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7 USC CHAPTER 95 - RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY 01/06/03

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TITLE 7 - AGRICULTURE

CHAPTER 95 - RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY

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-HEAD-

CHAPTER 95 - RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY

-MISC1-

SUBCHAPTER I - FORESTRY RURAL REVITALIZATION

Sec.

6601. Forestry rural revitalization.

(a) Establishment of economic development and global

marketing program.

(b) Activities.

(c) Types of programs.

SUBCHAPTER II - NATIONAL FOREST-DEPENDENT RURAL COMMUNITIES

6611. Findings and purposes.

(a) Findings.

(b) Purposes.

6612. Definitions.

6613. Rural natural resources and economic diversification action

teams.

(a) Requests for assistance.

(b) Establishment.

(c) Organization.

(d) Cooperation.

(e) Eligibility.

(f) Approval.

(g) ''Designated rural development program'' defined.

6614. Action plan implementation.

(a) In general.

(b) Assistance.

(c) Limitation.

(d) Available authority.

(e) Consistency with forest plans.

6615. Training and education.

(a) Programs.

(b) Existing educational and training programs.

6616. Loans to economically disadvantaged rural communities.

(a) In general.

(b) Interest rates.

6617. Authorization of appropriations and spending authority.

(a) Authorization of appropriations.

(b) Limitation on authorization.

(c) Spending authority.

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7 USC SUBCHAPTER I - FORESTRY RURAL REVITALIZATION 01/06/03

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TITLE 7 - AGRICULTURE

CHAPTER 95 - RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY

SUBCHAPTER I - FORESTRY RURAL REVITALIZATION

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-HEAD-

SUBCHAPTER I - FORESTRY RURAL REVITALIZATION

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7 USC Sec. 6601 01/06/03

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TITLE 7 - AGRICULTURE

CHAPTER 95 - RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY

SUBCHAPTER I - FORESTRY RURAL REVITALIZATION

-HEAD-

Sec. 6601. Forestry rural revitalization

-STATUTE-

(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 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) of this section

shall -

(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) of this section to -

(1) deliver educational services focused on community economic

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.

-SOURCE-

(Pub. L. 101-624, title XXIII, Sec. 2371, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat.

4045.)

-MISC1-

SHORT TITLE

Section 2372 of Pub. L. 101-624 provided that: ''This chapter

(chapter 2 (Sec. 2372-2379) of subtitle G of title XXIII of Pub. L.

101-624, enacting subchapter II (Sec. 6611 et seq.) of this

chapter) may be cited as the 'National Forest-Dependent Rural

Communities Economic Diversification Act of 1990'.''

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7 USC SUBCHAPTER II - NATIONAL FOREST-DEPENDENT RURAL

COMMUNITIES 01/06/03

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TITLE 7 - AGRICULTURE

CHAPTER 95 - RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY

SUBCHAPTER II - NATIONAL FOREST-DEPENDENT RURAL COMMUNITIES

.

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SUBCHAPTER II - NATIONAL FOREST-DEPENDENT RURAL COMMUNITIES

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7 USC Sec. 6611 01/06/03

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TITLE 7 - AGRICULTURE

CHAPTER 95 - RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY

SUBCHAPTER II - NATIONAL FOREST-DEPENDENT RURAL COMMUNITIES

-HEAD-

Sec. 6611. Findings and purposes

-STATUTE-

(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-being of many rural communities depends

upon the goods and services that are derived from National Forest

System land;

(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

National Forest System land 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 natural 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 System land 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 subchapter are -

(1) to provide assistance to rural communities that are located

in or near National Forest System land and that are economically

dependent upon natural 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.

-SOURCE-

(Pub. L. 101-624, title XXIII, Sec. 2373, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat.

4046; Pub. L. 106-113, div. B, Sec. 1000(a)(3) (title III, Sec.

345(a)), Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1535, 1501A-203.)

-MISC1-

AMENDMENTS

1999 - Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 106-113, Sec. 1000(a)(3) (title

III, Sec. 345(a)(1)(A)), substituted ''National Forest System

land;'' for ''national forests;''.

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 106-113, Sec. 1000(a)(3) (title III, Sec.

345(a)(1)(B)), substituted ''National Forest System land'' for

''the national forests''.

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 106-113, Sec. 1000(a)(3) (title III, Sec.

345(a)(1)(C)), substituted ''natural resources;'' for ''forest

resources;''.

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 106-113, Sec. 1000(a)(3) (title III, Sec.

345(a)(1)(D)), substituted ''National Forest System land

resources'' for ''national forest resources''.

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 106-113, Sec. 1000(a)(3) (title III, Sec.

345(a)(2)), substituted ''National Forest System land'' for

''national forests'' and ''natural resources'' for ''forest

resources''.

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7 USC Sec. 6612 01/06/03

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TITLE 7 - AGRICULTURE

CHAPTER 95 - RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY

SUBCHAPTER II - NATIONAL FOREST-DEPENDENT RURAL COMMUNITIES

-HEAD-

Sec. 6612. Definitions

-STATUTE-

As used in this subchapter:

(1) The term ''action team'' means a rural natural resources

and economic diversification action team established by the

Secretary pursuant to section 6613(b) of this title.

(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, or any area represented by

a not-for-profit corporation or institution organized under

State or Federal law to promote broad based economic

development, or unit of general purpose local government, as

approved by the Secretary, that has a population of not more

than 10,000 individuals, is located within a county in which 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, forage

production, and tourism and that is located within the

boundary, or within 100 miles of the boundary, of a national

forest; or

(B) any county that is not contained within a Metropolitan

Statistical Area as defined by the United States Office of

Management and Budget, in which 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, forage production, and tourism

and 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.

-SOURCE-

(Pub. L. 101-624, title XXIII, Sec. 2374, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat.

4046; Pub. L. 103-115, Oct. 26, 1993, 107 Stat. 1117; Pub. L.

106-113, div. B, Sec. 1000(a)(3) (title III, Sec. 345(b)), Nov.

29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1535, 1501A-203.)

-MISC1-

AMENDMENTS

1999 - Par. (1). Pub. L. 106-113 substituted ''natural

resources'' for ''forestry''.

1993 - Par. (3). Pub. L. 103-115 amended par. (3) generally.

Prior to amendment, par. (3) read as follows: ''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 which

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,

that is located within the boundary, or within 100 miles of the

boundary, of a national forest.''

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7 USC Sec. 6613 01/06/03

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TITLE 7 - AGRICULTURE

CHAPTER 95 - RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY

SUBCHAPTER II - NATIONAL FOREST-DEPENDENT RURAL COMMUNITIES

-HEAD-

Sec. 6613. Rural natural resources and economic diversification

action teams

-STATUTE-

(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 natural resources

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 System land resources. The action

team may also identify opportunities to use value-added products

and services derived from National Forest System land resources.

(c) Organization

The Secretary shall design and organize any action team

established pursuant to subsection (b) of this section 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 subchapter and a grant for assistance under a designated

rural development program 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 6614 of this title those

action plans that will achieve the purposes of this subchapter.

(g) ''Designated rural development program'' defined

In this section, the term ''designated rural development

program'' means a program carried out under section 1924(b),

1926(a), or 1932(e) of this title for which funds are available at

any time during the fiscal year.

-SOURCE-

(Pub. L. 101-624, title XXIII, Sec. 2375, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat.

4047; Pub. L. 104-127, title VII, Sec. 753(b)(1), Apr. 4, 1996, 110

Stat. 1131; Pub. L. 106-113, div. B, Sec. 1000(a)(3) (title III,

Sec. 345(c)), Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1535, 1501A-204.)

-MISC1-

AMENDMENTS

1999 - Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106-113 substituted ''natural

resources'' for ''forestry'' and substituted ''National Forest

System land resources'' for ''national forest resources'' in two

places.

1996 - Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 104-127, Sec. 753(b)(1)(A), struck

out '', as defined in section 2008(b)(2) of this title,'' before

''during any''.

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 104-127, Sec. 753(b)(1)(B), added subsec.

(g).

-SECREF-

SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS

This section is referred to in section 6612 of this title.

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7 USC Sec. 6614 01/06/03

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TITLE 7 - AGRICULTURE

CHAPTER 95 - RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY

SUBCHAPTER II - NATIONAL FOREST-DEPENDENT RURAL COMMUNITIES

-HEAD-

Sec. 6614. Action plan implementation

-STATUTE-

(a) In general

Action plans shall be implemented, insofar as practicable, to

upgrade existing industries to use natural resources more

efficiently and to expand the economic base of rural communities so

as to alleviate or reduce their dependence on National Forest

System land 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 implementation of an

action plan shall not exceed 80 percent 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.

-SOURCE-

(Pub. L. 101-624, title XXIII, Sec. 2376, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat.

4048; Pub. L. 106-113, div. B, Sec. 1000(a)(3) (title III, Sec.

345(d)), Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1535, 1501A-204.)

-REFTEXT-

REFERENCES IN TEXT

The Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978, referred to in

subsec. (d), is Pub. L. 95-313, July 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 365, as

amended, which is classified principally to chapter 41 (Sec. 2101

et seq.) of Title 16, Conservation. For complete classification of

this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section

2101 of Title 16 and Tables.

-MISC2-

AMENDMENTS

1999 - Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106-113 substituted ''natural

resources'' for ''forest resources'' and ''National Forest System

land resources'' for ''national forest resources''.

-SECREF-

SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS

This section is referred to in section 6613 of this title.

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7 USC Sec. 6615 01/06/03

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TITLE 7 - AGRICULTURE

CHAPTER 95 - RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY

SUBCHAPTER II - NATIONAL FOREST-DEPENDENT RURAL COMMUNITIES

-HEAD-

Sec. 6615. Training and education

-STATUTE-

(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 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 System land 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 System

land 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.

-SOURCE-

(Pub. L. 101-624, title XXIII, Sec. 2377, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat.

4048; Pub. L. 106-113, div. B, Sec. 1000(a)(3) (title III, Sec.

345(e)), Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1535, 1501A-204.)

-MISC1-

AMENDMENTS

1999 - Subsec. (a)(2), (3). Pub. L. 106-113, which directed

substitution of ''National Forest System land resources'' for

''national forest resources'' in pars. (3) and (4), was executed by

making the substitution in pars. (2) and (3) to reflect the

probable intent of Congress.

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7 USC Sec. 6616 01/06/03

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TITLE 7 - AGRICULTURE

CHAPTER 95 - RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY

SUBCHAPTER II - NATIONAL FOREST-DEPENDENT RURAL COMMUNITIES

-HEAD-

Sec. 6616. Loans to economically disadvantaged rural communities

-STATUTE-

(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 System land resources; and

(3) supporting the development of new industries or commercial

ventures unrelated to National Forest System land 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, as determined

by the Secretary, and rounded to the nearest one-eighth of 1

percent.

-SOURCE-

(Pub. L. 101-624, title XXIII, Sec. 2378, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat.

4048; Pub. L. 106-113, div. B, Sec. 1000(a)(3) (title III, Sec.

345(f)), Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1535, 1501A-204.)

-MISC1-

AMENDMENTS

1999 - Subsec. (a)(2), (3). Pub. L. 106-113 substituted

''National Forest System land resources'' for ''national forest

resources''.

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7 USC Sec. 6617 01/06/03

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TITLE 7 - AGRICULTURE

CHAPTER 95 - RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY

SUBCHAPTER II - NATIONAL FOREST-DEPENDENT RURAL COMMUNITIES

-HEAD-

Sec. 6617. Authorization of appropriations and spending authority

-STATUTE-

(a) Authorization of appropriations

Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, 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 subchapter.

(b) Limitation on authorization

Subsection (a) of this section shall not in any way affect

payments to the States pursuant to section 500 of title 16.

(c) Spending authority

Any spending authority (as defined in section 651 of title 2)

provided in this subchapter shall be effective for any fiscal year

only to such extent or in such amounts as are provided in

appropriation Acts.

-SOURCE-

(Pub. L. 101-624, title XXIII, Sec. 2379, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat.

4049.)

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