BLUE MOUNTAIN NATURAL RESOURCE INSTITUTE.

SEC. 1246. BLUE MOUNTAIN NATURAL RESOURCE INSTITUTE. (a) Findings.— The Congress finds that— (1) the forests and rangelands in the States of Washington and Oregon east of the Cascade Crest do not yield their productive capacity of multiple products, services and benefits, yet these forests and rangelands are expected to yield more; (2) these forests are among the most insect infested and disease infected in North America due to previous management practices, including the exclusion of fire and past management treatments, which have allowed these forests to become over-stocked or to succeed to pest-susceptible forest types; (3) forage productivity of these forests and rangelands is reduced due to the spread of nonactive grasses, juniper, and noxious weeds; (4) the unprecedented build-up of fuel loads in these forests places them under continual threat of catastrophic fire; (5) losses due to insects, disease, and fire and reduced productivity of these forests and rangelands have far reaching environmental and economic consequences to local communities and a region entirely dependent on land-based resources; and (6) concerns over global climate change, water quality and quantity, air quality, fish and wildlife habitat, biodiversity, long-term forest and rangeland health and productivity, welfare of resource-dependent communities and regional economies, catastrophic fire, and scenic quality of landscapes set the dimensions of multifaceted resources issued which are straining the effectiveness of policy makers and land managers. (b) Establishment of Research and Demonstration Program.— The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish, plan, and initiate a research, development, and application program for the forests and rangelands of the States of Oregon and Washington located east of the Cascade Crest which shall address research, development, and application needs of the Blue Mountain area in Washington and104 STAT. 3551 Oregon. The program, through research, technology development and application, and public involvement, shall— (1) compile and develop basic biological and ecological information to improve forest and rangeland health and vigor; (2) focus research on joint management and production of timber, wildlife, grazing, fish, water quality, and recreation; (3) stimulate cooperative research between universities and Federal and State agencies; (4) identify and evaluate opportunities to enhance the long-term economic and social benefits derived from the region’s forest and rangeland resources in concert with county and regional economic strategies; (5) convert results of research into technology development products and apply new information in a timely manner; (6) develop technology to guide intensive multiresource management and policy decisions for sustaining long-term productivity and ecological values into the early decades of the 21st century; (7) develop new technologies that will enable forest and range managers to maximize multiresource benefits and minimize the hazards of fire, insect, and disease outbreaks; (8) develop forest management practices for use by land managers and landowners that are appropriate at the wildland-urban interface and in concert with public values for these areas; (9) demonstrate the application of technology and resource knowledge on specific management areas; and (10) establish mutually beneficial relations with the public to inform them regarding research and technology development and new management directions and to obtain feedback. (c) Partnership.— The Secretary of Agriculture shall establish and carry out the program under subsection (b) in consultation and cooperation with Federal, State, and local agencies, universities, and the private sector. In addition, the Secretary of Agriculture shall establish an advisory committee representing broad interests and perspectives to assist in the formulation of plans for implementing the program.