HR 5414 IH

To promote global efforts to protect biological diversity by protecting the Tongass Rain Forest, the United States largest temperate rain forest, and for other purposes.

October 6, 2000

Mr. FILNER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources

To promote global efforts to protect biological diversity by protecting the Tongass Rain Forest, the United States largest temperate rain forest, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

(a) SHORT TITLE- This Act may be cited as the `Tongass Rain Forest Protection Act'.

(b) FINDINGS- Congress finds the following:

(1) Rain forests constitute a unique reserve of biological resources.

(2) Biological diversity depends on protecting the habitats of animal and plant species in rain forests around the world.

(3) United States leadership in urging other countries to protect tropical rain forests is undermined by policies that subsidize the destruction of publicly owned pristine temperate rain forests.

(4) The Tongass National Forest in Alaska is the largest temperate rain forest in the United States.

(5) The protection of pristine and old growth forests within the Tongass National Forest will help conserve the United States biological diversity and enhance the credibility of the United States efforts to conserve biological diversity globally.

(6) To the maximum extent possible, the Tongass National Forest in the State of Alaska should provide an undisturbed habitat for its many animal and plant species, including but not limited to bears, eagles, wolves, trumpeter swans, goshawks, whales, and salmon.

(c) PROTECTION OF ANIMAL AND PLANT HABITATS- Except as provided in contracts or leases that are in force on the date of the enactment of this Act, no activities shall be allowed within the Tongass National Forest that disturb or destroy the habitat of indigenous animal and plant species. Activities that are prohibited under this subsection include but are not limited to the following:

(1) Construction of new roads.

(2) Mining or extraction of minerals.

(3) Logging.

(d) WILDERNESS DESIGNATION- In accordance with the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.), all inventoried roadless areas within the Tongass National Forest are designated as wilderness areas and as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System.

END