scientists to recommend additional special areas. 
Restricts road construction and logging on Federal land in ancient forests, special areas, roadless areas, and watershed protection areas. Provides for Federal enforcement and a private right of action. 
States that this Act shall not apply to Federal wilderness areas designated under the Wilderness Act.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-11-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S15828-15837)
action_date: 2003-11-24
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S15827-15828)
action_date: 2003-11-24
text: Introduced in Senate