16 U.S.C. § 2107 : US Code - Section 2107: Financial, technical, and related assistance to States

Search 16 U.S.C. § 2107 : US Code - Section 2107: Financial, technical, and related assistance to States

(a) Development of State organizations for protection and
management of non-Federal forest lands; scope of assistance;
request by officials
To aid in achieving maximum effectiveness in the programs and
activities conducted under this chapter, 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) Assembly, analysis, display, and reporting of State forest
resources data, resources planning, etc.; scope of assistance;
other statutory provisions unaffected
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) Technology implementation program; scope of program;
availability of funds; use of forest resources planning
committees
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 chapter 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 chapter;
(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
chapter;
(D) test, evaluate, and seek registration of chemicals for
use in implementing the programs and activities authorized
under this chapter;
(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 chapter
are responsive to special problems, unique situations, and
changing conditions.
(2) The Secretary may make funds available to cooperators under
this chapter without regard to the provisions of section 3324(a)
and (b) of title 31, 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) Authorization of appropriations
There are hereby authorized to be appropriated annually such sums
as may be needed to implement this section.