S. 4891 — Introduced in Senate

II 117th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4891 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 20, 2022Mr. Sanders introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To amend the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to authorize certain construction activities on public lands, and for other purposes. 1. Nurseries Title VI of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1781 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 604. Nurseries (a) In general Using funds made available under section 40804(b)(8) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (16 U.S.C. 6592a(b)(8))— (1) the Secretary shall carry out a pilot program to establish and operate nurseries on public lands and other Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary; and (2) the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall carry out a pilot program to establish and operate nurseries on National Forest System land. (b) Locations (1) Department of the Interior The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program established under subsection (a)(1) in— (A) 4 of the eleven contiguous Western States; and (B) 1 State that is not 1 of the eleven contiguous Western States. (2) Forest Service The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall carry out the pilot program established under subsection (a)(2) in— (A) 4 of the eleven contiguous Western States; and (B) 1 State, including the State of Vermont, that is not 1 of the eleven contiguous Western States. (c) Activities (1) Definition of Secretary concerned In this subsection, the term Secretary concerned means— (A) the Secretary, with respect to public lands and other Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary; and (B) the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, with respect to National Forest System land. (2) Authorizations In carrying out a pilot program established under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned may— (A) establish a tree nursery on Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned, and develop the infrastructure necessary to support that nursery, to address Federal and regional conservation tree planting needs, consistent with the Bureau of Land Management National Seed Strategy; (B) purchase necessary equipment and machinery and construct the necessary facilities on Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned to store material, equipment, and machinery authorized under this section; (C) enter into cooperative agreements with non-Federal entities to use trees produced in nurseries established under the pilot program; (D) conduct necessary research on grazing and forest management on Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned, ensuring the long-term sustainability of such grazing and forest management, to maximize the ability— (i) to sequester carbon; (ii) to prevent soil erosion; and (iii) to improve air and water quality; and (E) hire and train personnel to carry out the activities described in this section. .