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USDA [Department of Agriculture]/AmeriCorps - Clinton Library Copies - 1995 Application (for FY96) to the Corporation for National Service 10 [1]
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USDA [Department of Agriculture]/AmeriCorps - Clinton Library Copies - 1995 Application (for FY96) to the Corporation for National Service 10 [1]
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FOIA Number: 2013-0661-F
(3)
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the William J. Clinton
Presidential Library Staff.
Collection/Record Group:
Clinton Presidential Records
Subgroup/Office of Origin:
Americorps
Series/Staff Member:
General Files
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OA/ID Number:
24227
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Folder Title:
USDA [Department of Agriculture]/AmeriCorps - Clinton Library Copies - 1995 Application (for FY
96) to the Corporation for National Service 10 [1]
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3
weren't enough, English is not a predominant language. Taken all together, these problems
combine to form a complex web of social malaise that serves to disconnect colonias residents
from normal social programs and typical American solutions. Despite all that, colonias
residents are proud of what they have accomplished and are hoping to accomplish. Having a
strong work and land ethic, many of these hardy souls consider themselves pioneers of sorts
on the border frontier of the American dream.
THE AMERICORPS RURAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM SOLUTION
Housing, water, social services, and a full-range of developmental activities are in store for
RDT members in the Colonias region. Volunteers will organize communities to apply for,
operate, and maintain water and sewer systems and housing projects that will raise their
communities to new standards. AmeriCorps volunteers will begin organizing residents into
unified social structures that will capitalize on the strengths of "those who remain behind" to
establish home-based businesses, work-at-home programs, cooperatives that knit the
individual efforts together into a true economic and market force. The volunteers will be a
unifying force for change in the Rio Grande Valley as they provide a major liaison role for
the communities and social service agencies that exist. These volunteers will serve as the
focal point of the mighty federal engine at the local-action level where true reinvention of
government will take place. The goal is to position colonias residents as a grassroots
vanguard of the NAFTA revolution.
C7 - 2
Individual Site Application #31
Rural Development
Four Corners (UT, AZ, CO, NM)
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 70
NEEDS TO BE MET
The Four Corners region of the United States is a vast, sparse populated area of
tremendous diversity and spectacular beauty. The region is at the heart of an ongoing
struggle to create a sensitive balance between the need to protect and sustain the
environment, and the need to provide a sound economic base for the area's residents. This
proposal will provide for action which will ultimately help develop that balance. The area has
a population of approximately 441,000 people and covers an area of about 83,000 square
miles. The project includes an area about 250 miles in circumference from where the four
states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah join together. There are 12 population
centers ranging in size from a few hundred to several thousand persons. The rural
population is widely dispersed, with many areas having poor accessibility. This region is one
of the most economically distressed areas in the Nation. Per-capita income is less than
$5,000. About 53 percent of the Navajo Nation's population lives below the poverty level.
Unemployment ranges as high as 28%. Unemployment is generally high on all the Indian
reservations in the area. About 42 percent of the area's population are members of the Hopi,
Navajo, Southern Ute, Ute Mountain Ute, White Mesa Ute or Zuni tribes.
C8 - 1
THE AMERICORPS RURAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM SOLUTION
Four USDA agencies (Rural Development Administration, Farmers Home
Administration, Forest Service, and Soil Conservation Service) have joined forces to provide
a full-service rural development experience for the region. Fifty-six RDT positions have
been identified that span nearly all of the possible features of a comprehensive approach to
regional rural development. In addition to RDT programmatic features of Housing, Water
Systems, and Rural Business Development, the two attached specific and targeted projects
round out the regional mix.
SOIL CONSERVATIOn SERVICE PROJECTS
This proposal has been jointly prepared by the RC&D coordinators of Arizona,
Colorado, New Mexico and Utah with assistance from conservation district leaders in
Arizona and Colorado and RC&D Council members. It addresses the large scale rural
development needs of the region. The concept provides for team approaches to addressing key
problems common to each state in there region. A need for 20 AmeriCorps participants has
been identified. These people would be distributed in functional teams.
Specifically, the proposal addresses the need to inventory existing human and natural
resources for the purpose of determining possible new and innovative natural resource based
industry potential. The proposal further provides for the seeking of funds to establish these
industries. In addition, proposal addresses the need to assist limited resource farmers
(especially Native Americans) to develop sustainable small scale agricultural systems leading
to improved nutrition, increased income and employment, and a quality environment.
C 8 - 2
Finally, the proposal includes an element of education and information directed toward
helping area citizens (and others) understand benefits and costs associated with environmental
and economic choices currently being made.
1) Develop an inventory of existing natural resources and determine the feasibility of
developing new and innovative natural resources based industries with possible value-added
potential.
2) Seek grant funds to provide for the establishment of feasible industries.
3) Assist small scale, limited resource farmers in developing sustainable agricultural systems
for the purpose of improving family nutrition, increasing income, expanding employment,
and maintaining a quality environment.
4) Conduct an information and education program for the purpose of helping area residents
understand the costs and benefits of environmental and economic choices currently being
made.
The project concept is to utilize skilled teams of AmeriCorps participants in each of the
states working closely with established agencies and organizations currently dealing with
rural development issues related to natural resources and the environment. Each of the
major components of the project; inventorying, determining industry potential, small scale
agriculture, information and education, will benefit from a team of individuals whose efforts
will be directed toward accomplishing specific tasks associated with the component. The
project is designed to create strong partnerships with existing professionals in order to
minimize replication of efforts and maximize existing resources. The project will be
administered in each of the four states by RC&D Councils in cooperation with the Soil
C 8 - 3
Conservation Service. Each Council is a nonprofit organization consisting of 20 to 24 local
sponsors. Sponsors include area communities, counties, Native American Nations, Council
of Governments, and Soil Conservation Districts. Each Council has a full time coordinator
provided them by the Soil Conservation Service. The broad makeup of the Councils ensures
that they deal with concerns at the grassroots level and makes possible the creation of
effective partnerships between a wide variety of entities in order to address key concerns.
The project will require cooperation among many partners. Project partners will include
each RC&D Council (one per state total of 4), the Soil Conservation Districts, local units of
government, councils of Government, the Soil Conservation Service, Extension Service,
Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Native American
Nations. Each RC&D Council has a long range plan with a community or rural development
objective. Utilization of AmeriCorps participants accelerate the implementation of Councils
objectives.
Data Inventory and Industry Potential Analysis. This project will inventory natural resources
and socioeconomic data in the region. A project team will be utilized to identify natural
resources and new technologies with potential for development. This will involve detailed
literature research to determine characteristics of the resource and its value-added potential.
The most promising industries will be prioritized and additional work will be done to identify
potential markets. This data will then be used for feasibility studies and grant applications to
establish natural resource based industries in the region which will improve the employment
base. Typical activities of AmeriCorps participants will be to conduct literature reviews and
C8 - 4
summarize data, prepare questionnaire for needs assessment, interview key informants on the
telephone and in person, gather economic data and enter into a database.
Finally, be a team member to prepare grant applications.
Small Scale Agriculture Development. This project is designed to accelerate small
scale agriculture primarily with the Native Americans nations in the region. It addresses the
need to improve Native American nutrition and increase employment and per capita income
on Indian reservations in the region. In partnership with local organizations, a team of
specialists will provide intensive training to partnership agencies and facilitate training
workshops to reach large numbers of people in remote areas. Training would include small
animal production, gardening, preserving products for future use and related activities. A
team of five persons would be utilized to service the region. Typical activities of AmeriCorps
participants will be to provide training in their specialty area, organize small groups to
conduct this training. AmeriCorps participants with marketing or business administration
will assist in establishing a marketing cooperative to sell excess products.
Natural Resources Inventory. This inventory would include soils, rangeland, woodland,
wildlife land, riparian and wetlands, cultural resources sites, water resources, land use and
ownership. The inventory would be digitized into a GIS format. A public information
specialist will be used to keep local residents apprised of progress and to provide information
on potential uses of the inventory data. Typical activities of AmeriCorps participants will be
to gather data in the field. Data will be placed on maps under the direction of a natural
C 8 - 5
resource professional. Data will then be entered into a GIS system.
Information and Education. This project would develop and implement a
communications plan for internal and external audiences. Educational materials would be
targeted to citizens in the Four Corners region. Topics will reflect the need for strong
resource conservation and development to increase the economic viability of the region.
Project activities will include press releases, speakers bureau, static displays, and other
appropriate mediums. Typical activities of AmeriCorps participants will be to research and
write press releases for newsletters and the general media and make contact with media
representatives in each community.
Hopi\Navajo Regional Planning - One Strategic Planner (preferred) or Small Business
Developer. Community based economic planning on the Hopi and Navajo Indian
Reservations, working primarily with Chapters Houses and local communities. Planning will
be for tourism, small business development, and infrastructure requirements. Estimate 3 to 4
plans in progress each year for two to three years. Unemployment is currently 50 to 80%
(depending on chapter or community).
FOREST SERVICE PROJECTS
The intent of the "Strengthening Partnerships for Active Rural Communities"
(SPARCS) program is on the existing partnerships, as well as initiate actions that are of
regional scope for the entire 4-Corners area that have broad-based community support.
C8 - 6
SPARCS will be bolstered by the AmeriCorps program in improving partnerships at the
individual community level, as well as to accelerate the projects identified in the last six
months within the SPARCS process. Some projects:
1) Development of social, economic and demographic shared data bases to support
sustainable economic development. Specifically these data bases are needed to establish
baseline information regarding current local conditions and trends. They will be used to
suggest and validate strategies for diversifying or strengthening local economies. Estimated
project cost is $35,000. AmeriCorps Participants: This task will be accomplished by
Americorps members staffed at the locations in Region 2 and 3 as a part of overall strategy
development and project implementation. Skills needed include socio-economics, data base
management, electronic mail services or bulletin boards, telecommunications, facilitation and
familiarity with existing state or Cooperative Extension Service data bases.
2) Training for community capacity building and leadership development. AmeriCorps
participant: One person with strong community/regional planning background, to be
assigned to work with Sheila Knop, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension.
Through regional workshops and local seminars, increase preparedness and skill to support
sustainable rural economic development, by promoting dialogue and collaborative learning
activities organized around regional development concerns, such as value-added forestry,
agriculture and tourism.
3) Tribal Tourism Development/4 Corners Heritage Council. Six participants will be shared
C8 - 7
between the affected tribes and the 4-Corners Heritage Council. Skills needed include
regional planning, community development, public or business administration, landscape
architecture, engineering, recreation planning, interpretation and environmental education.
All he Tribes within the 4-Corners are pursuing tourism development as an economic
development strategy.
4) Four Corners Business and Expansion Program - Participants will
Develop a business retention and expansion (R&E) program for the Four Corners region.
The purpose of this program is to identify and solve business problems related to survival,
expansion and start-up and thereby to strengthen and/or increase economic activity. The
program would require a full-time coordinator familiar with the area who would serve all the
program participants. The coordinator would work with a regional resource team comprised
of representatives from the USFS, FMHA, RDA, CE, SBDC, COG's and state economic
development departments and local citizens. This proposal is jointly prepared and submitted
under a multi-agency / multi jurisdictional approach to enhancing the viability of rural
communities and Tribes in the Four Corners Area ( Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New
Mexico) through existing strategic partnerships. The Americorps program will provide an
infusion of assistance into new alliances, shared visions and collaborative approaches
addressing community problems and change identified by communities and Tribes in the
Four Corners Area.
This proposal takes advantage of existing community based planning,
C8 - 8
partnerships and networks established in the last 2 years to work with rural people,
communities and Tribes to create jobs, increase family income, generate community revenue,
and enhance the quality of life in the Four Corners area.
Partnerships and Networks, Region 2 -This partnership includes the municipalities and
counties of Southwestern Colorado, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land
Management, Fort Lewis College, the Colorado Dept. of Transportation, the Southwestern
Colorado Travel Region, and the Four Corners Heritage Council. This partnership focuses
on joint efforts between local communities, and public land agencies in areas of resource
management, collaborative planning, research, economic diversification and public policy.
Three corp members will be assigned to the Community-Public Lands Partnership. Skills
needed will include Community/Land Use planners, economists, GIS, facilitation of
processes, Tourism-Recreation planners, value added forest products and Agriculture.
Partnerships and Networks, Region 3 - These partnership includes the municipalities
and counties of Northeastern Arizona, Northwestern New Mexico, the U.S. Forest Service,
the Soil Conservation Service, the New Mexico and Arizona Departments of Commerce,
Tourism and Transportation, the New Mexico Rural Development Council and the Four
Corners Heritage Council. The partnerships focus on joint efforts between local
communities, Action Teams, Tribes and public agencies in areas of resource management,
recycling, collaborative planning, research, and economic diversification. Two teams of three
AmeriCorps participants will be assigned to support the above listed projects and
partnerships. One team will be assigned to northern Arizona to work through the Coconino
C8-9
and Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests; the other team will be assigned to the Carson,
Cibola and Santa Fe NF's of northwestern New Mexico. Skills needed will include
community/regional planners, economists, GIS, facilitation/mediation, tourism/recreation
planners, and business/cooperative development, with emphasis in value added forest
products and agriculture.
Timber/ Bridge Wood Transportation Project Most counties have limited access to
people with engineering skills to assist them in the development of timber bridge proposals
and in the construction of the bridges. This project would involve recruitment of an
engineering graduate student to assist interested counties, communities, and Indian Tribes in
identifying there bridge needs, help in the development of proposals and oversee
construction. The wood utilization conference scheduled to be held in Farmington, NM in the
fall of 1994 will include timber bridge technology and construction as well as demonstration
of the SLAM timber bridge design program.
C 8 - 10
Individual Site Application #32
Rural Development
Pacific Rim (CA, WA, AK)
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 70
NEEDS TO BE MET:
Rural areas of California are suffering from multiple environmental concerns and severe
economic problems. The Pacific Northwest has needs to protect endangered species of
wildlife, improve forest management on small land holdings, and improve economic
conditions. Other rural areas are suffering competing demands for limited water, and they
need water quality and conservation improvement. Small farmers with limited resources and
of various ethnic groups need help with farming methods and resource protection.
In Alaska, many communities are connected to each other only by river in summer,
dogsled and snow machine trails in the winter, and expensive air service all year long. The
indigenous people adapted to this vast, harsh land centuries ago by hunting, gathering, and
fishing for food, clothing, and shelter materials. People continue to live off the land and this
lifestyle is defined as "subsistence" by today's society.
A mixed-bag of land ownership creates difficulties in managing the natural resources
for traditional subsistence and culturally acceptable uses. The state government, federal
government, native village councils, and native corporations own and manage the lands
which have supported the Athabascan people for generations.
C of - 1
THE AMERICORPS RURAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM SOLUTION
The AmeriCorps positions within these communities (as proposed in this grant
application) are part of the movement to counteract the social fragmentation occurring within
our communities. By recruiting from within local communities, and working closely with
different people within the community to develop the collaborative working relationships that
facilitate integrated service-learning within schools, the AmeriCorps participant (as a
Regional Based Coordinator of the Adopt-a-Watershed curriculum model) will play a key
role in integrating the development of our two greatest resources; the children of our
communities and the land we live on. AmeriCorps participants will meet these needs by
providing on site technical and educational assistance.
Residents have the traditional knowledge base required for the job, but we need to
translate this into a working relationship that creates local employment and skilled
professional workers. The AmeriCorps project would help Alaskan young people to assist
their native villages in writing natural resource management plans for their land. The
villages' goals are to increase local employment and provide professional opportunities that
do not conflict with their traditional values. It is typical that the good agency jobs in these
villages are filled by outsiders, whose high wages raise the per capita income without benefit
to the local people. The AmeriCorps project should give local residents opportunities for
both experience and education in natural resource management fields.
C 9 - 2
MID COLUMBIA SALMON HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECT
This project will restore and maintain salmon habitat on privately owned lands in the
MidColumbia region by providing technical, financial, and material assistance through a
collaboration of local, state, and federal efforts.
Gain voluntary participation by private landowners by providing incentives to
improve and protect key salmon habitat they control.
Plan, design and install critical conservation practices that enhance salmon habitat
components such as water quality, cover, food sources and adequate in-stream flows.
Coordinate and focus the technical, financial and material resources of local, state, and
federal agencies to accomplish the mission.
The Mid-Columbia region located on the Washington side of the Columbia River is
capable of providing key habitat for salmon spawning. Certain runs of salmon in the
Columbia River system are candidates for listing under the endangered Species Act. Current
water quality conditions for the direct tributaries and their sub-watersheds are generally
below state standards for aquatic life. The Columbia River salmon issue has become a major
national concern. This project aims to deal with this issue using a voluntary approach that
will insure longer lasting results.
The primary environmental concerns are high in-stream water temperatures and low
stream flows in the summer. Both of these conditions are fatal to juvenile salmon. Both of
these conditions can be corrected by improving vegetative cover and soil stability along
streambeds and adjacent areas. Current economic and resource limitations in the area require
C 9 - 3
that an incentive be provided to landowners to voluntarily improve salmon habitat in streams
they control. The project would utilize the AmeriCorps program to supply the needed
personnel to plan, design and install conservation practices on privately owned lands.
Partnering agencies would help provide additional financial and material assistance.
The Soil Conservation Service would provide overall leadership and direction for the project.
Local conservation districts would also provide oversight and prioritization based on their
knowledge of the local conditions and their rapport with the landowners.
AmeriCorps participants would build a record of work experience and dependability, learn
and utilize team problem solving skills to accomplish a goal, learn the factors that contribute
to good water quality and gain experience in dealing with people on an individual and group
basis. The local community would gain the opportunity to voluntarily solve a high profile
environmental concern. The project would also provide a format for diverse groups and
individuals to come to a consensus on how to treat salmon habitat problems. Finally,
numerous opportunities for environmental education would be created for local schools and
the general public. All of this will contribute to a better, and more sustainable solution.
The proposed project area is located in Klickitat County,
Washington and encompasses the major drainages and tributaries to the Columbia River that
originate within the county.
There is an overall need within the project area to provide accelerated assistance to
private landowners to improve conditions in potential salmon spawning waters. The
AmeriCorps program would provide the needed support and opportunity to satisfy this need.
Certain runs of salmon in the Columbia River system are being considered for listing under
C 9 - 4
the Endangered Species Act. Providing quality spawning habitat is vital to salmon survival.
The AmeriCorps program can be used to address this national environmental concern by
supplying needed personnel to plan, design and install critical conservation practices.
The objective is to target private landowners with technical, financial and material assistance
to improve salmon habitat. AmeriCorps participants could work with landowners to help
them improve streamside areas (also known as riparian areas) to provide more shading in the
summer and thus increase water flows. AmeriCorps workers could also assist irrigators to
be more efficient. In this way, less water would have to be taken from streams. This
would improve summer time stream flows as well.
These conditions have been documented by the Central and Eastern Klickitat
Conservation Districts in their Watershed Inventory Report of January 1991. There is also
supporting documentation available from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife as
well as the Yakima Indian Nation.
The project would build on four years of water quality improvement projects by the
Central and Eastern Klickitat Conservation Districts as well as the Yakima Indian Nation and
the Northwest Power Planning Council. Several streams and rivers in the project area have
been targeted by the following agencies for salmon habitat enhancement.
C 9 - 5
CALIFORNIA WATERSHED PROTECTION
The project will protect and heal watershed ecosystems in areas damaged by the 1993-
94 wild fires, earthquake, and also in areas with a high potential for fires.
This AmeriCorps project would meet needs in rural and rural/urban interface areas of
California. The participants would work on projects to provide assistance to persons needing
help in forest recovery, salmon and fisheries recovery, water quality improvement and
conservation, and similar work.
Rural areas of California are suffering from multiple environmental concerns and
severe economic problems. The Pacific Northwest has needs to protect endangered species
of wildlife, improve forest management on small landholdings, and improve economic
conditions. Other rural areas are suffering competing demands for limited water, and they
need water quality and conservation improvement. Small farmers with limited resources and
of various ethnic groups need help with farming methods and resource protection.
The goal of the Adopt-a-Watershed program is to develop a strong community-school
connection through a collaborative effort of coordinating existing programs and community
resources. It will link work and education through hands on learning by doing, in the
service of watershed stewardship. It is becoming imperative that communities join together
to care for the land around them and to teach their youth. This program will develop that
ethic of service in all of the participants, the teachers, the parents, the students, the mentors,
and the apprentices as each person involved understands how he/she is part of a larger
C 9 - 6
process, and how each person has power and value in the collaborative effort of building
community and caring for their own habitat.
The AmeriCorps positions within these communities (as proposed in this grant
application) are part of the movement to counteract the social fragmentation occurring within
our communities. By recruiting from within local communities, and working closely with
different people within the community to develop the collaborative working relationships that
facilitate integrated service-learning within schools, the AmeriCorps participant (as a
Regional Based Coordinator of the Adopt-a-Watershed curriculum model) will play a key
role in integrating the development of our two greatest resources; the children of our
communities and the land we live on. AmeriCorps participants will meet these needs by
providing on site technical and educational assistance.
The needs that will be met by this are rural development and environmental in nature.
The specific site projects will address needs of endangered species conservation, Limited
Resource Farmers, education about the environment, and natural resource protection and
betterment. A national service program addresses these needs very well because meeting the
needs incrementally protects and improves the Nation's natural resource base, improves the
economic climate of some severely depressed rural parts of California, and assists limited
resource and minority landowners and land users.
C 9 - 7
ALASKA FOREST SERVICE INITIATIVE
Development of native community-based sustainable economic development strategies
using renewable natural resources in ways that protect and enhance the environment is the
primary need to be met by this program. The program will help communities identify
environmentally sound economic alternatives, provide technical assistance in analyzing these
alternatives, and work with native community and business leaders to implement essential
projects that lead to sustainable economic activity. Participants will provide technical support
skills often unavailable in rural communities.
Participants will provide technical support in d wide variety of areas to existing rural
businesses and entrepreneurs wishing to start businesses. Activities will focus on enhancing
production Of value-added products from forest resources, helping rural communities
capitalize on travel and tourism opportunities, developing businesses based on recycled
products, and supporting development of community-based economic development
organizations.
Participants activities are expected to have a significant positive impact on the
economy in rural Alaska. The technical expertise that participants will bring to bear in
assisting existing businesses will help them become more competitive in both domestic and
international markets. Targeted market research efforts will identify new products, business
development efforts will improve the use of technology, updated management systems,
improved advertising/sales techniques, and worker training programs implemented on-site
will help improve business profitability and competitiveness. Business growth, job creation,
C 9 - 8
and increased opportunities for value-added manufacturing opportunities will result.
Participants will also support the development of home-based and micro-businesses.
Participants will help prepare business plans, assist in the preparation of financing packages,
assist in grant writing, and develop micro-loan programs in rural communities to help
generate successful small businesses.
This includes designing, producing, mailing and analyzing several broad-based
surveys aimed at determining community needs such as improvement in the local businesses
and what these companies are producing and what they are capable of producing, what new
sales opportunities may exist or be potentially available. These will lead to the development
of about 5 business plans. Five infrastructure improvement projects will be planned, and
designed aimed at transportation facilities, industrial and building facilities such as dust
control systems, timber bridges and multi-modal transportation facilities. five worker training
programs will be designed and implemented. These will address employment and
management needs. Approximately 5 financing plans will be developed for small businesses,
and 5 revolving loan funds will be established. Several community foundations will be
established for the State will be given grant writing assistance. Additional work experience
will be gained in group decision-making, consensus building, and grass roots planning
processes.
The program will be run in cooperation with a variety Of partners. These partners
will assist in planning, coordination, training, implementation, and monitoring the program.
These program partners are: The Alaska Rural Development Council, The Alaska Division
of Forestry The Alaskan Tribal Councils, The Private Sector Foundations Small Business
C 9 - 9
Development Centers.
C 9 - 10
SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE ALASKA PROJECTS
To conserve and protect tribal land and other resources; to encourage and support the
exercise of tribal powers of self-government; to aid and support economic development; to
promote the general welfare of each member tribe and it's respective individual members; to
preserve and maintain justice for all; and to otherwise exercise all powers granted to its
member villages.
The Yukon Flats region of Alaska is a 55,000 square mile area populated by 1500
people in ten Athabascan Indian villages. The communities are connected each other only by
river in summer, dogsled and snow machine trails in the winter, and expensive air service all
year long. The indigenous people adapted to this vast, harsh land centuries ago by hunting,
gathering, and fishing for food, clothing, and shelter materials. People continue to live off
the land and this lifestyle is defined as "subsistence" by today's society.
A mixed-bag of landownership creates difficulties in managing the natural resources for
traditional subsistence and culturally acceptable uses. The state government, federal
government, native village councils, and native corporations own and manage the lands
which have supported the Athabascan people for generations.
There have been severe cutbacks in the agencies that have resource management
authority and responsibility within the Yukon Flats. These agencies do not have the time or
funding to identify and accomplish wildlife and other natural resource management objectives
over an area the size of Iowa that encompasses the Yukon Flats. The Council of Athabascan
Tribal Governments (CATG), a consortium of the villages in the Flats, is developing the
technical capacity and human resource skills needed to create a partnership between the
C 9 - 11
agencies and the villages.
The AMERICORPS project would help Athabascan young people to assist their native
villages in writing natural resource management plans for their land. The villages' goals are
to increase local employment and provide professional opportunities that do not conflict with
their traditional values. It is typical that the good agency jobs in these villages are filled by
outsiders, whose high wages raise the per capita income without benefit to the local people.
The project should give local residents opportunities for both experience and education in
natural resource management fields.
The participants will assist villages in gathering wildlife and other natural resource data,
coordinate the data collection with and receive training from USDA-SCS and USDI-F&WS,
help villages prioritize resources of concern and write natural resource management plans.
The AmeriCorps project will help the Yukon Flats communities provide jobs, educational
opportunities, and a natural resource planning mechanism which the local residents will use
to manage their wildlife and other subsistence use resources.
C 9 - 12
Individual Site Application #33
Rural Development
Midwest Flood States (IA, MO, IL, KS, NB, ND, SD, MN, WI)
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 189
NEEDS TO BE MET
The great floods of the past year have ravaged large portions of the vast Mississippi
and Ohio watersheds. Farms, homes, businesses, whole rural infrastructures have been
washed away or laid waste to at the whim of Mother Nature. In places, whole townsites
must either be rebuilt or substantially reworked. Clearly, a simple patch-up effort will not
suffice. As if the flood had not taken enough toll, this region has been recently plagued with
a rapidly shifting economy as its two mainstays, agriculture and manufacturing, readjust to
life in the 90's. In many places of the region, rapid depopulation is occurring independent of
whatever effects the great floods may also be having in that regard. The job ahead in the
Flood Region is diverse and so requires a diverse mixture of solutions.
The environmental needs to be met will be the restoration and protection of resources
damaged by the statewide record floods of 1993 including wetlands restoration, riparian area
reestablishment, livestock waste management, trout stream protection, and debris removal.
The project will also promote rural development by restoring, improving, and protecting
priority resources for farmers and small rural communities. In North Dakota, the two
participants will assist in the completion of a inventory of rivers and streams in a seven-
county project area. The inventory data will be evaluated to determine eligibility for
C 10 - 1
Emergency Wetlands Protection assistance and to prioritize specific sites. The AmeriCorps
participants would be involved in the inventory and evaluation phases. Prioritized sites will
be planned by SCS personnel for debris removal. In Iowa, the work of the AmeriCorps
participants will enable local water resource districts to alleviate flooding hazards caused by
the Midwest flood of 1993. Considerable debris, primarily native woody material needs to
be cleared and snagged from the Red River and eight of its major tributaries in order to
curtail future flooding. An estimated 500 river miles will require a reconnaissance survey to
determine the specific actions that will be necessary to curb flooding problems. The local
water resource districts have estimated 190 roads and 250 bridges and culverts would benefit
from Emergency Watershed Protection. An estimated 200 farmsteads, with nearly 1,000
buildings, would benefit from reduced out-of-bank flooding. Twenty-one communities would
also benefit. Implementation of this project will benefit over 167,000 people in the seven
counties. Reduced flooding will protect soil resources from overland shoot flows. Prime
farmlands, which entail nearly half of the cropland in the project area, would be better
protected from flood events.
The needs in the other flood states are equally enormous.
THE AMERICORPS RURAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM SOLUTION
Two-hundred and ninety-seven (NUMBER NOT YET DETERMINED) participants
will form Midwest Rural Development and Environmental teams and will perform flood
recovery work, and address priority environmental and rural development concerns in
Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and
C 10 - 2
Wisconsin. Four states have designated exact service projects they will conduct; the
remaining decisions will be based on spring and summer weather and flooding conditions.
The Soil Conservation Service and the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation
Service (ASCS) and the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) will administer the program. In
Illinois, twenty-three participants will form two environmental teams to supervise the clean-
up of debris from the flood in 12 counties. In Iowa, sixty-six participants will form a rural
development team to restore and protect resources damaged by the flood. In North Dakota,
two participants will work in a seven-county area to assist in the completion of an inventory
of rivers and streams; the participants also will supervise debris removal projects. In South
Dakota, thirteen participants will form a rural development team in designated flood disaster
areas to perform recovery work, as well as emphasize the importance of flood plain
management. (IOWA?) The remaining participants will be assigned in the other five states
as needs are identified by the SCS, the ASCS, members of the state's emergency
management team, and local partners. All teams will be designed according to the rural
development model with more skilled participants assigned individually, but some will also
form into crews periodically to supervise environmental work such as debris removal.
A socio-economic diverse group of participants will be recruited, with persons
displaced or otherwise affected by the flood to be given preference as participants.
Sites will be identified by the Soil Conservation Service, the Agriculture Stabilization
and Conservation Service, and personnel from the other agencies that comprise each state's
emergency management team. Site design plans could duplicate work activities as outlined in
the Illinois, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota proposals. The Iowa model is a rural
C 10 - 3
development team, consisting of 12 components with 66 participants as follows:
1) three participants will assist the reestablishment of riparian wetland areas in each state; 2)
ten participants will serve as community assistance planners in each state; 3) four engineering
students and one coordinator will serve as participants in Animal Waste Management System
development; 4) four engineers and one coordinator will work in the Emergency Watershed
Protection Program; 5) one information specialist in each state will communicate emergency
program opportunities to the public; 6) one landscape architect will enhance rural
development efforts by incorporating comprehensive landscape planning and using visual
tools to involve the public; 7) one coordinator will match beginning limited resource farmers
with retirement age farmers under the Rural Population Stabilization Program; 8) two
specialists will identify locations of tracts participating in the Wetland Reserve Program,
Emergency Wetlands Reserve Program, and Conservation Reserve Program and will develop
Digital Data Layers; 9) six restoration specialists will target flood damaged riverine areas for
wetland restoration; 10) one biologist, one engineer, six implementation crew members for
streambank stabilization; 11) one ecosystem manager will perform accelerated ecosystem
management planning with private landowners in priority streams; and 12) four water
resource assistants and four nutrient management planners will work with rural water
management and improvement.
The North Dakota plan calls for two rural development participants with forestry,
biology, surveying, engineering, or contracting skills to assist SCS personnel in the
Emergency Watershed Protection recovery effort. The South Dakota proposal will create a
rural development team of 11 biological technicians who will perform paraprofessional tasks
C 10 - 4
in various areas of the state related to watershed recovery work. In Illinois, an Environment
Team of 23 participants with two crew leaders would supervise removal of flood debris in 12
counties of the state.
All participants will receive on-the-job training in technical and programmatic areas to
meet the needs of their position. Training, will be provided on location by local and state
level specialists from SCS, ASCS, and other resource agencies.
Participants on the rural development teams will be mostly college or professional
school graduates. Socio-economic diversity of participants will be a major component in
recruitment. In addition, work/study students in institutions of higher education in the flood
states will also be recruited. A goal of 25% of the participants will be recruited through the
Corporation's national recruitment pool.
Participants will gain valuable technical expertise, community organizing skills which
could be helpful in their future careers. The individuals will have an opportunity to acquire
knowledge and skills in natural resource conservation. This opportunity could result in these
individuals pursuing an education and career in conservation or rural development.
Success will be measured based on accomplishments related to an annual plan of
operations that will be developed each year for each program.
Initially, the participants on the rural development teams will work with the SCS or
ASCS project office or local field office staffs. After minimum skill levels are attained, the
participant will work independently with periodic supervision and quality control overview.
Participants will have tasks assigned that are matched to their educational and previous work
C 10 - 5
experiences.
C 10 - 6
CERTIFICATION
Note: This form must be signed and included in the application.
SIGNATURE
Before You Start. Before completing certification.
please read Cortification Instructions. page 30.
SIGNATURE By signing this Certification pate. the applicant certifies that it will agree to
perform all actions and support all imentions stated in the Certification sections
in part III of this application. The three Certifications are:
X
Certification: Debarment Suspension. and Other Responsibility Matters.
Certification: Drug.Free Workplace
Ce- fication: Lobbying Activities
USDA
Organization Name:
AmeriCorps/Team USDA
Project Name:
Name and Title
Joel Berg Director of National Service
of Authorized Representative:
Signature:
fuel 4/24/91 Beng
Date:
ASSURANCES
Note: This from must be signed and included in the application.
SIGNATURE
By signing this assurances page, the applicant certifies that it will agree to
perform all actions and support all intentions stated in the Assurances on page 28.
USDA
Organization Name:
AmeriCorps/Team USDA
Project Name:
Name and Title
Joel Berg, Director of National Service
of Authorized Representative:
Signature:
foel 4/29/44 Berg
ASSURANCES & CERTIFICATION SIGNATURE FORM AMERICORPS NATIONAL DIRECT APPLICATION
Date:
39
DRAFT
United States
Forest
Washington
14th & Independence SW
Department of
Service
Office
P.O. Box 96090
Agriculture
Washington, D.C. 20090-6090
Date:
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM FOR JAMES R. LYONS, Assistant Secretary, NRE
FROM:
Jack Ward Thomas
Chief
SUBJECT:
Forest Service funding of USDA AmeriCorps Proposal
ISSUE:
The Forest Service does not have the flexibility to increase its level
of funding for the USDA AmeriCorps Proposal. Increasing the commitment
from $6.5 million to $10 million would seriously impact FS programs.
There are no discretionary dollars to move around. Other agencies may have
special funds for flood restoration or other projects.
DISCUSSION:
The current State & Private Forestry commitment of $2.5 million reduces the
affected program budgets by 15 percent. Withdrawing additional funds for these
programs would have further serious impacts. Today, funds are being
redirected from originally planned activities, and only $1000 (not $10,000)
per participant is being sought by the Department from the Corporation. We
recognize that the Corporation is contributing the $4725 post service
educational award for each participant.
Given this situation and the need to assure AmeriCorps efforts are carried out
within existing program authorities, the original commitment underestimated the
impacts to a limited group of programs. Within the hosting Regions/Area, the
percentages are much higher. Additional commitments out of existing programs
to help support at overall AmeriCorps effort by the FS totalling $10 million
will require additional reprogramming of dollars away from commitments to
assist with planned community-based activities (including other Presidential
efforts like working with timber-dependent communities in the Pacific
Northwest, and with Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities in the South).
This could result in the elimination of positions needed to coordinate Regional
efforts and carry out community assistance work.
Additional funding commitments over the $4 million dollar level of National
Forest System funds could result in additional people being put on the surplus
list. This would particularly be true if the funds come from the timber and
engineering or range programs. There is already a shortage of funds.
2
SUMMARY:
The FS commitment of $6.5 million is a significant contribution from existing
program funds. In today's environment of downsizing and budget reduction, the
Forest Service does not have the flexibility that would allow for additional
earmarking of FY 1995 program funds in the amount of $3 million for national
service.
Reviewed by:
TOTAL P.03
MAY-05-1994 09:46 FROM FOREST SERVICE HRP
TO
912027204614
P.02
DRAFT
United States
Forest
Washington
14th & Independence SW
Department of
Service
Office
P.O. Box 96090
Agriculture
Washington, D.C. 20090-6090
Date:
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM FOR JAMES R. LYONS, Assistant Secretary, NRE
FROM:
Jack Ward Thomas
Chief
SUBJECT:
Forest Service funding of USDA AmeriCorps Proposal
ISSUE:
The Forest Service does not have the flexibility to increase its level
of funding for the USDA AmeriCorps Proposal. Increasing the commitment
from $6.5 million to $10 million would seriously impact FS programs.
There are no discretionary dollars to move around. Other agencies may have
special funds for flood restoration or other projects.
DISCUSSION:
The current State & Private Forestry commitment of $2.5 million reduces the
affected program budgets by 15 percent. Withdrawing additional funds for these
programs would have further serious impacts. Today, funds are being
redirected from originally planned activities, and only $1000 (not $10,000)
per participant is being sought by the Department from the Corporation. We
recognize that the Corporation is contributing the $4725 post service
educational award for each participant.
Given this situation and the need to assure AmeriCorps efforts are carried out
within existing program authorities, the original commitment underestimated the
impacts to a limited group of programs. Within the hosting Regions/Area, the
percentages are much higher. Additional commitments out of existing programs
to help support an overall AmeriCorps effort by the FS totalling $10 million
will require additional reprogramming of dollars away from commitments to
assist with planned community-based activities (including other Presidential
efforts like working with timber-dependent communities in the Pacific
Northwest, and with Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities in the South).
This could result in the elimination of positions needed to coordinate Regional
efforts and carry out community assistance work.
Additional funding commitments over the $4 million dollar level of National
Forest System funds could result in additional people being put on the surplus
list. This would particularly be true if the funds come from the timber and
engineering or range programs. There is already a shortage of funds.
PHOTOCOPY
MAY-05-1994 09:47 FROM FOREST SERVICE HRP
TO
912027204614 P.03
2
SUMMARY:
The FS commitment of $6.5 million is a significant contribution from existing
program funds. In today's environment of downsizing and budget reduction, the
Forest Service does not have the flexibility that would allow for additional
earmarking of FY 1995 program funds in the amount of $3 million for national
service.
Reviewed by:
PHOTOGOPY
PRESERVATION
STATE +PRIVATE
AGENCY FOREST SERVICE
SITE APPLICATION # 25
NAME DON GREENE (202) 358-3549
PAGE 1 of 1
TASK
SUPPORT FUNDING
APPROPRIATIONS
AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION
STATE AND PRIVATE FORESTRY
FOREST MANAGEMANT AND UTILIZATION
The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990. Title XXIII Sub-title G
#1
Participant would work directly
Rural Development
Chapter 1 Sec. 2371 (a through c) Chapter
with government and non-profits
2 Sec. 2375 (b) Sec. 2377 (a 4) and (b)
organizations to provide skills and
(7 U.S.C. 6613) (7 U.S.C. 6615)
services to local communities to
help develop rural tourism.
#2
Particpants could work with State
(7 U.S.C. 6613) (7 U.S.C. 6615)
Rural Development Councils to id-
entify needs and target projects.
#3
Participants would provide technology Rural Forestry Assistance
Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978
transfer to local communities and prepare
as amended by the 1990 Farm Bill Sec.3 (a)
themself's to become Wood Utilization
(a10 A&B) (16 U.S.C.2102) U.S.C.
Foresters.
Don breame
5/5/94
AGENCY FOREST SERVICE
SITE APPLICATION # 26
NAME DON GREENE (202) 358-3549
PAGE 1 of 1
TASK
SUPPORT FUNDING
APPROPRIATIONS
AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION
STATE AND PRIVATE FORESTRY
FOREST MANAGEMENT AND UTILIZATION
#1 Participants will serve six counties
Rural Forestry Assistance
Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978
and provide leadership and hold a
as Amended by the 1990 Farm Bill Se. 3 (a)
series of economic workshops. The skills
and (b) (16 U.S.C. 2102)
required would be economics, marketing,
industrial development.
Economic RECOVERY
The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
Act of 1990. Title XXIII Sub-Title G
(7 U.S.C. 6613) and (7 U.S.C. 6615)
AGENCY FOREST SERVICE
SITE APPLICATION # 27
NAME DON GREENE (202) 358-3549
PAGE 1 of 1
TASK
SUPPORT FUNDING
APPROPRIATIONS
AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION
STATE AND PRIVATE FORESTRY
FOREST MANAGEMENT AND UTILIZATION
#1 Engineering students and graduate
Annual Appropriations Bill
Linked to initial authorization in 1989
will provide technical assistance
to communities wanting to install
the timber bridge.
#2 Participants will transfer recycling
Forest Products Conservation
Sec. 3 (a 10A,B) (16 U.S.C. 2102
technology from existing rural and
and Recycling
urban projects to other sites.
#3 Participants would work with the local Economic Recovery
The Food, Agriculture, Conveservation, and
community leaders to devise an economic
Trade Act of 1990. Title XXIII Sub-Tttle G
development plan.
Chapter 1 Sec. 2371 (a through c) Chapter
2 Sec. 2375 (b) Sec. 2377 (a4) and (b)
(7 U.S.C. 6613) (7 U.S.C. 6615)
AGENCY FOREST SERVICE
SITE APPLICATION # 29
NAME DON GREENE (202) 358-3549
PAGE 1 of 1
TASK
SUPPORT FUNDING
APPROPRIATIONS
AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION
STATE AND PRIVATE FORESTRY
FOREST MANAGEMENT AND UTILIZATION
#1 Participants will help communities
Rural Forestry Assistance
Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978
identify environmentally sound
as Amended by the 1990 Farm Bill. Sec. 3 (a
economic alternatives. They will
and al0 A&B) (16 U.S.C. 2102)
provide technical assistance in
secondary wood products manufact-
Urban and Communitie Forestry
(16 U.S.C. 2105)
uring and recycled products.
#2 Patrticipants will work in a mentored
Economic Recovery
The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
environment with agency professionals
Act of 1990. Title XXIII Sub-Title G
to develop interpersonal, management,
(7 U.S.C. 6613 and (7 U.S.C. 6615)
and collaborative skills. These skills
will be utilized to design economic
plans for the region.
#3. Participants will help develop economic
Economic Recovery
(7 U.S.C. 6613 and 6615)
and job opportunities, through partnership
in both the public and private sector.
AGENCY FOREST SERVICE
SITE APPLICATION # 31
NAME DON GREENE (202) 358-3549
PAGE 1 of 1
TASK
SUPPORT FUNDING
APPROPRIATIONS
AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION
STATE AND PRIVATE FORESTRY
FOREST MANAGEMENT AND UTILIZATION
#1 The participant will be required
Economic Recovery
The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade
to develop various private and
act of 1990. Title XXIII Sub-Title G
public partnerships to focus on
(7 U.S.C. 6613 and 6615)
the economic development in the
four corners region.
AGENCY FOREST SERVICE
SITE APPLICATION # 32
NAME DON GREENE (202) 358-3549
PAGE 1 of 1
TASK
SUPPORT FUNDING
APPROPRIATIONS
AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION
STATE AND PRIVATE FORESTRY
FOREST MANAGEMENT AND UTILIZATION
#1 Participants will provide technical
Urban and Community Forestry
Cooperative Forestry Act of 1978
support skills often unavailable in
as Amended by the 1990 Farm Bill
rural communities. They will focus
Rural Community Assistance
Sec. 2 (a and b5) Sec. 3 (a and 10A_B)
on developing a varity of businesses
Sec. 11 (c) (clA) (16 U.S.C. 2101)
both rural and urban and improve the
(16 U.S.C. 2102) (16 U.S.C. 2105)
employment and economy. The graduate
have degrees in Business Administration,
Economics, Business Planning, and Finance.
Economic Recovery
The Food, Agriculture, Conservation, Trade
Training would be directed toward secondary
Act of 1990. Title XXIII Sub-title G
wood and recycled products, rural develop-
Chapter 1 Sec. 2371 (a through C )
ment and economic recovery.
Chapter 2 Sec.2375 (b) Sec. 2377 (a4) (b)
(7 U.S.C. 6613) (7 U.S.C. 6615)
Individual Site Application #25
Rural Development
Appalachia (KY, NC, WV, VA, TN, GA, AL)
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 95
NEEDS TO BE MET
The level of poverty in the Caucasian communities of the Southern Highlands of
Appalachia are so persistent that they are also cliche. Whatever we, as a society, have done
for and to Appalachia, it has not been nearly enough. Out-and-out poverty, both economic
and of the spirit, have blighted the region defying attempts at solution. Changing economies
have left a legacy of environmental degradation that must be dealt with before re-
development can take place. Infrastructure needs are spotty and not regionally addressed.
THE AMERICORPS RURAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM SOLUTION
Rural Development Team members will furnish critical community organizing skills
to groups who can apply for rural development programs. Infrastructure needs will be
handled through partnerships among four USDA agencies: the Forest Service, the Rural
Development Administration (RDA), the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), and the Farmer's
Home Administration (FmHA).
Six team members will work to implement the new Empowerment Zone & Enterprise
Community Initiative by serving as resident community and rural development experts in
each designated community. They will work with economically and socially disadvantaged
rural residents to use appropriate programs through cooperative efforts with other USDA
C 2 - 1
agencies, and collaborate with all Federal, State, local, private sector and not-for profit
organizations to help diversify local economies. Team members will be on-site to establish
themselves as small business planning developers and information brokers with FmHA and
other market-oriented organizations to assist in the assessment and development of markets
for unique local products. Some of the individual project descriptions already identified
follow this section and cover efforts from water quality and water supply to economic
diversification and data base construction.
SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE PROJECTS
SCS will run projects in Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, and northern portions of
Georgia and Alabama. Individuals from low-income households will receive the greatest
benefit from the assistance that will be provided by AmeriCorps participants. Projects will
help improve the environment, make local land users more knowledgeable about their
surroundings, and help prepare them to be more "environmentally responsible," while not
jeopardizing already marginal income levels. Management of water resources is a priority
concern throughout the region in both rural and urban areas. These are ambitious projects
that include a broad range of sites with a wide variety of objectives.
Locations for the thirty eight participants have been selected by Forest Service and
Soil Conservation Service staff. Each position was selected on the basis of need of
community or residents of the region to be served, the degree to which AmeriCorps
participants would meet with a challenging and rewarding experience, and degree to which
project staff could provide the support and direction necessary to ensure a the vital service is
C 2 - 2
performed. The numbers of AmeriCorps participants selected to work in any one geographic
area are based on the amount of effort that would be mutually rewarding while not disturbing
the culture of the community receiving the assistance. Typically these are projects with few
participants requiring a carefully planned orientation and feed back from project staff at
regular intervals. Following is a list of specific locations and functions of participants:
Tennessee Valley Resource Conservation and Development Council in Alabama - Two
AmeriCorps participants will oversee details of a diverse multi-county resource conservation
and development program that will include agribusiness development, community planning,
and water resource management.
Woodland Community Land Trust (WCLT) and the Whitley County Communities For
Children - These projects - located in Tennessee and Kentucky respectively - will serve
rural, low income communities. Six AmeriCorps will offer assistance in training in intensive
grazing, livestock rasing and care, marketing farm products, and improving farm and
community land management.
Water Quality Protection, Scenic and Wildlife Habitat Enhancement - Two AmeriCorps
participants will serve in this remote and rugged area of Georgia to help rural farm owners
gain more usable land from property while controlling erosion along stream banks and
hillside areas.
C2-3
West Virginia Soils Project - One Community Resource Aid will join partners from county
commissions, planning and development councils and community governments and
organizations to protect local soils and watersheds.
West Virginia Integrated Crop Management - One resource conservationist will integrate
crop management with producers by providing in-field technical assistance, including insect
and weed scouting, soil testing, determining crop yields, and pesticide education.
West Virginia Archeological Site Exploration - Low income residents West Virginia
seldom have ability to take advantage of the cultural and environmental benefits that
archeological data can provide in improving land use planning. One Cultural Resource
Specialist, trained in archeology, will inventory and investigate archaeological and historical
sites located on areas planned for construction of flood prevention or other structural
measures, prepare archaeological and historical reports to document and record findings, and
provide training to field office staffs and others in the identification of sites.
Southern Virginia Rural Recreation Development- Two AmeriCorps participants will
work with the local grassroots citizens groups, the Old Dominion RC&D, the Department of
Conservation and Recreation, Division of State Parks and the Norfolk Southern Railroad
which in interested in donating an abandoned railroad line for use as a recreational trail.
New River-Highlands Outreach Coordination - One participant will serve as the New
C 2 - 4
River Highlands RC&D Outreach Coordinator to create an program to focus attention on the
water quality and forestry activities of the council and its resource committees.
Virginia Tidewater Forestry Products - One participant will help expand the markets
available for forestry products.
Marion Virginia Greenway - One participant will assist the local partners that include the
Grassroots Conservancy, Smyth County and Evergreen SWCD and several State agencies in
establishing a greenway through the Town of Marion, Virginia.
Tidewater Virginia Geographic Information System - Under the leadership of the Virginia
State Geographic Information Specialist, one participant will be résponsible for creating a
fully functional (Geographic Information System) for the Tidewater RC&D Council.
Georgia Water Quality Protection, Scenic Wildlife Habitat Enhancement - Two
participants will work in the following areas: streambank stabilization, creating riparian
corridor/filter strips, livestock exclusion, livestock water facilities, and stream crossings.
Alabama Multi-Use Project - Two participants will work in the Tennessee Valley of the
Appalachian counties of Alabama will work with community groups, individual businesses
and governmental units in order to facilitate economic development and environmental
protection.
C 2 - 5
Tennessee Environmental and Recycling Education - Seven AmeriCorps participants will
provide at least one site to receive and store waste tires, used automotive oils and fluids, and
lead-acid batteries, and other recyclable materials.
Tennessee Clinch-Powell Specialty Recreation and Tourism - Three AmeriCorps
participants -- a planner, a marketer/trainer, and recruiter -- will help the establish the
following to promote specialty recreation and tourism in the Clinch-Powell region.
Tennessee Chicksaw-Shiloh Water Quality - One participant would serve as a water
quality technician monitoring and overseeing the Councils traveling gun irrigation system.
The second would be responsible for developing and delivering environmental education
programs to elementary school students in the area.
Tennessee Humphreys County Environmental Education Center - Two AmeriCorps
participants would help the project provide easily accessible trails to the disabled and older
citizens who are not able to use those trails presently existing in the community.
Tennessee Creek Watershed - One participant would serve as a non-point source contact
technician.
C 2 - 6
FORREST SERVICE PROJECTS
#
The purpose of providing AmeriCorps participants through the Forest Service's Rural
Community Assistance Program will be to provide needed skills to assist communities to
become self-sufficient and maintain diverse economies. The theme of the Rural Community
Assistance Program is to "Help People Help Themselves".
In Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina, 20
team members under supervision of the Forest Service will focus on rural tourism, economic
development, and wood utilization.
Rural Tourism: Rural tourism efforts have been underway in this region featuring
1
recreational and aesthetic opportunities. The AmeriCorps participant would work directly
with government and non-profit organizations such as Appalachian Regional Commission to
provide these skills and services to local communities and the region in general.
12
Economic Development Coordinators: AmeriCorps participants could work with State
Rural Development Councils to identify needs and target projects.
Wood Utilization: Working with state forestry organizations, an opportunity exists for an
AmeriCorps participant to work with professional Wood Utilization Foresters. The objective
would be to promote alternative wood products and value added manufacturing technologies.
#3
Working under the direction of the State Forester, this AmeriCorps participant would provide
technology transfer to local communities as requested.
C 2 - 7
West Virginia Sustainable Development
#1
In West Virginia, 6 participants will particularly focus on development of community-
based sustainable economic development strategies using renewable natural resources in ways
that protect and enhance the environment is the primary need to be met by this program.
Corps members will help communities identify environmentally sound economic alternatives,
provide technical assistance in analyzing these alternatives, and work with community and
business leaders to implement essential projects that lead to sustainable economic activity.
Corps members will provide technical support skills often unavailable in rural communities.
Corps members will provide technical support in a wide variety of areas to existing rural
businesses and entrepreneurs wishing to start businesses. Activities will focus on enhancing
production of value-added products from forest resources, helping rural communities
capitalize on travel and tourism opportunities, developing businesses based on recycled
products, and-supporting development of community-based economic development
organizations.
Corps members will be living in Morgantown, WV and working throughout the State.
Rental housing assistance is available through the West Virginia University housing
placement service.
Work experience will involve a variety of technical efforts done in conjunction with a
variety of partners. This includes designing, producing, mailing and analyzing five broad-
based surveys aimed at a determining community needs such as improvement in
manufacturing base, market characteristics, demographics, etc. These will provide the basis
C 2 - 8
for 15 needs assessments, one for each of the 15 counties served. From these, about 30
market research projects will be undertaken with new and existing businesses looking at what
these companies are producing and what they are capable of producing, what new sales
opportunities may exist or be potentially available. These will lead the development of about
15 business plans. Five infrastructure improvement projects will be planned, and designed
aimed at transportation facilities, industrial and building facilities such as dust control
systems, timber bridges and multi-modal transportation facilities. Ten worker training
programs will be designed and implemented. These will address employment and
management needs. Approximately 15 financing plans will be developed for small
businesses, and 10 revolving loan funds will be established. Ten community foundations will
be established and 15 counties will be given grant writing assistance. Additional work
experience will be gained in group decision-making, consensus building, and grass roots
planning processes. The USDA Forest Service's Northeastern Area will be the administering
organization. The program will be run in cooperation with a variety of partners. These
partners will assist in planning, coordination, training, implementation, and monitoring the
program. These program partners are: the West Virginia Rural Development Council, the
West Virginia Development Office, the West Virginia Division of Forestry, the Appalachian
Hardwood Center at West Virginia University, the Northeastern Forest Experiment Station,
the Small Business Development Centers, Business and NBA programs at West Virginia
colleges and universities, West Virginia Division of Tourism, Cooperative Extension
Service, West Virginia Manufacturing Extension Program, and the West Virginia county
governments.
C 2 - 9
Individual Site Application #26
Rural Development
South Carolina
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 45
NEEDS TO BE MET
Most rural communities in the South Carolina are changing. Those near urban areas
are experiencing the trauma of unregulated and unplanned growth. However, the majority of
those rural communities are seeing gradual declines in population and a reduction in the
number and variety of small businesses that make living in rural America attractive. High
school and college graduates are forced to seek life careers elsewhere because their
hometowns, with shrinking farm employment and episodic bursts of manufacturing
employment, are no longer perceived as either exciting or viable life choices. In many areas
of the South Carolina, there is a lack of reliable and up-to-date environmental information.
Coupled with that is a lack of environmental knowledge by the regional residents themselves.
This information gap creates a disincentive for industry to relocate into an otherwise
attractive area.
THE AMERICORPS RURAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM SOLUTION
Rural Development Team members will furnish critical community organizing skills
to groups who can apply for rural water and waste programs. These community
organizational skills will help rural residents organize themselves into such things as non-
profit organizations, improvement districts, or even municipalities so that these entities can
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more easily leverage funding necessary to build diversified communities. A key
organizational component will be to seek out and assist disenfranchised and low-income
residents and help establish them as participants in the larger community.
Team members will work to implement the new Empowerment Zone & Enterprise
Community Initiative by serving as resident community and rural development experts in
each designated community. They will work with economically and socially disadvantaged
rural residents to use appropriate programs through cooperative efforts with other USDA
agencies, and collaborate with all Federal, State, local, private sector and not-for profit
organizations to help diversify local economies. RDT members will be on-site to establish
themselves as small business planning developers and information brokers with FmHA, and
other market-oriented organizations to assist in the assessment and development of markets
for unique local products.
Fourteen team members will work on RDA rural water programs and eight team
members will work on FmHa rural housing programs.
By filling the environmental information gap, efforts at rural business expansion and
retention would be facilitated, thereby decreasing unemployment and reliance on transfer
payments as a major economic contributor. Environmental learning and outreach centers will
better prepare rural residents of the region to make decisions on the environmental effects of
any development projects that they are considering as partial solutions to the overall
development mix.
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SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE PROJECT
The S. C. Rural Development Corps proposes to employ twenty AmeriCorps participants
in a nine county targeted area in Westcentral South Carolina. The targeted area has a
population of 506,844 and 3.5 million acres of which ninety-one percent is considered rural.
South Carolina has the highest number of adults of any state in the nation with less than eight
years elementary education and is seventh highest in the number of students living below
poverty level. The targeted area counties are representative of the state and the AmeriCorps
project is designed to be replicated in other sections of the state. There is currently a lack of
reliable environmental data on this conditions of water quality in rural communities.
Although some data is available on large streams and rivers, small stream tributaries in rural
watersheds have little or no collected data available. Rural leaders recognize this problem
and agree that reliable water quality data would enable decision makers to select viable
alternatives for addressing water quality concerns in rural areas.
This program proposes to utilize a multidisciplinary team of diverse backgrounds and
training. These teams will collect data, develop strategies, and implement solutions. They
will also assist rural low income and minority land users in identifying and implementing
strategies that decrease water quality due to livestock and poultry waste, pesticide
application, and grassland management. Overall leadership will be provided by USDA Soil
Conservation Service; however, guidance and direction of the program will be provided
through an AmeriCorps Advisory Council. This council will be composed of representatives
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of numerous sponsor partners such as state and federal agencies, local units of government,
and environmentally based organizations.
The project area has a high percentage of socially disadvantaged persons that receive a
disproportionate share of specialized services. Many are difficult to reach due to isolation.
Our program will utilize a multidisciplinary team of participants with diverse
backgrounds and training. These teams will collect data, develop strategies, and implement
solutions where appropriate for demonstrations.
The work related program will gather and compile data in a format that local community
decision makers can use to plan and solve environmental related problems in rural areas.
The data should show the impacts on water quality for individual property owners as well as
community impacts. Groups and units of government such as conservation districts,
Department of Health and Environmental Control, county councils, wildlife organizations,
regional planning units, and others are presently in need of the aforementioned information.
The needs addressed in this proposal have been excerpted from strategic long range
plans of soil and water conservation districts and Resource Conservation and Development
councils, through a variety of environmentally related public meetings, and through
information obtained from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, local
units of government, and environmental organizations. Agency personnel who have direct
contact with rural community citizens also assisted with input into this proposal. Partners
will provide portions, of the expenses related to training, office space, transportation,
supervision, technical assistance, and materials and supplies.
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An AmeriCorps Advisory Council will be formed for the purpose of advising and
providing guidance for AmeriCorps team project operation and implementation throughout
the life of the project.
The 20 member multidisciplinary team will consist of the following types of
participants.
1.
Rural Development Coordinator - serve as overall team coordinator. Priority would
be given to a person with a degree in biological or environmental sciences. Should have
good communicative, leadership, and organizational skills.
2.
Water Quality Technician (5 positions) - strong technical skills in natural resources or
biological sciences.
3.
Environmental Technician (6 positions) - post high school education. Position
requires some manual labor and willingness to work outside under potential adverse
conditions.
4.
Biologist/Forester (2 positions) - strong technical skills in natural resources to include
knowledge of plants, animals, soils, water, and air.
.
5.
Environmental Education Specialist (2 positions) - teaching and writing background
will be helpful since this person will be utilized to write grant proposals for implementing
projects.
6.
Grassland Management Specialist (2 positions) - degree in plant animal science with
emphasis on forage management.
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7.
Sociologist - will be responsible to work with socially disadvantaged to design
strategies to reach objectives.
8.
Horticulturist/Agronomist degree in agronomy or horticulture.
The AmeriCorps participants will perform a variety of activities such as follows:
1.
Develop plans for the construction and use of outdoor environmental learning centers
by coordinating with local steering committees composed of teachers, students, parent/teacher
organizations, and others.
2.
Assist teachers in the development of lesson plans for the use of outdoor learning
centers to enable them to expand their ongoing teacher program into these areas.
3.
Develop programs or methods to educate students in environmental education with a
focus on targeting low income and minority students.
4.
Construct four outdoor environmental learning centers. For example, lay out and
construct nature trails, establish signs, identify plants, construct amphitheaters, set up soil
profiledemonstrations, etc.
5.
Select at least one watershed in each county and design a method of assessing the
environmental concerns and impacts of grassland operations, heavy use livestock and poultry
areas, heavy pesticide and natural use areas, erosion riparian areas, and conditions of low
income communities.
6.
Conduct water quality assessments to include biological water sampling, livestock,
and poultry operations (location & numbers, etc).
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7.
Develop a system for storing and manipulating the data gathered from environmental
assessments.
8.
Complete evaluation assessments on individual farmsteads and homesites in rural
areas for water pollution hazards.
9.
Work with individual citizens on conservation measures related to improving water
quality and other environmental conditions.
10. Gather soil samples and livestock and poultry waste samples
for analysis.
11. Recommend rates of animal waste for land application.
12. Assist with calibration of spraying and spreading equipment.
13. Monitor animal waste application.
14. Develop news articles, brochures, lesson plans, etc. for
public education of environmental awareness.
15. Entry of information into computer database.
16. Interviews with socially disadvantaged.
17. Conduct outreach programs to socially disadvantaged.
FOREST SERVICE PROJECT
South Carolina has the 2nd highest minority population in the Southern region,
composed primarily of African Americans. An essential need for these communities is to
develop community based leadership and to develop sustainable economies. Developing and
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identifying community leaders in targeted areas is the first step towards building capacity and
enabling the community to set it's own vision and attain their goals. Models of this type of
training are available from the Extension Service, state agencies, and consultants to
accomplish this objective. A state committee, composed of representatives working with
ongoing rural development efforts, such as the State Forester, Francis Marion and Sumter
National Forest, Extension Service, and the State Rural Development Council, would be
utilized to determine priority needs for placement of AmeriCorps volunteers. Communities
with demonstrated need, based on demographic and census data, would be contacted. All
communities would have an opportunity to apply for an AmeriCorps volunteer. The state
H #1
committee would set priorities for available assistance. A series of Economic Development
Specialists would be assigned to rural sites throughout the state on a short or long term basis
depending on identified needs. Estimate that based on utilization of two (2) AmeriCorps
#1
participants, approximately six (6) counties will be served through leadership and economic
development workshops.
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Individual Site Application #27
Rural Development
Mississippi Delta (AK, LA, MS)
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 75
NEEDS TO BE MET
The three states of the Mississippi Delta Region comprise a list of the three states that
traditionally appear at the lower end of most every organization's ranking chart for economic
and social indicators. The majority of rural Delta communities are seeing gradual declines in
population and a reduction in the number and variety of small businesses that make living in
rural America attractive. High school and college graduates are forced to seek life careers
elsewhere because their hometowns, with shrinking farm employment and episodic bursts of
manufacturing employment, are no longer perceived as either exciting or viable life choices.
Homes still linger in the Delta which have no running water. Substandard housing is
epidemic. The great floods and ice storms of the past year have ravaged large portions of
the vast Mississippi watersheds. Farms, homes, businesses, whole rural infrastructures have
been washed away or laid waste to at the whim of Mother Nature.
THE AMERICORPS RURAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM SOLUTION
Rural Development Team members will furnish critical community organizing skills
to Delta residents who can apply for rural development programs. These community
organizational skills will help rural residents organize themselves into such things as non-
profit organizations, improvement districts, or even municipalities so that these entities can
C 4 - 1
more easily leverage funding necessary to build diversified communities. A key
organizational component will be to seek out and assist disenfranchised and low-income
residents and help establish them as participants in the larger community. Infrastructure
needs will be handled through partnerships with the Forest Service, RDA, and FmHA.
Team members will work to implement the new Empowerment Zone & Enterprise
Community Initiative by serving as resident community and rural development experts in
each designated community. They will work with economically and socially disadvantaged
rural residents to use appropriate programs through cooperative efforts with other USDA
agencies, and collaborate with all Federal, State, local, private sector and not-for profit
organizations to help diversify local economies. RDT members will be on-site to establish
themselves as small business planning developers and information brokers with FmHA, ACS,
AMS and other market-oriented organizations to assist in the assessment and development of
markets for unique local products.
Some of the individual project descriptions already identified follow this section and
cover efforts from water quality and water supply to economic diversification and data base
construction.
SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE PROJECTS:
In poor North Central Mississippi, two participants will work for the
improvement of rural water and wastewater systems. One participant will act as a clearing
house to assist in organizing and finding technical assistance for sewage and wastewater
systems.
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In the small town of Holly Grove in the Lower Mississippi Delta, one participant will
help work to improve low-income housing.
In 34 Western Arkansas Counties, two participants will provide public outreach in rural
development and facilitate to build unique public-private partnerships.
Four participants will work in parishes in the southern and western part of Louisiana to
deliver information to farmers and other landowners to reduce non-point source pollution.
Three participants will work in the Louisiana parishes of the Lower Mississippi Delta
to provide "dry fire hydrants" in order to provide water for fire-fighting in areas without
running water.
Two participants in Northeast Mississippi will provide rural volunteer fire districts with
planning and engineering assist needed to better utilize available water resources for fire
suppression.
One participant in Mississippi will work on a livestock waste treatment and disposal
project and cattle herd health improvement project for limited-resource Landowners.
Two participants in Southeast Mississippi would work together to promote tourism,
create new agricultural markets, and develop new uses for wood products.
Three participants in Mississippi will complete development of arboretums in three
counties used for environmental education leveraging resources available.
FOREST SERVICE PROJECTS
The purpose of providing AmeriCorps participants through the Rural Community
Assistance Program will be to provide needed skills to assist communities to become self-
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# 27
sufficient and maintain diverse economies. The theme of the Rural Community Assistance
Program is to "Help People Help Themselves". Projects will focus on wood in
transportation, recycling technology, and leadership in economic development.
#1
Wood in Transportation: The State of Mississippi authorizes replacement of over 6,000
unsafe bridges. Opportunities exist to promote "Wood in Transportation" by having qualified
Engineering students and graduates working through AmeriCorps would provide technical
assistance to communities wanting to install timber bridges. Forest Service employees would
work with these students to acquire skills needed in planning, construction and inspection of
timber bridges and other wood in transportation projects. These AmeriCorps participants
could also transfer the bridge technology to areas where potential projects could be
duplicated and demonstrate the advantages of wooden bridges. Initial training and
coordination of these outreach activities can be provided by Forest Service regional timber
bridge coordinator. Existing audio-visual aids are available for this purpose.
#2
Recycling Technology:
An opportunity exists to transfer recycling technology from existing rural and urban projects
to other sites. Development of recycling programs following these models could be
duplicated in other areas of the Delta region in order to create jobs and address
environmental concerns. Below are 2 ongoing examples of the types of projects AmeriCorps
volunteers would be involved in. 1) In Tupelo, Mississippi, an urban waste recycling project
effectively utilizes yard waste and creates a marketable landscaping product. Not only does
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this technology provide additional jobs and income to the community, it also reduces the
amount of materials going into the local landfill. 2) In Franklin County, Mississippi, a rural
recycling project employs disabled workers to recycle glass, paper and aluminum cans. This
type of project provides employment opportunities and a sense of community pride to all
involved.
#3
Leadership and Economic Development: By working with partnerships developed from
ongoing activities AmeriCorps participants would work with local community leaders to meet
specific community needs, particularly with ongoing social programs, education and
infrastructure needs. For example, local leaders developed from the Copiah County
leadership development workshops in Hazelhurst Mississippi may be able to utilize a
Business major to assist citizens in establishing small businesses. Ongoing outreach efforts
can be enhanced by collaborating with 1890 institutions and black colleges. Alcorn State has
capacity grants for education programs from daycare kindergarten through high school.
Future needs for these programs could be identified in local areas, and local leaders could
incorporate these social needs into their economic development plans. For example, many
persons are unable to work due to child care needs. An AmeriCorps participant would work
with community leaders to develop practical solutions.
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Individual Site Application #29
Rural Development
Minnesota
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 21
NEEDS TO BE MET:
Development of community-based sustainable economic development strategies using
renewable natural resources in ways that protect and enhance the environment is the primary
need to be met by this program. Corps members will help communities identify
environmentally sound economic alternatives, provide technical assistance in analyzing these
alternatives, and work with community and business leaders to implement essential projects
that lead to sustainable economic activity. Corps members will provide technical support
skills often unavailable in rural communities. Corps members will provide technical support
in a wide variety of areas to existing rural businesses and entrepreneurs wishing to start
businesses. Activities will focus on enhancing production of value-added products from
forest resources, helping rural communities capitalize on travel and tourism opportunities,
developing businesses based on recycled products, and supporting development of
community-based economic development organizations.
THE AMERICORPS RURAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM SOLUTION
The Soil Conservation Service and the Forest Service will both run innovative
programs aimed at those problems and others.
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Agassiz Recreational Trails (ART) Development Project
The Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources has approved $650,000.00 for
use by the ART Joint Powers Board to purchase an abandoned railroad bed and develop the
Agassiz Recreational Trail. The 32 mile trail will link diverse educational and recreational
opportunities along the main trail located in Clay, Norman, and Polk counties of Northwest
Minnesota. We will upgrade local parks for better utilization by trail users.
The ART project started as a combined effort to restore wetlands and develop 9 miles
of horse back riding trails east of Twin Valley. With each planning meeting the trail
increased in scope and size. As the project was submitted to the LCMR there was 103 miles
of trails and five parks. At the time we submitting the LCMR work program, one of the
parks had to be dropped and a 17 mile stretch of the trail south of Ada has been sold to
private landowners and is lost to trail use. But, two additional parks to the north of the main
trail have been requested, along with 53 additional miles of trails going into Pennington
County. Training will be provided by the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), Board of Water
and Soil Resources (EWSR) and local Soils and Water Conservation District's (SWCD).
Classroom and On the Job training will be utilized. Most of the necessary training and
equipment will be provided by the SCS and BWSR offices. This will reduce the overall cost
of the project. There will be the following positions:
1) Trail Development: This person will perform maintenance on the trail. This includes
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placement of new signs repairing existing signs, tree-planting, erecting nesting boxes for
birds and disposing of waste in trash containers along the trail.
2) Community Outreach: This person will work and communicate with local communities
and businesses along the ART in order to promote local tourism economies. Each city
council along the trail will be contacted in order to discuss how the trail could benefit the
community financially and recreationally.
3) Public Outreach: Two people will promote trail tourism on a regional basis within the 14
counties of Northwest Minnesota. This is for communities that wish to develop and promote
their own trail systems. These individuals will encourage such new trails to tie into the
ART. A Regional Trails Plan will also be developed that will cover the 14 counties of
Northwest Minnesota.
4) Trails Grant Writer: This person will be writing grants for communities that wish to
develop and finance their own trail systems. This will be on a regional basis within the 14
counties of Northwest
FORREST SERVICE PROJECTS
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FOREST SENVICE # 29
Development of community-based sustainable economic development strategies using
renewable natural resources in ways that protect and enhance the environment is the primary
#3
need to be met by this program. Corps members will help communities identify
environmentally sound economic alternatives, provide technical assistance in analyzing these
alternatives, and work with community and business leaders to implement essential projects
that lead to sustainable economic activity. Corps members will provide technical support
skills often unavailable in rural communities. Corps #! members will provide technical support
in a wide variety of areas to existing rural businesses and entrepreneurs wishing to start
businesses. Activities will focus on enhancing production of value-added products from
forest resources, helping rural communities capitalize on travel and tourism opportunities,
developing businesses based on recycled products, and supporting development of
community-based economic development organizations.
&
Education - Corps members will be working in a mentored environment where professional
#. Z
Forest Service and State Forester's staff provide guidance and direction. Training will focus
on developing interpersonal skills, collaborative planning skills, group involvement skills,
consensus building skill, and meeting management skills. Corps members will be utilizing
their technical skills in a real world environment. They will learn much about the decision-
making process in rural communities and how to help diverse groups reach consensus on
difficult issues.
Human needs - Corps members will become part of a team effort to assist rural communities
C6 - 4
in making informed decisions as citizens identify, develop and implement sustainable
economic development strategies. Corps members will be asked to apply their technical
skills in real world situations which will affect the future of the communities in which they
work. This involvement at the local level will familiarize Corps members with the
resources, needs, and aspirations of rural communities and increase their awareness of rural
people. These efforts will improve the decision-making capabilities of the Corps members,
and provide new experiences to broaden their cultural awareness. Corps member activities
are expected to have a significant positive impact on the economy of rural West Virginia.
The technical expertise that Corps members will bring to bear in assisting existing businesses
will help them become more competitive in both domestic and international markets.
Targeted market research efforts will identify new products, business development efforts
will improve the use of technology, updated management systems; improved advertising/sales
techniques, and worker training programs implemented on-site will help improve business
profitability and competitiveness. Business growth, job creation, and increased opportunities
for value-added manufacturing opportunities will result. Corps members will also support
the development of home-based and micro-businesses. Corps members will help prepare
business plans, assist in the preparation of financing packages, assist in grantwriting, and
develop micro-loan programs in rural communities to help generate successful small
businesses.
Corps members will be living in the St. Paul area and working throughout the state.
Rental housing assistance is available through the University of Minnesota housing placement
service. Travel and per them expenses will be paid when overnight travel is required.
C6 - 5
When project work requires extended travel periods, arrangements have been made for
housing at State Parks and college campuses throughout the State. Self-confidence and
practical experience in project planning, group process, consensus building, team work,
multi-cultural awareness, and in natural resource based sustainable economic development
will be gained from this program. Work experience will involve a variety of technical
efforts done in conjunction with a variety of partners. This includes designing, producing,
mailing and analyzing five broad-based surveys aimed at a determining community needs
such as improvement in manufacturing base, market characteristics, demographics, etc.
These will provide the basis for 18 needs assessments, one for each of the 18 counties
served. From these, about 36 market research projects will be undertaken with new and
existing businesses looking at what these companies are producing and what they are capable
of producing, what new sales opportunities may exist or be potentially available. These will
lead the development of about 18 business plans. Five infrastructure improvement projects
will be planned, and designed aimed at transportation facilities, industrial and building
facilities such as dust control systems, timber bridges and multi-modal transportation
facilities. Ten worker training programs will be designed and implemented. These will
address employment and management needs. Approximately 18 financing plans will be
developed for small businesses, and 10 revolving loan funds will be established. Ten
community foundations will be established and 18 counties will be given grantwriting
assistance. Additional work experience will be gained in group decision-making, consensus
building, and grass roots planning processes.
The program will be run in cooperation with a variety of partners. These partners
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will assist in planning, coordination, training, implementation, and monitoring the program.
These program partners are: The Minnesota Rural Development Board, The Minnesota
Department of Trade and Economic Development, the Minnesota Department of Natural
Resource Minnesota Technology, the University of Minnesota North Central Forest
Experiment Station, Small Business Development Centers Natural Resources Research
Institute at UM-Duluth, Iron Range Revitalization Board Cooperative Extension Service
Upper Midwest Technology Transfer Center, and Minnesota county governments.
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Individual Site Application #31
Rural Development
Four Corners (UT, AZ, CO, NM)
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 70
NEEDS TO BE MET
The Four Corners region of the United States is a vast, sparse populated area of
tremendous diversity and spectacular beauty. The region is at the heart of an ongoing
struggle to create a sensitive balance between the need to protect and sustain the
environment, and the need to provide a sound economic base for the area's residents. This
proposal will provide for action which will ultimately help develop that balance. The area has
a population of approximately 441,000 people and covers an area of about 83,000 square
miles. The project includes an area about 250 miles in circumference from where the four
states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah join together. There are 12 population
centers ranging in size from a few hundred to several thousand persons. The rural
population is widely dispersed, with many areas having poor accessibility. This region is one
of the most economically distressed areas in the Nation. Per-capita income is less than
$5,000. About 53 percent of the Navajo Nation's population lives below the poverty level.
Unemployment ranges as high as 28%. Unemployment is generally high on all the Indian
reservations in the area. About 42 percent of the area's population are members of the Hopi,
Navajo, Southern Ute, Ute Mountain Ute, White Mesa Ute or Zuni tribes.
C8 - 1
THE AMERICORPS RURAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM SOLUTION
Four USDA agencies (Rural Development Administration, Farmers Home
Administration, Forest Service, and Soil Conservation Service) have joined forces to provide
a full-service rural development experience for the region. Fifty-six RDT positions have
been identified that span nearly all of the possible features of a comprehensive approach to
regional rural development. In addition to RDT programmatic features of Housing, Water
Systems, and Rural Business Development, the two attached specific and targeted projects
round out the regional mix.
SOIL CONSERVATIOn SERVICE PROJECTS
This proposal has been jointly prepared by the RC&D coordinators of Arizona,
Colorado, New Mexico and Utah with assistance from conservation district leaders in
Arizona and Colorado and RC&D Council members. It addresses the large scale rural
development needs of the region. The concept provides for team approaches to addressing key
problems common to each state in there region. A need for 20 AmeriCorps participants has
been identified. These people would be distributed in functional teams.
Specifically, the proposal addresses the need to inventory existing human and natural
resources for the purpose of determining possible new and innovative natural resource based
industry potential. The proposal further provides for the seeking of funds to establish these
industries. In addition, proposal addresses the need to assist limited resource farmers
(especially Native Americans) to develop sustainable small scale agricultural systems leading
to improved nutrition, increased income and employment, and a quality environment.
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Finally, the proposal includes an element of education and information directed toward
helping area citizens (and others) understand benefits and costs associated with environmental
and economic choices currently being made.
1) Develop an inventory of existing natural resources and determine the feasibility of
developing new and innovative natural resources based industries with possible value-added
potential.
2) Seek grant funds to provide for the establishment of feasible industries.
3) Assist small scale, limited resource farmers in developing sustainable agricultural systems
for the purpose of improving family nutrition, increasing income, expanding employment,
and maintaining a quality environment.
4) Conduct an information and education program for the purpose of helping area residents
understand the costs and benefits of environmental and economic choices currently being
made.
The project concept is to utilize skilled teams of AmeriCorps participants in each of the
states working closely with established agencies and organizations currently dealing with
rural development issues related to natural resources and the environment. Each of the
major components of the project; inventorying, determining industry potential, small scale
agriculture, information and education, will benefit from a team of individuals whose efforts
will be directed toward accomplishing specific tasks associated with the component. The
project is designed to create strong partnerships with existing professionals in order to
minimize replication of efforts and maximize existing resources. The project will be
administered in each of the four states by RC&D Councils in cooperation with the Soil
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Conservation Service. Each Council is a nonprofit organization consisting of 20 to 24 local
sponsors. Sponsors include area communities, counties, Native American Nations, Council
of Governments, and Soil Conservation Districts. Each Council has a full time coordinator
provided them by the Soil Conservation Service. The broad makeup of the Councils ensures
that they deal with concerns at the grassroots level and makes possible the creation of
effective partnerships between a wide variety of entities in order to address key concerns.
The project will require cooperation among many partners. Project partners will include
each RC&D Council (one per state total of 4), the Soil Conservation Districts, local units of
government, councils of Government, the Soil Conservation Service, Extension Service,
Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Native American
Nations. Each RC&D Council has a long range plan with a community or rural development
objective. Utilization of AmeriCorps participants accelerate the implementation of Councils
objectives.
Data Inventory and Industry Potential Analysis. This project will inventory natural resources
and socioeconomic data in the region. A project team will be utilized to identify natural
resources and new technologies with potential for development. This will involve detailed
literature research to determine characteristics of the resource and its value-added potential.
The most promising industries will be prioritized and additional work will be done to identify
potential markets. This data will then be used for feasibility studies and grant applications to
establish natural resource based industries in the region which will improve the employment
base. Typical activities of AmeriCorps participants will be to conduct literature reviews and
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summarize data, prepare questionnaire for needs assessment, interview key informants on the
telephone and in person, gather economic data and enter into a database.
Finally, be a team member to prepare grant applications.
Small Scale Agriculture Development. This project is designed to accelerate small
scale agriculture primarily with the Native Americans nations in the region. It addresses the
need to improve Native American nutrition and increase employment and per capita income
on Indian reservations in the region. In partnership with local organizations, a team of
specialists will provide intensive training to partnership agencies and facilitate training
workshops to reach large numbers of people in remote areas. Training would include small
animal production, gardening, preserving products for future use and related activities. A
team of five persons would be utilized to service the region. Typical activities of AmeriCorps
participants will be to provide training in their specialty area, organize small groups to
conduct this training. AmeriCorps participants with marketing or business administration
will assist in establishing a marketing cooperative to sell excess products.
Natural Resources Inventory. This inventory would include soils, rangeland, woodland,
wildlife land, riparian and wetlands, cultural resources sites, water resources, land use and
ownership. The inventory would be digitized into a GIS format. A public information
specialist will be used to keep local residents apprised of progress and to provide information
on potential uses of the inventory data. Typical activities of AmeriCorps participants will be
to gather data in the field. Data will be placed on maps under the direction of a natural
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#
31
resource professional. Data will then be entered into a GIS system.
Information and Education. This project would develop and implement a
communications plan for internal and external audiences. Educational materials would be
targeted to citizens in the Four Corners region. Topics will reflect the need for strong
resource conservation and development to increase the economic viability of the region.
Project activities will include press releases, speakers bureau, static displays, and other
appropriate mediums. Typical activities of AmeriCorps participants will be to research and
write press releases for newsletters and the general media and make contact with media
representatives in each community.
Hopi\Navajo Regional Planning - One Strategic Planner (preferred) or Small Business
Developer. Community based economic planning on the Hopi and Navajo Indian
Reservations, working primarily with Chapters Houses and local communities. Planning will
be for tourism, small business development, and infrastructure requirements. Estimate 3 to 4
plans in progress each year for two to three years. Unemployment is currently 50 to 80%
(depending on chapter or community).
FOREST SERVICE PROJECTS
The intent of the "Strengthening Partnerships for Active Rural Communities"
(SPARCS) program is on the existing partnerships, as well as initiate actions that are of
regional scope for the entire 4-Corners area that have broad-based community support.
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/E#
SPARCS will be bolstered by the AmeriCorps program in improving partnerships at the
individual community level, as well as to accelerate the projects identified in the last six
months within the SPARCS process. Some projects:
1) Development of social, economic and demographic shared data bases to support
sustainable economic development. Specifically these data bases are needed to establish
baseline information regarding current local conditions and trends. They will be used to
suggest and validate strategies for diversifying or strengthening local economies. Estimated
project cost is $35,000. AmeriCorps Participants: This task will be accomplished by
Americorps members staffed at the locations in Region 2 and 3 as a part of overall strategy
development and project implementation. Skills needed include socio-economics, data base
management, electronic mail services or bulletin boards, telecommunications, facilitation and
familiarity with existing state or Cooperative Extension Service data bases.
2) Training for community capacity building and leadership development. AmeriCorps
participant: One person with strong community/regional planning background, to be
assigned to work with Sheila Knop, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension.
Through regional workshops and local seminars, increase preparedness and skill to support
sustainable rural economic development, by promoting dialogue and collaborative learning
activities organized around regional development concerns, such as value-added forestry,
agriculture and tourism.
3) Tribal Tourism Development/4 Corners Heritage Council. Six participants will be shared
C 8 - 7
between the affected tribes and the 4-Corners Heritage Council. Skills needed include
regional planning, community development, public or business administration, landscape
architecture, engineering, recreation planning, interpretation and environmental education.
All he Tribes within the 4-Corners are pursuing tourism development as an economic
development strategy.
4) Four Corners Business and Expansion Program - Participants will
Develop a business retention and expansion (R&E) program for the Four Corners region.
The purpose of this program is to identify and solve business problems related to survival,
expansion and start-up and thereby to strengthen and/or increase economic activity. The
program would require a full-time coordinator familiar with the area who would serve all the
program.participants. The coordinator would work with a regional resource team comprised
of representatives from the USFS, FMHA, RDA, CE, SBDC, COG's and state economic
development departments and local citizens. This proposal is jointly prepared and submitted
under a multi-agency / multi jurisdictional approach to enhancing the viability of rural
communities and Tribes in the Four Corners Area ( Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New
Mexico) through existing strategic partnerships. The Americorps program will provide an
infusion of assistance into new alliances, shared visions and collaborative approaches
addressing community problems and change identified by communities and Tribes in the
Four Corners Area.
This proposal takes advantage of existing community based planning,
C 8 - 8
partnerships and networks established in the last 2 years to work with rural people,
communities and Tribes-to create jobs, increase family income, generate community revenue,
and enhance the quality of life in the Four Corners area.
Partnerships and Networks, Region 2 -This partnership includes the municipalities and
counties of Southwestern Colorado, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land
Management, Fort Lewis College, the Colorado Dept. of Transportation, the Southwestern
Colorado Travel Region, and the Four Corners Heritage Council. This partnership focuses
on joint efforts between local communities, and public land agencies in areas of resource
management, collaborative planning, research, economic diversification and public policy.
Three corp members will be assigned to the Community-Public Lands Partnership. Skills
needed will include Community/Land Use planners, economists, GIS, facilitation of
processes, Tourism-Recreation planners, value added forest products and Agriculture.
Partnerships and Networks, Region 3 - These partnership includes the municipalities
and counties of Northeastern Arizona, Northwestern New Mexico, the U.S. Forest Service,
the Soil Conservation Service, the New Mexico and Arizona Departments of Commerce,
Tourism and Transportation, the New Mexico Rural Development Council and the Four
Corners Heritage Council. The partnerships focus on joint efforts between local
communities, Action Teams, Tribes and public agencies in areas of resource management,
recycling, collaborative planning, research, and economic diversification. Two teams of three
AmeriCorps participants will be assigned to support the above listed projects and
partnerships. One team will be assigned to northern Arizona to work through the Coconino
C8 - 9
and Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests; the other team will be assigned to the Carson,
Cibola and Santa Fe NF's of northwestern New Mexico. Skills needed will include
community/regional planners, economists, GIS, facilitation/mediation, tourism/recreation
planners, and business/cooperative development, with emphasis in value added forest
products and agriculture.
# /
Timber/ Bridge Wood Transportation Project - Most counties have limited access to
people with engineering skills to assist them in the development of timber bridge proposals
and in the construction of the bridges. This project would involve recruitment of an
engineering graduate student to assist interested counties, communities, and Indian Tribes in
identifying there bridge needs, help in the development of proposals and oversee
construction. The wood utilization conference scheduled to be held in Farmington, NM in the
fall of 1994 will include timber bridge technology and construction as well as demonstration
of the SLAM timber bridge design program.
C8 - 10
Individual Site Application #32
Rural Development
Pacific Rim (CA, WA, AK)
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 70
NEEDS TO BE MET:
Rural areas of California are suffering from multiple environmental concerns and severe
economic problems. The Pacific Northwest has needs to protect endangered species of
wildlife, improve forest management on small land holdings, and improve economic
conditions. Other rural areas are suffering competing demands for limited water, and they
need water quality and conservation improvement. Small farmers with limited resources and
of various ethnic groups need help with farming methods and resource protection.
In Alaska, many communities are connected to each other only by river in summer,
dogsled and snow machine trails in the winter, and expensive air service all year long. The
indigenous people adapted to this vast, harsh land centuries ago by hunting, gathering, and
fishing for food, clothing, and shelter materials. People continue to live off the land and this
lifestyle is defined as "subsistence" by today's society.
A mixed-bag of land ownership creates difficulties in managing the natural resources
for traditional subsistence and culturally acceptable uses. The state government, federal
government, native village councils, and native corporations own and manage the lands
which have supported the Athabascan people for generations.
C 9 - 1
THE AMERICORPS RURAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM SOLUTION
The AmeriCorps positions within these communities (as proposed in this grant
application) are part of the movement to counteract the social fragmentation occurring within
our communities. By recruiting from within local communities, and working closely with
different people within the community to develop the collaborative working relationships that
facilitate integrated service-learning within schools, the AmeriCorps participant (as a
Regional Based Coordinator of the Adopt-a-Watershed curriculum model) will play a key
role in integrating the development of our two greatest resources; the children of our
communities and the land we live on. AmeriCorps participants will meet these needs by
providing on site technical and educational assistance.
Residents have the traditional knowledge base required for the job, but we need to
translate this into a working relationship that creates local employment and skilled
professional workers. The AmeriCorps project would help Alaskan young people to assist
their native villages in writing natural resource management plans for their land. The
villages' goals are to increase local employment and provide professional opportunities that
do not conflict with their traditional values. It is typical that the good agency jobs in these
villages are filled by outsiders, whose high wages raise the per capita income without benefit
to the local people. The AmeriCorps project should give local residents opportunities for
both experience and education in natural resource management fields.
C 9 - 2
MID COLUMBIA SALMON HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECT
This project will restore and maintain salmon habitat on privately owned lands in the
MidColumbia region by providing technical, financial, and material assistance through a
collaboration of local, state, and federal efforts.
Gain voluntary participation by private landowners by providing incentives to
improve and protect key salmon habitat they control.
Plan, design and install critical conservation practices that enhance salmon habitat
components such as water quality, cover, food sources and adequate in-stream flows.
Coordinate and focus the technical, financial and material resources of local, state, and
federal agencies to accomplish the mission.
The Mid-Columbia region located on the Washington side of the Columbia River is
capable of providing key habitat for salmon spawning. Certain runs of salmon in the
Columbia River system are candidates for listing under the endangered Species Act. Current
water quality conditions for the direct tributaries and their sub-watersheds are generally
below state standards for aquatic life. The Columbia River salmon issue has become a major
national concern. This project aims to deal with this issue using a voluntary approach that
will insure longer lasting results.
The primary environmental concerns are high in-stream water temperatures and low
stream flows in the summer. Both of these conditions are fatal to juvenile salmon. Both of
these conditions can be corrected by improving vegetative cover and soil stability along
streambeds and adjacent areas. Current economic and resource limitations in the area require
C 9 - 3
that an incentive be provided to landowners to voluntarily improve salmon habitat in streams
they control. The project would utilize the AmeriCorps program to supply the needed
personnel to plan, design and install conservation practices on privately owned lands.
Partnering agencies would help provide additional financial and material assistance.
The Soil Conservation Service would provide overall leadership and direction for the project.
Local conservation districts would also provide oversight and prioritization based on their
knowledge of the local conditions and their rapport with the landowners.
AmeriCorps participants would build a record of work experience and dependability, learn
and utilize team problem solving skills to accomplish a goal, learn the factors that contribute
to good water quality and gain experience in dealing with people on an individual and group
basis. The local community would gain the opportunity to voluntarily solve a high profile
environmental concern. The project would also provide a format' for diverse groups and
individuals to come to a consensus on how to treat salmon habitat problems. Finally,
numerous opportunities for environmental education would be created for local schools and
the general public. All of this will contribute to a better, and more sustainable solution.
The proposed project area is located in Klickitat County,
Washington and encompasses the major drainages and tributaries to the Columbia River that
originate within the county.
There is an overall need within the project area to provide accelerated assistance to
private landowners to improve conditions in potential salmon spawning waters. The
AmeriCorps program would provide the needed support and opportunity to satisfy this need.
Certain runs of salmon in the Columbia River system are being considered for listing under
C 9 - 4
the Endangered Species Act. Providing quality spawning habitat is vital to salmon survival.
The AmeriCorps program can be used to address this national environmental concern by
supplying needed personnel to plan, design and install critical conservation practices.
The objective is to target private landowners with technical, financial and material assistance
to improve salmon habitat. AmeriCorps participants could work with landowners to help
them improve streamside areas (also known as riparian areas) to provide more shading in the
summer and thus increase water flows. AmeriCorps workers could also assist irrigators to
be more efficient. In this way, less water would have to be taken from streams. This
would improve summer time stream flows as well.
These conditions have been documented by the Central and Eastern Klickitat
Conservation Districts in their Watershed Inventory Report of January 1991. There is also
supporting documentation available from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife as
well as the Yakima Indian Nation.
The project would build on four years of water quality improvement projects by the
Central and Eastern Klickitat Conservation Districts as well as the Yakima Indian Nation and
the Northwest Power Planning Council. Several streams and rivers in the project area have
been targeted by the following agencies for salmon habitat enhancement.
C 9 - 5
CALIFORNIA WATERSHED PROTECTION
The project will protect and heal watershed ecosystems in areas damaged by the 1993-
94 wild fires, earthquake, and also in areas with a high potential for fires.
This AmeriCorps project would meet needs in rural and rural/urban interface areas of
California. The participants would work on projects to provide assistance to persons needing
help in forest recovery, salmon and fisheries recovery, water quality improvement and
conservation, and similar work.
Rural areas of California are suffering from multiple environmental concerns and
severe economic problems. The Pacific Northwest has needs to protect endangered species
of wildlife, improve forest management on small landholdings, and improve economic
conditions. Other rural areas are suffering competing demands for limited water, and they
need water quality and conservation improvement. Small farmers with limited resources and
of various ethnic groups need help with farming methods and resource protection.
The goal of the Adopt-a-Watershed program is to develop a strong community-school
connection through a collaborative effort of coordinating existing programs and community
resources. It will link work and education through hands on learning by doing, in the
service of watershed stewardship. It is becoming imperative that communities join together
to care for the land around them and to teach their youth. This program will develop that
ethic of service in all of the participants, the teachers, the parents, the students, the mentors,
and the apprentices as each person involved understands how he/she is part of a larger
C9-6
process, and how each person has power and value in the collaborative effort of building
community and caring for their own habitat.
The AmeriCorps positions within these communities (as proposed in this grant
application) are part of the movement to counteract the social fragmentation occurring within
our communities. By recruiting from within local communities, and working closely with
different people within the community to develop the collaborative working relationships that
facilitate integrated service-learning within schools, the AmeriCorps participant (as a
Regional Based Coordinator of the Adopt-a-Watershed curriculum model) will play a key
role in integrating the development of our two greatest resources; the children of our
communities and the land we live on. AmeriCorps participants will meet these needs by
providing on site technical and educational assistance.
The needs that will be met by this are rural development and environmental in nature.
The specific site projects will address needs of endangered species conservation, Limited
Resource Farmers, education about the environment, and natural resource protection and
betterment. A national service program addresses these needs very well because meeting the
needs incrementally protects and improves the Nation's natural resource base, improves the
economic climate of some severely depressed rural parts of California, and assists limited
resource and minority landowners and land users.
C 9 - 7
# 32
ALASKA FOREST SERVICE INITIATIVE
Development of native community-based sustainable economic development strategies
using renewable natural resources in ways that protect and enhance the environment is the
primary need to be met by this program. The program will help communities identify
environmentally sound economic alternatives, provide technical assistance in analyzing these
alternatives, and work with native community and business leaders to implement essential
# /
projects that lead to sustainable economic activity. Participants will provide technical support
skills often unavailable in rural communities.
Participants will provide technical support in d wide variety of areas to existing rural
businesses and entrepreneurs wishing to start businesses. Activities will focus on enhancing
production Of value-added products from forest resources, helping rural communities
capitalize on travel and tourism opportunities, developing businesses based on recycled
products, and supporting development of community-based economic development
organizations.
# 2
Participants activities are expected to have a significant positive impact on the
economy in rural Alaska. The technical expertise that participants will bring to bear in
assisting existing businesses will help them become more competitive in both domestic and
international markets. Targeted market research efforts will identify new products, business
development efforts will improve the use of technology, updated management systems,
improved advertising/sales techniques, and worker training programs implemented on-site
will help improve business profitability and competitiveness. Business growth, job creation,
C 9 - 8
and increased opportunities for value-added manufacturing opportunities will result.
#3
Participants will also support the development of home-based and micro-businesses.
HC/
Participants will help prepare business plans, assist in the preparation of financing packages,
assist in grant writing, and develop micro-loan programs in rural communities to help
generate successful small businesses.
This includes designing, producing, mailing and analyzing several broad-based
surveys aimed at determining community needs such as improvement in the local businesses
and what these companies are producing and what they are capable of producing, what new
sales opportunities may exist or be potentially available. These will lead to the development
of about 5 business plans. Five infrastructure improvement projects will be planned, and
designed aimed at transportation facilities, industrial and building facilities such as dust
control systems, timber bridges and multi-modal transportation facilities. five worker training
programs will be designed and implemented. These will address employment and
management needs. Approximately 5 financing plans will be developed for small businesses,
and 5 revolving loan funds will be established. Several community foundations will be
established for the State will be given grant writing assistance. Additional work experience
will be gained in group decision-making, consensus building, and grass roots planning
processes.
The program will be run in cooperation with a variety Of partners. These partners
will assist in planning, coordination, training, implementation, and monitoring the program.
These program partners are: The Alaska Rural Development Council, The Alaska Division
of Forestry The Alaskan Tribal Councils, The Private Sector Foundations Small Business
C 9 - 9
Development Centers.
C 9 - 10
SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE ALASKA PROJECTS
To conserve and protect tribal land and other resources; to encourage and support the
exercise of tribal powers of self-government; to aid and support economic development; to
promote the general welfare of each member tribe and it's respective individual members; to
preserve and maintain justice for all; and to otherwise exercise all powers granted to its
member villages.
The Yukon Flats region of Alaska is a 55,000 square mile area populated by 1500
people in ten Athabascan Indian villages. The communities are connected each other only by
river in summer, dogsled and snow machine trails in the winter, and expensive air service all
year long. The indigenous people adapted to this vast, harsh land centuries ago by hunting,
gathering, and fishing for food, clothing, and shelter materials. People continue to live off
the land and this lifestyle is defined as "subsistence" by today's society.
A mixed-bag of landownership creates difficulties in managing the natural resources for
traditional subsistence and culturally acceptable uses. The state government, federal
government, native village councils, and native corporations own and manage the lands
which have supported the Athabascan people for generations.
There have been severe cutbacks in the agencies that have resource management
authority and responsibility within the Yukon Flats. These agencies do not have the time or
funding to identify and accomplish wildlife and other natural resource management objectives
over an area the size of Iowa that encompasses the Yukon Flats. The Council of Athabascan
Tribal Governments (CATG), a consortium of the villages in the Flats, is developing the
technical capacity and human resource skills needed to create a partnership between the
C 9 - 11
agencies and the villages.
The AMERICORPS project would help Athabascan young people to assist their native
villages in writing natural resource management plans for their land. The villages' goals are
to increase local employment and provide professional opportunities that do not conflict with
their traditional values. It is typical that the good agency jobs in these villages are filled by
outsiders, whose high wages raise the per capita income without benefit to the local people.
The project should give local residents opportunities for both experience and education in
natural resource management fields.
The participants will assist villages in gathering wildlife and other natural resource data,
coordinate the data collection with and receive training from USDA-SCS and USDI-F&WS,
help villages prioritize resources of concern and write natural resource management plans.
The AmeriCorps project will help the Yukon Flats communities provide jobs, educational
opportunities, and a natural resource planning mechanism which the local residents will use
to manage their wildlife and other subsistence use resources.
C 9 - 12
33
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4/11/94
FOREST SERVICE CONTRIBUTION
TO USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM PROPOSAL
INTRODUCTION
The Forest Service, as an integral member of Team USDA, supports President
Clinton's national service initiative known as AmeriCorps. The following
Forest Service proposal focuses on the Rural Development Team portion of
AmeriCorps, as part of the larger USDA program application to the Corporation
for National Community Service.
SUMMARY
The Forest Service pledges a total of $2,599,700, which includes both direct
funding and agency in-kind contributions. This level of funding creates 74
AmeriCorps positions. The $2,599,700 consists of $1,775,000 from the agency's
Rural Community Assistance efforts, $337,000 from Urban and Community
Forestry's recycling efforts, $275,000 from the Wood In Transportation program,
and $213,000 from the Forest Products Conservation and Recycling program. The
particular projects selected for AmeriCorps are described in the following
section.
ASSUMPTIONS
The following are a list of assumptions used throughout this proposal:
(1) All funding dollars include Forest Service in-kind contributions.
(2) An AmeriCorps person would cost a minimum of $20,000.
(3) A strong political need exists to link AmeriCorps projects with
Empowerment Zones/Enterprize Communities (EZ/EC Zones)
(4) The Forest Service will work within its existing authorities and initial
PBMI for Fiscal Year 1995 and will not reallocate funds from one Region to
another.
(5) The Forest Service proposal is an integral part of the overall USDA
strategy and should not be seperated from the Department's efforts.
PROJECT PROPOSALS
Within each of the projects, objectives, number of AmeriCorps members, skills,
and funding levels are addressed. The number of Americorps members and
associated funding by Forest Service program appropriation is provided on the
attached table.
project # 1
South Carolina
South Carolina has the second highest minority population in the Southern
6+2
region, composed primarily of African Americans. Current program efforts have
had difficulty reaching these communities due to cultural differences.
Leadership and sustainable economic development skills are essential for these
communities. Developing and identifying community leaders in disenfranchised
areas is the first step towards building capacity and enabling the community to
set it's own vision and attain their goals. Models of this type of training
are available from the n a Service and state agenc t ccomplish this
bjective.
Persons with a diverse background and understanding of African American culture
would be desirable candidates. Interpersonal skills, ability to listen and
facilitation skills would be required. Some of these skills can be developed
through mentoring with agency personnel. A series of Economic Development
Specialists could be assigned to rural sites throughout the state.
The Forest Service commits $132,000 of its Rural Community Assistance (RCA)
dollars to fund 5 AmeriCorps members, with college degrees, who are specialists
in either leadership or economic development.
Mississippi Delta
#2
This area includes the following counties: MS Counties: Desoto, Tunica,
3
Panola, Coahoma, Bolivar, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Leflore, Washington,
Sunflower, Carrol, Charkey, Holmes, Humphreys, Yazoo, Wassren, Issaquena,
Claiborne, and Jefferson. AR Counties: Crittenden, Lee, Phillips, Desha, and
Chicot. LA Counties: East Carroll, West Carroll, Madison, Tensas, and
Concordia.
The Governor of Mississippi recently signed legislation to authorize
replacement of over 6,000 unsafe bridges. Opportunities exist to promote "Wood
in Transportation" by having qualified Engineering students working through
AmeriCorps to provide technical assistance to communities wanting to install
timber bridges. These AmeriCorp participants could also transfer the bridge
technology to areas where potential projects could be duplicated and
demonstrate the advantages of wooden bridges.
An opportunity exists to transfer recycling technology from the Franklin County
Recycling Project to other sites. Development of recycling programs following
this model could be duplicated in other areas of the Delta region in order to
create jobs for disabled persons.
By working with partnerships developed from ongoing RCA activities, the Forest
Service could provide AmeriCorps participants to work with local community
leaders in meeting specific community needs, particularly with ongoing social
programs, education and infrastructure needs. For example, local leaders
developed from the Copiah County leadership development workshops may be able
to utilize a Business major to assist citizens in establishing small
businesses. In addition other federal agencies, such as the Small Business
Administration, could provide technical and financial assistance, furthering
agency efforts.
Ongoing outreach efforts can be enhanced by collaborating with 1890
institutions and black colleges. Alcorn State has capacity grants for
education programs from day care kindergarden through high school. Future
needs for these programs could be identified in local areas, and local leaders
could incorporate these social needs into their economic development plans.
For example, many persons are unable to work due to child care needs. An
AmeriCorp participant would work with community leaders to develop practical
solutions.
Other predominately bla o ges such as Rust have pro ed adership
workshops for minority communities to build capacity. AL. Corp participants
could work side by side with rural sociologists and other experts in these
fields to develop and disseminate this information. Additionally a study
could start which addresses the social changes needed to improve the economy of
the region and implementations plans for practical solutions begun.
The Forest Service allocates $384,000 to fund 15 AmeriCorps positions in the
Mississippi Delta as follows: (1) $73,000 of Urban and Community Forestry
(U&CF) funds for 3 AmeriCorps positions requiring college degrees to transfer
recycling technology regarding urban forest residual management, (2) $73,000 of
Wood In Transportation (WIT) dollars funding 3 AmeriCorps positions, two of
which are graduate degrees and one undergraduate, to assist communities address
their timber bridge needs, and (3) $238,000 of RCA funds, creating 9 AmeriCorps
undergraduate degreed positions to perform outreach to 1890 schools, conduct
leadership and economic development, and begin a "Delta Social Changes" study.
Alaska
#3
The objectives listed for AmeriCorps participants are need and feasibility.
Additionally, these activities are complementary to the activities planned by
1,4,
the Alaska Community Services Commission, the Alaska Department of Community
and Regional Affairs, and of equal importance our sister agencies in TEAM USDA.
5+6
The Forest Service allocates $155,000 to fund 5 positions in Alaska. The
dollars are distributed as follows: (1) $62,000 of U&CF funds, creating 2
positions, requiring undergraduate degrees, to assist selected communities
throughout the State of Alaska in developing U&CF recycling plans and/or
produce prototypes, (2) $31,000 of RCA program dollars for 1 AmeriCorps member,
with a graduate degree, to provide rural community assistance to
timber-dependent Southeastern Alaska communities for economic diversification,
(3) $31,000 of RCA program dollars for 1 AmeriCorps member, requiring an
undergraduate degree, to provide rural community assistance to help forest and
farm owners in South-Central Alaska develop markets and/or cooperatives, and
(4) $31,000 of RCA program dollars for 1 AmeriCorps member, a college graduate,
to provide rural community assistance to help Alaska Native Villages by
delivering program opportunities to remote Native communities.
#4
Appalachia
(1) Southern Region Component:
1,4,5,6
This includes the following States: TN, KY, GA, VA, and NC.
Rural tourism efforts are underway in this region and feature recreational and
aesthetic opportunities. Local partners have needs for tour guides with
interpretive skills. Recreation planners, tourism surveys, and marketing are
needed. AmeriCorps participants could work with the Appalachian Regional
Commission and other partners to develop regional tourism plans.
Another identified need is hiring professional Economic Development
Coordinators who would seek business development opportunities for this area.
Business students could work with these professionals and local communities.
Environmental students
d
rk in these areas to iden+
ues of
environmental concern W1 related new business ventures.
Working with state forestry organizations can provide opportunities for
AmeriCorps participants to work with professional Wood Utilization Foresters.
The objective would be to promote alternative wood products and value added
manufacturing technologies.
The Black Belt studies initiated at North Carolina State University could
provide opportunities to implement social changes needed to improve the economy
of the region.
The Forest Service targets $450,000 to the Appalachian States of TN, KY, GA,
VA, and NC to fund 20 AmeriCorps positions as follows: (1) $113,000 from Forest
Products Conservation and Recycling (FPC&R) for 5 AmeriCorps members with
undergraduate degrees to perform wood utilization activities, and (2) $337,000
of RCA dollars, creating 15 AmeriCorps positions, three requiring graduate and
the rest undergraduate degrees, to engage in rural tourism, economic
development, and Black Belt Studies.
#5
(2) Northeastern Area Component:
This section addresses the needs of the State of WV.
Initial Forest Service efforts are directed to those counties eligible for
participation in the Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community program. Corps
members will carry out sustainable natural resource-based economic development
activities identified by local communities and planned cooperatively by the
communities, the West Virginia Division of Forestry, the West Virginia
University Appalachian Hardwood Center, and the Northeastern Area's Economic
Action Program. This concept is supported by the West Virginia Rural
Development Council.
1,4,6
The program's objective is to assist communities in planning for and
+5
implementing sustainable economic development strategies based on forest
resources with an emphasis on value-added enterprises. Value-added forest
based enterprises include, but are not limited to:
Secondary Wood Products Manufacturing
Tourism Development
Gathering and Marketing Special Forest Products
Manufacturing Recycled Products Based on Wood Fiber
The Forest Service commits $380,000 (including funds for project related
activities) to this section of Appalachia to fund 6 AmeriCorps positions as
follows: (1) $102,000 from U&CF funds for 1 AmeriCorps member, a wood
processing specialist with a graduate degree, (2) $176,000 of RCA program
dollars for 3 AmeriCorps people, one a business development specialist with a
graduate degree, one a travel and tourism specialist with a graduate degree,
and one a marketing specialist with an undergraduate degree, and (3) $102,000
of WIT money for 2 AmeriCorps positions, a environmental engineer with a
graduate degree and one a civil engineer with an undergraduate degree.
Four Corners
This area includes the
e.
£ AZ, CO, NM, and UT.
Prior to the initiation of the regional agency and community "Strengthening
Partnerships for Active Rural Communities" (SPARCS) collaboration, the Forest
Service was actively working with many partners in the 4 Corners area,
including a dozen Community Action Teams, and projects with the Navajo, Zuni
and Jicarilla Apache tribes. The intent of SPARCS was to build on the existing
partnerships, as well as initiate actions that are of regional scope for the
entire 4-Corners area that have broad-based community support. The agency's
desire under the Americorps program, is to strongly support both its longer
1,4+6
term partnerships at the individual community level, as well as to accelerate
the projects identified in the last six months within the SPARCS process.
The 4 Corners Site is defined for the Americorps proposal as the lands
contained within the boundaries of the 4 RC&D areas that touch at the 4 Corners
Monument. Included within the area are the lands or influence zones of the San
Juan, Rio Grande, Manti-La Sal, Carson, Cibola, Santa Fe, Coconino and
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.
The Forest Service plans to use AmeriCorps members to work on four projects as
follows:
(1) Devise social, economic and demographic shared data bases to support
sustainable economic development. Specifically these data bases are needed to
establish baseline information regarding current local conditions and trends.
They will be used to suggest and validate strategies for diversifying or
strengthening local economies.
(2) Train people for community capacity building and leadership development
throughout the 4-Corners region by conducting regional workshops and local
seminars; increasing preparedness and skill to support sustainable rural
economic development; and promoting dialogue and collaborative learning
activities organized around regional development concerns, such as value-added
forestry, agriculture and tourism.
(3) Develop a tribal tourism and 4 Corners Heritage Council throughout the
4-Corners area, with emphasis on tribal lands. All of the Tribes within the
4-Corners are pursuing tourism development as an economic development
strategy. The Heritage Council was commissioned by the Governors of the four
affected states with a charter to develop locally-based heritage tourism
opportunities, with an emphasis on providing an economic boost to the tribes
and rural communities. They have 4 mutual objectives (projects) for 1994-97:
a. Community Tourism Development Plans on the Navajo Reservation
b. Tourism / Recreation Facilities Site Plans on the Navajo
Reservation.
C. Train Native American Resource Interpreters
d. Archeaeological Research, Guided Tours, and Ruin Stabilization on
the Ute Mtn Ute Tribal Park.
(4) Develop a 4 Corner is SS and expansion program ou a business
retention and expansion ( &E) program for the Four Corner region. The purpose
of this program is to identify and solve business problems related to survival,
expansion and start-up and thereby to strengthen and/or increase economic
activity. The program would require a full-time coordinator familiar with the
area who would serve all the program participants.
The Forest Service allocates $483,700 to fund 12 positions in the Four Corners
area. All funds are RCA program dollars. The skills for the 12 positions are
as follows: two AmeriCorps members with undergraduate degrees having a
socio-economic and data base management background; one AmeriCorps member with
a masters degree in community/regional planning; six AmeriCorps people - one
regional planner requiring a masters degree, one community development
specialist with a masters degree, one public or business administration with a
masters degree, one landscape architect with an undergraduate degree, one
recreation planner with an undergraduate degree, and one interpretation and
environmental educator with an undergraduate degree; and three AmeriCorps
members - one with a masters degree in business and economic development and
two people with community planning skills and undergraduate degrees.
In the Four Corners area, AmeriCorps members will also be used to address
projects contained in the State specific plans of AZ, CO, NM, and UT. Examples
of State specific projects include a community and public land partnership in
CO and a local community partnerships and networks effort in AZ and NM.
Minnesota
1,4,5,6
Forest Service efforts are directed to those counties with the highest
unemployment rates and with resources available for natural resource-based
economic development. AmeriCorps members will carry out sustainable natural
resource-based economic development activities identified by local communities
and planned cooperatively by the communities, the Minnesota DNR, the Minnesota
Department of Economic Development, the University of Minnesota, and the
Northeastern Area's Economic Action Program.
Those counties where natural resource based industries make up more than 15% of
the economy and with above state average unemployment will be targeted for
initial efforts.
The program's objective is to assist communities in planning for and
implementing sustainable economic development strategies based on natural
resources with an emphasis on value-added enterprises. Value-added natural
resource based enterprises include, but are not limited to:
Secondary Wood Products Manufacturing
Tourism Development
Gathering and Marketing Special Forest Products
Manufacturing Recycled Products Based on Wood Fiber
The Forest Service commits $615,000 (including funds for project related
activities) to Minnesota to fund 11 AmeriCorps positions as follows: (1)
$315,000 of RCA funds for 6 AmeriCorps positions, (2) $100,000 of FPC&R dollars
to fund 1 AmeriCorps individual, (3) $100,000 of U&CF program dollars for 2
AmeriCorps people, and (4) $100,000 of WIT money for 2 AmeriCorps positions.
These AmeriCorps members will possess the following skills: marketing
specialist (undergradua le e), business development :i st (graduate
degree), computer specia.ist (undergraduate degree), trav /tourism specialist
(graduate degree), industrial engineer/wood processing specialist (graduate
degree), aquaculture specialist/fisheries biologist (undergraduate degree),
industrial education specialist (graduate degree), environmental engineer
(graduate degree), civil engineer (undergraduate degree), and operations
management specialist (graduate degree).
APRIL 18, 1994
STATE AND PRIVATE FORESTRY
AMERICORPS AUTHORITIES AND APPROPRIATIONS
AUTHORIZING
PROJECTS
APPROPRIATIONS
LEGISLATION
1. SOUTH CAROLINA
STATE AND PRIVATE FORESTRY
Cooperative Forestry
Assistance Act of
1
Forest Mgt and Utilization
1978 as amended by the
1990 Farm Bill Sec. 3 (a)
and (b)
2
Economic Development
The Food, Agriculture,
Conservation, and
Trade Act of 1990 Sub-
title G Chapter
1
2377 (a) and (b)
2. MISSISSIPPI DELTA
Forest Mgt and Utilization
Cooperative Forestry
Assistance Act of 1978
Urban and Community For.
as amended by the 1990
Farm Bill Sec. 9 (a7)
(b 3,6,7, and 8)
4
Rural Community Assistance
Sec. 2 (a2 and b2) Sec.
3 (a and 10A-B) Sec. 11
(c)
3. ALASKA
1
Forest Mgt. and Utilization
Cooperative Forestry
Assistance Act of 1978
Urban and Community For.
Sec. 9 (a 7) (b 3,6,7,
and 8)
4
Rural Community Assistance
Sec. 2 (a2 and b2) Sec.3
(a and 10 A-B) Sec. 11 (c
1A)
6
Economic Recovery
The Food, Agriculture,
Conservation, Trade Act
1990 Subtitle G Chapter
1 Sec.2377 (a 1-4 and (b)
(1)
4. APPALACHIA
/
Forest Mgt. and Utilization
Cooperative Forestry
(Southern Region
Assistance Act of 1978
Component)
Sec.3 (a & 10 A-B)
4
Rural Community Assistance
The Food, Agriculture,
Conservation, Trade Act
1990 Subtitle G Chapter 1
Sec. 2377 (a 1-4) and (b)
5. APPALACHIA
/
Forest Mgt. and Utilization
Cooperative Forestry
(Northeastern Area
Assistance Act of 1978
Component)
5
Urban and Community For.
Sec. 9 (b3 and d)
Rural Community Assistance
Sec. 3 (a & 10 A-B)
6
Economic Recovery
The Food, Agriculture,
Conservation, and Trade
Act 1990. Subtitle G
Chapter 1 Sec. 2371 (a)
(b3) (c1) Sec. 2377 (a 1-
4) and (b)
6. FOUR CORNERS
/
Forest Mgt. and Utilization
Cooperative Forestry
(REGIONS 2,3,4)
Assistance Act of 1978
4
Rural Community Assistance
Sec. 3 (a & 10 A-B)
6
Economic Recovery
The Food, Agriculture,
Conservation, and Trade
Act 1990. Subtitle G
Chapter 1 Sec. 2371 (a)
(b3) (c1) Sec. 2377 (al-
4) and (b)
(2)
7. MINNESOTA
/
Forest Mgt. and Utilization
Cooperative Forestry
Assistance Act of 1978
4
Rural Community Assistance
Sec. 3 (a & 10 A-B)
5
Urban and Community For.
Sec. 9 (a 7) (b 3,6,7, and
8)
6
Economic Recovery
The Food, Agriculture,
Conversation, and Trade
Act 1990. Subtitle G
Chapter 1 Sec. 2371 (a)
(b3) (c1) Sec. 2377 (al-
4) and (b)
(3)
Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978
Act of July 1, 1978 (P.L. 95-313, 92 Stat. 365 as amended; 16 U.S.C. 2101
(note), 2101-2114, 16 USC 1606 note, 16 USC 1606).
Note--This Act was amended by PL 100-418 to add Section 15 (redesignated as
Section 18 by PL 100-418); amended by PL 101-624, Title XII, to add new
sections and change some existing sections, and amended by PL 101-513 to
conform with international provisions of the International Forestry
Cooperation Act of 1990.
Sec. 1. This Act may be cited as the "Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act
of 1978." (16 U.S.C. 2101 (note))
Findings, Purpose, and Policy
Sec. 2. (a) Findings Congress finds that--
(1) most of the productive forest land of the United States is in
private, State, and local governmental ownership, and the capacity of the
United States to produce renewable forest resources is significantly dependent
on such non-Federal forest lands;
(2) adequate supplies of timber and other forest resources are essential
to the United States, and adequate supplies are dependent on efficient mathods
for establishing, managing, and harvesting trees and processing, marketing, and
using wood and wood products;
(3) nearly one-half of the wood supply of the United States comes from
nonindustrial private timberlands and such percentage could rise with expanded
assistance programs;
(4) managed forest lands provide habitats for fish and wildlife, as well
as aesthetics, outdoor recreation opportunities, and other forest resources;
(5) the soil, water, and air quality of the United States can be
maintained and improved through good stewardship of privately held forest
resources;
(6) insects and diseases affecting trees occur and sometimes create
emergency conditions on all land, whether Federal or non-Federal, and efforts
to prevent and control such insects and diseases often require coordinated
action by both Federal and non-Federal land managers;
(7) fires in rural areas threaten human lives, property, forests and
other resources, and Federal-State cooperation in forest fire protection has
proven effective and valuable;
(8) trees and forests are of great environmental and economic value to
urban areas;
(9) managed forests contribute to improving the quality, quantity, and
timing of water yields that are of broad benefit to society;
(10) over half the forest lands of the United States are in need of some
type of conservation treatment;
(11) forest landowners are being faced with increased pressure to convert
their forest land to development and other purposes;
(12) increased population pressures and user demands are being placed on
private, as well as public, landholders to provide a wide variety of products
and services, including fish and wildlife habitat, aesthetic quality, and
recreational opportunities;
(13) stewardship of privately held forest
requires a long-term
commitment that can be fostered through local, State, and Federal governmental
actions;
(14) the Department of Agriculture, through the coordinated efforts of
its agencies with forestry responsibilities, cooperating with other Federal
agencies, State foresters, and State political subdivisions, has the expertise
and experience to assist private landowners in achieving individual goals and
public benefits regarding forestry;
(15) the products and services resulting from nonindustrial private
forest land stewardship provide income and employment that contribute to the
economic health and diversity of rural communities;
(16) sustainable agroforestry systems and tree planting in semiarid lands
can improve environmental quality and maintain farm yields and income; and
(18) the same forest resource supply, protection, and management issues
that exist in the United States are also present on an international scale, and
the forest and rangeland renewable resources of the world are threatened by
deforestation due to conversion to agriculture of lands better suited to other
purposes, over-grazing, over-harvesting, and other causes which pose a direct
adverse threat to people, the global environment, and the world economy.
Note.- P.L. 101-513 incorrectly referred to section 2(a) paragraph (16),
(17) and added new paragraph (18). It should have referred to (15), (16),
and added new paragraph (17). The result is that there now is no paragraph
(17).
(b) Purpose It is the purpose of this Act to authorize the Secretary of
Agriculture (hereafter in this Act referred to as the "Secretary"), with
respect to non-Federal forest lands in the United States, and forest lands in
foriegn countries, of the United States, to assist in--
(1) the establishment of a coordinated and cooperative Federal, State,
and local forest stewardship program for management of the non-Federal forest
lands;
(2) the encouragement of the production of timber;
(3) the prevention and control of insects and diseases affecting trees
and forests;
(4) the prevention and control of rural fires;
(5) the efficient utilization of wood and wood residues, including the
recycling of wood fiber;
(6) the improvement and maintenance of fish and wildlife habitat;
(7) the planning and conduct of urban forestry programs;
(8) broadening existing forest management, fire protection, and insect
and disease protection programs on non-Federal forest lands to meet the
multiple use objectives of landowners in an environmentally sensitive manner;
(9) providing opportunities to private landowners to protect ecologically
valuable and threatened non-Federal forest lands; and
(10) strengthening educational, technical, and financial assistance
programs that provide assistance to owners of non-Federal forest lands in the
United States, and forest lands in foreign countries,
(c) Policy. It is the policy of Congress that it is in the national
interest for the Secretary to work through and in cooperation with State
foresters, or equivalent State officials, nongovernmental organizations, and
the private sector in implementing Federal programs affecting non-Federal
forest lands.
(13) stewardship of privately held forest resources requires a long-term
commitment that can be fostered through local, State, and Federal governmental
actions;
(14) the Department of Agriculture, through the coordinated efforts of
its agencies with forestry responsibilities, cooperating with other Federal
agencies, State foresters, and State political subdivisions, has the expertise
and experience to assist private landowners in achieving individual goals and
public benefits regarding forestry;
(15) the products and services resulting from nonindustrial private
forest land stewardship provide income and employment that contribute to the
economic health and diversity of rural communities;
(16) sustainable agroforestry systems and tree planting in semiarid lands
can improve environmental quality and maintain farm yields and income; and
(18) the same forest resource supply, protection, and management issues
that exist in the United States are also present on an international scale, and
the forest and rangeland renewable resources of the world are threatened by
deforestation due to conversion to agriculture of lands better suited to other
purposes, over-grazing, over-harvesting, and other causes which pose a direct
adverse threat to people, the global environment, and the world economy.
Note.- P.L. 101-513 incorrectly referred to section 2(a) paragraph (16),
(17) and added new paragraph (18). It should have referred to (15), (16),
and added new paragraph (17). The result is that there now is no paragraph
(17).
(b) Purpose It is the purpose of this Act to authorize the Secretary of
Agriculture (hereafter in this Act referred to as the "Secretary"), with
respect to non-Federal forest lands in the United States, and forest lands in
foriegn countries, of the United States, to assist in--
(1) the establishment of a coordinated and cooperative Federal, State,
and local forest stewardship program for management of the non-Federal forest
lands;
(2) the encouragement of the production of timber;
(3) the prevention and control of insects and diseases affecting trees
and forests;
(4) the prevention and control of rural fires;
(5) the efficient utilization of wood and wood residues, including the
recycling of wood fiber;
(6) the improvement and maintenance of fish and wildlife habitat;
(7) the planning and conduct of urban forestry programs;
(8) broadening existing forest management, fire protection, and insect
and disease protection programs on non-Federal forest lands to meet the
multiple use objectives of landowners in an environmentally sensitive manner;
(9) providing opportunities to private landowners to protect ecologically
valuable and threatened non-Federal forest lands; and
(10) strengthening educational, technical, and financial assistance
programs that provide assistance to owners of non-Federal forest lands in the
United States, and forest lands in foreign countries,
(c) Policy. It is the policy of Congress that it is in the national
interest for the Secretary to work through and in cooperation with State
foresters, or equivalent State officials, nongovernmental organizations, and
the private sector in implementing Federal programs affecting non-Federal
forest lands.
(d) Construction
This Act shall be construed to complement the policies
and direction under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act
of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.). (16 se. 2101)
Rural Forestry Assistance
1
Sec. 3. (a) Assistance to Forest Landowners and Others The Secretary may
provide financial, technical, educational, and related assistance to State
foresters or equivalent State officials, and State extension directors, to
enable such officials to provide technical information, advice, and related
assistance to private forest land owners and managers, vendors, forest
resource operators, forest resource professionals, public agencies, and
individuals to enable such persons to carry out activities that are consistent
with the purposes of this Act, including--
(1) protecting, maintaining, enhancing, restoring, and preserving forest
lands and the multiple values and uses that depend on such lands;
(2) identifying, protecting, maintaining, enhancing, and preserving
wildlife and fish species, including threatened and endangered species, and
their habitats;
(3) implementing forest management technologies;
(4) selecting, producing, and marketing alternative forest crops,
products and services from forest lands;
(5) protecting forest land from damage caused by fire, insects, disease,
and damaging weather;
(6) managing the rural-land and urban-land interface to balance the use
of forest resources in and adjacent to urban and community areas;
(7) identifying and managing recreational forest land resources;
(8) identifying and protecting the aesthetic character of forest lands;
(9) protecting forest land from conversion to alternative uses; and
(10) the management of resources of forest lands, including--
(A) the harvesting, processing, and marketing of timber and other
forest resources and the marketing and utilization of wood and wood
products;
(B) the conversion of wood to energy for domestic, industrial,
municipal, and other uses;
(C) the planning, management, and treatment of forest land, including
site preparation, reforestation, thinning, prescribed burning, and
other silvicultural activities designed to increase the quantity and
improve the quality of timber and other forest resources;
(D) ensuring that forest regeneration or reforestation occurs if
needed to sustain long-term resource productivity;
(E) protecting and improving forest soil fertility and the quality,
quantity, and timing of water yields; and
(F) encouraging the investment of a portion of the proceeds from the
sale of timber or other forest resources in stewardship activities
that preserve, protect, maintain, and enhance their forest land.
(b) State Forestry Assistance The Secretary is authorized to provide
financial, technical, and related assistance to State foresters, or equivalent
State officials, to--
(1) develop genetically improved tree seeds;
(2) develop and contract for the development of field arboretums,
greenhouses, and tree nurseries, in cooperation with a State, to facilitate
production and distribution of tree seeds and seedlings in States where the
(e) Allotments to Other Agencies The Secretary may, in the Secretary's
discretion, and out of any money appropriated to implement this section, make
allocations to Federal agencies having jurisdiction over lands held or owned
by the United States in the amounts the Secretary determines necessary to
prevent, retard, control, or suppress insect infestations and disease
epidemics affecting trees on those lands.
(f) Limitation on Use of Appropriations
(1)
Removing
dead
trees
No amounts appropriated shall be used to--
(A) pay the cost of felling and removing dead or dying trees unless
the Secretary determines that such actions are necessary to prevent
the spread of a major insect infestation or disease epidemic severely
affecting trees; or
(B) compensate for the value of any property injured, damaged, or
destroyed by any cause.
(2) Insects and diseases affecting trees
The Secretary may procure
materials and equipment necessary to prevent, retard, control, or suppress
insects and diseases affecting trees without regard to section 3709 of the
Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5), under whatever procedures the Secretary may
prescribe, if the Secretary determines that such action is necessary and in
the public interest.
(g) Partnerships The Secretary, by contract or cooperative agreement,
may provide financial assistance through the Forest Service to State foresters
or equivalent State officials, and private forestry and other organizations,
to monitor forest health and protect the forest lands of the United States.
The Secretary shall require contribution by the non-Federal entity in the
amount and in the manner determined appropriate. Such non-Federal share may be
in the form of cash, services, or equipment, as determined appropriate by the
Secretary.
(h) Authorization of Appropriations There are authorized to be
appropriated annually such sums as may be necessary to carry out subsections
(a) through (g).
(i) Integrated Pest Management
(1) In general Subject to the provisions of subsections (c) and (e),
the Secretary shall, in cooperation with State foresters or equivalent State
officials, subdivisions of States, or other entities on non-Federal lands
(hereafter in this subsection referred to as the 'cooperator')
(A) provide cost-share assistance to such cooperators who have
established an acceptable integrated pest management strategy, as
determined by the Secretary, that will prevent, retard, control, or
suppress gypsy moth, southern pine beetle, spruce budworm
infestations, or other major insect infestations in an amount no less
than 50 percent nor greater than 75 percent of the cost of
implementing such strategy; and
(B) upon request, assist the cooperator in the development of such
integrated pest management strategy.
(2) Authorization of appropriations There are hereby authorized to be
appropriated annually $10,000,000 to implement this subsection. (16 USC 2104)
Urban and Community Forestry Assistance
5
Sec. 9. (a) Findings The Congress finds that--
(1) the health of forests in urban areas and communities, including
cities, their suburbs, and towns, in the United States is on the decline;
(2) forest lands, shade trees, and open spaces in urban areas and
communities improve the quality of life for residents;
(3) forest lands and associated natural resources enhance the economic
value of residential and commercial property in urban and community settings;
(4) urban trees are 15 times more effective than forest trees at reducing
the buildup of carbon dioxide and aid in promoting energy conservation through
mitigation of the heat island effect in urban areas;
(5) tree plantings and ground covers such as low growing dense perennial
turfgrass sod in urban areas and communities can aid in reducing carbon
dioxide emissions, mitigating the heat island effect, and reducing energy
consumption, thus contributing to efforts to reduce global warming trends;
(6) efforts to encourage tree plantings and protect existing open spaces
in urban areas and communities can contribute to the social well-being and
promote a sense of community in these areas; and
(7) strengthened research, education, technical assistance, and public
information and participation in tree planting and maintenance programs for
trees and complementary ground covers for urban and community forests are
needed to provide for the protection and expansion of tree cover and open
space in urban areas and communities.
(b) Purposes The purposes of this section are to--
(1) improve understanding of the benefits of preserving existing tree
cover in urban areas and communities;
(2) encourage owners of private residences and commercial properties to
maintain trees and expand forest cover on their properties;
(3) provide education programs and technical assistance to State and
local organizations (including community associations and schools) in
maintaining forested lands and individual trees in urban and community
settings and identifying appropriate tree species and sites for expanding
forest cover;
(4) provide assistance through competitive matching grants awarded to
local units of government, approved organizations that meet the requirements
of section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or other local
community tree volunteer groups, for urban and community forestry projects;
(5) implement a tree planting program to complement urban and community
tree maintenance and open space programs and to reduce carbon dioxide
emissions, conserve energy, and improve air quality in addition to providing
other environmental benefits;
(6) promote the establishment of demonstration projects in selected urban
and community settings to illustrate the benefits of maintaining and creating
forest cover and trees;
(7) enhance the technical skills and understanding of sound tree
maintenance and arboricultural practices including practices involving the
cultivation of trees, shrubs and complementary ground covers, of individuals
involved in the planning, development, and maintenance of urban and community
forests and trees; and
(8) expand existing research and educational efforts intended to improve
understanding of--
(A) tree growth and maintenance, tree physiology and morphology,
species adaptations, and forest ecology,
(B) the value of integrating trees and ground covers,
(C) the economic, environmental, social, and psychological benefits of
trees and forest cover in urban and community environments, and
(D) the role of urban trees in conserving energy and mitigating the
urban heat island.
(c) Authority. The Secretary is authorized to provide financial,
technical, and related assistance to State foresters or equivalent State
officials for the purpose of encouraging States to provide information and
technical assistance to units of local government and others that will
encourage cooperative efforts to plan urban forestry programs and to plant,
protect, and maintain, and utilize wood from, trees in open spaces,
greenbelts, roadside screens, parks, woodlands, curb areas, and residential
developments in urban areas. In providing such assistance, the Secretary is
authorized to cooperate with interested members of the public, including
nonprofit private organizations. The Secretary is also authorized to
cooperate directly with units of local government and others in implementing
this section whenever the Secretary and the affected State forester or
equivalent State official agree that direct cooperation would better achieve
the purposes of this section.
(d) Program of Education and Technical Assistance The Secretary, in
cooperation with State foresters and State extension directors or equivalent
State officials and interested members of the public, including nonprofit
private organizations, shall implement a program of education and technical
assistance for urban and community forest resources. The program shall be
designed to--
(1) assist urban areas and communities in conducting inventories of their
forest resources, including inventories of the species, number, location, and
health of trees in urban areas and communities, identifying opportunities for
the establishment of plantings for the purposes of conserving energy, and
determining the status of related resources (including fish and wildlife
habitat, water resources, and trails);
(2) assist State and local organizations (including community
associations and schools) in organizing and conducting urban and community
forestry projects and programs;
(3) improve education and technical support in--
(A) selecting tree species appropriate for planting in urban and
community environments and for promotion of energy conservation;
(B) providing for proper tree planting, maintenance, and protection in
urban areas and communities;
(C) protecting individual trees and preserving existing open spaces
with or without tree cover; and
(D) identifying opportunities for expanding tree cover in urban areas
and communities;
(4) assist in the development of State and local management plans for
trees and associated resources in urban areas and communities; and
(5) increase public understanding of the energy conservation, economic,
social, environmental, and psychological values of trees and open space in
urban and community environments and expand knowledge of the ecological
relationships and benefits of trees and related resources in these
environments.
(e) Procurement of Plant Materials The Secretary, in cooperation with
State foresters or equivalent State officials, shall assist in identifying
sources of plant materials and may procure or otherwise obtain such plant
materials from public or private sources and may make such plant materials
available to urban areas and communities for the purpose of reforesting open
spaces, replacing dead and dying urban trees, promoting energy conservation,
and providing other environmental benefits through expanding tree cover in
urban areas and communities.
(f) Challenge Cost-Share Program
(1) In general. The Secretary shall establish an urban and community
forestry challenge cost-share program. Funds or other support shall be
provided under such program to eligible communities and organizations, on a
competitive basis, for urban and community forestry projects. The Secretary
shall annually make awards under the program in accordance with criteria
developed in consultation with, and after consideration of recommendations
received from, the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council
established under subsection (g). Each State forester or equivalent State
official may make recommendations to the Secretary for awards under the
program for project proposals in their State which meet such criteria. Awards
shall be consistent with the cost-share requirements of this section.
(2) Cost-sharing. The Federal share of support for a project provided
under this subsection may not exceed 50 percent of the support for that
project and shall be provided on a matching basis. The non-Federal share of
such support may be in the form of cash, services, or in-kind contributions.
(g) Forestry Advisory Council
(1) Establishment and purpose The Secretary shall establish a National
Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (hereafter in this section
referred to as the 'Council') for the purpose of--
(A) developing a national urban and community forestry action plan;
(B) evaluating the implementation of that plan; and
(C) developing criteria for, and submitting recommendations with
respect to, the urban and community forestry challenge cost-share
program under subsection (f)
(2) Composition and operation
(A) Composition. The Council shall be composed of 15 members
appointed by the Secretary, as follows:
(i) 2 members representing national nonprofit forestry and
conservation citizen organizations,
(ii) 3 members, 1 each representing State, county, and city and town
governments,
(iii) 1 member representing the forest products, nursery, or related
industries,
(iv) 1 member representing urban forestry, landscape, or design
consultants,
(v) 2 members representing academic institutions with an expertise
in urban and community forestry activities,
(vi) 1 member representing State forestry agencies or equivalent
State agencies,
(vii) 1 member representing a professional renewable natural
resource or arboricultural society,
(viii) 1 member from the Extension Service,
(ix) 1 member from the Forest Service, and
(x) 2 members who are not officers or employees of any governmental
body, 1 of whom is a resident of a community with a population of
less than 50,000 as of the most recent census and both of whom have
expertise and have been active in urban and community forestry.
(B) Vacancy. A vacancy in the Council shall be filled in the manner
in which the original appointment was made.
(C) Chairperson The Secretary shall select 1 member, from members
appointed to the Council, who is not an officer or employee of the
United States nor any State, county, city, or town government, who
shall serve as the chairperson of the Council.
(D) Terms
(i) In general except as provided in clauses (ii) and (iii) of
this paragraph, members shall be appointed for terms of 3 years,
and no member may serve more than 2 consecutive terms on the
Council.
(ii) Staggered terms. Of the members first appointed--
(I) 5, including the chairperson and 2 governmental employees,
shall be appointed for a term of 3 years,
(II) 5, including 2 governmental employees, shall be appointed
for a term of 2 years, and
(III) 5, including 2 governmental employees, shall be appointed
for a term of 1 year, as designated by the Secretary at the time
of appointment.
(iii) Continuation. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy
occurring before the expiration of the term of the member's
predecessor shall be appointed only for the remainder of such term.
A member may serve after the expiration of the member's term until
the member's successor has taken office.
(E) Compensation
(i) In general Except as provided in clause (ii), members of the
Council shall serve without pay, but may be reimbursed for
reasonable costs incurred while in the actual performance of duties
vested in the Council.
(11) Federal officers and employees Members of the Council 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 Council.
(iii) Financial and administrative support. The Secretary shall
provide financial and administrative support for the Council.
(3) Urban and community forestry action plan. Within 1 year after the
date of enactment of this subsection and every 10 years thereafter, the
Council shall prepare a National Urban and Community Forestry Action Plan. The
plan shall include (but not be limited to) the following:
(A) An assessment of the current status of urban forest resources in
the United States.
(B) A review of urban and community forestry programs and activities
in the United States, including education and technical assistance
activities conducted by the Department of Agriculture, and other
Federal agencies, the State forestry organizations, private industry,
private nonprofit organizations, community and civic organizations
and interested others.
(C) Recommendations for improving the status of the Nation's urban and
community forest resources, including education and technical
assistance and modifications required in existing programs and
policies of relevant Federal agencies.
(D) A review of urban and community forestry research,
including--
(1) a review of all ongoing research associated with urban and
comunity forests, arboricultural practices, and the economic,
social, and psychological benefits of trees and forest cover in
urban and community environments being conducted by the Forest
Service, other Federal agencies, and associated land grant colleges
and universities;
(ii) recommendations for new and expanded research efforts directed
toward urban and community forestry concerns; and
(iii) a summary of research priorities and an estimate of the funds
needed to implement such research, on an annual basis, for the next
10 years.
(E) Proposed criteria for evaluating proposed projects under the urban
and community forestry challenge cost share program under subsection
(+) fet, with special emphasis given to projects that would demonstrate
the benefits of improved forest management (including the maintenance
and establishment of forest cover and trees) in urban areas and
communities.
(F) An estimate of the resources needed to implement the National
Urban and Community Forestry Action Plan for the succeeding 10 fiscal
years.
(4) Amendment of the plan. The plan may be amended by a majority of the
Council members. Such amendments shall be incorporated into the Council's
annual review of the plan submitted to the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (5)
of this subsection.
(5) Review of the plan. The Council shall submit the plan to the
Secretary and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate upon its
completion. Beginning no later than one year after the plan is submitted and
annually thereafter, the Council shall submit a review of the plan to the
Secretary no later than December 31. The review shall consist of--
(A) the Council's assessment of prior year accomplishments in
research, education, technical assistance, and related activities in
urban and community forestry;
(B) the Council's recommendations for research, education, technical
assistance, and related activities in the succeeding year; and
(C) the Council's recommendations for the urban and community forestry
challenge cost share projects to be funded during the succeeding
year.
The review submitted to the Secretary shall be incorporated into the
annual report required under section 3(d) of the Forest and Rangeland
Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1601(d)).
(6) Detail of personnel Upon request of the Council, the Secretary is
authorized to detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of the
Department of Agriculture to the Council to assist the Council in carrying out
its duties under this Act.
(h) Definitions For the purposes of this section--
(1) the term 'Council' means the National Urban and Community Forestry
Advisory Council established under subsection (E); (g)
(2) the term 'plan' means the National Urban and Community Forestry
Action Plan developed under subsection (&) (3) and (g)
(3) the term 'urban and community area' includes cities, their suburbs,
and towns.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations. There are hereby authorized to be
appropriated $30,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1991 through 1995, and
such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year thereafter, for the
implementation of this section. (16 USC 2105)
Rural Fire Prevention and Control
Sec. 10. (a) Congress finds that--
assistance provided by the Secretary of Commerce under the Federal Fire
Prevention and Control Act of 1974.
(e) (1) There are hereby authorized to be appropriated annually such sums as
may be needed to implement paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (b) of
this section.
(2) (A) There are hereby authorized to be appropriated annually
$70,000,000 to carry out subsection (b) (4). Of the total amount appropriated
to carry out subsection (b) (4)
(i) one-half shall be available only for State foresters or
equivalent State officails, and through them to other agencies and
individuals, of which not less than $100,000 shall be made available
to each State; and
(ii) one-half shall be available only for rural volunteer fire
departments.
(B) The Federal share of the cost of any activity carried out with
funds made available pursuant to this paragraph may not exceed 50
percent of the cost of that activity. The non-Federal share for such
activity may be in the form of cash, services, or in kind
contributions.
(f) There shall be established in the Treasury a special rural fire
disaster fund that shall be immediately available to and used by the Secretary
to supplement any other money available to carry out this section with respect
to rural fire emergencies, as determined by the Secretary. The Secretary shall
determine that State and local resources are fully used or will be fully used
before expending money in the disaster fund to assist a State in which one or
more rural fire emergencies exist. There are hereby authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be needed to establish and replenish the disaster
fund established by this subsection.
(g) As used in this section--
(1) the term "rural volunteer fire department" means any organized, not
for profit, fire protection organization that provides service primarily to a
community or city with a population of 10,000 or less or to a rural area, as
defined by the Secretary, whose firefighting personnel is 80 percent or more
volunteer, and that is recognized as a fire department by the laws of the
State; and
(2) the term "mobilization" means any activity in which one fire fighting
organization assists another that has requested assistance. (16 USC 2106)
Management Assistance, Planning Assistance, and
Technology Implementation
Sec. 11. (a) To aid in achieving maximum effectiveness in the programs
and activities conducted under this Act, the Secretary is authorized to provide
financial, technical, and related assistance to State foresters or equivalent
State officials for the development of stronger and more efficient State
organizations that will enable them to fulfill better their responsibilities
for the protection and management of non-federal forest lands. Assistance
under this subsection may include, but will not be limited to, assistance in
matters related to organization management, program planning and management,
budget and fiscal accounting services, personnel training and management,
information services, and recordkeeping. Assistance under this subsection may
be extended only upon request by State foresters or equivalent State officials.
(b) To ensure that data regarding forest lands are available for and
effectively presented in State and federal natural resources planning, the
Secretary is authorized to provide financial, technical, and related assistance
to State foresters or equivalent State officials in the assembly, analysis,
display, and reporting of State forest resources data, in the training of State
forest resources planners, and in participating in natural resources planning
at the State and federal levels. The Secretary shall restrict assistance under
this subsection to the implementation of the forestry aspects of State and
federal natural resources planning conducted under other laws. This subsection
shall not be construed, in any way whatsoever, as extending, limiting,
amending, repealing, or otherwise affecting any other law or authority.
(c) To ensure that new technology is introduced, new information is
integrated into existing technology, and forest resources research findings are
promptly made available to State forestry personnel, private forest landowners
and managers, vendors, forest operators, wood processors, public agencies, and
4
individuals, the Secretary is authorized to carry out a program of technology
implementation.
(1) In implementing this subsection, the Secretary is authorized to work
through State foresters or equivalent State officials, and, if the State
forester or equivalent State official is unable to deliver these services, the
Secretary is authorized to act through appropriate United States Department of
Agriculture agencies, subdivisions of States, agencies, institutions,
organizations, or individuals to--
(A) strengthen technical assistance and service programs of
cooperators participating in programs under this Act by applying
research results and conducting pilot projects and field tests of
management and utilization practices, equipment, and technologies,
related to programs and activities authorized under this Act;
(B) study the effects of tax laws, methods, and practices on forest
management;
(C) develop and maintain technical information systems in support of
programs and activities authorized under this Act;
(D) test, evaluate, and seek registration of chemicals for use in
implementing the programs and activities authorized under this Act;
(E) conduct other activities, including training of State forestry
personnel whom the Secretary deems necessary to ensure that the
programs and activities authorized under this Act are responsive to
special problems, unique situations, and changing conditions.
(2) The Secretary may make funds available to cooperators under this Act
without regard to the provisions of section 3648 of the Revised Statutes (31
U.S.C. 529), which prohibits advances of public money.
(3) The Secretary shall use forest resources planning committees at
National and State levels in implementing this subsection.
(d) There are hereby authorized to be appropriated annually such sums as
may be needed to implement this section. (16 U.S.C. 2107)
Consolidated Payments
Sec. 12. (a) To provide flexibility in funding activities authorized
under this Act, the Secretary may, upon the request of any State, consolidate
the annual financial assistance payment to that State under this Act, in lieu
of functional cost sharing mechanisms, formulas, or agreements. However,
consolidated payments shall not include money appropriated under section 4 of
this Act or money from any special Treasury fund established under this Act.
SUMMARY OF 1990 -ARM BILL-TITLE XXIII (RURAL D' LOPMENT)
SUBTITL
RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH URESTRY
CHAPTER/SECTION DESCRIPTIONS
CHAPTER 1 - FORESTRY RURAL REVITALIZATION
Sec. 2371. Forestry Rural Revitalization
Calls for Extension Service and Cooperative Extension System, in
6
consultation with Forest Service, to establish and implement
educational programs and provide technical assistance for economic
development and global marketing purposes. Describes types of
programs to be provided.
CHAPTER 2 - NATIONAL FOREST-DEPENDENT RURAL COMMUNITIES
Sec. 2372. Short Title
States title of chapter as being "National Forest-Dependent Rural
Communities Economic Diversification Act of 1990.'
Sec. 2373. Findings and Purposes
Outlines 7 findings and 3 purposes. Purposes focus on helping
economically dependent rural communities located in or near National
Forests that are economically disadvantaged to diversify local
economic bases.
Sec. 2374. Definitions
Provides 4 key definitions for: action team, economically
disadvantaged, rural community, and Secretary. Definitions determine
eligibility for participation by communities in program.
Sec. 2375. Rural Forestry and Economic Diversification Action Teams
Covers requests for assistance, establishment and organization of
action teams, cooperation needed, eligibility relative to funding
assistance under Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, and
approval of action plans.
Sec. 2376. Action Plan Implementation
Includes upgrading existing industries to use forest resources more
efficiently and expanding economic bases of communities to reduce
dependency on forest resources. Allows for making grants and entering
into cooperative agreements and contracts to provide assistance called
for in action plans. Limits Federal contribution to 80 percent of the
total cost of the plan. States that implementation of action plans is
to be consistent with other land and resource management plans.
Sec. 2377. Training and Education
Allows for developing and conducting education programs in carrying
out action plans.
Sec. 2378. Loans to Economically Disadvantaged Rural Communities
Allows Secretary to make loans for developing and implementing action
plans. [USDA Farmers Home Administration has lead on section]
Sec. 2379. Authorization of Appropriations and Spending Authority
Provides authorization of appropriations for sums as may be necessary
to carry out purposes of chapter.
1990 FARM LL--TITLE XXIII (RURAL DEVELOP
Γ)
SUBTITLE G--RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY
CHAPTER -FORESTRY RURAL REVITALIZATION
SEC. 2371. FORESTRY RURAL REVITALIZATION.
(a) Establishment of Economic Development and Global Marketing
Program - The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Extension
Service and the Cooperative Extension System, and in consultation with
6
the Forest Service, shall establish and implement educational programs
and provide technical assistance to assist businesses, industries, and
policymakers to create jobs, raise incomes, and increase public revenues
in manners consistent with environmental concerns.
(b) Activities. Each program established under subsection (a)
shall-
6
(1) transfer technologies to natural resource-based industries
in the United States to make such industries more efficient,
productive, and competitive;
(2) assist businesses to identify global marketing
opportunities, conduct business on an international basis, and
market themselves more effectively; and
(3) train local leaders in strategic community economic
development.
(c) Types of programs The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish
specific programs under subsection (a) to-
(1) deliver educational services focused on community economic
6
analysis, economic diversification, economic impact analysis,
retention and expansion of existing commodity and noncommodity
industries, amenity resource and tourism development, and
entrepreneurship focusing on forest lands and rural communities:
(2) use Cooperative Extension System databases and analytical
tools to help communities diversify their economic bases, add value
locally to raw forest product materials, and retain revenues by
helping to develop local businesses and industries to supply forest
products locally; and
(3) use the full resources of the Cooperative Extension
Service, including land-grant universities and county offices, to
promote economic development that is sustainable and
environmentally sound.
CHAPTER --NATIONAL FOREST-DEPENDENT RURAL COMMUNITIES
SEC. 2372. SHORT TITLE.
This chapter may be cited as the 'National Forest-Dependent Rural
Communities Economic Diversification Act of 1990'
SEC. 2373. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) Findings. - The Congress finds that-
(1) the economic well-being of rural America is vital to our
national growth and prosperity;
(2) the economic well ing of many rural communities ends
upon the goods and services that are derived from national forests;
(3) the economies of many of these communities suffer from a
lack of industrial and business diversity;
(4) this lack of diversity is particularly serious in
communities whose economies are predominantly dependent on timber
and recreation resources and where management decisions made on the
national forests by Federal and private organizations may disrupt
the supply of those resources;
(5) the Forest Service has expertise and resources that could
be directed to promote modernization and economic diversification
of existing industries and services based on forest resources;
(6) the Forest Service has the technical expertise to provide
leadership, in cooperation with other governmental agencies and the
private sector, to assist rural communities dependent upon national
forest resources to upgrade existing industries and diversify by
developing new economic activity in non-forest-related industries;
and
(7) technical assistance, training, education, and other
assistance provided by the Department of Agriculture can be
targeted to provide immediate help to those rural communities in
greatest need.
(b) Purposes The purposes of this chapter are-
(1) to provide assistance to rural communities that are
located in or near national forests and that are economically
dependent upon forest resources or are likely to be economically
disadvantaged by Federal or private sector land management
practices;
(2) to aid in diversifying such communities' economic bases;
and
(3) to improve the economic, social, and environmental
well-being of rural America.
SEC. 2374. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this chapter:
(1) The term 'action team'' means a rural forestry and
economic diversification action team established by the Secretary
pursuant to section 2375(b).
(2) The term 'economically disadvantaged'' means economic
hardship due to the loss of jobs or income (labor or proprietor)
derived from forestry, the wood products industry, or related
commercial enterprises such as recreation and tourism in the
national forest.
(3) The term ''rural community'' means-
(A) any town, township, municipality, or other similar
unit of general purpose local government having a population
of not more than 10,000 individuals (according to the latest
decennial census) that is located in a county where at least
15 percent of the total primary and secondary labor and
proprietor income is derived from forestry, wood products, and
forest-related industries such as recreation and tourism; or
(B) any county or similar unit of general purpose local
government having a population of not more than 22,550
individuals (according to the latest decennial census) in
2
which at least 15 pe nt of the total primary and St idary
labor and proprietor income is derived from forestry, wood
products, and forest-related industries such as recreation and
tourism, that is located within the boundary, or within 100
miles of the boundary, of a national forest.
(4) The term ''Secretary'' means the Secretary of Agriculture.
SEC. 2375. RURAL FORESTRY AND ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION ACTION TEAMS.
(a) Requests for Assistance. Economically disadvantaged rural
communities may request assistance from the Secretary in identifying
opportunities that will promote economic improvement and diversification
and revitalization.
(b) Establishment. -Upon request, the Secretary may establish rural
forestry and economic diversification action teams to prepare an action
plan to provide technical assistance to economically disadvantaged
communities. The action plan shall identify opportunities to promote
economic diversification and enhance local economies now dependent upon
national forest resources. The action team may also identify
opportunities to use value-added products and services derived from
national forest resources.
(c) Organization. The Secretary shall design and organize any
action team established pursuant to subsection (b) to meet the unique
needs of the requesting rural community. Each action team shall be
directed by an employee of the Forest Service and may include personnel
from other agencies within the Department of Agriculture, from other
Federal and State departments and agencies, and from the private sector.
(d) Cooperation. In preparing action plans, the Secretary may
cooperate with State and local governments, universities, private
companies, individuals, and nonprofit organizations for procurement of
services determined necessary or desirable.
(e) Eligibility. The Secretary shall ensure that no substantially
similar geographical or defined local area in a State receives a grant
for technical assistance to an economically disadvantaged community
under this chapter and a grant for assistance under a designated rural
development program, as defined in section 365 (b) (2) of the Consolidated
Farm and Rural Development Act, during any continuous five-year period.
(f) Approval. After reviewing requests under this section for
financial and economic feasibility and viability, the Secretary shall
approve and implement in accordance with section 2376 those action plans
that will achieve the purposes of this chapter.
SEC. 2376. ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION.
(a) In General Action plans shall be implemented, insofar as
practicable, to upgrade existing industries to use forest resources more
efficiently and to expand the economic base of rural communities so as
to alleviate or reduce their dependence on national forest resources.
(b) Assistance. To implement action plans, the Secretary may make
grants and enter into cooperative agreements and contracts to provide
necessary technical and related assistance. Such grants, cooperative
agreements, and contracts may be with the affected rural community,
State and local governments, universities, corporations, and other
persons.
(c) Limitation. The Federal contribution to the overall
3
implementation of an act plan shall not exceed 80 perc of the
total cost of the plan, including administrative and other costs. In
calculating the Federal contribution, the Secretary shall take into
account the fair market value of equipment, personnel, and services
provided.
(d) Available Authority. - The Secretary may use the Secretary's
authority under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16
U.S.C. 2101 et seq.) and other Federal, State, and local governmental
authorities in implementing action plans.
(e) Consistency With Forest Plans. The implementation of action
plans shall be consistent with land and resource management plans.
SEC. 2377. TRAINING AND EDUCATION.
(a) Programs. - In furtherance of an action plan, the Secretary may
use the Extension Service and other appropriate agencies of the
Department of Agriculture to develop and conduct education programs that
assist businesses, elected or appointed officials, and individuals in
2
rural communities to deal with the effects of a transition from being
economically disadvantaged to economic diversification. These programs
may include-
(1) community economic analysis and strategic planning;
(2) methods for improving and retooling enterprises now
dependent on national forest resources;
(3) methods for expanding enterprises and creating new
economic opportunities by emphasizing economic opportunities in
other industries or services not dependent on national forest
resources; and
(4) assistance in the evaluation, counseling, and enhancement
of vocational skills, training in basic and remedial literacy
skills, assistance in job seeking skills, and training in starting
or operating a business enterprise.
(b) Existing Educational and Training Programs - Insofar as
practicable, the Secretary shall use existing Federal, State, and
private education resources in carrying out these programs.
SEC. 2378. LOANS TO ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED RURAL COMMUNITIES.
(a) In General. The Secretary, under such terms and conditions as
the Secretary shall establish, may make loans to economically
disadvantaged rural communities for the purposes of securing technical
assistance and services to aid in the development and implementation of
action plans, including planning for-
(1) improving existing facilities in the community that may
generate employment or revenue;
(2) expanding existing infrastructure, facilities, and
services to capitalize on opportunities to diversify economies now
dependent on national forest resources; and
(3) supporting the development of new industries or commercial
ventures unrelated to national forest resources.
(b) Interest Rates. The interest rates on a loan made pursuant to
this section shall be as determined by the Secretary, but not in excess
of the current average market yield on outstanding marketable
obligations of the United States with remaining periods to maturity
comparable to the maturity of such loan, plus not to exceed 1 percent,
4
as determined by the Secre -y, and rounded to the nearest e-eighth of
1 percent.
SEC. 2379. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS AND SPENDING AUTHORITY.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations. - Except as provided in
subsection (b), there are authorized to be appropriated-
(1) an amount not to exceed 5 percent of the sum of-
(A) the sums received by the Secretary from sales of
timber and other products of the forests; and
(B) user fees paid in connection with the use of forest
lands; and
(2) such additional sums as may be necessary to carry out the
purposes of this chapter.
(b) Limitation on Authorization. - Subsection (a) shall not in any
way affect payments to the States pursuant to chapter 192 of the Act of
May 23, 1908 (16 U.S.C. 500).
(c) Spending Authority. -Any spending authority (as defined in
section 401 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974) provided in this
chapter shall be effective for any fiscal year only to such extent or in
such amounts as are provided in appropriation Acts.
5
Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978
Act of July 1, 1978 (P.L. 95-313, 92 Stat. 365 as amended; 16 U.S.C.
2101 (note), 2101-2114, 16 U.S.C. 1606 (note), 16 U.S.C. 1606).
Note--This Act was amended by PL 100-418 to add Section 15 (redesignated as
Section 18 by PL 100-418) ; amended by PL 101-624, Title XII, to add new
sections and change some existing sections, by PL 101-513 to conform with
international provisions of the International Forestry Cooperation Act of
1990, and some technical amendments by PL 102-237.
Sec. 1. This Act may be cited as the "Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act
of 1978." (16 U.S.C. 2101 (note)
Findings, Purpose, and Policy
Sec. 2. (a) Findings. Congress finds that--
(1) most of the productive forest land of the United States is in
private, State, and local governmental ownership, and the capacity of the
United States to produce renewable forest resources is significantly dependent
on such non-Federal forest lands;
(2) adequate supplies of timber and other forest resources are essential
to the United States, and adequate supplies are dependent on efficient methods
for establishing, managing, and harvesting trees and processing, marketing, and
using wood and wood products;
(3) nearly one-half of the wood supply of the United States comes from
nonindustrial private timberlands and such percentage could rise with expanded
assistance programs;
(4) managed forest lands provide habitats for fish and wildlife, as well
as aesthetics, outdoor recreation opportunities, and other forest resources;
(5) the soil, water, and air quality of the United States can be
maintained and improved through good stewardship of privately held forest
resources;
(6) insects and diseases affecting trees occur and sometimes create
emergency conditions on all land, whether Federal or non-Federal, and efforts
to prevent and control such insects and diseases often require coordinated
action by both Federal and non-Federal land managers;
(7) fires in rural areas threaten human lives, property, forests and
other resources, and Federal-State cooperation in forest fire protection has
proven effective and valuable;
(8) trees and forests are of great environmental and economic value to
urban areas;
(9) managed forests contribute to improving the quality, quantity, and
timing of water yields that are of broad benefit to society;
(10) over half the forest lands of the United States are in need of some
type of conservation treatment;
(11) forest landowners are being faced with increased pressure to convert
their forest land to development and other purposes;
(12) increased population pressures and user demands are being placed on
private, as well as public, landholders to provide a wide variety of products
and services, including fish and wildlife habitat, aesthetic quality, and
recreational opportunities;
(13) stewardship of privately held forest resources requires a long-term
commitment that can be fostered through local, State, and Federal governmental
actions;
(14) the Department of Agriculture, through the coordinated efforts of
its agencies with forestry responsibilities, cooperating with other Federal
agencies, State foresters, and State political subdivisions, has the expertise
and experience to assist private landowners in achieving individual goals and
public benefits regarding forestry;
(15) the products and services resulting from nonindustrial private
forest land stewardship provide income and employment that contribute to the
economic health and diversity of rural communities;
(16) sustainable agroforestry systems and tree planting in semiarid lands
can improve environmental quality and maintain farm yields and income; and
(18) the same forest resource supply, protection, and management issues
that exist in the United States are also present on an international scale, and
the forest and rangeland renewable resources of the world are threatened by
deforestation due to conversion to agriculture of lands better suited to other
purposes, over-grazing, over-harvesting, and other causes which pose a direct
adverse threat to people, the global environment, and the world economy.
Note. P.L. 101-513 incorrectly referred to section 2 (a) paragraph (16),
(17) and added new paragraph (18). It should have referred to (15), (16),
and added new paragraph (17). The result is that there now is no paragraph
(17).
(b) Purpose It is the purpose of this Act to authorize the Secretary of
Agriculture (hereafter in this Act referred to as the "Secretary"), with
respect to non-Federal forest lands in the United States, and forest lands in
foriegn countries, of the United States, to assist in--
(1) the establishment of a coordinated and cooperative Federal, State,
and local forest stewardship program for management of the non-Federal forest
lands;
(2) the encouragement of the production of timber;
(3) the prevention and control of insects and diseases affecting trees
and forests;
(4) the prevention and control of rural fires;
(5) the efficient utilization of wood and wood residues, including the
recycling of wood fiber;
(6) the improvement and maintenance of fish and wildlife habitat;
(7) the planning and conduct of urban forestry programs;
(8) broadening existing forest management, fire protection, and insect
and disease protection programs on non-Federal forest lands to meet the
multiple use objectives of landowners in an environmentally sensitive manner;
(9) providing opportunities to private landowners to protect ecologically
valuable and threatened non-Federal forest lands; and
(10) strengthening educational, technical, and financial assistance
programs that provide assistance to owners of non-Federal forest lands in the
United States, and forest lands in foreign countries,
(c) Policy. It is the policy of Congress that it is in the national
interest for the Secretary to work through and in cooperation with State
foresters, or equivalent State officials, nongovernmental organizations, and
the private sector in implementing Federal programs affecting non-Federal
forest lands.
(d) Construction. This Act shall be construed to complement the policies
and direction under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act
of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.). (16 U.S.C. 2101)
Rural Forestry Assistance
Sec. 3. (a) Assistance to Forest Landowners and Others The Secretary may
provide financial, technical, educational, and related assistance to State
foresters or equivalent State officials, and State extension directors, to
enable such officials to provide technical information, advice, and related
assistance to private forest land owners and managers, vendors, forest
resource operators, forest resource professionals, public agencies, and
individuals to enable such persons to carry out activities that are consistent
with the purposes of this Act, including--
(1) protecting, maintaining, enhancing, restoring, and preserving forest
lands and the multiple values and uses that depend on such lands;
(2) identifying, protecting, maintaining, enhancing, and preserving
wildlife and fish species, including threatened and endangered species, and
their habitats;
(3) implementing forest management technologies;
(4) selecting, producing, and marketing alternative forest crops,
products and services from forest lands;
(5) protecting forest land from damage caused by fire, insects, disease,
and damaging weather;
(6) managing the rural-land and urban-land interface to balance the use
of forest resources in and adjacent to urban and community areas;
(7) identifying and managing recreational forest land resources;
(8) identifying and protecting the aesthetic character of forest lands;
(9) protecting forest land from conversion to alternative uses; and
(10) the management of resources of forest lands, including--
(A) the harvesting, processing, and marketing of timber and other
forest resources and the marketing and utilization of wood and wood
products;
(B) the conversion of wood to energy for domestic, industrial,
municipal, and other uses;
(C) the planning, management, and treatment of forest land, including
site preparation, reforestation, thinning, prescribed burning, and
other silvicultural activities designed to increase the quantity and
improve the quality of timber and other forest resources;
(D) ensuring that forest regeneration or reforestation occurs if
needed to sustain long-term resource productivity;
(E) protecting and improving forest soil fertility and the quality,
quantity, and timing of water yields; and
(F) encouraging the investment of a portion of the proceeds from the
sale of timber or other forest resources in stewardship activities
that preserve, protect, maintain, and enhance their forest land.
(b) State Forestry Assistance The Secretary is authorized to provide
financial, technical, and related assistance to State foresters, or equivalent
State officials, to--
(1) develop genetically improved tree seeds;
(2) develop and contract for the development of field arboretums,
greenhouses, and tree nurseries, in cooperation with a State, to facilitate
production and distribution of tree seeds and seedlings in States where the
Secretary determines that there is an inadequate capacity to carry out present
and future reforestation needs;
(3) procure, produce, and distribute tree seeds and trees for the purpose
of establishing forests, windbreaks, shelterbelts, woodlots, and other
plantings;
(4) plant tree seeds and seedlings on non-Federal forest lands that are
suitable for the production of timber, recreation, and for other benefits
associated with the growing of trees;
(5) plan, organize, and implement measures on non-Federal forest lands,
including thinning, prescribed burning, and other silvicultural activities
designed to increase the quantity and improve the quality of trees and other
vegetation, fish and wildlife habitat, and water yielded therefrom; and
(6) protect or improve soil fertility on non-Federal forest lands and the
quality, quantity, and timing of water yields therefrom.
(c) Implementation. In implementing this section, the Secretary shall
cooperate with other Federal, State, and local natural resource management
agencies, universities and the private sector.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.
(16 U.S.C. 2102)
Forestry Incentives
Sec. 4. (a) The Secretary is authorized to develop and implement a
forestry incentives program to encourage the development, management, and
protection of nonindustrial private forest lands. The purposes of such program
shall be to encourage landowners to apply practices that will provide for
afforestation of suitable open lands, reforestation of cutover or other
nonstocked or understocked forest lands, timber stand improvement practices,
including thinning, prescribed burning, and other silvicultural treatments, and
forest resources management and protection, so as to provide for the production
of timber and other forest resources associated therewith.
(b) For the purposes of this section, the term "private forest land" means
land capable of producing crops of industrial wood and owned by any private
individual, group, Indian tribe or other native group, association,
corporation, or other legal entity.
(c) Landowners shall be eligible for cost sharing under this program if
they own one thousand acres or less of private forest land, except that the
Secretary may approve cost sharing with landowners owning more than one
thousand acres of such land if significant public benefits will accrue. In no
case, however, may the Secretary approve cost sharing with landowners owning
more than five thousand acres of private forest land.
(d) The Secretary shall administer this section in accordance with the
regulations the Secretary shall develop in consultation with the committee
described in section 13 (c) of this Act. Regulations issued under Title X of
the Agricultural Act of 1970, as added by the Agriculture and Consumer
Protection Act of 1973, to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of
this section, shall remain in effect until revoked, or amended by regulations
issued under this subsection. The regulations issued under this subsection
shall include guidelines for the administration of this section at the federal
and State levels, and shall identify the measures and activities eligible for
cost sharing under this section.
(e) Individual forest management plans developed by the landowner in
cooperation with and approved by the State forester or equivalent State
official shall be the basis for agreements between the landowner and the
Secretary under this section. The Secretary shall encourage participating
States to use private agencies, consultants, organizations, and firms to the
extent feasible for the preparation of individual forest management plans.
(f) In return for the agreement by the landowner, the Secretary shall
agree to share the cost of implementing those forestry practices and measures
set forth in the agreement for which the Secretary determines that cost sharing
is appropriate. The portion of such cost (including labor) to be shared shall
be that portion that the Secretary determines is necessary and appropriate to
implement the forestry practices and measures under the agreement, but not more
than 75 percent of the actual costs incurred by the landowner. The maximum
amount any individual may receive annually under the program authorized by this
section shall be determined by the Secretary in consultation with the committee
described in section 13 (c) of this Act.
(g) The Secretary shall, for the purposes of this section, distribute
funds available for cost sharing among the States only after assessing the
public benefit incident thereto, and after giving appropriate consideration to
(1) the acreage of private commercial forest land in each State, (2) the
potential productivity of such land, (3) the number of ownerships eligible for
cost sharing in each State, (4) the need for reforestation, timber stand
improvement, or other forestry investments on such ownerships, and (5) the
enhancement of other forest resources.
(h) The Secretary may, if the Secretary determines that doing so will
contribute to the effective and equitable administration of the program
authorized by this section, use an advertising and bid procedure in determining
the lands in any area to be covered by agreements under this section.
(i) In implementing this section, the Secretary may use the authorities
provided in sections 1001, 1002, 1004, and 1008 of the Agricultural Act of
1970, as added by the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973.
(j) There are hereby authorized to be appropriated annually such sums as
may be needed to implement this section, including funds necessary for
technical assistance and expenses associated therewith.
(k) The program developed by the Secretary under this section shall
terminate on December 31, 1995. (16 U.S.C. 2103)
Forest Stewardship Program
Sec. 5. (a) Establishment The Secretary, in consultation with State
foresters or equivalent State officials, shall establish a Forest Stewardship
Program (hereafter referred to in this section as the "Program") to encourage
the long-term stewardship of nonindustrial private forest lands by assisting
owners of such lands to more actively manage their forest and related resources
by utilizing existing State, Federal, and private sector resource management
expertise and assistance programs.
(b) Goal The goal of the Program shall be to enter at least 25,000,000
acres of nonindustrial private forest lands in the Program by December 31,
1995.
(c) Definition For the purposes of this section, the term "nonindustrial
private forest lands" means rural, as determined by the Secretary, lands with
existing tree cover, or suitable for growing trees, and owned by any private
individual, group, association, corporation, Indian tribe, or other private
legal entity.
(d) Implementation In carrying out the Program the Secretary, in
consultation with State foresters or equivalent State officials, shall provide
financial, technical, educational, and related assistance to State foresters or
equivalent State officials, including assistance to help such State foresters
or equivalent officials to provide financial assistance to other State and
local natural resource entities, both public and private, and land-grant
universities for the delivery of information and professional assistance to
owners of nonindustrial private forest lands. Such information and assistance
shall be directed to help such owners understand and evaluate alternative
actions they might take, including-
(1) managing and enhancing the productivity of timber, fish and wildlife
habitat, water quality, wetlands, recreational resources, and the aesthetic
value of forest lands;
(2) investing in practices to protect, maintain, and enhance the
resources identified in paragraph (1);
(3) ensuring that afforestation, reforestation, improvement of poorly
stocked stands, timber stand improvement, practices necessary to improve
seedling growth and survival, and growth enhancement practices occur where
needed to enhance and sustain the long-term productivity of timber and
nontimber forest resources to help meet future public demand for all forest
resources and provide the environmental benefits that result; and
(4) protecting their forests from damage caused by fire, insects,
disease, and damaging weather.
(e) Eligibility. All nonindustrial private forest lands that are not in
management under Federal, State, or private sector financial and technical
assistance programs existing on the date of enactment of this section are
eligible for assistance under the Program. Nonindustrial private forest lands
that are managed under such existing programs are eligible for assistance under
the Program if forest management activities are expanded and enhanced and the
landowner agrees to meet the requirements of this Act.
(f) Duties of Owners To enter forest land into the Program, landowners
shall--
(1) prepare and submit to the State forester or equivalent State official
a forest stewardship plan that meets the requirements of this section and
that--
(A) is prepared by a professional resource manager;
(B) identifies and describes actions to be taken by the landowner to
protect soil, water, range, aesthetic quality, recreation, timber,
water, and fish and wildlife resources on such land in a manner that
is compatible with the objectives of the landowner; and
(C) is approved by the State forester, or equivalent State official;
and
(2) agree that all activities conducted on such land shall be consistent
with the stewardship plan.
(g) Stewardship Recognition. The Secretary, in consultation with State
foresters or equivalent State officials, is encouraged to develop an
appropriate recognition program for landowners who practice stewardship
management on their lands, with an appropriate, special recognition symbol and
title.
(h) Authorization of Appropriations There are hereby authorized to be
appropriated $25,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1991 through 1995, and
such sums as may be necessary thereafter, to carry out this section.
(16 U.S.C. 2103a)
Stewardship Incentive Program
Sec. 6. (a) Establishment The Secretary, in consultation with State
foresters or equivalent State officials, shall establish a program within the
Forest Service, to be known as the "Stewardship Incentive Program" (hereafter
referred to in this section as the "Program"), to meet the objectives and
goals of section 5.
(b) Eligibility.--
(1) In general Owners of nonindustrial private forest lands shall be
eligible for cost-sharing assistance under the Program if such owners--
(A) have developed an approved forest stewardship plan pursuant to
section 5 (f) ;
(B) agree to implement approved activities pursuant to paragraph (4)
in accordance with the plan for a period of not less than 10 years
unless the State forester or equivalent State official approves a
modification to such plan; and
(C) own not more than 1,000 acres of nonindustrial private forest
land, except that the Secretary may approve the provision of
cost-sharing assistance to landowners that own more than 1,000 acres
of such land if the Secretary determines that significant public
benefits will accrue from such approval.
(2) Limitation
(A) Secretary. The Secretary shall not approve of the provision of
cost-sharing assistance to any landowner owning in excess of 5,000
acres of nonindustrial private forest land.
(B) Landowner A landowner shall not receive cost-share assistance
for management on acreage under this section if such landowner
receives cost-share assistance on the same acreage under section 4.
(3) State priorities The Secretary in consultation with the State
forester, or equivalent State official, other State natural resource management
agencies, and the State Coordinating Committee established pursuant to section
19 (b), may develop State priorities for cost sharing under this section that
will promote unique forest management objectives in that State.
(4) Approved activities
(A) Development The Secretary, in consultation with the State
Coordinating Committees established pursuant to section 19 (b), shall
develop a list of approved forest activities and practices that will
be eligible for cost-share assistance under the Program within each
State.
(B) Type of activities. The Secretary, in developing a list of
approved activities and practices under subparagraph (A), shall
attempt to achieve landowner and public purposes including--
(i) the establishment, management, maintenance, and restoration of
forests for shelterbelts, windbreaks, aesthetic quality, and other
conservation purposes;
(ii) the sustainable growth and management of forests for timber
production;
(iii) the protection, restoration, and use of forest wetlands;
(iv) the enhanced management and maintenance of native vegetation on
other lands vital to water quality;
(v) the growth and management of trees for energy conservation
purposes;
(vi) the management and maintenance of fish and wildlife habitat;
(vii) the management of outdoor recreational opportunities; and
(viii) other activities approved by the Secretary.
(c) Reimbursement of Eligible Activities
(1) In general The Secretary shall share the cost of developing and
carrying out the forest stewardship plan under section 5 (f), and in
implementing the approved activities that the Secretary determines are
appropriate and in the public interest, with a landowner who has entered in an
agreement to place the forest land of such owner into the Program.
(2) Rate The Secretary, in consultation with the State forester, or
equivalent State official, shall determine the appropriate reimbursement rate
for cost-share payments under paragraph (1) and the schedule for making such
payments.
(3) Maximum The Secretary shall not make cost-share payments under this
subsection to a landowner in an amount in excess of 75 percent of the total
cost to such landowner of developing the forest stewardship plan and
implementing eligible activities under the plan. The maximum payments to any
one landowner shall be determined by the Secretary.
(d) Recapture.
(1) In general. The Secretary shall establish and implement a mechanism
to recapture payments made to a landowner in the event that the landowner fails
to implement any approved activity specified in the forest stewardship plan for
which such owner received cost-share payments.
(2) Additional provision. The provisions of paragraph (1) are in
addition to any other provision available.
(e) Distribution. The Secretary shall distribute funds available for cost
sharing under this section among the States only after assessing the public
benefit incident to such distribution and after giving appropriate
consideration to--
(1) the total acreage of nonindustrial private forest land in each State;
(2) the potential productivity of such land;
(3) the number of owners eligible for cost sharing in each State;
(4) the need for reforestation in each State;
(5) the opportunities to enhance nontimber resources on such forest
lands; and
(6) the anticipated demand for timber and nontimber resources in each
State.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations There are authorized to be
appropriated $100,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1991 through 1995, and
such sums as may be necessary thereafter, to carry out this section.
(16 U.S.C. 2103b)
Forest Legacy Program
Sec. 7. (a) Establishment and Purpose The Secretary shall establish a
program, to be known as the Forest Legacy Program, in cooperation with
appropriate. State, regional, and other units of government for the purposes of
ascertaining and protecting environmentally important forest areas that are
threatened by conversion to nonforest uses and, through the use of conservation
easements and other mechanisms, for promoting forest land protection and other
conservation opportunities. Such purposes shall also include the protection of
important scenic, cultural, fish, wildlife, and recreational resources,
riparian areas, and other ecological values.
(b) State and Regional Forest Legacy Programs The Secretary shall
exercise the authority under subsection (a) in conjunction with State or
regional programs that the Secretary deems consistent with this section.
(c) Interests in Land In addition to the authorities granted under
section 6 of the Act of March 1, 1911 (16 U.S.C. 515), and section 11 (a) of the
Department of Agriculture Organic Act of 1956 (7 U.S.C. 428a (a) the Secretary
may acquire from willing landowners lands and interests therein, including
conservation easements and rights of public access, for Forest Legacy Program
purposes. The Secretary shall not acquire conservation easements with title
held in common ownership with any other entity.
(d) Implementation.-
(1)
In general Lands and interests therein acquired under subsection
(c) may be held in perpetuity for program and easement administration purposes
as the Secretary may provide. In administering lands and interests therein
under the program, the Secretary shall identify the environmental values to be
protected by entry of the lands into the program, management activities which
are planned and the manner in which they may affect the values identified, and
obtain from the landowner other information determined appropriate for
administration and management purposes.
(2) Initial programs Not later than November 28, 1991, the Secretary
shall establish a regional program in furtherance of the Northern Forest Lands
Study in the States of New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine under
Public Law 100-446. The Secretary shall establish additional programs in each
of the Northeast, Midwest, South, and Western regions of the United States, and
the Pacific Northwest (including the State of Washington), on the preparation
of an assessment of the need for such programs.
(e) Eligibility. Not later than November 28, 1991, and in consultation
with State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committees established under section
19 (b) and similar regional organizations, the Secretary shall establish
eligibility criteria for the designation of forest areas from which lands may
be entered into the Forest Legacy Program and subsequently select such
appropriate areas. To be eligible, such areas shall have significant
environmental values or shall be threatened by present or future conversion to
nonforest uses. Of land proposed to be included in the Forest Legacy Program,
the Secretary shall give priority to lands which can be effectively protected
and managed, and which have important scenic or recreational values; riparian
areas; fish and wildlife values, including threatened and endangered species;
or other ecological values.
(f) Application. For areas included in the Forest Legacy Program, an owner
of lands or interests in lands who wishes to participate may prepare and submit
an application at such time in such form and containing such information as the
Secretary may prescribe. The Secretary shall give reasonable advance notice
for the submission of all applications to the State forester, equivalent State
official, or other appropriate State or regional natural resource management
agency. If applications exceed the ability of the Secretary to fund them,
priority shall be given to those forest areas having the greatest need for
protection pursuant to the criteria described in subsection (e).
(g) State Consent Where a State has not approved the acquisition of land
under section 6 of the Act of March 1, 1911 (16 U.S.C. 515), the Secretary
shall not acquire lands or interests therein under authority granted by this
section outside an area of that State designated as a part of a program
established under subsection (b).
(h) Forest Management Activities
(1) In general Conservation easements or deed reservations acquired or
reserved pursuant to this section may allow forest management activities,
including timber management, on areas entered in the Forest Legacy Program
insofar as the Secretary deems such activities consistent with the purposes of
this section.
(2) Assignment of responsibilities, For Forest Legacy Program areas, the
Secretary may delegate or assign management and enforcement responsibilities
over federally owned lands and interests in lands only to another governmental
entity.
(i) Duties of Owners Under the terms of a conservation easement or other
property interest acquired under subsection (b), the landowner shall be
required to manage property in a manner that is consistent with the purposes
for which the land was entered in the Forest Legacy Program and shall not
convert such property to other uses. Hunting, fishing, hiking, and similar
recreational uses shall not be considered inconsistent with the purposes of
this program.
(j) Compensation and Cost Sharing
(1) Compensation The Secretary shall pay the fair market value of any
property interest acquired under this section. Payments under this section
shall be in accordance with Federal appraisal and acquisition standards and
procedures.
(2) Cost sharing In accordance with terms and conditions that the
Secretary shall prescribe, costs for the acquisition of lands or interests
therein or project costs shall be shared among participating entities including
regional organizations, State and other governmental units, landowners,
corporations, or private organizations. Such costs may include, but are not
limited to, those associated with planning, administration, property
acquisition, and property management. To the extent practicable, the Federal
share of total program costs shall not exceed 75 percent, including any in-kind
contribution.
(k) Easements
(1) Reserved interest deeds As used in this section, the term
"conservation easement" includes an easement utilizing a reserved interest deed
where the grantee acquires all rights, title, and interests in a property,
except those rights, title, and interests that may run with the land that are
expressly reserved by a grantor.
(2) Prohibitions on limitations Notwithstanding any provision of State
law, no conservation easement held by the United States or its successors or
assigns under this section shall be limited in duration or scope or be
defeasible by--
(A) the conservation easement being in gross or appurtenant;
(B) the management of the conservation easement having been delegated
or assigned to a non-Federal entity;
(C) any requirement under State law for re-recordation or renewal of
the easement; or
(D) any future disestablishment of a Forest Legacy Program area or
other Federal project for which the conservation easement was
originally acquired.
(3) Construction Notwithstanding any provision of State law,
conservation easements shall be construed to effect the Federal purposes for
which they were acquired and, in interpreting their terms, there shall be no
presumption favoring the conservation easement holder or fee owner.
(1) Appropriation There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as
may be necessary to carry out this section. (16 USC 2103c)
Forest Health Protection
Sec. 8. (a) In General The Secretary may protect trees and forests and
wood products, stored wood, and wood in use directly on the National Forest
System and, in cooperation with others, on other lands in the United States,
from natural and man-made causes, to--
(1) enhance the growth and maintenance of trees and forests;
(2) promote the stability of forest-related industries and employment
associated therewith through the protection of forest resources;
(3) aid in forest fire prevention and control;
(4) conserve forest cover on watersheds, shelterbelts, and windbreaks;
(5) protect outdoor recreation opportunities and other forest resources;
and
(6) extend timber supplies by protecting wood products, stored wood, and
wood in use.
(b) Activities. Subject to subsections (c), (d), and (e) and to such other
conditions the Secretary may prescribe, the Secretary may, directly on the
National Forest System, in cooperation with other Federal departments on other
Federal lands, and in cooperation with State foresters, or equivalent State
officials, subdivisions of States, agencies, institutions, organizations, or
individuals on non-Federal lands-
(1) conduct surveys to detect and appraise insect infestations and
disease conditions and man-made stresses affecting trees and establish a
monitoring system throughout the forests of the United States to determine
detrimental changes or improvements that occur over time, and report annually
concerning such surveys and monitoring;
(2) determine the biological, chemical, and mechanical measures necessary
to prevent, retard, control, or suppress incipient, potential, threatening, or
emergency insect infestations and disease conditions affecting trees;
(3) plan, organize, direct, and perform measures the Secretary determines
necessary to prevent, retard, control, or suppress incipient, potential,
threatening, or emergency insect infestations and disease epidemics affecting
trees;
(4) provide technical information, advice, and related assistance on the
various techniques available to maintain a healthy forest and in managing and
coordinating the use of pesticides and other toxic substances applied to trees
and other vegetation, and to wood products, stored wood, and wood in use;
(5) develop applied technology and conduct pilot tests of research
results prior to the full-scale application of such technology in affected
forests;
(6) promote the implementation of appropriate silvicultural or management
techniques that may improve or protect the health of the forests of the United
States; and
(7) take any other actions the Secretary determines necessary to
accomplish the objectives and purposes of this section.
(c) Consent of Entity. Operations under this section to prevent, retard,
control, or suppress insects or diseases affecting forests and trees on land
not controlled or administered by the Secretary shall not be conducted without
the consent, cooperation, and participation of the entity having ownership of
or jurisdiction over the affected land.
(d) Contribution by Entity No money appropriated to implement this
section shall be expended to prevent, retard, control, or suppress insects or
diseases affecting trees on non-Federal land until the entity having ownership
of or jurisdiction over the affected land contributes, or agrees to contribute,
to the work to be done in the amount and in the manner determined appropriate
by the Secretary.
(e) Allotments to Other Agencies The Secretary may, in the Secretary's
discretion, and out of any money appropriated to implement this section, make
allocations to Federal agencies having jurisdiction over lands held or owned by
the United States in the amounts the Secretary determines necessary to prevent,
retard, control, or suppress insect infestations and disease epidemics
affecting trees on those lands.
(f) Limitation on Use of Appropriations
(1) Removing dead trees No amounts appropriated shall be used to--
(A) pay the cost of felling and removing dead or dying trees unless
the Secretary determines that such actions are necessary to prevent
the spread of a major insect infestation or disease epidemic severely
affecting trees; or
(B) compensate for the value of any property injured, damaged, or
destroyed by any cause.
(2) Insects and diseases affecting trees The Secretary may procure
materials and equipment necessary to prevent, retard, control, or suppress
insects and diseases affecting trees without regard to section 3709 of the
Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5), under whatever procedures the Secretary may
prescribe, if the Secretary determines that such action is necessary and in the
public interest.
(g) Partnerships. The Secretary, by contract or cooperative agreement, may
provide financial assistance through the Forest Service to State foresters or
equivalent State officials, and private forestry and other organizations, to
monitor forest health and protect the forest lands of the United States. The
Secretary shall require contribution by the non-Federal entity in the amount
and in the manner determined appropriate. Such non-Federal share may be in the
form of cash, services, or equipment, as determined appropriate by the
Secretary.
(h) Authorization of Appropriations There are authorized to be
appropriated annually such sums as may be necessary to carry out subsections
(a) through (g).
(i) Integrated Pest Management
(1) In general Subject to the provisions of subsections (c) and (e),
the Secretary shall, in cooperation with State foresters or equivalent State
officials, subdivisions of States, or other entities on non-Federal lands
(hereafter in this subsection referred to as the 'cooperator')
(A) provide cost-share assistance to such cooperators who have
established an acceptable integrated pest management strategy, as
determined by the Secretary, that will prevent, retard, control, or
suppress gypsy moth, southern pine beetle, spruce budworm
infestations, or other major insect infestations in an amount no less
than 50 percent nor greater than 75 percent of the cost of
implementing such strategy; and
(B) upon request, assist the cooperator in the development of such
integrated pest management strategy.
(2) Authorization of appropriations There are hereby authorized to be
appropriated annually $10,000,000 to implement this subsection.
(16 U.S.C. 2104)
Urban and Community Forestry Assistance
Sec. 9. (a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
(1) the health of forests in urban areas and communities, including
cities, their suburbs, and towns, in the United States is on the decline;
(2) forest lands, shade trees, and open spaces in urban areas and
communities improve the quality of life for residents;
(3) forest lands and associated natural resources enhance the economic
value of residential and commercial property in urban and community settings;
(4) urban trees are 15 times more effective than foresttrees at reducing
the buildup of carbon dioxide and aid in promoting energy conservation through
mitigation of the heat island effect in urban areas;
(5) tree plantings and ground covers such as low growing dense perennial
turfgrass sod in urban areas and communities can aid in reducing carbon dioxide
emissions, mitigating the heat island effect, and reducing energy consumption,
thus contributing to efforts to reduce global warming trends;
(6) efforts to encourage tree plantings and protect existing open spaces
in urban areas and communities can contribute to the social well-being and
promote a sense of community in these areas; and
(7) strengthened research, education, technical assistance, and public
information and participation in tree planting and maintenance programs for
trees and complementary ground covers for urban and community forests are
needed to provide for the protection and expansion of tree cover and open space
in urban areas and communities.
(b) Purposes The purposes of this section are to--
(1) improve understanding of the benefits of preserving existing tree
cover in urban areas and communities;
(2) encourage owners of private residences and commercial properties to
maintain trees and expand forest cover on their properties;
(3) provide education programs and technical assistance to State and
local organizations (including community associations and schools) in
maintaining forested lands and individual trees in urban and community settings
and identifying appropriate tree species and sites for expanding forest cover;
(4) provide assistance through competitive matching grants awarded to
local units of government, approved organizations that meet the requirements of
section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or other local
community tree volunteer groups, for urban and community forestry projects;
(5) implement a tree planting program to complement urban and community
tree maintenance and open space programs and to reduce carbon dioxide
emissions, conserve energy, and improve air quality in addition to providing
other environmental benefits;
(6) promote the establishment of demonstration projects in selected urban
and community settings to illustrate the benefits of maintaining and creating
forest cover and trees;
(7) enhance the technical skills and understanding of sound tree
maintenance and arboricultural practices including practices involving the
cultivation of trees, shrubs and complementary ground covers, of individuals
involved in the planning, development, and maintenance of urban and community
forests and trees; and
(8) expand existing research and educational efforts intended to improve
understanding of--
(A) tree growth and maintenance, tree physiology and morphology,
species adaptations, and forest ecology,
(B) the value of integrating trees and ground covers,
(C) the economic, environmental, social, and psychological benefits of
trees and forest cover in urban and community environments, and
(D) the role of urban trees in conserving energy and mitigating the
urban heat island.
(c) General Authority. The Secretary is authorized to provide financial,
technical, and related assistance to State foresters or equivalent State
officials for the purpose of encouraging States to provide information and
technical assistance to units of local government and others that will
encourage cooperative efforts to plan urban forestry programs and to plant,
protect, and maintain, and utilize wood from, trees in open spaces, greenbelts,
roadside screens, parks, woodlands, curb areas, and residential developments in
urban areas. In providing such assistance, the Secretary is authorized to
cooperate with interested members of the public, including nonprofit private
organizations. The Secretary is also authorized to cooperate directly with
units of local government and others in implementing this section whenever the
Secretary and the affected State forester or equivalent State official agree
that direct cooperation would better achieve the purposes of this section.
(d) Program of Education and Technical Assistance The Secretary, in
cooperation with State foresters and State extension directors or equivalent
State officials and interested members of the public, including nonprofit
private organizations, shall implement a program of education and technical
assistance for urban and community forest resources. The program shall be
designed to--
(1) assist urban areas and communities in conducting inventories of their
forest resources, including inventories of the species, number, location, and
health of trees in urban areas and communities, identifying opportunities for
the establishment of plantings for the purposes of conserving energy, and
determining the status of related resources (including fish and wildlife
habitat, water resources, and trails);
(2) assist State and local organizations (including community
associations and schools) in organizing and conducting urban and community
forestry projects and programs;
(3) improve education and technical support in- -
(A) selecting tree species appropriate for planting in urban and
community environments and for promotion of energy conservation;
(B) providing for proper tree planting, maintenance, and protection in
urban areas and communities;
(C) protecting individual trees and preserving existing open spaces
with or without tree cover; and
(D) identifying opportunities for expanding tree cover in urban areas
and communities;
(4) assist in the development of State and local management plans for
trees and associated resources in urban areas and communities; and
(5) increase public understanding of the energy conservation, economic,
social, environmental, and psychological values of trees and open space in
urban and community environments and expand knowledge of the ecological
relationships and benefits of trees and related resources in these
environments.
(e) Procurement of Plant Materials. The Secretary, in cooperation with
State foresters or equivalent State officials, shall assist in identifying
sources of plant materials and may procure or otherwise obtain such plant
materials from public or private sources and may make such plant materials
available to urban areas and communities for the purpose of reforesting open
spaces, replacing dead and dying urban trees, promoting energy conservation,
and providing other environmental benefits through expanding tree cover in
urban areas and communities.
(f) Challenge Cost-Share Program.
(1) In general The Secretary shall establish an urban and community
forestry challenge cost-share program. Funds or other support shall be
provided under such program to eligible communities and organizations, on a
competitive basis, for urban and community forestry projects. The Secretary
shall annually make awards under the program in accordance with criteria
developed in consultation with, and after consideration of recommendations
received from, the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council
established under subsection (g) Each State forester or equivalent State
official may make recommendations to the Secretary for awards under the program
for project proposals in their State which meet such criteria. Awards shall be
consistent with the cost-share requirements of this section.
(2) Cost-sharing The Federal share of support for a project provided
under this subsection may not exceed 50 percent of the support for that project
and shall be provided on a matching basis. The non-Federal share of such
support may be in the form of cash, services, or in-kind contributions.
(g) Forestry Advisory Council
(1) Establishment and purpose The Secretary shall establish a National
Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (hereafter in this section
referred to as the 'Council') for the purpose of--
(A) developing a national urban and community forestry action plan;
(B) evaluating the implementation of that plan; and
(C) developing criteria for, and submitting recommendations with
respect to, the urban and community forestry challenge cost-share
program under subsection (f)
(2) Composition and operation
(A) Composition The Council shall be composed of 15 members
appointed by the Secretary, as follows:
(i) 2 members representing national nonprofit forestry and
conservation citizen organizations,
(ii) 3 members, 1 each representing State, county, and city and town
governments,
(iii) 1 member representing the forest products, nursery, or related
industries,
(iv) 1 member representing urban forestry, landscape, or design
consultants,
(v) 2 members representing academic institutions with an expertise
in urban and community forestry activities,
(vi) 1 member representing State forestry agencies or equivalent
State agencies,
(vii) 1 member representing a professional renewable natural
resource or arboricultural society,
(viii) 1 member from the Extension Service,
(ix) 1 member from the Forest Service, and
(x) 2 members who are not officers or employees of any governmental
body, 1 of whom is a resident of a community with a population of
less than 50,000 as of the most recent census and both of whom have
expertise and have been active in urban and community forestry.
(B) Vacancy. A vacancy in the Council shall be filled in the manner
in which the original appointment was made.
(C) Chairperson The Secretary shall select 1 member, from members
appointed to the Council, who is not an officer or employee of the
United States nor any State, county, city, or town government, who
shall serve as the chairperson of the Council.
(D) Terms
(i) In general Except as provided in clauses (ii) and (iii) of
this paragraph, members shall be appointed for terms of 3 years, and
no member may serve more than 2 consecutive terms on the Council.
(ii) Staggered terms Of the members first appointed--
(I) 5, including the chairperson and 2 governmental employees,
shall be appointed for a term of 3 years,
(II) 5, including 2 governmental employees, shall be appointed
for a term of 2 years, and
(III) 5, including 2 governmental employees, shall be appointed
for a term of 1 year, as designated by the Secretary at the time
of appointment.
(iii) Continuation Any member appointed to fill a vacancy
occurring before the expiration of the term of the member's
predecessor shall be appointed only for the remainder of such term.
A member may serve after the expiration of the member's term until
the member's successor has taken office.
(E) Compensation
(i) In general Except as provided in clause (ii), members of the
Council shall serve without pay, but may be reimbursed for
reasonable costs incurred while in the actual performance of duties
vested in the Council.
(ii) Federal officers and employees Members of the Council 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 Council.
(iii) Financial and administrative support The Secretary shall
provide financial and administrative support for the Council.
(3) Urban and community forestry action plan Within 1 year after the
date of enactment of this subsection and every 10 years thereafter, the Council
shall prepare a National Urban and Community Forestry Action Plan. The plan
shall include (but not be limited to) the following:
(A) An assessment of the current status of urban forest resources in
the United States.
(B) A review of urban and community forestry programs and activities
in the United States, including education and technical assistance
activities conducted by the Department of Agriculture, and other
Federal agencies, the State forestry organizations, private industry,
private nonprofit organizations, community and civic organizations and
interested others.
(C) Recommendations for improving the status of the Nation's urban and
community forest resources, including education and technical
assistance and modifications required in existing programs and
policies of relevant Federal agencies.
(D) A review of urban and community forestry research,
including--
(i) a review of all ongoing research associated with urban and
community forests, arboricultural practices, and the economic,
social, and psychological benefits of trees and forest cover in
urban and community environments being conducted by the Forest
Service, other Federal agencies, and associated land grant colleges
and universities;
(ii) recommendations for new and expanded research efforts directed
toward urban and community forestry concerns; and
(iii) a summary of research priorities and an estimate of the funds
needed to implement such research, on an annual basis, for the next
10 years.
(E) Proposed criteria for evaluating proposed projects under the urban
and community forestry challenge cost share program under subsection
(f), with special emphasis given to projects that would demonstrate
the benefits of improved forest management (including the maintenance
and establishment of forest cover and trees) in urban areas and
communities.
(F) An estimate of the resources needed to implement the National
Urban and Community Forestry Action Plan for the succeeding 10 fiscal
years.
(4) Amendment of the plan.--The plan may be amended by a majority of the
Council members. Such amendments shall be incorporated into the Council's
annual review of the plan submitted to the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (5)
of this subsection.
(5) Review of the plan.--The Council shall submit the plan to the
Secretary and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate upon its
completion. Beginning no later than one year after the plan is submitted and
annually thereafter, the Council shall submit a review of the plan to the
Secretary no later than December 31. The review shall consist of--
(A) the Council's assessment of prior year accomplishments in
research, education, technical assistance, and related activities in
urban and community forestry;
(B) the Council's recommendations for research, education, technical
assistance, and related activities in the succeeding year; and
(C) the Council's recommendations for the urban and community forestry
challenge cost share projects to be funded during the succeeding year.
The review submitted to the Secretary shall be incorporated into the
annual report required under section 3 (d) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable
Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1601 (d)
(6) Detail of personnel Upon request of the Council, the Secretary is
authorized to detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of the
Department of Agriculture to the Council to assist the Council in carrying out
its duties under this Act.
(h) Definitions. For the purposes of this section--
(1) the term 'Council' means the National Urban and Community Forestry
Advisory Council established under subsection (g)
(2) the term 'plan' means the National Urban and Community Forestry
Action Plan developed under subsection (g) (3) ; and
(3) the term 'urban and community area' includes cities, their suburbs,
and towns.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations There are hereby authorized to be
appropriated $30,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1991 through 1995, and
such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year thereafter, for the
implementation of this section. (16 U.S.C. 2105)
Rural Fire Prevention and Control
Sec. 10. (a) Congress finds that--
(1) significant accomplishments have been made by the Secretary and
cooperating States in the prevention and control of fires on forest lands and
on nonforested watersheds for more than fifty years;
(2) progress is being made by the Secretary and cooperating States and
rural communities in the protection of human lives, agricultural crops and
livestock, property and other improvements, and natural resources from fires in
rural areas;
(3) notwithstanding the accomplishments and progress that have been been
made, fire prevention and control on rural lands and in rural communities are
of continuing high priority to protect human lives, agricultural crops and
livestock, property and other improvements, and natural resources;
(4) the effective cooperative relationships between the Secretary and
the States regarding fire prevention and control on rural lands and in rural
communities should be retained and improved;
(5) efforts in fire prevention and control in rural areas should be
coordinated among federal, State, and local agencies; and
(6) in addition to providing assistance to State and local rural fire
prevention and control programs the Secretary should provide prompt and
adequate assistance whenever a rural fire emergency overwhelms, or threatens to
overwhelm, the firefighting capability of the affected State or rural area.
(b) Notwithstanding the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974,
the Secretary is authorized, under whatever conditions the Secretary may
prescribe, to--
(1) cooperate with State foresters or equivalent State officials in
developing systems and methods for the prevention, control, suppression, and
prescribed use of fires on rural lands and in rural communities that will
protect human lives, agricultural crops and livestock, property and other
improvements, and natural resources;
(2) provide financial, technical, and related assistance to State
foresters or equivalent State officials, and through them to other agencies and
individuals, for the prevention, control, suppression, and prescribed use of
fires on non-federal forest lands and other non-federal lands;
(3) provide financial, technical, and related assistance to State
foresters or equivalent State officials in cooperative efforts to organize,
train and equip local firefighting forces, including those of Indian tribes or
other native groups, to prevent, control, and suppress fires threatening human
lives, crops, livestock, farmsteads or other improvements, pastures, orchards,
wildlife, rangeland, woodland, and other resources in rural areas. As used
herein, the term "rural areas" shall have the meaning set out in the first
clause of section 306 (a) (7) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act;
and
(4) provide financial, technical, and related assistance to State
foresters or equivalent State officials, and through them to other agencies and
individuals, including rural volunteer fire departments, to conduct
preparedness and mobilization activities, including training, equipping, and
otherwise enabling State and local firefighting agencies to respond to requests
for fire suppression assistance.
(c) The Secretary, with the cooperation and assistance of the
Administrator of General Services, shall encourage the use of excess personal
property (within the meaning of the Federal Property and Administrative
Services Act of 1949) by State and local fire forces receiving assistance under
this section.
(d) To promote maximum effectiveness and economy, the Secretary shall seek
to coordinate the assistance the Secretary provides under this section with the
assistance provided by the Secretary of Commerce under the Federal Fire
Prevention and Control Act of 1974.
(e) (1) There are hereby authorized to be appropriated annually such sums as
may be needed to implement paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (b) of
this section.
(2) (A) There are hereby authorized to be appropriated annually
$70,000,000 to carry out subsection (b) (4) Of the total amount appropriated
to carry out subsection (b) (4)
(i) one-half shall be available only for State foresters or
equivalent State officails, and through them to other agencies and
individuals, of which not less than $100,000 shall be made available
to each State; and
(ii) one-half shall be available only for rural volunteer fire
departments.
(B) The Federal share of the cost of any activity carried out with
funds made available pursuant to this paragraph may not exceed 50
percent of the cost of that activity. The non-Federal share for such
activity may be in the form of cash, services, or in kind
contributions.
(f) There shall be established in the Treasury a special rural fire
disaster fund that shall be immediately available to and used by the Secretary
to supplement any other money available to carry out this section with respect
to rural fire emergencies, as determined by the Secretary. The Secretary shall
determine that State and local resources are fully used or will be fully used
before expending money in the disaster fund to assist a State in which one or
more rural fire emergencies exist. There are hereby authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be needed to establish and replenish the disaster
fund established by this subsection.
(g) As used in this section--
(1) the term "rural volunteer fire department" means any organized, not
for profit, fire protection organization that provides service primarily to a
community or city with a population of 10,000 or less or to a rural area, as
defined by the Secretary, whose firefighting personnel is 80 percent or more
volunteer, and that is recognized as a fire department by the laws of the
State; and
(2) the term "mobilization" means any activity in which one firefighting
organization assists another that has requested assistance. (16 U.S.C. 2106)
Management Assistance, Planning Assistance, and
Technology Implementation
Sec. 11. (a) To aid in achieving maximum effectiveness in the programs
and activities conducted under this Act, the Secretary is authorized to provide
financial, technical, and related assistance to State foresters or equivalent
State officials for the development of stronger and more efficient State
organizations that will enable them to fulfill better their responsibilities
for the protection and management of non-federal forest lands. Assistance
under this subsection may include, but will not be limited to, assistance in
matters related to organization management, program planning and management,
budget and fiscal accounting services, personnel training and management,
information services, and recordkeeping. Assistance under this subsection may
be extended only upon request by State foresters or equivalent State officials.
(b) To ensure that data regarding forest lands are available for and
effectively presented in State and federal natural resources planning, the
Secretary is authorized to provide financial, technical, and related assistance
to State foresters or equivalent State officials in the assembly, analysis,
display, and reporting of State forest resources data, in the training of State
forest resources planners, and in participating in natural resources planning
at the State and federal levels. The Secretary shall restrict assistance under
this subsection to the implementation of the forestry aspects of State and
federal natural resources planning conducted under other laws. This subsection
shall not be construed, in any way whatsoever, as extending, limiting,
amending, repealing, or otherwise affecting any other law or authority.
(c) To ensure that new technology is introduced, new information is
integrated into existing technology, and forest resources research findings are
promptly made available to State forestry personnel, private forest landowners
and managers, vendors, forest operators, wood processors, public agencies, and
individuals, the Secretary is authorized to carry out a program of technology
implementation.
(1) In implementing this subsection, the Secretary is authorized to work
through State foresters or equivalent State officials, and, if the State
forester or equivalent State official is unable to deliver these services, the
Secretary is authorized to act through appropriate United States Department of
Agriculture agencies, subdivisions of States, agencies, institutions,
organizations, or individuals to--
(A) strengthen technical assistance and service programs of
cooperators participating in programs under this Act by applying
research results and conducting pilot projects and field tests of
management and utilization practices, equipment, and technologies,
related to programs and activities authorized under this Act;
(B) study the effects of tax laws, methods, and practices on forest
management;
(C) develop and maintain technical information systems in support of
programs and activities authorized under this Act;
(D) test, evaluate, and seek registration of chemicals for use in
implementing the programs and activities authorized under this Act;
(E) conduct other activities, including training of State forestry
personnel whom the Secretary deems necessary to ensure that the
programs and activities authorized under this Act are responsive to
special problems, unique situations, and changing conditions.
(2) The Secretary may make funds available to cooperators under this Act
without regard to the provisions of section 3648 of the Revised Statutes
(31 U.S.C. 529), which prohibits advances of public money.
(3) The Secretary shall use forest resources planning committees at
National and State levels in implementing this subsection.
(d) There are hereby authorized to be appropriated annually such sums as
may be needed to implement this section. (16 U.S.C. 2107)
Consolidated Payments
Sec. 12. (a) To provide flexibility in funding activities authorized
under this Act, the Secretary may, upon the request of any State, consolidate
the annual financial assistance payment to that State under this Act, in lieu
of functional cost sharing mechanisms, formulas, or agreements. However,
consolidated payments shall not include money appropriated under section 4 of
this Act or money from any special Treasury fund established under this Act.
(b) Consolidation of payments made under this section shall be based upon
State forest resources programs developed by State foresters or equivalent
State officials, and reviewed by the Secretary.
(c) Consolidated payments to any State during any fiscal year shall not
exceed the total amount of non-federal funds expended within the State during
that year to implement its State forest resources program. However, the
Secretary may make payments that exceed the non-federal amount expended for
selected activities under the program, if the total federal expenditure during
any fiscal year does not exceed the total non-federal expenditure during that
year under the State forest resources program.
(d) The Secretary may make consolidated payments on the certificate of the
State forester or equivalent State official that the conditions for federal
payment have been met.
(e) The Secretary shall administer this section to ensure that the use of
consolidated payments does not adversely affect or eliminate any program
authorized under this Act.
(f) Subject to applicable appropriation Acts, the total annual amount of
financial assistance to any participating State after the enactment of this Act
shall not be less than the base amount of financial assistance provided to that
State under all the provisions of law specified in section 16 of this Act
during the fiscal year in which this Act is enacted. However, financial
assistance for special projects of two years or less duration shall not be
included in determining the base amount for any participating State.
Note. Subsection (h) was added by P.L. 101-313 at the end of Section 12.
It should have been added as subsection (g) since the last subsection in
Section 12 was (f).
(h) In addition to the authority provided elsewhere in this Act, the
Secretary may provide assistance to other countries with respect to the
activities described in paragraphs (1) through (10) of section 3 (b), paragraphs
(1) through (5) of section 7 (b), and paragraphs (1) through (3) of section
9 (b) For the purposes of providing assistance to other countries under this
subsection, the term "non-Federal forest land" shall mean any forest land and
related renewable natural resources in such countries. In providing the
assistance authorized under this subsection, the Secretary shall coordinate
with other Federal officials, departments, agencies, or international
organizations, as the President may direct. The references to "State foresters
or equivalent State officials" in this Act shall not apply to the assistance
provided by the Secretary to other countries under this subsection.
(16 U.S.C. 2108)
General Provisions
Sec. 13. (a) In implementing this Act, the Secretary shall, to the
maximum extent practicable--
(1) work through, cooperate with, and assist State foresters or
equivalent State officials;
(2) encourage cooperation and coordination between State foresters or
equivalent State officials and other State agencies that manage renewable
natural resources;
(3) use and encourage cooperators under this Act to use, private
agencies, consultants, organizations, firms, and individuals to furnish
necessary materials and services; and
(4) promote effectiveness and economy by coordinating the direct actions
and assistance authorized under this Act with related programs the Secretary
administers, and with cooperative programs of other agencies.
(b) Money appropriated under this Act shall remain available until
expended.
(c) Requirements for the development of State forest resources programs
and State participation in management assistance, planning assistance, and
technology implementation, the apportionment of funds among States
participating under this Act, the administrative expenses in connection with
activities and programs under this Act, and the amounts to be expended by the
Secretary to assist non-State cooperators under this Act, shall be determined
by the Secretary in consultation with a committee of not less than five State
foresters or equivalent State officials selected by a majority of the State
foresters or equivalent State officials from States participating in programs
under this Act. However, the Secretary need not consult with such committee
regarding funds to be expended under emergency conditions that the Secretary
may determine.
(d) For the purposes of this Act--
(1) The terms "United States" and "State" shall include each of the
several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the
Virgin Islands of the United States, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and the territories and
possessions of the United States;
(2) The term "forest resources" shall include esthetics, fish and
wildlife, forage, outdoor recreation opportunities, timber, and water; and
(3) The term "urban forestry" means the planning, establishment,
protection, and management of trees and associated plants, individually, in
small groups, or under forest conditions within cities, their suburbs, and
towns.
(e) The Secretary may prescribe rules and regulations, as the Secretary
deems appropriate, to implement the provisions of this Act.
(f) The Secretary is authorized to make grants, agreements, contracts, and
other arrangements the Secretary deems necessary to implement this Act.
(g) This Act shall be construed as supplementing all other laws relating
to the Department of Agriculture and shall not be construed as limiting or
repealing any existing law or authority of the Secretary, except as
specifically cited in Section 16 of this Act. (16 U.S.C. 2109)
Statement of Limitation
Sec. 14. This Act shall not authorize the Federal Government to regulate
the use of private land or to deprive owners of land of their rights to
property or to income from the sale of property, unless such property rights
are voluntarily conveyed or limited by contract or other agreement. This Act
does not diminish in any way the rights and responsibilities of the States and
political subdivisions of States. (16 U.S.C. 2110)
Reports
Sec. 15. To ensure that Congress has adequate information to implement its
oversight responsibilities and to provide accountability for expenditures and
activities under this Act, section 8 (c) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable
Resources Planning Act of 1974 is amended by--
(1) inserting immediately before the period at the end of the last
sentence "and in cooperative State and private Forest Service programs"; and
(2) adding a new sentence at the end thereof as follows: "With regard
to the cooperative forestry assistance part of the Program, the report shall
include, but not be limited to, a description of the status, accomplishments,
needs, and work backlogs for the programs and activities conducted under the
Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978." (16 U.S.C. 1606 (note), 1606)
Repeal of Other Laws; Existing Contracts and Agreements;
Appropriations
Sec. 16. (a) The following laws, and portions of laws, are hereby
repealed:
(1) sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the Act of June 7, 1924, known as the
Clarke-McNary Act (43 Stat. 653-654, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 564, 565, 566, 567)
(2) the Act of April 26, 1940, known as the White Pine Blister Rust
Protection Act (54 Stat. 168; 16 U.S.C. 594a);
(3) the Forest Pest Control Act;
(4) the Cooperative Forest Management Act;
(5) section 401 of the Agricultural Act of 1956;
(6) Title IV of the Rural Development Act of 1972; and
(7) section 1009 and the proviso to section 1010 of the Agricultural Act
of 1970, as added by the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973.
(b) Contracts and cooperative and other agreements under cooperative
forestry programs executed under authority of the Acts, or portions thereof,
repealed under subsection (a) of this section shall remain in effect until
revoked or amended by their own terms or under other provisions of law.
(c) Funds appropriated under the authority of the Acts, or portions
thereof, repealed under subsection (a) of this section shall be available for
expenditure for the programs authorized under this Act. (16 U.S.C. 2111)
Effective Date
Sec. 17. The provisions of this Act shall become effective October 1,
1978. (16 U.S.C. 2101 (note) )
Cooperative National Forest Products Marketing Program
Sec. 18. (a) Findings and Purposes
(1) Findings Congress finds that
(A) the health and vitality of the domestic forest products industry
is important to the well-being of the economy of the United States;
(B) the domestic forest products industry has a significant potential
for expansion in both domestic and foreign markets;
(C) many small-sized to medium-sized forest products firms lack the
tools that would enable them to meet the increasing challenge of
foreign competition in domestic and foreign markets; and
(D) a new cooperative forest products marketing program will improve
the competitiveness of the United States forest products industry.
(2) Purposes The purposes of this section are to--
(A) provide direct technical assistance to the United States forest
products industry to improve marketing activities;
(B) provide cost-share grants to States to support State and regional
forest products marketing programs; and
(C) target assistance to small-sized and medium-sized producers of
solid wood and processed wood products, including pulp.
(b) Program Authority
(1) In general The Secretary shall establish a cooperative national
forest products marketing program under this Act that provides--
(A) technical assistance to States, landowners, and small-sized to
medium-sized forest products firms on ways to improve domestic and
foreign markets for forest products; and
(B) grants of financial assistance with matching requirements to the
States to assist in State and regional forest products marketing
efforts targeted to aid small-sized to medium-sized forest products
firms and private, nonindustrial forest landowners.
(2) Interstate cooperative agreements Grant agreements shall encourage
the establishment of interstate cooperative agreements by the States for the
purpose of promoting the development of domestic and foreign markets for
forest products.
(c) Limitations.
(1) Cooperation with other federal agencies In carrying out this
section, the Secretary shall cooperate with Federal departments and agencies
to avoid the duplication of efforts and to increase program efficiency.
(2) Domestic program. The program authorized under this section shall be
carried out within the United States and not be extended to Department of
Agriculture activities in foreign countries.
(d) Authorization for Appropriations. There are authorized to be
appropriated $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1988 through 1991, to
carry out this section.
(e) Program Report The Secretary shall report to Congress annually on
the activities taken under the marketing program established under this
section. A final report including recommendations for program changes and the
need and desirability of the reauthorization of this authority, and required
levels of funding, shall be submitted to Congress not later than September 30,
1990. (16 U.S.C. 2112)
Note--This section was added as Section 15 by P.L. 100-418 and renumbered
as section 18 by P.L 101-624, Title XII)
Federal, State, and Local
Coordination and Cooperation
Sec. 19. (a) Department of Agriculture Coordinating Committee.
(1) Establishment The Secretary shall establish an intradepartmental
committee, to be known as the 'Forest Resource Coordinating Committee'
(hereafter referred to in this section as the 'Coordinating Committee'), to
coordinate forestry activities.
(2) Composition. The Coordinating Committee shall be composed of
representatives, appointed by the Secretary, from the Agricultural Research
Service, Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, Extension
Service, Forest Service, and Soil Conservation Service.
(3) Chairperson. The Secretary shall designate the Chief of the Forest
Service as chairperson.
4) Duties The Coordinating Committee shall--
(A) provide assistance in directing and coordinating actions of the
Department of Agriculture that relate to educational, technical, and
financial assistance concerning forest land to private landowners;
(B) clarify individual agency responsibilities concerning forest land
of each agency represented on the Committee; and
(C) advise the Secretary of intradepartmental differences regarding
the implementation of this Act, and any other Act related to the
authority of the Secretary concerning non-Federal forest lands.
(b) State Coordinating Committees
(1) Establishment.-
(A) In general The Secretary, in consultation with the State
forester or equivalent State official of each State, shall establish a
State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committee (hereafter referred to
in this section as the 'State Coordinating Committee') for each such
State.
(B) Composition. The State Coordinating Committee shall be chaired
and administered by the State forester, or equivalent State official,
or the designee thereof, and shall be composed, to the extent
practicable, of--
(i) representatives from the Forest Service, Soil Conservation
Service, Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, and
Extension Service;
(ii) representatives, to be appointed by the State forester or
equivalent State official, representative of--
(I) local government;
(II) consulting foresters;
(III) environmental organizations;
(IV) forest products industry;
(V) forest land owners;
(VI) land-trust organizations, if applicable in the State;
(VII) conservation organizations; and
(VIII) the State fish and wildlife agency; and
(iii) any other individuals determined appropriate by the Secretary.
(C) Terms. The members of the State Coordinating Committee appointed
under subparagraph (B) (ii) shall serve 3-year terms, with the initial
members serving staggered terms as determined by the State forester or
equivalent State official, and may be reappointed for consecutive
terms.
(D) Existing committees Existing State forestry committees may be
used to complement, formulate, or replace the State Coordinating
Committees to avoid duplication of efforts if such existing committees
are made up of membership that is similar to that described in
subparagraph (B) (ii), and if such existing committees include
landowners and the general public in their memberships.
(2) Duties. A State Coordinating Committee shall-
(A) consult with other Department of Agriculture and State committees
that address State and private forestry issues;
(B) make recommendations to the Secretary concerning the assignment of
priorities and the coordination of responsibilities for the
implementation of this Act by the various Federal and State forest
management agencies that take into consideration the mandates of each
such agency;
(C) make recommendations to the State forester or equivalent State
official concerning the development of a Forest Stewardship Plan under
paragraph (3) ; and
(D) make recommendations to the Secretary concerning those forest
lands that should be given priority for inclusion in the Forest Legacy
Program established pursuant to section 7.
(3) Forest stewardship plan. The State forester or equivalent State
official of each State, in consultation with the State Coordinating Committee
of such State, shall develop a Forest Stewardship Plan that shall--
(A) provide baseline data on the forest resources of the State;
(B) outline threats to the forest resources of the State;
(C) describe economic and environmental opportunities that are linked
with the forest resources of the State;
(D) address management problems, opportunities, and objectives
associated with intermingled Federal, State, and private land
ownership patterns within the State; and
(E) make planning recommendations for Federal, State, and local
implementation of this Act.
(4) Other plans. Other State forest management plans may be used as the
basis for or in lieu of establishing a plan for the State under paragraph (3)
if such plans fully conform to the objectives of this section.
(5) Termination. The State Coordinating Committees shall not terminate.
(6) Rule of construction Nothing in this section shall be construed to
compel action by any State official.
(16 U.S.C. 2113)
Administration
Sec. 20. (a) In General - The Secretary shall administer this Act in
accordance with regulations that the Secretary shall develop.
(b)
Guidelines The regulations promulgated under this Act shall include
guidelines for the administration of this Act at the Federal and State levels
and shall identify the measures and activities that are eligible for cost
sharing under this Act.
(c) Existing Mechanisms Existing mechanisms shall be used to the extent
possible to make payments and deliver services to the landowner under this Act.
(d) Land Grant Universities The Secretary, in consultation with State
foresters or equivalent State officials, may provide assistance directly to
other State and local natural resource management agencies and land grant
universities in implementing this Act in cases in which the State foresters or
equivalent State officials are not able to make fund transfers to other State
and local agencies. (16 U.S.C. 2114)
4/11/94
FOREST SERVICE CONTRIBUTION
TO USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM PROPOSAL
INTRODUCTION
The Forest Service, as an integral member of Team USDA, supports President
Clinton's national service initiative known as AmeriCorps. The following
Forest Service proposal focuses on the Rural Development Team portion of
AmeriCorps, as part of the larger USDA program application to the Corporation
for National Community Service.
SUMMARY
The Forest Service pledges a total of $2,599,700, which includes both direct
funding and agency in-kind contributions. This level of funding creates 74
AmeriCorps positions. The $2,599,700 consists of $1,775,000 from the agency's
Rural Community Assistance efforts, $337,000 from Urban and Community
Forestry's recycling efforts, $275,000 from the Wood In Transportation program,
and $213,000 from the Forest Products Conservation and Recycling program. The
particular projects selected for AmeriCorps are described in the following
section.
ASSUMPTIONS
The following are a list of assumptions used throughout this proposal:
(1) All funding dollars include Forest Service in-kind contributions.
(2) An AmeriCorps person would cost a minimum of $20,000.
(3) A strong political need exists to link AmeriCorps projects with
Empowerment Zones/Enterprize Communities (EZ/EC Zones)
(4) The Forest Service will work within its existing authorities and initial
PBMI for Fiscal Year 1995 and will not reallocate funds from one Region to
another.
(5) The Forest Service proposal is an integral part of the overall USDA
strategy and should not be seperated from the Department's efforts.
PROJECT PROPOSALS
Within each of the projects, objectives, number of AmeriCorps members, skills,
and funding levels are addressed. The number of Americorps members and
associated funding by Forest Service program appropriation is provided on the
attached table.
South Carolina
South Carolina has the second highest minority population in the Southern
region, composed primarily of African Americans. Current program efforts have
had difficulty reaching these communities due to cultural differences.
Leadership and sustainable economic development skills are essential for these
communities. Developing and identifying community leaders in disenfranchised
areas is the first step towards building capacity and enabling the community to
set it's own vision and attain their goals. Models of this type of training
are available from the Extension Service and state agencies to accomplish this
objective.
Persons with a diverse background and understanding of African American culture
would be desirable candidates. Interpersonal skills, ability to listen and
facilitation skills would be required. Some of these skills can be developed
through mentoring with agency personnel. A series of Economic Development
Specialists could be assigned to rural sites throughout the state.
The Forest Service commits $132,000 of its Rural Community Assistance (RCA)
dollars to fund 5 AmeriCorps members, with college degrees, who are specialists
in either leadership or economic development.
Mississippi Delta
This area includes the following counties: MS Counties: Desoto, Tunica,
Panola, Coahoma, Bolivar, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Leflore, Washington,
Sunflower, Carrol, Charkey, Holmes, Humphreys, Yazoo, Wassren, Issaquena,
Claiborne, and Jefferson. AR Counties: Crittenden, Lee, Phillips, Desha, and
Chicot. LA Counties: East Carroll, West Carroll, Madison, Tensas, and
Concordia.
The Governor of Mississippi recently signed legislation to authorize
replacement of over 6,000 unsafe bridges. Opportunities exist to promote "Wood
in Transportation" by having qualified Engineering students working through
AmeriCorps to provide technical assistance to communities wanting to install
timber bridges. These AmeriCorp participants could also transfer the bridge
technology to areas where potential projects could be duplicated and
demonstrate the advantages of wooden bridges.
An opportunity exists to transfer recycling technology from the Franklin County
Recycling Project to other sites. Development of recycling programs following
this model could be duplicated in other areas of the Delta region in order to
create jobs for disabled persons.
By working with partnerships developed from ongoing RCA activities, the Forest
Service could provide AmeriCorps participants to work with local community
leaders in meeting specific community needs, particularly with ongoing social
programs, education and infrastructure needs. For example, local leaders
developed from the Copiah County leadership development workshops may be able
to utilize a Business major to assist citizens in establishing small
businesses. In addition other federal agencies, such as the Small Business
Administration, could provide technical and financial assistance, furthering
agency efforts.
Ongoing outreach efforts can be enhanced by collaborating with 1890
institutions and black colleges. Alcorn State has capacity grants for
education programs from day care kindergarden through high school. Future
needs for these programs could be identified in local areas, and local leaders
could incorporate these social needs into their economic development plans.
For example, many persons are unable to work due to child care needs. An
AmeriCorp participant would work with community leaders to develop practical
solutions.
Other predominately black colleges such as Rust have provided leadership
workshops for minority communities to build capacity. AmeriCorp participants
could work side by side with rural sociologists and other experts in these
fields to develop and disseminate this information. Additionally a study
could start which addresses the social changes needed to improve the economy of
the region and implementations plans for practical solutions begun.
The Forest Service allocates $384,000 to fund 15 AmeriCorps positions in the
Mississippi Delta as follows: (1) $73,000 of Urban and Community Forestry
(U&CF) funds for 3 AmeriCorps positions requiring college degrees to transfer
recycling technology regarding urban forest residual management, (2) $73,000 of
Wood In Transportation (WIT) dollars funding 3 AmeriCorps positions, two of
which are graduate degrees and one undergraduate, to assist communities address
their timber bridge needs, and (3) $238,000 of RCA funds, creating 9 AmeriCorps
undergraduate degreed positions to perform outreach to 1890 schools, conduct
leadership and economic development, and begin a "Delta Social Changes" study.
Alaska
The objectives listed for AmeriCorps participants are need and feasibility.
Additionally, these activities are complementary to the activities planned by
the Alaska Community Services Commission, the Alaska Department of Community
and Regional Affairs, and of equal importance our sister agencies in TEAM USDA.
The Forest Service allocates $155,000 to fund 5 positions in Alaska. The
dollars are distributed as follows: (1) $62,000 of U&CF funds, creating 2
positions, requiring undergraduate degrees, to assist selected communities
throughout the State of Alaska in developing U&CF recycling plans and/or
produce prototypes, (2) $31,000 of RCA program dollars for 1 AmeriCorps member,
with a graduate degree, to provide rural community assistance to
timber-dependent Southeastern Alaska communities for economic diversification,
(3) $31,000 of RCA program dollars for 1 AmeriCorps member, requiring an
undergraduate degree, to provide rural community assistance to help forest and
farm owners in South-Central Alaska develop markets and/or cooperatives, and
(4) $31,000 of RCA program dollars for 1 AmeriCorps member, a college graduate,
to provide rural community assistance to help Alaska Native Villages by
delivering program opportunities to remote Native communities.
Appalachia
(1) Southern Region Component:
This includes the following States: TN, KY, GA, VA, and NC.
Rural tourism efforts are underway in this region and feature recreational and
aesthetic opportunities. Local partners have needs for tour guides with
interpretive skills. Recreation planners, tourism surveys, and marketing are
needed. AmeriCorps participants could work with the Appalachian Regional
Commission and other partners to develop regional tourism plans.
Another identified need is hiring professional Economic Development
Coordinators who would seek business development opportunities for this area.
Business students could work with these professionals and local communities.
Environmental students could work in these areas to identify issues of
environmental concern with related new business ventures.
Working with state forestry organizations can provide opportunities for
AmeriCorps participants to work with professional Wood Utilization Foresters.
The objective would be to promote alternative wood products and value added
manufacturing technologies.
The Black Belt studies initiated at North Carolina State University could
provide opportunities to implement social changes needed to improve the economy
of the region.
The Forest Service targets $450,000 to the Appalachian States of TN, KY, GA,
VA, and NC to fund 20 AmeriCorps positions as follows: (1) $113,000 from Forest
Products Conservation and Recycling (FPC&R) for 5 AmeriCorps members with
undergraduate degrees to perform wood utilization activities, and (2) $337,000
of RCA dollars, creating 15 AmeriCorps positions, three requiring graduate and
the rest undergraduate degrees, to engage in rural tourism, economic
development, and Black Belt Studies.
(2) Northeastern Area Component:
This section addresses the needs of the State of WV.
Initial Forest Service efforts are directed to those counties eligible for
participation in the Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community program. Corps
members will carry out sustainable natural resource-based economic development
activities identified by local communities and planned cooperatively by the
communities, the West Virginia Division of Forestry, the West Virginia
University Appalachian Hardwood Center, and the Northeastern Area's Economic
Action Program. This concept is supported by the West Virginia Rural
Development Council.
The program's objective is to assist communities in planning for and
implementing sustainable economic development strategies based on forest
resources with an emphasis on value-added enterprises. Value-added forest
based enterprises include, but are not limited to:
Secondary Wood Products Manufacturing
Tourism Development
Gathering and Marketing Special Forest Products
Manufacturing Recycled Products Based on Wood Fiber
The Forest Service commits $380,000 (including funds for project related
activities) to this section of Appalachia to fund 6 AmeriCorps positions as
follows: (1) $102,000 from U&CF funds for 1 AmeriCorps member, a wood
processing specialist with a graduate degree, (2) $176,000 of RCA program
dollars for 3 AmeriCorps people, one a business development specialist with a
graduate degree, one a travel and tourism specialist with a graduate degree,
and one a marketing specialist with an undergraduate degree, and (3) $102,000
of WIT money for 2 AmeriCorps positions, a environmental engineer with a
graduate degree and one a civil engineer with an undergraduate degree.
Four Corners
This area includes the States of AZ, CO, NM, and UT.
Prior to the initiation of the regional agency and community "Strengthening
Partnerships for Active Rural Communities" (SPARCS) collaboration, the Forest
Service was actively working with many partners in the 4 Corners area,
including a dozen Community Action Teams, and projects with the Navajo, Zuni
and Jicarilla Apache tribes. The intent of SPARCS was to build on the existing
partnerships, as well as initiate actions that are of regional scope for the
entire -Corners area that have broad-based community support. The agency's
desire under the Americorps program, is to strongly support both its longer
term partnerships at the individual community level, as well as to accelerate
the projects identified in the last six months within the SPARCS process.
The 4 Corners Site is defined for the Americorps proposal as the lands
contained within the boundaries of the 4 RC&D areas that touch at the 4 Corners
Monument. Included within the area are the lands or influence zones of the San
Juan, Rio Grande, Manti-La Sal, Carson, Cibola, Santa Fe, Coconino and
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.
The Forest Service plans to use AmeriCorps members to work on four projects as
follows:
(1) Devise social, economic and demographic shared data bases to support
sustainable economic development. Specifically these data bases are needed to
establish baseline information regarding current local conditions and trends.
They will be used to suggest and validate strategies for diversifying or
strengthening local economies.
(2) Train people for community capacity building and leadership development
throughout the -Corners region by conducting regional workshops and local
seminars; increasing preparedness and skill to support sustainable rural
economic development; and promoting dialogue and collabcrative learning
activities organized around regional development concerns, such as value-added
forestry, agriculture and tourism.
(3) Develop a tribal tourism and 4 Corners Heritage Council throughout the
4-Corners area, with emphasis on tribal lands. All of the Tribes within the
4-Corners are pursuing tourism development as an economic development
strategy. The Heritage Council was commissioned by the Governors of the four
affected states with a charter to develop locally-based heritage tourism
opportunities, with an emphasis on providing an economic boost to the tribes
and rural communities. They have 4 mutual objectives (projects) for 1994-97:
a. Community Tourism Development Plans on the Navajo Reservation
b. Tourism / Recreation Facilities Site Plans on the Navajo
Reservation.
C. Train Native American Resource Interpreters
d. Archeaeological Research, Guided Tours, and Ruin Stabilization on
the Ute Mtn Ute Tribal Park.