Renewable Resource Assessment

In recognition of the vital importance of America’s renewable resources of the forest, range, and other associated lands to the Nation’s social and economic well-being, and of the necessity for a long term perspective in planning and undertaking related national renewable resource programs administered by the Forest Service, the Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this subchapter as the “Secretary”) shall prepare a Renewable Resource Assessment (hereinafter called the “Assessment”). The Assessment shall be prepared not later than December 31, 1975, and shall be updated during 1979 and each tenth year thereafter, and shall include but not be limited to— The Secretary shall report in the 1979 and subsequent Assessments on: In developing the reports required under subsection (c) of this section, the Secretary shall provide opportunity for public involvement and shall consult with other interested governmental departments and agencies. In this paragraph: The term “priority land” means National Forest System land that, due to an unplanned event— The term “reforestation” means the act of renewing tree cover, taking into consideration species composition and resilience, by establishing young trees through— The term “unplanned event” means any unplanned disturbance that— The term “unplanned event” may include— The Secretary shall, based on recommendations from regional foresters, create a priority list of reforestation projects that— The Secretary shall rank projects on the priority list under subclause (I) based on— The Secretary shall submit an annual report to the Congress on the amounts, types, and uses of herbicides and pesticides used in the National Forest System, including the beneficial or adverse effects of such uses.