Federal Land Avalanche Protection Act of 2010

Bill: 111-s-2907
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
Introduced: 2009-12-18 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Defense spending
Firearms and explosives
Land use and conservation
Military civil functions
Military facilities and property
Natural disasters
Research administration and funding
Research and development

Summary:
action_date: 2009-12-18
text: 
Federal Land Avalanche Protection Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to establish an avalanche protection program to: (1) identify the potential for avalanches on federal lands and inform the public about the probability of avalanches and their potential adverse effects; (2) carry out ongoing research to improve avalanche forecasting; and (3) reduce the risks of avalanches and mitigate their effects. 
 
Requires the Secretary: (1) to coordinate the program to ensure protection for recreational users of public land under the Secretary of the Interior's jurisdiction, using resources of the Forest Service's National Avalanche Center; (2) to establish an advisory committee to assist in program development and implementation; and (3) with the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of the Army, to establish a central depository for weapons, ammunition, and parts for avalanche control purposes.

Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to carry out projects and activities to: (1) assist in the prevention, forecasting, detection, and mitigation of avalanches; (2) maintain essential transportation, utilities, and communications; (3) assist avalanche artillery users to ensure the availability of adequate supplies of artillery and explosives required for avalanche control in specified areas; and (4) assist research and development activities for alternatives to minimize reliance on military weapons for avalanche control.

Directs the Secretary to give priority to projects carried out in avalanche zones with a high frequency or severity of avalanches or in which deaths, injuries, or damage to public facilities and communities have occurred. 
 
Requires the Administrator of General Services to transfer specified property suitable for avalanche control purposes to a user of surplus ordnance. 

action_date: 2010-08-05
text: 
Federal Land Avalanche Protection Act of 2010 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA), acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to establish an avalanche protection program to provide information and assistance to users of avalanche-prone National Forest System lands. 
 
Includes as objectives of the program: (1) informing and educating the public about the risks posed by avalanches; (2) providing avalanche forecasts for avalanche-prone areas of the National Forest System that are frequented by recreational or other users; (3) providing oversight of activities relating to the prevention and control of avalanches by ski area and other special use permit holders on National Forest System land, including the procurement, control, and use of artillery; and (4) facilitating research on the program's objectives, including research on the development of alternatives to military artillery. 
 
Requires the Secretary to: (1) use the resources of the Forest Service's National Avalanche Center and other partners; and (2) work with the Avalanche Artillery Users of North America Committee and other partners to improve coordination among the users of artillery used to prevent and control avalanches. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to further the program's objectives and requires giving priority to grants that enhance public safety.
 
Authorizes appropriations. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-08-05
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 536.
action_date: 2010-08-05
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 111-266.
action_date: 2010-08-05
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 111-266.
action_date: 2010-06-21
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2010-03-10
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 111-565.
action_date: 2009-12-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2009-12-18
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S13459-13460)
action_date: 2009-12-18
text: Introduced in Senate