Ancient Forest Act of 1990

Ancient Forest Act of 1990 - Directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to designate lands for a Pacific Northwest Ancient Forest Reserve System, consisting of Federal and public lands in Oregon, Washington, and Northern California. Includes within the criteria for the System the need for lands for the viability and recovery of the northern spotted owl population. Requires the Ancient Forest to include at least 50 percent of old growth forest ecosystems found in the Douglas Fir Region that are outside of congressionally designated areas (wilderness areas and wild and scenic rivers which prohibit commercial timber sales).

Prohibits timber harvesting on lands designated as Ancient Forests except for the minimum necessary for the protection of old growth forest ecosystems.

Requires that any timber harvest in the old growth forest ecosystems outside of Ancient Forests but within the Douglas Fir Region be managed using the specified techniques of a New Forestry Program.

Requires the Secretaries to establish an Ancient Forest Research Program on old growth forest ecosystems.

Directs the President to establish a permanent Ancient Forest Scientific Committee to report to the Secretaries and certain congressional committees on specified aspects of programs and activities established under this Act.

Mandates for FY 1991 through 1993 the minimum board feet per year the Secretaries must offer for sale from national forest lands within the Douglas Fir Region and other lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management within such Region.

Prohibits the sale of timber in certain areas.

Increases from 25 percent to 50 percent for a five-year period the amounts paid by the Secretary of Agriculture to States for their counties under Federal law with respect to national forests in the Douglas Fir Region.

Sets forth for a five-year period the method by which Oregon and California land-grant funds paid by the Secretary of the Interior shall be distributed to such countries.

Directs the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Forest Service's State and private forestry programs, to establish a special initiative to improve the productivity on State, county, and private lands in counties that include lands within the Douglas Fir Region.

Requires the Secretaries to establish a national community assistance task force to oversee assistance to rural communities in those counties that include lands that are parts of the Douglas Fir Region and to establish local task forces to assist communities and help displaced workers.

Requires the Secretaries to establish a program to improve the condition of Federal forest lands in the Douglas Fir Region, with hiring preference given to local workers.

Requires the Secretary of the Interior to study and report to specified congressional committees on consolidation of the Bureau of Land Management's Oregon and California lands through exchange, purchase, or donation.

Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of 1960, and the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 with respect to old growth forest ecosystems.

Directs the Secretaries to prepare and submit to the Congress a nationwide inventory of old growth forest ecosystems on national forests and public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management.

 
HR 5295 IH
101st CONGRESS
2d Session
 H. R. 5295
To provide for designation by the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary
of Agriculture of an ancient forest reserve system, including lands managed by
the Bureau of Land Management and portions of national forests established
by reservations from the public domain; to require the Secretary of the
Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to enhance economic stability in
the Pacific Northwest; and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 18, 1990
Mr. VENTO (for himself, Mr. UDALL, Mr. MILLER of California, Mr. RAHALL,
Mrs. BYRON, Mr. DE LUGO, Mr. KOSTMAYER, Mr. DARDEN, Mr. OWENS of Utah,
Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. MCDERMOTT, and Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota)
introduced the following bill; which was referred jointly to the Committees
on Interior and Insular Affairs and Agriculture
A BILL
To provide for designation by the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary
of Agriculture of an ancient forest reserve system, including lands managed by
the Bureau of Land Management and portions of national forests established
by reservations from the public domain; to require the Secretary of the
Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to enhance economic stability in
the Pacific Northwest; 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. SHORT TITLE.
  This Act may be cited as the `Ancient Forest Act of 1990'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  The Congress finds the following:
  (1) examples of old growth forest ecosystems are rapidly disappearing
  from the public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management and
  national forest lands;
  (2) the old growth forest ecosystems of Federal lands of the Pacific
  Northwest are of unique importance to the Nation, and the northern spotted
  owl is an indicator of the condition of these ecosystems;
  (3) significant scientific evaluation and recommendations for protecting
  and preserving the northern spotted owl are found in the report to the
  Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture of the Interagency
  Scientific Committee to Address the Conservation of the Northern Spotted
  Owl, April 1990;
  (4) the Nation needs land use policies which require the regeneration of
  old growth forest ecosystems;
  (5) some timber dependent rural communities in the Pacific Northwest need
  economic assistance to become less timber dependent;
  (6) old growth forest ecosystems help protect the global environment by
  preserving biological diversity, slowing atmospheric change, and providing
  a scientific benchmark for monitoring the health of the planet; and
  (7) the economy of the Pacific Northwest requires a stable and certain
  supply of timber, and timber products from old growth forests on public
  lands and national forests currently play an important role in this economy.
SEC. 3. PURPOSES.
  The purposes of this Act are as follows:
  (1) To provide for management of certain Federal lands by the Secretary
  of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to assure protection
  in perpetuity of a resource of old growth forest ecosystems for the use,
  enjoyment, and recreation of the American people.
  (2) To ensure the viability and recovery of the northern spotted owl as
  well as the viability of other species of plants and animals dependent on
  or associated with old growth forest ecosystems.
  (3) To provide a stable supply of timber from Federal lands to help maintain
  the economy of the Northwest.
  (4) To provide assistance in promoting economic diversification and
  stability in rural communities impacted by a declining timber supply,
  including assistance to workers displaced by this decline.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
  For purposes of this Act:
  (1) The terms `Secretary' and `Secretaries' means the Secretary of the
  Interior in the case of lands under the administrative jurisdiction of the
  Bureau of Land Management and the Secretary of Agriculture in the case of
  National Forest System lands.
  (2) The term `Oregon and California Lands' means those lands administered
  by the Bureau of Land Management that are identified by the Act of August
  28, 1937 (43 U.S.C. 1181f).
  (3) The term  `Ancient Forests' means the Pacific Northwest Ancient Forest
  Reserve System designated under section 5(a) of this Act.
  (4) The term `Ancient Forest Scientific Committee' means the committee
  established under section 9 of this Act.
  (5) The term `Douglas Fir Region' means--
  (A) Federal lands that are included within the following 17 National
  Forests in Oregon, Washington and Northern California: the Olympic,
  Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie, Wenatchee, Okanogan, Gifford Pinchot, Mt. Hood,
  Siuslaw, Willamette, Deschutes, Umpqua, Rogue River, Siskiyou, Winema,
  Klamath, Six Rivers, Shasta-Trinity, and Mendocino; and
  (B) Federal lands that are included within the following 6 Bureau of Land
  Management administrative districts in Oregon and Northern California:
  Salem, Eugene, Roseburg, Medford, Coos Bay, and Ukiah.
  (6) The term `habitat conservation areas' means those areas identified as
  such in the April 1990 report of the Interagency Scientific Committee.
  (7) The term `Interagency Scientific Committee' means the Scientific
  Committee to Address the Conservation of the Northern Spotted Owl.
  (8) The term `New Forestry Program' means those forestry techniques defined
  as the New Forestry Program by the Ancient Forest Scientific Committee
  pursuant to section 9 of this Act.
  (9) The term `old growth forest ecosystem' shall have the meaning provided
  by the Ancient Forest Scientific Committee pursuant to section 9 of this Act.
SEC. 5. PACIFIC NORTHWEST ANCIENT FOREST RESERVE SYSTEM.
  (a) DESIGNATION OF PACIFIC NORTHWEST ANCIENT FOREST RESERVE SYSTEM- Within 3
  years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture
  and the Secretary of the Interior shall designate and reserve lands for
  a Pacific Northwest Ancient Forest Reserve System consisting of Federal
  lands in the Douglas Fir Region containing 5,660,000 acres on national
  forest lands and 660,000 acres on public lands administered by the Bureau
  of Land Management, which may include lands already designated, withdrawn,
  or reserved for other purposes, including wilderness. Designation pursuant
  to this subsection shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of such other
  prior designation, withdrawal, or reservation.
  (b) PURPOSES- The purposes of the Ancient Forests are to protect for the
  benefit of present and future generations of Americans the environmental,
  aesthetic, and recreational values of old growth forest ecosystems on
  Bureau of Land Management and national forest lands in the Douglas Fir
  Region and to regenerate such ecosystems where they once occurred within
  the Ancient Forest Reserve System.
  (c) CRITERIA- The Ancient Forests shall be designated based on the
  following criteria:
  (1) The Ancient Forests shall include lands needed for the viability and
  recovery of northern spotted owl populations. The Secretaries shall consider,
  as a starting point, but not be limited to, the habitat conservation areas
  recommended by the Interagency Scientific Committee.
  (2) The Ancient Forests shall include lands that are needed to protect old
  growth forest ecosystems and plants and animals dependent on or associated
  with old growth forest ecosystems and that are needed to maintain the
  biological diversity of old growth forest ecosystems.
  (3) The Ancient Forests shall include a significant amount of low elevation
  old growth forest ecosystems.
  (4) The Ancient Forests shall be well distributed geographically through
  the Douglas Fir Region.
  (5) The Ancient Forests may include some lands that are not currently old
  growth forest ecosystems, if they can be managed to regenerate old growth
  forest ecosystems or to provide connectors between remaining old growth
  forest ecosystems.
  (6) The Ancient Forests shall include no less than the same amount of acres
  of old growth forest ecosystems as are found in the habitat conservation
  areas on the date of enactment of this Act.
  (7) The Ancient Forests shall include at least 50 percent of the old
  growth forest ecosystems as found on the date of enactment of this Act in
  the Douglas Fir Region and that are outside of congressionally designated
  areas, such as wilderness areas and wild and scenic rivers where commercial
  timber sales are prohibited.
  (8) The Secretaries shall consider the recommendations of the Ancient
  Forest Scientific Committee pursuant to section 9.
  (9) The Secretaries shall consider lands that minimize the impacts on
  Federal timber supply, but only if consistent with the purposes of Ancient
  Forests and the other criteria of this subsection.
  (d) REVISIONS BY DEPARTMENTS- The Secretaries may, as part of their regular
  land management planning processes, revise the boundaries of the Ancient
  Forests only if such revisions are consistent with subsections (b) and
  (c) and comply with each of the following requirements:
  (1) The revision shall be preceded by public involvement.
  (2) The revision shall maintain the acreage established by this section.
  (3) The revision shall be reviewed by the Ancient Forest Scientific
  Committee, which shall produce a report commenting on the revision before
  the revision is implemented. The Ancient Forest Scientific Committee may
  also recommend revisions on its own initiative to the Secretaries.
  (4) The proposed revisions, together with the report of the Ancient Forest
  Scientific Committee, shall be submitted to the Committees on Interior
  and Insular Affairs and Agriculture of the House of Representatives and
  to the Committees on Energy and National Resources and Agriculture of the
  Senate at least 120 days before implementation.
SEC. 6. MANAGEMENT OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST ANCIENT FOREST RESERVE SYSTEM.
  The following shall apply to lands designated as Ancient Forests:
  (1) No timber harvesting shall be allowed except for the minimum necessary
  for the protection of old growth forest ecosystems from insects and disease,
  public safety, recreation, and administration.
  (2) Effective upon the designation of the Ancient Forests and subject
  to valid existing rights, Federal lands within the Ancient Forests are
  withdrawn from disposition under the public land laws and from location,
  entry, and patent under the mining laws of the United States, from the
  operation of the mineral leasing laws of the United States and from
  operation of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970.
  (3) Except as prohibited or restricted by applicable law or previous
  designation of lands as wilderness or otherwise, roads, structures, and
  motorized and nonmotorized recreation and access may be permitted within
  the Ancient Forests where compatible with the protection of old growth
  forest ecosystems and where consistent with the purposes of Ancient Forests
  as specified in section 5. The Ancient Forest Scientific Committee shall
  review all such proposals and make its recommendations to the appropriate
  Secretary prior to implementation.
  (4) Except as prohibited or restricted by applicable law or previous
  designation of lands as wilderness or otherwise, the Secretary may permit
  hunting, trapping, and fishing on lands and waters within the Ancient
  Forests in accordance with applicable Federal and State law. The Secretary
  may designate zones where, and establish periods when, such activities
  will not be permitted for reasons of public safety, administration, fish
  and wildlife management or public use and enjoyment. Except in emergencies
  any regulations issued by the Secretary under this subsection shall be put
  into effect only after consultation with the appropriate State agencies
  responsible for hunting and fishing activities.
  (5) Areas within the Ancient Forests not meeting the definition of old growth
  forest ecosystems, as defined under this Act, or damaged by fire or other
  natural causes, shall be managed to regenerate old growth forest ecosystems.
SEC. 7. OLD GROWTH FOREST ECOSYSTEMS OUTSIDE ANCIENT FORESTS.
  Any timber harvest in an area of an old growth forest ecosystem which
  is outside of Ancient Forests but within the Douglas Fir Region shall be
  managed using the techniques described under the New Forestry Program. These
  techniques shall include (but not be limited to)--
  (1) managing for ecosystems and multiple resources rather than for
  individual resources;
  (2) allowing for a high level of structural and compositional diversity
  in managed stands; and
  (3) minimizing forest fragmentation.
The New Forestry Program shall be instituted no later than 3 years after
the date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 8. ANCIENT FOREST RESEARCH PROGRAM.
  (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF RESEARCH PROGRAM- The Secretary of Agriculture and
  the Secretary of the Interior shall, within 3 years after the date of
  enactment of this Act, establish an Ancient Forest Research Program.
  (b) PURPOSES OF PROGRAM- The purposes of the research program established
  under this section shall include (but not be limited to) each of the
  following:
  (1) Basic research on old growth forest ecosystems, their processes,
  and species dependent on them.
  (2) The development and testing of ecologically sensitive forest management
  practices at the stand and landscape levels.
  (3) Analysis of the socioeconomic impacts of these practices.
  (4) The integration of recreational, aesthetic, and ecological uses of
  old growth forest ecosystems with commodity uses of these ecosystems.
  (5) The feasibility of supplying the economy with old growth forest products
  on a sustained basis and the methods to accomplish this objective.
  (6) Techniques for regenerating old growth forest ecosystems.
SEC. 9. THE ANCIENT FOREST SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE.
  (a) ESTABLISHMENT- The President shall establish a permanent 11-person
  Ancient Forest Scientific Committee (hereafter in this section referred
  to as the `committee') within 6 months after the date of enactment of this
  Act. The committee shall consist of the following members to be appointed
  by the President from a list of candidates to be developed and submitted
  to the President by the National Academy of Sciences:
  (1) 1 forest ecologist, appointed to serve as chairperson.
  (2) 3 forest ecologists with expertise on Douglas Fir Region old growth
  forest ecosystems.
  (3) 2 wildlife biologists, one of whom has expertise on the northern
  spotted owl.
  (4) 1 forest economist with expertise on the economy of the Douglas
  Fir Region.
  (5) 1 silviculturist with expertise on Douglas Fir Region forests.
  (6) 1 forest planner.
  (7) 1 hydrologist with expertise on Douglas Fir Region watersheds.
  (8) 1 fisheries biologist with expertise on Douglas Fir Region fisheries.
Each member shall be a recognized expert in the field for which the member is
considered for appointment and shall be free of economic conflict of interest
with regard to the subject of this Act. The list of candidates provided by the
National Academy of Sciences shall consist of at least twice as many nominees
in each category specified in this section. Members of the committee shall
serve for such terms as may be designated at the time of their appointment.
  (b) ADMINISTRATION OF COMMITTEE- (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2),
  members of the committee shall each be paid at a rate not to exceed and
  consistent with the rate paid to employees of the United States performing
  similar duties and with similar qualifications for each day (including
  travel time) during which they are engaged in the actual performance of
  duties vested in the committee. While away from their homes or regular
  places of business in the performance of services for the committee,
  members of the committee shall be allowed travel expenses, including
  per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons employed
  intermittently in Government service are allowed expenses under section
  5703 of title 5 of the United States Code.
  (2) Members of the committee who are full-time officers or employees of
  the United States shall receive no additional pay, allowances, or benefits
  by reason of their service on the committee.
  (3) Upon request of the committee, the head of any Federal agency is
  authorized to provide facilities, equipment, personnel, and other types
  of support to the committee to assist the committee in carrying out its
  duties under this Act.
  (c) REPORT- (1) Within 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the
  committee shall submit a report to the Secretaries containing a definition
  of old growth forest ecosystems in the Douglas Fir Region.
  (2) Within 2 1/2  years after the date of enactment of this Act, the
  committee shall submit a report to the Secretaries containing recommendations
  for the Secretaries. The report shall contain each of the following:
  (A) A definition of old growth forest ecosystems in the Douglas Fir Region.
  (B) Recommendations on the management of Ancient Forests consistent with
  section 6.
  (C) A definition of the New Forestry Program and recommendations for
  its implementation in the Douglas Fir Region based on the provisions of
  section 7.
  (D) Guidelines for the Ancient Forest Research Program based on the
  provisions of section 8.
  (E) Recommendations for the boundaries of the Ancient Forests consistent
  with the provisions of section 5.
  (3) The reports under paragraphs (1) and (2) shall also be submitted to the
  Committees on Interior and Insular Affairs and Agriculture of the House
  of Representatives and to the Committees on Energy and Natural Resources
  and Agriculture of the Senate.
  (c) EFFECT OF RECOMMENDATIONS- Within 6 months after receipt of the
  committee's report, the respective Secretaries shall determine whether or not
  to adopt the recommendations of the committee. If the respective Secretaries
  fail to adopt in total the committee's recommendations, they shall provide
  written notice to Congress of each deviation from the recommendations, and
  reasons therefor, at least 30 days before designating the Ancient Forests.
  (d) PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT- After receiving the committee's report, but before
  implementing any of the report's recommendations and before establishing
  the Ancient Forests boundaries, the Ancient Forest Research Program, and the
  New Forestry Program, the Secretaries shall provide an adequate opportunity
  for public involvement, including public hearings at appropriate locations.
  (e) CONTINUATION OF COMMITTEE- After the Ancient Forests are designated
  and the New Forestry Program and the Ancient Forest Research Program
  are implemented, the committee shall continue to operate to advise the
  Secretaries on the progress of these programs and on any needed modifications
  and to review any agency proposal for modifications.
SEC. 10. INTERIM MANAGEMENT.
  (a) NATIONAL FOREST TIMBER OFFER- To the extent consistent with this Act
  and other applicable law, for each of the fiscal years 1991 through 1993,
  the Secretary of Agriculture shall offer at least 2,200,000,000 board feet
  per year from national forest lands within the Douglas Fir Region, consistent
  with the requirements of subsection (c). To the extent consistent with this
  Act and other applicable law, during this interim period, the timber sale
  program for Region 6 of the Forest Service, which includes part of the
  Douglas Fir Region, shall be at least 2,600,000,000 board feet per year,
  consistent with the requirements of subsection (c).
  (b) BLM TIMBER OFFER- To the extent consistent with this Act and other
  applicable law, for each of the fiscal years 1991 through 1993, the Secretary
  of the Interior shall offer at least 450,000,000 board feet per year from
  lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management within the Douglas
  Fir Region, consistent with the requirements of subsection (c).
  (c) LIMITATIONS ON TIMBER SALES- During the interim period between the
  date of enactment of this Act and the designation of the Ancient Forests,
  no timber sale shall occur in the following:
  (1) The habitat conservation areas recommended by the Interagency Scientific
  Committee, except that the boundaries of such areas may be adjusted by the
  respective Secretary during this interim period, if such adjustments are in
  accordance with other applicable law and the following requirements are met:
  (A) The Interagency Scientific Committee approves such adjustments as
  being consistent with the intent of the guidelines in its report, and
  (B) an equivalent amount of acreage with an equivalent amount of old
  growth forest ecosystems is added by the appropriate Secretary to the
  habitat conservation area system.
  (2) All old growth forest lands, as defined by the Forest Service for its
  planning purposes, which are closed to commercial timber harvest by land
  and resource management plans that are in effect during this interim period.
  (3) All old growth forest lands, as defined by the Bureau of Land Management
  for its planning purposes, which are closed to commercial timber harvest
  by district plans that are in effect during this interim period.
  (4) All areas closed to timber harvest by the Bureau of Land Management's
  December 22, 1987 agreement with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
  pertaining to the northern spotted owl.
  (5) The following areas, as identified in maps prepared by the Forest
  Service and dated July 1990:
  (A) Siouxon Creek in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and consisting
  of approximately 1,400 acres.
  (B) Bourbon Creek in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and consisting
  of approximately 1,700 acres.
  (C) Areas with redwood trees in the Siskiyou National Forest and consisting
  of approximately 300 acres.
  (D) Elk River in the Siskiyou National Forest and consisting of approximately
  17,000 acres.
  (E) North Kalmiopsis in the Siskiyou National Forest and consisting of
  approximately 89,700 acres.
  (F) Gene Creek in the Wenatchee National Forest and consisting of
  approximately 1,000 acres.
  (G) Opal Creek in the Willamette National Forest and consisting of
  approximately 6,800 acres.
  (d) CONSISTENCY WITH LAND AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN- Timber sales
  offered pursuant to this section by the Secretaries shall be consistent
  with land and resource management plans.
  (e) PART OF PLANS- The requirements of this section shall be considered
  part of land and resource management plans.
SEC. 11. ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE TO RURAL COMMUNITIES.
  (a) PAYMENTS FOR COUNTIES- Effective for the first 5 fiscal years beginning
  on or after the date of enactment of this Act, the term `50 percent' shall
  be substituted for the term `twenty-five per centum' for the purposes
  of amounts paid under the Act of May 23, 1908, and section 13 of the Act
  of March 1, 1911 (16 U.S.C. 500) with respect to national forests in the
  Douglas Fir Region.
  (b) OREGON AND CALIFORNIA LANDS- In addition to the 50 percent share
  provided by subsection (a) of the first section of title II of the Act of
  August 28, 1937 (43 U.S.C. 1181f), for the first 5 fiscal years beginning
  on or after the date of enactment of this Act, the 25 percent amount of
  the Oregon and California land grant fund described in subsection (b) of
  such section shall be paid to the counties in the same manner as provided
  in such subsection (a).
  (c) FOREST PRODUCTIVITY INITIATIVE- The Secretary of Agriculture, through
  the Forest Service's State and private forestry programs, shall establish
  a special initiative to improve the productivity on State, county, and
  private lands in those counties that include lands that are part of the
  Douglas Fir Region. The Forest Service shall give hiring preference to
  workers from local communities within such region for the purposes of such
  initiative. This program will include the following:
  (1) Improved wood utilization through the training of loggers, mill owners,
  and landowners on more efficient harvesting methods.
  (2) Improved efficiency of sawmills by providing assistance in implementing
  the latest lumber production and drying technologies.
  (3) Improved efficiency for plywood plants and veneer mills through
  technical assistance to help them convert to the latest technologies.
  (4) Timber stand improvement on nonindustrial private forest lands.
  (5) Tree planting on nonindustrial private forest lands.
  (d) NATIONAL COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE TASK FORCE- The Secretaries shall establish
  a national community assistance task force to oversee assistance to rural
  communities in those counties that include lands that are parts of the
  Douglas Fir Region. Any rural community in the Douglas Fir Region that is
  impacted by declining Federal timber sales can request assistance from the
  national task force. The national task force shall provide the following
  types of assistance:
  (1) Establishment of local community task forces, retraining programs
  for workers, technical assistance, loans and grants to help communities
  diversify their economies, and job counseling and job placement services.
  (2) The facilities, equipment, and personnel of the agencies administered
  by the Secretaries may be used to provide such assistance.
  (e) IMPROVEMENT OF CONDITION OF FEDERAL FOREST LANDS- The Secretaries shall
  establish a program to improve the condition of Federal forest lands in
  the Douglas Fir Region. The Secretaries shall give hiring preference to
  workers from local communities within such region for the purposes of such
  program. The program shall include--
  (1) constructing recreational, tourism, and interpretive facilities on
  such lands,
  (2) improving commercial and recreational fisheries,
  (3) conducting natural resource inventories,
  (4) reclaiming roads no longer needed for timber sales,
  (5) implementing the New Forestry Program,
  (6) constructing and maintaining administrative facilities for the
  respective agencies,
  (7) maintaining and constructing hiking trails,
  (8) restoring and enhancing wildlife habitat,
  (9) restoring and enhancing watershed and water quality, and
  (10) enhancing timber management programs.
SEC. 12. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT OREGON AND CALIFORNIA LANDS.
  The Secretary of the Interior shall conduct a study on consolidation
  of the Bureau of Land Management's Oregon and California lands through
  exchange, purchase, or donation. Three years after the date of enactment
  of the Act, the Secretary shall submit a report on the study's findings
  and conclusions to the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs in the
  House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
  in the Senate.
SEC. 13. PLANNING.
  Where applicable, provisions of this Act shall be incorporated into Forest
  Service and Bureau of Land Management planning activities pursuant to
  applicable law. Nothing in this Act shall prevent the implementation of
  those portions of plans pursuant to other applicable law that are unaffected
  by provisions of this Act.
SEC. 14. NATIONAL MANDATE.
  (a) Amendment of Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976- Section
  202(c)(3) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43
  U.S.C. 1712(c)(3)) is amended by inserting `, including old growth forest
  ecosystems' after `concern'.
  (b) Other Amendments- (1) The first section of the Multiple-Use
  Sustained-Yield Act of 1960 (16 U.S.C. 528) is amended by inserting `old
  growth forest ecosystems,' after `outdoor recreation,'.
  (2) Section 6(e)(1) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning
  Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604) is amended by inserting `old growth forest
  ecosystems,' after `outdoor recreation,'.
  (c) Nationwide Inventory- The Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary
  of the Interior shall prepare a nationwide inventory of old growth forest
  ecosystems on national forests and public lands administered by the Bureau
  of Land Management. The inventory shall be completed and submitted to
  Congress no later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act
  for the Douglas Fir Region and no later than 3 years after the date of
  enactment of this Act for the rest of the Nation.