To provide new authority to the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to safeguard communities, lives, and property from catastrophic wildfire by eliminating hazardous fuels buildup, and to undertake other forest management projects to protect noncommodity resources, on Federal lands where wildlands abut, or are located in close proximity to, urban areas.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Title I: Management of Wildland-Urban Interface Areas
Title II: Fire Danger Reduction By Removal of Grasses and Forbs
Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions
Community Protection and Hazardous Fuels Reduction Act of 1997 - Title I: Management of Wildland-Urban Interface Areas - Requires the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service to identify wildlife-urban interface areas (areas of Federal land in close proximity to communities and human habitations) with hazardous fuels buildups and other forest management needs.
(Sec. 102) Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture or of the Interior to (temporarily) enter into forest product sales contracts in order to reduce hazardous fuels buildups in such areas, which may require the purchaser to undertake forest management projects under specified conditions in return for forest management credits.
Title II: Fire Danger Reduction by Removal of Grasses and Forbs - Authorizes the Secretary concerned, upon local certification of fire hazard due to excessive grasses and forbs in such areas, to enter into livestock grazing contracts for such vegetation's removal. Authorizes appropriations.
Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Requires the Secretary concerned to issue implementing regulations within a specified time.
Authorizes program appropriations.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1737-1738)
Referred to House Agriculture
Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committee on Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to House Resources
Referred to the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health.
Executive Comment Requested from USDA.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.
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