BLM Contract Extension Act

Bill: 111-hr-3759
Sponsor: Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4]
Introduced: 2009-10-08 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Economic performance and conditions
Forests, forestry, trees
Public contracts and procurement

Summary:
action_date: 2009-10-08
text: 
BLM Contract Extension Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, within 30 days of a timber purchaser requesting an economy-related contract extension of a qualifying contract for the sale of timber from lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) between the Secretary and the purchaser, to modify the contract to add three years to such contract's expiration date. 
 
Defines qualifying contract as a contract, executed on or before December 31, 2008, for the sale of timber from BLM lands: (1) for which there is unharvested volume remaining; (2) for which, within 90 days of enactment of this Act, a timber purchaser makes a written request to the Secretary for an economic related contract extension; and (3) that has not been terminated prior to the request for an extension. 
 
Requires the timber purchaser to waive any and all claims its has against the United States involving the qualifying contract that exist on the date such contract is modified. 
 
Prohibits anything in this Act from affecting any claim by the United States against any timber purchaser, including those claims that arose under a qualifying contract before the date on which its expiration date was extended. 

action_date: 2010-01-12
text: 
BLM Contract Extension Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, within 30 days of a timber purchaser requesting an economy-related contract extension of a qualifying contract for the sale of timber from lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) between the Secretary and the purchaser, to modify the contract to add a three years to such contract's expiration date. 
 
Defines qualifying contract as a contract, executed on or before December 31, 2008, for the sale of timber from BLM lands: (1) for which there is unharvested volume remaining; (2) for which, within 90 days of enactment of this Act, a timber purchaser makes a written request to the Secretary for an economic related contract extension; and (3) that has not been terminated prior to the request for an extension. 
 
Requires the timber purchaser to waive any and all claims its has against the United States involving the qualifying contract that exist on the date such contract is modified. 
 
Prohibits anything in this Act from affecting any claim by the United States against any timber purchaser, including those claims that arose under a qualifying contract before the date on which its expiration date was extended. 

action_date: 2010-01-19
text: 
 Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), upon a written request from a timber purchaser, to make a one-time modification to the term of the purchaser's qualifying contract by adding three years to the contract expiration date if the request: (1) is received within 90 days of enactment of this Act; and (2) contains a provision releasing the United States from all liability, including further consideration or compensation, as a result of the modification made to the contract. 
 
Defines qualifying contract as a contract that was awarded during the period beginning on January 1, 2005, and ending on December 31, 2008, that has not been terminated by BLM for the sale of timber from BLM lands for which there is unharvested volume remaining, for which the contract is not a salvage sale, and for which there is not an urgent need to harvest because of deteriorating timber conditions that developed after the contract was awarded. 
 
Requires the Secretary to submit to Congress a report on a plan and timeline for the promulgation of new regulations authorizing BLM to extend and renegotiate timber contracts because of changes in market conditions. 
 
Bars this Act from having the effect of surrendering any claim by the United States against any timber purchaser arising under a timber sale contract, including a qualifying contract, before the date on which the contract's term is adjusted as described in this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-03-10
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy. Hearings held.
action_date: 2010-01-20
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2010-01-19
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2010-01-19
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2010-01-19
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H151)
action_date: 2010-01-19
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H151)
action_date: 2010-01-19
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3759.
action_date: 2010-01-19
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H151-152)
action_date: 2010-01-19
text: Ms. Bordallo moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2010-01-12
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 231.
action_date: 2010-01-12
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 111-394.
action_date: 2010-01-12
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 111-394.
action_date: 2009-11-18
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2009-11-18
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2009-11-18
text: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Discharged.
action_date: 2009-11-05
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2009-10-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.
action_date: 2009-10-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2009-10-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-10-08
text: Introduced in House