25 U.S.C. § 3111 : US Code - Section 3111: Assessment of Indian forest land and management programs

Search 25 U.S.C. § 3111 : US Code - Section 3111: Assessment of Indian forest land and management programs

(a) Initial assessment
(1) Within 1 year after November 28, 1990, the Secretary, in
consultation with affected Indian tribes, shall enter into a
contract with a non-Federal entity knowledgeable in forest
management practices on Federal and private lands to conduct an
independent assessment of Indian forest lands and Indian forest
land management practices.
(2) Such assessment shall be national in scope and shall include -

(A) an in-depth analysis of management practices on, and the
level of funding for, specific Indian forest land compared with
similar Federal and private forest lands,
(B) a survey of the condition of Indian forest lands, including
health and productivity levels,
(C) an evaluation of the staffing patterns of forestry
organizations of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and of Indian
tribes,
(D) an evaluation of procedures employed in timber sales
administration, including preparation, field supervision, and
accountability for proceeds,
(E) an analysis of the potential for reducing or eliminating
relevant administrative procedures, rules and policies of the
Bureau of Indian Affairs consistent with the Federal trust
responsibility,
(F) a comprehensive review of the adequacy of Indian forest
land management plans, including their compatibility with
applicable tribal integrated resource management plans and their
ability to meet tribal needs and priorities,
(G) an evaluation of the feasibility and desirability of
establishing minimum standards against which the adequacy of the
forestry programs of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in fulfilling
its trust responsibility to Indian tribes can be measured, and
(H) a recommendation of any reforms and increased funding
levels necessary to bring Indian forest land management programs
to a state-of-the-art condition.
(3) Such assessment shall include specific examples and
comparisons from each of the regions of the United States where
Indian forest lands are located.
(4) The initial assessment required by this subsection shall be
completed no later than 36 months following November 28, 1990. Upon
completion, the assessment shall be submitted to the Committee on
Natural Resources of the United States House of Representatives and
the Committee on Indian Affairs of the United States Senate and
shall be made available to Indian tribes.
(b) Periodic assessments
On each 10-year anniversary of November 28, 1990, the Secretary
shall provide for an independent assessment of Indian forest lands
and Indian forest land management practices under the criteria
established in subsection (a) of this section which shall include
analyses measured against findings in previous assessments.
(c) Status report to Congress
The Secretary shall submit, within 1 year of the first full
fiscal year after November 28, 1990, and within 6 months of the end
of each succeeding fiscal year, a report to the Committee on
Natural Resources of the United States House of Representatives,
the Committee on Indian Affairs of the United States Senate, and to
the affected Indian tribes a report on the status of Indian forest
lands with respect to standards, goals and objectives set forth in
approved forest management plans for each Indian tribe with Indian
forest lands. The report shall identify the amount of Indian forest
land in need of forestation or other silviculture treatment and the
quantity of timber available for sale, offered for sale, and sold
for each Indian tribe.
(d) Assistance from Secretary of Agriculture
The Secretary of Agriculture, through the Forest Service, is
authorized to provide, upon the request of the Secretary of the
Interior, on a nonreimbursable basis, technical assistance in the
conduct of such research and evaluation activities as may be
necessary for the completion of any reports or assessments required
by this chapter.