To restart jobs in the timber industry by providing for the protection of the Mexican Spotted Owl in sanctuaries.

Requires the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to permit any applicant to carry out a timber activity on National Forest System (NFS) land unless the application proposes an unpermitted use of clearcutting.

Prohibits NFS clearcutting unless it complies with specified Renewable Resource Program guidelines in the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974.

Directs the Secretary to establish a program to preserve the Mexican Spotted Owl in a sanctuary.

[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1202 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1202

To restart jobs in the timber industry by providing for the protection 
               of the Mexican Spotted Owl in sanctuaries.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 17, 2011

   Mr. Pearce (for himself, Mr. Miller of Florida, Mr. Kingston, Mr. 
  Bishop of Utah, Mr. Gingrey of Georgia, Mr. Lamborn, Mr. Burton of 
    Indiana, Mr. Gohmert, and Mr. Franks of Arizona) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and 
 in addition to the Committee on Natural 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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To restart jobs in the timber industry by providing for the protection 
               of the Mexican Spotted Owl in sanctuaries.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. TIMBER ACTIVITY.

    (a) Permits Required.--Notwithstanding any other law, rule, or 
regulation (other than subsection (b)), the Secretary of Agriculture 
shall permit any person who applies to carry out a timber activity on 
National Forest System land to carry out such activity.
    (b) Special Requirements for Clearcutting.--If an application to 
carry out a timber activity on National Forest System land proposes the 
use of clearcutting, the Secretary shall not permit such activity 
unless the use of clearcutting complies with the Renewable Resource 
Program guidelines required by section 6(g)(3)(F) of the Forest and 
Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 
1604(g)(3)(F)).
    (c) Spotted Owl Sanctuaries.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish and 
        implement a program to preserve the Mexican Spotted Owl (Strix 
        occidentalis lucida) in a sanctuary.
            (2) Use of existing funds.--To carry out paragraph (1), the 
        Secretary shall use funds from the Chief's Reserve Fund in the 
        Office of the Chief of the Forest Service.
                                 <all>