jiayi-li23/proxann_data huggingface dataset:
Topic: Public Lands — Public Lands
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-05-25 00:00:00

Methow Headwaters Protection Act of 2016

This bill withdraws approximately 340,079 acres of federal land and interests in land located within the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in the state of Washington from:

 entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws; location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and disposition under the mineral leasing and geothermal leasing laws. Any land or interest in land within the Proposed Withdrawal area acquired by the United States shall, upon acquisition, be immediately withdrawn in accordance with this bill.
Topic: Public Lands — Public Lands
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-05-26 00:00:00

Alaska Mental Health Trust Land Exchange Act of 2016

This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA), if the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority offers to convey to it certain nonfederal land, to convey certain federal land to the Trust Authority in exchange.

Before carrying out the land exchange, USDA shall complete any necessary land surveys and required pre-exchange clearances, mitigation activities, and approvals related to:

 threatened and endangered species, cultural and historic resources, wetland and floodplains, and hazardous materials. USDA and the Trust Authority shall select an appraiser to conduct appraisals of the federal and nonfederal lands in accordance with nationally recognized standards.

The Trust Authority shall agree to pay, without compensation, all costs associated with the exchange.

Upon acquisition by USDA, the nonfederal land shall become part of Tongass National Forest, and shall be withdrawn from:

 entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws; location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and disposition under the mineral leasing, mineral materials, and geothermal leasing laws.
Topic: Public Lands — Public Lands
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-06-06 00:00:00

Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act

This bill designates specified National Forest System lands, National Park System lands, and public lands in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming as wilderness and as components or additions to existing components of the National Wilderness Preservation System.

 The bill also designates specified federal lands as biological connecting corridors and as special corridor management areas.

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act is amended to designate segments of specified rivers and creeks in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming as components of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

 The bill designates specified areas as wildland recovery areas. The Department of Agriculture shall develop a wildland recovery plan for each recovery area.

 A specified panel of independent scientists shall study roadless lands greater than 1,000 acres that are within the National Forest System in the Wild Rockies bioregion in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, or Wyoming, but not designated as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System, for their role in maintaining biological diversity in the Northern Rockies and as part of the overall forest reserve system. Any new or existing road construction or reconstruction or timber harvest is prohibited in those lands after the evaluation. Oil or gas leasing, mining, or other development that impairs the natural and roadless qualities of the land is also prohibited.

 The Department of the Interior may apply the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act in carrying out this bill.
Topic: Public Lands — Public Lands
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-06-07 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate passed version is repeated here.)

Daniel J. Evans Olympic National Park Wilderness Act

(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Washington Park Wilderness Act of 1988 to redesignate the Olympic Wilderness as the "Daniel J. Evans Wilderness."
Topic: Public Lands — Public Lands
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-06-10 00:00:00

Southeastern Oregon Mineral Withdrawal and Economic Preservation and Development Act

This bill establishes the Southeastern Oregon Withdrawal Area, comprising 2.065 million acres of specified federal land in Malheur County, Oregon, which shall be withdrawn from certain public land, mining, and mineral leasing laws.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) shall make grants for projects in Oregon to develop modern and efficient water systems.

USDA shall establish an Agricultural Center for Excellence in the county.

The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 is amended to make the rural firefighters and emergency medical service assistance program permanent and require grant amounts to fund the operating expenses of firefighters in rural areas.

The Departments of Homeland Security, of Defense, and of the Interior shall establish programs for transferring surplus equipment that can be used in firefighting.

Interior shall establish a program of strategic fuel breaks from which firefighters can operate safely to preserve critical sage grouse habitat and support the nearby ranching community.

USDA shall make grants for infrastructure projects for drinking water and wastewater systems and for improvement of broadband or cellular service.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) shall study rural air services and infrastructure for Ontario (Oregon) Municipal Airport.

DOT shall:

 make a grant for the construction of an intermodal transfer facility in the county; furnish financial assistance for projects that would improve the downtown area of Ontario, surrounding communities, and local transportation; and make grants to the state to support Lake Owyhee Road Transportation Improvement Projects. The Department of Labor shall make grants for workforce training activities in the county.
Topic: Public Lands — Public Lands
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-06-10 00:00:00

Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Conservation Act

This bill designates specified lands in New Mexico administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) of the Department of the Interior as wilderness and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System.

Such wilderness areas shall also be administered as components of the National Landscape Conservation System.

The bill designates approximately 100 acres of specified BLM land in New Mexico as a potential wilderness area, upon which Interior shall permit only those uses already permitted. When specified conditions have been met, this area shall be incorporated into the Robledo Mountains Wilderness.

The bill releases from further review for designation as wilderness the public land in Dona Ana County, New Mexico, administered by the BLM and not designated as wilderness.

The bill withdraws the Potrillo Mountains Complex from the Potrillo Mountains Wilderness; it closes a specified route from public access, making it available only for administrative and law enforcement uses, including border security.

 In implementing a management plan for the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument in New Mexico, Interior shall include a watershed health assessment to identify opportunities for watershed restoration.

Any land or interest that is within specified state trust land acquired by the United States shall become part of the monument.

Interior shall convey to the state of New Mexico specified BLM land in exchange for specified parcels of state trust land within the monument.
Topic: Public Lands — Public Lands
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-06-22 00:00:00

Emergency Wildfire and Forest Management Act of 2016

This bill sets forth a procedure for the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to request declarations for major wildfire disasters on federal land.

This bill shall apply whenever the appropriate department prepares an environmental assessment (EA) or an environmental impact statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) for a forest management activity whose primary purpose is to:

 reduce hazardous fuel loads, reduce fuel connectivity through the installation of fuel and fire breaks, restore forest health and resilience, protect a municipal water supply, or perform a combination of two or more such activities. In an EA or EIS, the department concerned shall develop only these two alternatives:

 the forest management activity proposed, or the alternative of no action. A categorical exclusion shall be available to the department concerned to: (1) expedite specified critical response actions, (2) expedite salvage operations in response to catastrophic events, (3) meet forest plan goals for early successional forests, and (4) improve and restore forest health and reduce the risk of wildfire.

(A "categorical exclusion" under NEPA is a category of actions which do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment and which have been found to have no such effect in procedures adopted by a federal agency in implementing environmental regulations and for which, therefore, neither an Environmental Assessment nor an Environmental Impact Statement is required.) The bill establishes the State-Supported Forest Management Fund to cover the cost of certain forest management activities on National Forest System (NFS) or public land.

The Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 is amended regarding protection of tribal forest assets and management of Indian forest land authorized to include NFS and public land.

USDA shall issue grants for a state and private forest landscape-scale restoration program.

USDA shall establish an NFS:

 pilot arbitration program to designate projects for an alternative dispute resolution process replacing judicial review, and accelerated landscape restoration pilot program for the restoration or maintenance of designated landscapes.
Topic: Public Lands — Public Lands
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-06-28 00:00:00

Pershing County Economic Development and Conservation Act

This bill directs the Department of the Interior to conduct sales or exchanges of eligible lands in Pershing County, Nevada, identified as the "Checkerboard Lands Resolution Area."

Interior and the county shall jointly select which parcels of eligible land to offer for sale or acre-for-acre exchange.

For purposes of acre-for-acre exchanges, Interior shall identify management priority areas within the Checkerboard Lands Resolution Area, including those considered to be:

 greater sage-grouse habitat; part of an identified wildlife corridor or designated critical habitat; of value for outdoor recreation or public access for hunting, fishing, and other recreational purposes; of significant cultural, historic, ecological, or scenic value; or of value for improving federal land management. The bill prescribes requirements for the disposition of proceeds from the sales of lands under this bill.

Interior shall offer for sale and convey to specified qualified entities, for fair market value, the remaining U.S. right, title, and interest in certain lands and interests in the county.

Interior shall convey, without consideration, Unionville Cemetery to the county.

The bill designates specified federal land in Nevada as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System.

The bill releases specified wilderness study areas from further review for designation as wilderness.
Topic: Public Lands — Public Lands
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-07-12 00:00:00

Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area Act of 2016

This bill establishes the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area to include specified counties in the states of Maryland and West Virginia. The bill designates the Appalachian Forest Heritage Area, Inc., as the local coordinating entity for the area.

The bill also requires the Appalachian Forest Heritage Area, Inc., to submit a management plan that provides for the protection, enhancement, and interpretation of cultural, natural, historical, educational, scenic, and recreational resources of the area.
Topic: Public Lands — Public Lands
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-07-14 00:00:00

Buffalo Tract Protection Act

This bill withdraws specified Bureau of the Land Management (BLM) lands in Placitas, New Mexico, from all forms of mineral development under all laws pertaining to mineral leasing or mineral materials, including locatable minerals.

Nothing in this bill prohibits the disposal of the surface estate of such BLM lands under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 or the Recreation and Public Purposes Act.

Any disposal of the surface estate of the BLM lands shall be subject to the condition that the mineral estate of those lands shall remain under the ownership of the BLM, subject to the withdrawal under this bill.
Topic: Public Lands — Public Lands
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-09-06 00:00:00

Bronzeville-Black Metropolis National Heritage Area Act

This bill establishes the Bronzeville-Black Metropolis National Heritage Area in Chicago, Illinois.

The Black Metropolis National Heritage Area Commission shall be the local coordinating entity for the heritage area and shall submit a management plan for the heritage area.
Topic: Public Lands — Public Lands
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-09-12 00:00:00

Environmental and Economic Benefits Restoration Act of 2016

This bill amends the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 to direct the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish a landscape-scale restoration program to provide financial and technical assistance for landscape-scale restoration projects on state, political subdivision, and private forest lands that maintain or improve benefits from trees and forests on such lands.

The program shall:

 address the national private forest conservation priorities specified under the Act; and enhance public benefits from trees and forests, as identified in a state-wide assessment and a long-term state-wide forest resource strategy under the Act. The program shall also have one or more objectives, including to:

 protect or improve water quality or quantity; reduce wildfire risk; protect or enhance wildlife habitat, consistent with wildlife objectives established by the applicable state fish and wildlife agency; improve forest health, including addressing native, nonnative, and invasive pests; or enhance opportunities for new and existing markets in which the production and use of wood products strengthens local and regional economies. USDA shall establish a measurement system to measure the results of landscape-scale restoration projects assisted under this bill.

USDA shall allocate from the amounts made available under this bill:

 50% for the competitive process for distributing funds for landscape-scale restoration projects; and 50% proportionally to states to maximize the achievement of the restoration program's objectives and to address the highest national priorities, as identified in state-wide assessments and long-term state-wide forest resource strategies. The bill amends the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 to allocate funds and use specified authorities of the USDA or of the Department of the Interior, as appropriate, to assist cross-boundary hazardous fuel reduction and wildfire mitigation programs.
Topic: Public Lands — Public Lands
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-09-13 00:00:00

Advancing Conservation and Education Act of 2016

 This bill allows the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming (western states) to relinquish state land grant parcels wholly or primarily within eligible areas and select, in exchange, public land within the state.

The bill defines "eligible areas" as lands within the outer boundaries of units or components of the National Park, National Wilderness Preservation, National Wildlife Refuge, or National Landscape Conservation Systems, areas identified by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) of the Department of the Interior as having wilderness characteristics, certain designated lands within the National Forest System or administered by the BLM, and sentinel landscapes designated by the Department of Agriculture, Department of Defense, or Interior.

 Interior shall create a process for the relinquishment of such parcels.

 A western state may select, and Interior may convey, lands that are mineral in character.

 The overall value of the state land grant parcels and the public land to be conveyed shall be equal.

The bill sets forth requirements regarding hazardous materials on land conveyed, water rights, and grazing permits.
Topic: Public Lands — Public Lands
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-09-15 00:00:00

Mohave County Federal Land Management Act

This bill directs the Department of the Interior to conduct sales of eligible lands in Mohave County, Arizona, which are administered by the Bureau of Land Management and have been designated for disposal by Interior.

Interior and Mohave County shall jointly select which parcels of eligible land to offer for sale.

Before carrying out a sale, Mohave County shall certify to Interior that qualified bidders have agreed to comply with:

 local zoning ordinances; and any master plan for the area approved by the county. Each sale of eligible land shall be:

 through a competitive bidding process, under which adjoining landowners are offered the first option, unless otherwise determined by Interior; for not less than fair market value, based on an appraisal; and conducted in accordance with the requirements regarding the administration of a sale of such land pursuant to this bill. The bill sets forth requirements for the disposition of proceeds from the sales of eligible lands under this bill.
Topic: Public Lands — Public Lands
Subject: Emergency management
Date: 2016-09-22 00:00:00

Rural Disaster Recovery Act of 2016

This bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize the President, if a state has in effect an individual assistance program that meets specified criteria, to increase to 100%, with respect to a major disaster, the federal share of financial assistance provided to individuals and households in that state to address needs other than housing.

To receive such increased federal share, the state must develop and implement such a program that authorizes the state to provide financial assistance and necessary direct services to individuals who, as a direct result of a major disaster or an event that does not trigger a major disaster declaration, have necessary expenses and serious needs they are unable to meet otherwise. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) shall publish minimum eligibility criteria for such a program.

The bill amends the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to: (1) authorize appropriations for emergency food and shelter grants, and for disaster supplemental food and shelter grants, for FY2017; and (2) require FEMA to award a grant for the full amount that Congress makes available for the Federal Emergency Management Food and Shelter Program to the Emergency Food and Shelter Program National Board for the purpose of providing disaster supplemental food and shelter grants to needy individuals through private nonprofit organizations and local governments. Eligibility requirements for such grants are specified.

The Farm Service Agency shall: (1) amend the regulations promulgated pursuant to the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 relating to the emergency conservation program to limit the maximum amount of payments made per person or legal entity per natural disaster for carrying out wind erosion control or rehabilitation measures or for carrying out water conservation or water enhancing measures to $500,000, and (2) initiate a rule making to amend the regulations promulgated to carry out the emergency conservation program to account for the challenges posed by the increase in frequency and intensity of wildland fires.

 The Natural Resources Conservation Service shall establish a two-year pilot program for the administration of the emergency watershed protection program in jurisdictions within areas for which the President declared a major disaster to extend deadlines, as specified, for submitting applications and the provision of amounts under the program.

The President may provide hazard mitigation assistance in any area in which fire management assistance is provided.
Topic: Public Lands — Public Lands
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-09-27 00:00:00

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate passed version is repeated here.)

Prescribed Burn Approval Act of 2016

(Sec. 3) This bill prohibits the Forest Service from authorizing a prescribed burn (i.e., a planned fire intentionally ignited) on Forest Service land if, for the county or contiguous county in which such land is located, the national fire danger rating system is indicating an extreme fire danger level.

Nonetheless, the Forest Service may authorize a prescribed burn under such a condition if it coordinates with the applicable state government and local fire officials.

At the end of every fiscal year, the Forest Service shall submit a report that describes:

 the number and locations of prescribed burns during that fiscal year, and each prescribed burn during that year that was authorized by the Forest Service as an exception under this bill.
Topic: Public Lands — Public Lands
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-09-28 00:00:00

Bureau of Land Management Foundation Act

 This bill establishes the Bureau of Land Management Foundation as a charitable, nonprofit organization to encourage, accept, obtain, administer, and use private gifts of money, devises, and bequests of real and personal property for the benefit of, or in connection with, the activities and services of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

The foundation shall conduct and encourage programs and activities that support:

 educational, technical, scientific, and other assistance or activities to support the management of BLM lands with regard to wild free-roaming horses and burros, fish and wildlife and their habitats, National Conservation Lands, and recreation, cultural, and historic resources; and activities that support the reclamation and remediation of specified abandoned mine lands, specified orphaned oil and gas well sites, or public lands impacted by development connected to mineral exploration and development activities. Reclamation activities are to include the remediation of soil and water contamination; the restoration of wildlife habitat in order to restore the natural, scenic, historic, cultural, and ecological values of those areas; or promotion of the areas' economic potential.
Topic: Public Lands — Public Lands
Subject: Public lands and natural resources
Date: 2016-12-07 00:00:00

Rim of the Valley Corridor Preservation Act

This bill adjusts the boundary of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in California as depicted on a specified map to include the area known as the Rim of the Valley Unit.

The unit, and any lands or interests acquired by the United States and located within its boundaries, shall be administered as part of the recreation area.

The Department of the Interior may acquire only through exchange, donation, or purchase from a willing seller any nonfederal land within the boundaries of the unit.

Nothing in this bill authorizes the use of eminent domain to acquire lands or interests within the boundaries of the unit.

No part of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory shall be considered for inclusion in the unit until specified cleanups of soil at the laboratory have been completed.