§1602 Renewable Resource Program; Preparation by Secretary and Transmittal to President; Purpose and Development of Program; Time of Preparation, Updating and Contents

Summary

The Secretary must prepare and send the President a recommended Renewable Resource Program. The Secretary must use information the Forest Service and other USDA agencies have, including data prepared under 7 U.S.C. 1010a. The Program can include alternatives and must follow the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of June 12, 1960 and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The Program had to be prepared by December 31, 1975 to cover the four-year period starting October 1, 1976 and the next four fiscal decades. It must be updated no later than the first half of the fiscal year ending September 30, 1980, and again in the first half of every fifth fiscal year after that so each update covers the next four fiscal decades. The Program must give details for protecting, managing, and developing the National Forest System (including roads and trails), cooperative programs, and research. It must include an inventory of public and private needs (showing capital versus operating needs); clear outputs, expected results, and benefits so costs can be compared to returns to the Government; priorities with costs and benefits; a personnel study; and recommendations on major goals, private owner participation, protecting soil/water/air, national resource goals, the effect of log imports/exports on domestic timber and prices, and effects of global climate change on forests and rangelands (including species ranges and products).