Laserfiche WebLink
<br />G02584 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />J <br /> <br />The primary purposes of the legislation are to authorize the Secretary of the <br />Department of the Interior to initiate a program that accomplishes the following: <br /> <br />I. Provide an assessment of infestation of salt cedar and Russian olive in the western <br />United States; <br />2, Evaluate the feasibility ofvaP.ous control methods; <br />3, Evaluate the challenges associated with habitat restoration and revegetation In <br />those areas where salt cedar and Russian olive are removed; <br />4, Estimate the costs associated with destroying the removed salt cedar and Russian <br />olive biomass; <br />5, Identify techniques related to long-term control of salt cedar and Russian olive in <br />the western United States; <br />6, Provide grants, through the Secretary, to academic institutions for development of <br />a long-term strategy to address control of salt cedar and Russian olive; <br />7, Authorize the development of "demonstration projects" that target the removal of <br />salt cedar and/or Russian olive, reduce reinfestation, and provide for native <br />habitat restoration and revegetation; <br />8, Authorize demonstration projects to evaluate the different strategies for removing <br />and controlling salt cedar and Russian olive, including: airborne herbicide <br />application; mechanical removal; and potential bio-control methods; <br />9, Provide an assessment of soil conditions in those areas currently infested with salt <br />cedar and Russian olive; <br />10. Monitor and document any potential water savings, to both ground and surface <br />water, associated with removal and control of salt cedar and Russian olive; <br />11. Provide appropriations in the following amounts for the following tasks: $4 <br />million to complete the initial assessment; $2 million to develop management <br />strategies; $7 million each for the demonstration projects; and $3 million for the <br />development of strategies for disposition of the removed biomass; <br />12, Authorize demonstration projects on federal lands to be 100% funded through this <br />legislation; projects on non-federal lands to be funded 75% by federal <br />appropriations, and 25% non-federal funds; <br />13. Utilize scientific peer review to review the initial assessment, the identified long- <br />term management strategies, the demonstration projects, and the biomass <br />destruction techniques; and <br />14, Mandate the Secretary to report to Congress, annually, on the progress made in <br />the program. the results of the independent scientific peer reviews, and how the <br />federal funds are expended pursuant to the legislation. <br /> <br />The new elements in the proposed legislation include the designation of <br />Reclamation as the lead agency in implementation of the various mandated tasks; and the <br />responsibility to evaluate the restoration and revegetation requirements following the <br />control and/or destruction and removal of salt cedar and Russian olive trees, <br /> <br />It should be pointed out that there may be opportunities associated with this <br />potential program in conjunction with long-term implementation of the LCR MSCP, <br />Some of the identified LCR MSCP Conservation Areas may qualify for funding under <br /> <br />3 <br />