gible colleges and universities in each State shall jointly develop by mutual agreement, a single comprehensive and coordinated renewable resources extension program in which the role of each eligible college and university is well defined. In meeting this responsibility, the State director and the administrative heads of extension for eligible colleges and universities shall consult and seek agreement with the administrative technical representatives and the forestry representatives provided for by the Secretary in implementation of the Act of October 10, 1962 (76 Stat. 806-807, as amended; 16 U.S.C. 582a, 582a-1-582a-7), in the State. Each State's renewable resources extension program shall be submitted to the Secretary annually. The National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board established under section 1408 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 shall review and make recommendations to the Secretary pertaining to programs conducted under this Act. (b) The State director and the administrative heads of extension for eligible colleges and universities in each State shall encourage close cooperation between extension staffs at the county and State levels, and State and Federal research organizations dealing with renewable resources, State and Federal agencies that manage forests and rangelands and their associated renewable resources, State and Federal agencies that have responsibilities associated with the processing or use of renewable resources, and other agencies or organizations the State director and administrative heads of extension deem appropriate. (c) Each State renewable resources extension program shall be administered and coordinated by the State director, except that, in States having colleges eligible to receive funds under the Act of August 30, 1890 (26 Stat. 417-419, as amended; 7 U.S.C. 321 326, 328), including Tuskegee Institute, the State renewable resources extension program shall be administered by the State director and the administrative head or heads of extension for the college or colleges eligible to receive such funds. (d) In meeting the provisions of this section, each State director and administrative heads of extension for eligible colleges and universities shall appoint and use one or more advisory committees comprised of forest and range landowners, professionally trained individuals in fish and wildlife, forest, range, and watershed management, and related fields, as appropriate, and other suitable per sons. (e) For the purposes of this Act, the term "State" means any one of the fifty States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands of the United States. NATIONAL RENEWABLE RESOURCES EXTENSION PROGRAM SEC. 5. [16 U.S.C. 1674] (a) The Secretary shall prepare a five-year plan for implementing this Act, which is to be called the "Renewable Resources Extension Program" and shall submit such plan to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of year ending September 30, 1980, and the last day of the first half of each fifth fiscal year thereafter. The Renewable Resources Extension Program shall provide national emphasis and direction as well as guidance to State directors and administrative heads of extension for eligible colleges and universities in the development of their respective State renewable resources extension programs, which are to be appropriate in terms of the conditions, needs, and opportunities in each State. The Renewable Resources Extension Program shall contain, but not be limited to, brief outlines of general extension programs for fish and wildlife management (for both game and nongame species), range management, timber management (including brief outlines of general extension programs for timber utilization, timber harvesting, timber marketing, wood utilization, and wood products marketing) and watersheld management (giving, special attention to water quality protection), as well as brief outlines of general extension programs for recognition and enhancement of forest- and range-based outdoor recreation opportunities, for urban and community forestry activities, and for planting and management of trees and shrubs in shelterbelts, and give special attention to water quality protection and natural resource and environmental education for landowners and managers, public officials, and the public. (b) In preparing the Renewable Resources Extension Program, the Secretary shall take into account the respective capabilities of private forests and rangelands for yielding renewable resources and the relative needs for such resources identified in the periodic_Renewable Resource Assessment provided for in section 3 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 and the periodic appraisal of land and water resources provided for in section 5 of the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of 1977. (c) To provide information that will aid Congress in its oversight responsibilities and to provide accountability in implementing this Act, the Secretary shall prepare an annual report, which shall be furnished to Congress at the time of submission of each annual fiscal budget, beginning with the annual fiscal budget for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1981. The annual report shall set forth accomplishments of the Renewable Resources Extension Program, its strengths and weaknesses, recommendations for improvement, and costs of program administration, each with respect to the preceding fiscal year. (d) To assist Congress and the public in evaluating the Renewable Resources Extension Program, the program shall include a review of activities undertaken in response to the preceding five-year plan and an evaluation of the progress made toward accomplishing the goals and objectives set forth in such preceding plan. Such review and evaluation shall be displayed in the program, for the Nation as a whole, and for each State. SEC. 5A. [16 U.S.C. 1674a] EXPANDED PROGRAMS. (a) IN GENERAL.-The Secretary, acting through the Extension Service and the State cooperative extension services, and in consultation with State foresters or equivalent State officials, school boards, and universities, shall expand forestry and natural resources education programs conducted under this Act for private forest owners and managers, public officials, youth, and the general public, and shall include guidelines for the transfer of technology. (b) ACTIVITIES.— (1) IN GENERAL.-In expanding the programs conducted under this Act, the Secretary shall ensure that activities are undertaken to promote policies and practices that enhance the health, vitality, productivity, economic value, and environmental attributes of the forest lands of the United States. (2) TYPES.-The activities referred to in paragraph (1) shall include (A) demonstrating and teaching landowners and forest managers the concepts of multiple-use and sustainable natural resource management; (B) conducting comprehensive environmental education programs that assist citizens to participate in environmentally positive activities such as tree planting, recycling, erosion prevention, and waste management; and (C) educational programs and materials that will improve the capacity of schools, local governments and resource agencies to deliver forestry and natural resources information to young people, environmentally concerned citizens, and action groups. APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZATION SEC. 6. [16 U.S.C. 1675] There are hereby authorized to be appropriated to implement this Act $15,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1988, and $15,000,000 for each of the next twelve fiscal years. Generally, States shall be eligible for funds appropriated under this Act according to the respective capabilities of their private forests and rangelands for yielding renewable resources and relative needs for such resources identified in the periodic Renewable Resource Assessment provided for in section 3 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 and the periodic appraisal of land and water resources provided for in section 5 of the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of 1977. REGULATIONS AND COORDINATION SEC. 7. [16 U.S.C. 1676] The Secretary is authorized to issue such rules and regulations as the Secretary deems necessary to implement the provisions of this Act and to coordinate this Act with title XIV of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977. EFFECTIVE DATE SEC. 8. [16 U.S.C. 1671 note] The provisions of this Act shall be effective for the period beginning October 1, 1978, and ending September 30, 2000. |