§ 620. — Findings and purposes.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 16USC620]
TITLE 16--CONSERVATION
CHAPTER 4--PROTECTION OF TIMBER, AND DEPREDATIONS
Sec. 620. Findings and purposes
(a) Findings
The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Timber is essential to the United States.
(2) Forests, forest resources, and the forest environment are
exhaustible natural resources that require efficient and effective
conservation efforts.
(3) In the interest of conserving those resources, the United
States has set aside millions of acres of otherwise harvestable
timberlands in the western United States, representing well over
100,000,000,000 board feet of otherwise harvestable timber.
(4) In recent years, administrative, statutory, or judicial
action has been taken to set aside an increased amount of otherwise
harvestable timberlands for conservation purposes.
(5) In the next few months and years, additional amounts of
otherwise harvestable timberlands may be set aside for conservation
purposes, pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 [16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.], the National Forest Management Act of 1976, or other
expected statutory, administrative, and judicial actions.
(6) There is evidence of a shortfall in the supply of
unprocessed timber in the western United States.
(7) There is reason to believe that any shortfall which may
already exist may worsen unless action is taken.
(8) In conjunction with the broad conservation actions expected
in the next few months and years, conservation action is necessary
with respect to exports of unprocessed timber.
(b) Purposes
The purposes of sections 620 to 620j of this title are--
(1) to promote the conservation of forest resources in
conjunction with State and Federal resources management plans, and
other actions or decisions, affecting the use of forest resources;
(2) to take action essential for the acquisition and
distribution of forest resources or products in short supply in the
western United States;
(3) to take action necessary, to meet the goals of Article XI
2.(a) of the GATT 1994 (as defined in section 3501(1)(B) of title
19), to ensure sufficient supplies of certain forest resources or
products which are essential to the United States;
(4) to continue and refine the existing Federal policy of
restricting the export of unprocessed timber harvested from Federal
lands in the western United States; and
(5) to effect measures aimed at meeting these objectives in
conformity with the obligations of the United States under the WTO
Agreement and the multilateral trade agreements (as such terms are
defined in paragraphs (9) and (4), respectively, of section 3501 of
title 19).
(Pub. L. 101-382, title IV, Sec. 488, Aug. 20, 1990, 104 Stat. 714; Pub.
L. 106-36, title I, Sec. 1002(a)(1), June 25, 1999, 113 Stat. 132.)
References in Text
The Endangered Species Act of 1973, referred to in subsec. (a)(5),
is Pub. L. 93-205, Dec. 28, 1973, 87 Stat. 884, as amended, which is
classified generally to chapter 35 (Sec. 1531 et seq.) of this title.
For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title
note set out under section 1531 of this title and Tables.
The National Forest Management Act of 1976, referred to in subsec.
(a)(5), is Pub. L. 94-588, Oct. 22, 1976, 90 Stat. 2949, as amended,
which enacted sections 472a, 521b, 1600, and 1611 to 1614 of this title,
amended sections 500, 515, 516, 518, 576b, 581h, and 1601 to 1610 of
this title, repealed sections 476, 513, and 514 of this title, and
enacted provisions set out as notes under sections 476, 513, 528, 594-2,
and 1600 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the
Code, see Short Title of 1976 Amendment note set out under section 1600
of this title and Tables.
Sections 620 to 620j of this title, referred to in subsec. (b), was
in the original ``this title'', meaning title IV of Pub. L. 101-382,
Aug. 20, 1990, 104 Stat. 714, which enacted sections 620 to 620j of this
title and provisions set out as notes below. For complete classification
of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note below and Tables.
Amendments
1999--Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 106-36, Sec. 1002(a)(1)(A),
substituted ``GATT 1994 (as defined in section 3501(1)(B) of title 19)''
for ``General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade''.
Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 106-36, Sec. 1002(a)(1)(B), substituted
``WTO Agreement and the multilateral trade agreements (as such terms are
defined in paragraphs (9) and (4), respectively, of section 3501 of
title 19)'' for ``General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade''.
Effective Date
Section 494 of title IV of Pub. L. 101-382 provided that: ``Except
as otherwise provided in this title, the provisions of this title
[enacting this section and sections 620a to 620j of this title and
provisions set out as a note below] take effect on the date of the
enactment of this Act [Aug. 20, 1990].''
Short Title of 1997 Amendment
Pub. L. 105-83, title VI, Sec. 601, Nov. 14, 1997, 111 Stat. 1617,
provided that: ``This title [amending sections 620b to 620f of this
title] may be cited as the `Forest Resources Conservation and Shortage
Relief Act of 1997'.''
Short Title of 1993 Amendment
Pub. L. 103-45, Sec. 1, July 1, 1993, 107 Stat. 223, provided that:
``This Act [amending sections 620c and 620d of this title and enacting
provisions set out as a note under section 620c of this title] may be
cited as the `Forest Resources Conservation and Shortage Relief
Amendments Act of 1993'.''
Short Title
Section 487 of title IV of Pub. L. 101-382 provided that: ``This
title [enacting this section and sections 620a to 620j of this title and
provisions set out as a note above] may be cited as the `Forest
Resources Conservation and Shortage Relief Act of 1990'.''
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 620b, 620c, 620d, 620e,
620f, 620g, 620h, 620j of this title.
