Nunes Introduces Giant Sequoia National Monument Transition Act of 2006

Giant Sequoia National Monument Transition Act of 2006 (Introduced in
House)  HR 5760 IH, 109th CONGRESS 2d Session  H. R. 5760

To fulfill President Clinton's commitments made as part of the designation  of the Giant Sequoia National Monument by presidential proclamation to  provide a transition from the timber sale program in effect before the  designation to the more restrictive  management anticipated for the  national monument, to promote the Kings River Research Project in the  Sierra National Forest, and for other purposes.

                      IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                               July 11, 2006

 Mr. NUNES introduced the following bill; which was 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

                                   A BILL

 To fulfill President Clinton's commitments made as part of the designation  of the Giant Sequoia National Monument by presidential proclamation to provide a transition from the timber sale program in effect before the  designation to the more restrictive management anticipated for the  national monument, to promote the Kings River Research Project in the  Sierra National Forest, 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 `Giant Sequoia National Monument
       Transition Act of 2006'.

 SEC. 2. RATIFICATION OF GIANT SEQUOIA NATIONAL MONUMENT TRANSITIONAL
 TIMBER SALE PROGRAM.

       (a) Completion of Timber Sales Recognized in Designation
       Proclamation- The Secretary of Agriculture may proceed with and
       complete each timber sale located within the boundaries of the Giant
       Sequoia National Monument--

             (1) that was under contract as of April 15, 2000, the date of
             the designation of the national monument by Presidential
             Proclamation No. 7295 (65 Fed. Reg. 24095); or

             (2) for which a decision notice was signed after January 1,
             1999, but prior to December 31, 1999.

       (b) Completion Terms- Completion of a timber sale described in
       subsection (a) shall be consistent with the terms of the applicable
       contract or decision notice, and nothing in such contract terms or
       decision notice shall be considered to be arbitrary or capricious
       under any provision of law so long as trees greater than 30 inches
       in diameter at breast height are not harvested for other than safety
       reasons, as determined by the Secretary. Modification or amendment
       of any of the timber sale contract terms or decision notices shall
       not be required.

       (c) Prompt Implementation- Effective upon the date of the enactment
       of this Act, implementation of the timber sales described in
       subsection (a) may proceed immediately and to completion,
       notwithstanding any previous or future amendments or revisions to
       the Sequoia Land and Resource Management Plan or the Giant Sequoia
       National Monument Management Plan.

 SEC. 3. KINGS RIVER RESEARCH PROJECT, SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST .

       (a) Redesignation of Existing Demonstration Project- The Secretary
       of Agriculture shall designate the Kings River Demonstration Project
       in the Sierra National Forest as the `Kings River Research Project'
       as a means to address disputes over fuels reduction projects and the
       short-term and long-term benefits and impacts related to wildlife,
       watershed, and other resources.

       (b) Research Purposes- Under the Kings River Research Project, the
       Secretary shall provide for research about the potential short-term
       and long-term positive and negative impacts of fuels reduction and
       forest health treatments on the Pacific fisher, California spotted
       owl, and the Kings River watershed, including impacts from
       prescribed burning, uneven-aged timber harvest, and possible
       catastrophic wildfire.

       (c) Implementation- To expedite implementation of the Kings River
       Research Project, the Secretary shall complete the final
       environmental impact statement and issue the record of decision for
       the Project not later than October 31, 2006.

       (d) Compliance- Because of unnaturally heavy fuel loads and the
       importance of promptly furthering the understanding of the
       relationship between vegetation management and the impacts on other
       resources, the final environmental impact statement and record of
       decision for the Kings River Research Project, along with all
       actions implementing the Project, including any research,
       stewardship contracts, vegetation management projects, and timber
       sales, shall be deemed to be in compliance with the Forest and
       Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1600
       et seq.), section 14 of the National Forest Management Act of 1976
       (16 U.S.C. 472a), the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
       U.S.C. 4331 et seq.), and other applicable environmental laws, so
       long as any timber removed under the Project is removed using
       uneven-aged silvicultural treatments.