text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Clearwater Basin Project Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
  
      (a) Definitions.--In this Act:
              (1) Advisory panel.--The term ``advisory panel'' means the 
          Clearwater Advisory Panel, established by the Secretary under 
          section 3.
              (2) Pilot project.--The term ``pilot project'' means the 
          Clearwater Basin Pilot Project authorized by section 4.
              (3) Pilot project area.--The term ``pilot project area'' 
          means the area described in section 4(a) in which the pilot 
          project will be conducted.
              (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
          of Agriculture.
              (5) Stewardship contract.--The term ``stewardship 
          contract'' means a contract to achieve land management goals 
          for National Forest System lands as described in section 347 of 
          the Department of Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations 
          Act, 1999 (16 U.S.C. 2104 note).
              (6) Stewardship objectives.--The term ``stewardship 
          objectives'' means objectives that enhance forest ecosystems, 
          and restore and improve land health water quality such as--
                      (A) road, trail, and infrastructure maintenance or 
                  obliteration;
                      (B) soil productivity improvement;
                      (C) improvements in forest ecosystem health;
                      (D) watershed restoration and maintenance;
                      (E) restoration, maintenance and improvement of 
                  wildlife and fish habitat;
                      (F) control of noxious weeds; and
                      (G) reestablishment of native species.
  
  SEC. 3. CLEARWATER ADVISORY PANEL.
  
      (a) Establishment and Purpose.--The Secretary shall establish an 
  advisory group, to be known as the ``Clearwater Advisory Panel'', for 
  the purpose of improving collaborative relationships and providing 
  advice and recommendations to the Forest Service regarding the 
  Clearwater Basin pilot project and activities under the pilot project, 
  as authorized by and consistent with this Act.
      (b) Duties.--The advisory panel shall--
              (1) review and make recommendations to the Forest Service 
          regarding activities proposed for high priority implementation 
          as part of the pilot project;
              (2) provide early and continuous coordination with 
          appropriate Forest Service and other agency officials in 
          reviewing and recommending activities for high priority 
          implementation; and
              (3) provide frequent opportunities for citizens, 
          organizations, tribes, agencies, and other interested parties 
          to participate in all stages of the activity schedule 
          development process.
      (c) Appointment of Members.--
              (1) Appointment and term.--No later than 90 days after the 
          date of enactment of this Act, and consistent with subsection 
          (d), the Secretary shall appoint the members of the advisory 
          panel and each member shall serve without compensation for a 
          term of three years beginning on the date of appointment. The 
          Secretary may reappoint members to subsequent three-year terms.
              (2) Vacancies.--The Secretary shall make appointments to 
          fill vacancies on the advisory panel as soon as practicable 
          after the vacancy has occurred.
      (d) Composition of Advisory Panel.--The advisory panel shall 
  be comprised of 15 members who shall be representative of the interests 
  of the following categories:
              (1) Category i.--
                      (A) organized labor;
                      (B) developed outdoor recreation, off highway 
                  vehicle users, or commercial recreation activities;
                      (C) energy and mineral development interests;
                      (D) commercial timber industry; and
                      (E) Federal grazing permit holders, or other land 
                  use permit holders within the pilot project area.
              (2) Category ii.--
                      (A) national environmental organizations;
                      (B) regional or local environmental organizations;
                      (C) dispersed recreational activities;
                      (D) archaeological and historical interests; and
                      (E) national or regional fish and wildlife interest 
                  groups.
              (3) Category iii.--
                      (A) State elected officeholders or their designee;
                      (B) county or local elected officeholders;
                      (C) Indian Tribes within or adjacent to the pilot 
                  project area;
                      (D) school officials or teachers; and
                      (E) the affected public at large.
              (4) Balanced representation.--The Secretary shall provide 
          for balanced representation from among the categories described 
          in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3).
              (5) Geographic distribution.--The members of the advisory 
          panel shall reside within the State of Idaho, and to the extent 
          practicable, within or adjacent to the pilot project area.
      (e) Approval Procedures.--
              (1) Establishment.--Subject to paragraph (2) and the other 
          requirements of this Act, the advisory panel shall establish 
          procedures for proposing, developing, and reviewing activities 
          and schedules for recommendation to the Forest Service for 
          approval and implementation under the pilot project. A majority 
          must be present to constitute an official meeting of the 
          advisory panel.
              (2) Majority vote.--An activity or schedule may be 
          recommended by the advisory panel to the applicable Forest 
          Supervisor for approval and implementation under the pilot 
          program if it is approved by a majority of the advisory panel 
          members from each of the three categories described in 
          subsection (d).
      (f) Other Authorities and Requirements.--
              (1) Chairperson.--A majority of the advisory panel shall 
          select a chairperson.
              (2) Staff assistance.--The Secretary may provide staff 
          assistance to the advisory panel from employees under the 
          jurisdiction of the Secretary.
              (3) Meetings.--All meetings of the advisory panel shall be 
          announced at least one week in advance in a local newspaper of 
          record and shall be open to the public. Records of the meetings 
          shall be retained and made available for public inspection.
  
  SEC. 4 CLEARWATER BASIN PILOT PROJECT.
  
      (a) Pilot Project Authorized.--The Secretary may conduct a pilot 
  project under this section, to be known as the ``Clearwater Basin pilot 
  project'', on those National Forest System land encompassed by the 
  North Fork, Powell, and Lochsa Ranger Districts of the Clearwater 
  National Forest in the State of Idaho, and the Red River/Elk City, 
  Moose Creek and Clearwater Ranger Districts of the Nez Perce National 
  Forest in the State of Idaho.
      (b) Role of Advisory Panel.--The advisory panel shall review and 
  recommend activities for high priority implementation of stewardship 
  objectives within the pilot project area, for which funding is 
  authorized under this Act or other laws.
      (c) Stewardship Contracts.--A total of three stewardship contracts 
  are authorized for recommendation by the advisory panel and for 
  approval and implementation in accordance with, and to achieve the 
  purposes of, the pilot project. These contracts are in addition to any 
  stewardship contracts authorized under any other law.
      (d) Activity Schedules.--
              (1) Development.--Within two years after the date of the 
          enactment of this Act, the advisory panel shall develop and 
          submit for Forest Supervisor review schedules of high priority 
          activities to be commenced within the pilot project area for 
  the ensuing five-year period. Separate schedules shall be developed for 
  the Clearwater National Forest portion of the pilot project area. 
  Thereafter, the advisory panel shall develop and submit in advance 
  schedules for subsequent five-year periods.
              (2) Consultation.--The advisory panel shall develop each 
          five-year schedule in consultation with, and with technical 
          assistance from, the applicable Forest Supervisor and the Nez 
          Perce Tribe. The Forest Service shall ensure that the 
          activities in the schedules are consistent with treaty and any 
          other obligations to the Tribe.
              (3) Content.--Each five-year schedule shall be in 
          sufficient detail to describe the high priority activities to 
          be conducted in the pilot project area over the five-year 
          period and the timing for their implementation, and to allow 
          reasonable site-specific, project-level evaluation of their 
          environmental effects. The scope of the activities included in 
          each schedule shall be reasonably adjusted to the extent that 
          the advisory panel and applicable Forest Supervisor determine 
          necessary to allow such evaluation to be completed within the 
          time periods provided by this Act.
              (4) Consistency with forest plan.--The activities included 
          within the five-year schedules shall be consistent with the 
          applicable forest land and resource management plan. The 
          schedule may include any amendment of the applicable forest 
          land and resource management plan that the advisory panel 
          recommends or that the applicable Forest Supervisor determines 
          is necessary to allow or facilitate implementation of one or 
          more activities in the schedule.
      (f) NEPA Requirements and Related Procedures.--
              (1) Process.--The Forest Service shall conduct any 
          applicable procedures under the National Environmental Policy 
          Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) for the approval of the 
          activities in each five-year schedule, tiered to the 
          environmental impact statement for the applicable forest land 
          and resource management plan. The procedures under such Act, 
          and any review, consultation, or coordination under other laws, 
          including the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning 
          Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1600 et seq.), Endangered Species Act of 
          1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and National Historic 
          Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470), shall be completed within one 
          year after the Forest Service, in consultation with the North 
          Central Idaho resource advisory committee, issues the public 
          scoping notice regarding the proposed schedule.
              (2) Resources.--The Forest Service, and any other Federal 
          agencies involved in the process described in paragraph (1), 
          shall provide sufficient personnel and other resources, 
          directly or through contracting, to complete the review, 
          consultation, or coordination within the required one-year 
          period, and without substantially delaying implementation of 
          other forest management activities in Region 1 of the Forest 
          Service. The Forest Service and other involved agencies may 
          rely upon or use any analysis, documents, or procedures 
          previously performed under the National Environmental Policy 
          Act of 1969 or other law for any activity in the schedule.
              (3) Effect of failure to complete process.--If any review, 
          consultation, or coordination required under the National 
          Environmental Policy Act of 1969 or other law has not been 
          completed for a schedule within the required one-year period, 
          the lack of completion shall not be a basis for challenging or 
          delaying submittal, approval, or implementation of an activity 
          in the schedule, if the applicable Forest Supervisor, in 
          consultation with the advisory panel, finds that sufficient 
          review, consultation, and coordination regarding the activity 
          has occurred and a sufficient record exists to make a reasoned 
          decision regarding approval of the activity.
      (g) Review by Forest Supervisor.--
              (1) Submission.--The advisory panel shall submit a final 
          recommendation regarding each five-year schedule, together with 
          the record of the review, consultation, and coordination 
          performed under subsection (f) for the schedule, to the 
          applicable Forest Supervisor for review. The final 
          recommendation and record shall be submitted to the Forest 
          Supervisor at least 30 days in advance of the date for 
          commencing implementation of activities under the schedule.
              (2) Review.--Within 30 days after receiving the schedule 
          and record from the advisory panel, the Forest Supervisor shall 
          issue a project or activity decision document regarding review 
          of the recommended schedule in accordance with the National 
          Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and any other applicable 
          procedures. In the decision document, the Forest Supervisor may 
          approve the schedule, or disapprove the schedule and return it 
          to the advisory panel for further consideration with 
          instructions. If the Forest Supervisor has not issued a 
  decision document upon expiration of the 30-day period, the schedule 
  shall be deemed approved by the Forest Supervisor and subject to 
  administrative appeal under Department of Agriculture procedures 
  applicable to Forest Service project or activity record of decision or 
  decision notice documents issued pursuant to the National Environmental 
  Policy Act of 1969.
      (h) Implementation.--Upon approval of the schedule, but subject to 
  any stay that may be in effect pursuant to Forest Service project or 
  activity administrative appeal procedures, the Forest Service may issue 
  any permits, contracts, or other authorizations for activities in the 
  schedule without further review, consultation, or coordination under 
  the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 or other laws.
      (i) Activities Not Included in a 5-Year Schedule; Amendment of 
  Schedule.--An activity that the advisory panel determines should 
  proceed in advance of approval of the first five-year schedule, or an 
  activity in the pilot project area that is not included in a five-year 
  schedule, may be approved and implemented on an individual or group 
  basis, upon completing the process and requirements for review and 
  approval of a five-year schedule. A five-year schedule may be amended 
  upon completed the process and requirements for review and approval of 
  the schedule.
      (j) Relation to Other Schedules, Plans, and Activities.--The five-
  year schedules and activities authorized under the pilot project shall 
  supplement other schedules plans and projects or other activities 
  authorized and implemented under other law. Upon advisory panel 
  recommendation and applicable Forest Supervisor approval, an activity 
  that is included in another schedule or plan or proposed, authorized, 
  or funded under other law may be authorized and implemented as an 
  activity under the pilot project, if the activity meets the 
  requirements of this section for implementation as a high priority 
  activity.
  
  SEC. 5. MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
  
      (a) Report on Applicable Rules and Regulations.--The advisory panel 
  may submit to the Secretary, the Committee on Energy and Natural 
  Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Resources of the House of 
  Representatives a compilation of regulations applicable to the pilot 
  project that the advisory panel determines are inappropriate for the 
  pilot project, incompatible with the pilot project, or unduly 
  burdensome in conducting the pilot project.
      (b) Monitoring; Annual Report on the Project.--The Secretary shall 
  monitor the activities and achievement in the pilot project area under 
  the pilot project. Not later than two years after the date of the 
  enactment of this Act, and each year thereafter during the pilot 
  project, the Secretary shall submit a report to the Committee on Energy 
  and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Resources of 
  the House of Representatives on the results of such monitoring, 
  including detailed information on the sources and uses of funds and the 
  status, outputs, and other results accomplished for each activity 
  recommended for priority implementation by the advisory panel under the 
  pilot project.
      (c) State of Idaho Report.--The Secretary shall request the State 
  of Idaho, through the University of Idaho College of Natural Resource 
  or other source, to prepare a report reviewing the activities and 
  achievements of the pilot project in the pilot project area. The 
  Secretary shall request the State to prepare and submit the report at 
  five-year intervals to the Secretary, the Committee on Energy and 
  Natural Resources of the Senate, and the Committee on Resources of the 
  House of Representatives. The requested report should include an 
  assessment of whether, and to what extent, the activities conducted 
  under the pilot project are meeting or enhancing the accomplishment of 
  stewardship objectives.
  
  SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
  appropriated to the Secretary, through fiscal year 2012, such sums as 
  may be necessary for the following purposes:
              (1) Developing, submitting, reviewing, and implementing 
          five-year schedules and priority activities under the pilot 
          project, including the stewardship contracts authorized by this 
          Act.
              (2) Other advisory panel activities and technical 
          assistance to the advisory panel for the purposes of the pilot 
          project.
              (3) Monitoring and reporting requirements under section 5.
              (4) Such other actions as are necessary to implement this 
          Act.
      (b) Availability.--Amount appropriated for the purposes specified 
  in subsection (a) shall remain available until expended.
      (c) Treatment of Receipts.--Notwithstanding the Secure Rural 
  Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-
  393; 16 U.S.C. 500 note), any moneys received by the Forest Service 
  from activities approved and implemented under the pilot project shall 
  be distributed in accordance with the sixth paragraph under the heading 
  ``Forest Service'' in the Act of May 23, 1908 (16 U.S.C. 500).
  
  SEC. 7. SEVERABILITY.
  
      If any provisions of this Act or the application of this Act to any 
  person or circumstances is held to be invalid, the validity of the 
  remainder of this Act and of the application of such provision to other 
  persons and circumstances shall not be affected.
target: Clearwater Basin Project Act - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish and maintain the Clearwater Advisory Panel (CAP), which shall provide advice and recommendations to the Forest Service regarding the Clearwater Basin pilot project (the Project) within the Clearwater and Nez Perce National Forests, Idaho. States that the CAP shall: (1) make recommendations regarding activities for high priority implementation; (2) provide early and continuous coordination with Federal officials; and (3) provide for public input into its proceedings.Authorizes the Secretary to conduct the Project. Directs the CAP, in consultation with and receiving technical assistance from the applicable Forest Supervisor, to develop and submit for approval from the Forest Supervisor five-year schedules of high priority activities for the Project (with separate schedules for each Forest). Requires that the activities included in such schedules be consistent with the applicable forest land and resource management plan. Directs the Forest Service to complete any applicable National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures for the approval of the activities at the site-specific, project level. Directs the CAP to consult with the Nez Perce Tribe in developing and recommending each schedule.Directs the Forest Supervisor to issue a project or activity decision document regarding approval of the recommended schedule in accordance with NEPA and other applicable procedures.Provides for the schedules and activities authorized under this section to supplement certain other schedules, plans, and projects or other activities authorized and implemented under other law.
feat_title: A bill to provide for enhanced collaborative forest stewardship management within the Clearwater and Nez Perce National Forests in Idaho, and for other purposes.