15 U.S.C. § 651 : US Code - Section 651: National small business tree planting program

Search 15 U.S.C. § 651 : US Code - Section 651: National small business tree planting program

(a) Authorization of grants and contracts with States
The Administrator is authorized to make grants to or to enter
into contracts with any State for the purpose of contracting with
small businesses to plant trees on land owned or controlled by such
State or local government. The Administrator shall require as a
condition of any grant (or amendment or modification thereof) under
this section that the applicant also contribute to the project a
sum equal to at least 25 per centum of a particular project cost
from sources other than the Federal Government. Such non-Federal
money may include inkind contributions, including the cost or value
of providing care and maintenance for a period of three years after
the planting of the trees, but shall not include any value
attributable to the land on which the trees are to be planted, nor
may any part of any grant be used to pay for land or land charges:
Provided, That not less than one-half of the amounts appropriated
under this section shall be allocated to each State, the District
of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico on the basis of
the population in each area as compared to the total population in
all areas as provided by the Census Bureau of the Department of
Commerce in the annual population estimate or the decennial census,
whichever is most current. The Administrator may give a priority in
awarding the remaining one-half of appropriated amounts to
applicants who agree to contribute more than the requisite 25 per
centum, and shall give priority to a proposal to restore an area
determined to be a major disaster by the President on a date not
more than three years prior to the fiscal year for which the
application is made.
(b) Establishment by Administrator
In order to accomplish the objectives of this section, the
Administrator, in consultation with appropriate Federal agencies,
shall be responsible for formulating a national small business tree
planting program. Based on this program, a State may submit a
detailed proposal for tree planting by contract.
(c) Utilization of small business concerns in implementing program
To encourage and develop the capacity of small business concerns,
to utilize this important segment of our economy, and to permit
rapid increases in employment opportunities in local communities,
grantees are directed to utilize small business contractors or
concerns in connection with the program established by this
section, and shall, to the extent practicable, divide the project
to allow more than one small business concern to perform the work
under the project.
(d) Cooperation of Federal agencies; technical services
For purposes of this section, agencies of the Federal Government
are hereby authorized to cooperate with all grantees and with State
foresters or other appropriate officials by providing without
charge, in furtherance of this program, technical services with
respect to the planting and growing of such trees.
(e) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the
objectives of this section, $15,000,000 for fiscal year 1991 and
$30,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1995 through 1997, and all
of such sums may remain available until expended.
(f) Rules and regulations
Notwithstanding any other law, rule, or regulation, the
administration shall publish in the Federal Register proposed rules
and regulations implementing this section within sixty days after
November 5, 1990, and shall publish final rules and regulations
within one hundred and twenty days of November 5, 1990.
(g) Definitions
As used in this section:
(1) the term "local government" includes political subdivisions
of a State such as counties, parishes, cities, towns and
municipalities;
(2) the term "planting" includes watering, application of
fertilizer and herbicides, pruning and shaping, and other
subsequent care and maintenance for a period of three years after
the trees are planted; and
(3) the term "State" includes any agency thereof.
(h) Annual report to President and Congress
The Administrator shall submit annually to the President and the
Congress a report on activities within the scope of this section.