A bill to require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on the establishment of, and the potential land that could be included in, a unit of the National Forest System in the State of Hawaii, and for other purposes.

II 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 554 To require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on the establish- ment of, and the potential land that could be included in, a unit of the National Forest System in the State of Hawaii, and for other purposes. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 3, 2021 Ms. HIRONO (for herself and Mr. SCHATZ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a study on the establishment of, and the potential land that could be included in, a unit of the National Forest Sys- tem in the State of Hawaii, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. HAWAII NATIONAL FOREST STUDY. 3 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 4 (1) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 5 the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the 6 Chief of the Forest Service. 7 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:01 Apr 01, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S554.IS S554 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •S 554 IS (2) STUDY AREA.—The term ‘‘study area’’ 1 means the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, 2 Oahu, and Kauai in the State of Hawaii. 3 (b) STUDY.— 4 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct 5 a study— 6 (A) to determine the suitability and feasi- 7 bility of establishing a unit of the National For- 8 est System in the study area; and 9 (B) to identify available land within the 10 study area that could be included in the unit 11 described in subparagraph (A). 12 (2) COORDINATION AND CONSULTATION.—In 13 conducting the study under paragraph (1), the Sec- 14 retary shall— 15 (A) coordinate with the Hawaii Depart- 16 ment of Land and Natural Resources; and 17 (B) consult with the Hawaii Department 18 of Agriculture and other interested govern- 19 mental entities, private and nonprofit organiza- 20 tions, and any interested individuals. 21 (3) CONTENTS.—In conducting the study under 22 paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— 23 (A) consider unique vegetation types that 24 occur in the study area and that should be tar- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:01 Apr 01, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S554.IS S554 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •S 554 IS geted for inclusion in the unit of the National 1 Forest System described in paragraph (1)(A); 2 (B) evaluate the ability of the Secretary— 3 (i) to improve and protect forest areas 4 within the study area; and 5 (ii) to secure favorable water flows 6 within the study area; 7 (C) determine whether the unit of the Na- 8 tional Forest System described in paragraph 9 (1)(A) would expand, enhance, or duplicate— 10 (i) resource protection; and 11 (ii) visitor-use opportunities; 12 (D) consider parcels of an appropriate size 13 or location to be capable of economical adminis- 14 tration as part of the National Forest System 15 separately or jointly with the other land identi- 16 fied under paragraph (1)(B); 17 (E) evaluate the willingness of landowners 18 to sell or transfer land in the study area to the 19 Secretary; 20 (F) evaluate the suitability of land in the 21 study area for potential selection and designa- 22 tion as a research natural area or an experi- 23 mental forest; 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:01 Apr 01, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S554.IS S554 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 4 •S 554 IS (G) identify cost estimates for any Federal 1 acquisition, development, operation, and main- 2 tenance that would be needed to establish the 3 unit of the National Forest System described in 4 paragraph (1)(A); and 5 (H) consider other alternatives for the con- 6 servation, protection, and use of areas within 7 the study area by the Federal Government, 8 State or local government entities, or private 9 and nonprofit organizations. 10 (c) EFFECT.—Nothing in this section authorizes the 11 Secretary to take any action that would affect the use of 12 any land owned by the United States or not owned by the 13 United States. 14 (d) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the date 15 of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 16 the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 17 Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the 18 House of Representatives a report that describes— 19 (1) the results of the study; and 20 (2) any conclusions and recommendations of the 21 Secretary. 22 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:01 Apr 01, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S554.IS S554 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS