§ 6613. — Rural natural resources and economic diversification action teams.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 7USC6613]
TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
CHAPTER 95--RURAL REVITALIZATION THROUGH FORESTRY
SUBCHAPTER II--NATIONAL FOREST-DEPENDENT RURAL COMMUNITIES
Sec. 6613. Rural natural resources and economic diversification
action teams
(a) Requests for assistance
Economically disadvantaged rural communities may request assistance
from the Secretary in identifying opportunities that will promote
economic improvement and diversification and revitalization.
(b) Establishment
Upon request, the Secretary may establish rural natural resources
and economic diversification action teams to prepare an action plan to
provide technical assistance to economically disadvantaged communities.
The action plan shall identify opportunities to promote economic
diversification and enhance local economies now dependent upon National
Forest System land resources. The action team may also identify
opportunities to use value-added products and services derived from
National Forest System land resources.
(c) Organization
The Secretary shall design and organize any action team established
pursuant to subsection (b) of this section to meet the unique needs of
the requesting rural community. Each action team shall be directed by an
employee of the Forest Service and may include personnel from other
agencies within the Department of Agriculture, from other Federal and
State departments and agencies, and from the private sector.
(d) Cooperation
In preparing action plans, the Secretary may cooperate with State
and local governments, universities, private companies, individuals, and
nonprofit organizations for procurement of services determined necessary
or desirable.
(e) Eligibility
The Secretary shall ensure that no substantially similar
geographical or defined local area in a State receives a grant for
technical assistance to an economically disadvantaged community under
this subchapter and a grant for assistance under a designated rural
development program during any continuous five-year period.
(f) Approval
After reviewing requests under this section for financial and
economic feasibility and viability, the Secretary shall approve and
implement in accordance with section 6614 of this title those action
plans that will achieve the purposes of this subchapter.
(g) ``Designated rural development program'' defined
In this section, the term ``designated rural development program''
means a program carried out under section 1924(b), 1926(a), or 1932(e)
of this title for which funds are available at any time during the
fiscal year.
(Pub. L. 101-624, title XXIII, Sec. 2375, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4047;
Pub. L. 104-127, title VII, Sec. 753(b)(1), Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat.
1131; Pub. L. 106-113, div. B, Sec. 1000(a)(3) [title III, Sec. 345(c)],
Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1535, 1501A-204.)
Amendments
1999--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106-113 substituted ``natural resources''
for ``forestry'' and substituted ``National Forest System land
resources'' for ``national forest resources'' in two places.
1996--Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 104-127, Sec. 753(b)(1)(A), struck out
``, as defined in section 2008(b)(2) of this title,'' before ``during
any''.
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 104-127, Sec. 753(b)(1)(B), added subsec. (g).
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in section 6612 of this title.
