[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 297 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 254
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 297
[Report No. 117-57]
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 13, 2021
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources
January 19 (legislative day, January 18), 2022
Reported by Mr. Manchin, without amendment
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on the
establishment of, and the potential land that could be included in, a
unit of the National Forest System in the State of Hawaii, 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. HAWAII NATIONAL FOREST STUDY.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.
(2) Study area.--The term ``study area'' means the islands
of Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Oahu, and Kauai in the State
of Hawaii.
(b) Study.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct a study--
(A) to determine the suitability and feasibility of
establishing a unit of the National Forest System in
the study area; and
(B) to identify available land within the study
area that could be included in the unit described in
subparagraph (A).
(2) Coordination and consultation.--In conducting the study
under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
(A) coordinate with the Hawaii Department of Land
and Natural Resources; and
(B) consult with the Hawaii Department of
Agriculture and other interested governmental entities,
private and nonprofit organizations, and any interested
individuals.
(3) Contents.--In conducting the study under paragraph (1),
the Secretary shall--
(A) consider unique vegetation types that occur in
the study area and that should be targeted for
inclusion in the unit of the National Forest System
described in paragraph (1)(A);
(B) evaluate the ability of the Secretary--
(i) to improve and protect forest areas
within the study area; and
(ii) to secure favorable water flows within
the study area;
(C) determine whether the unit of the National
Forest System described in paragraph (1)(A) would
expand, enhance, or duplicate--
(i) resource protection; and
(ii) visitor-use opportunities;
(D) consider parcels of an appropriate size or
location to be capable of economical administration as
part of the National Forest System separately or
jointly with the other land identified under paragraph
(1)(B);
(E) evaluate the willingness of landowners to sell
or transfer land in the study area to the Secretary;
(F) evaluate the suitability of land in the study
area for potential selection and designation as a
research natural area or an experimental forest;
(G) identify cost estimates for any Federal
acquisition, development, operation, and maintenance
that would be needed to establish the unit of the
National Forest System described in paragraph (1)(A);
and
(H) consider other alternatives for the
conservation, protection, and use of areas within the
study area by the Federal Government, State or local
government entities, or private and nonprofit
organizations.
(c) Effect.--Nothing in this section authorizes the Secretary to
take any action that would affect the use of any land owned by the
United States or not owned by the United States.
(d) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources
of the House of Representatives a report that describes--
(1) the results of the study; and
(2) any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary.
Calendar No. 254
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 297
[Report No. 117-57]
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on the
establishment of, and the potential land that could be included in, a
unit of the National Forest System in the State of Hawaii, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
January 19 (legislative day, January 18), 2022
Reported without amendment