PUBLIC LAW 105-277—OCT. 21, 1998 112 STAT. 2681-306 (c) EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN LANDS, RIPARIAN PROTECTION AND COMPLIANCE.— (1) EXCLUSION.— All spotted owl habitat areas and protected activity centers located within the pilot project area designated under subsection (b)(2) will be deferred from resource management activities required under subsection (d) and timber harvesting during the term of the pilot project. (2) RIPARIAN PROTECTION.— (A) IN GENERAL.—The Scientific Analysis Team guidelines for riparian system protection described in subparagraph (B) shall apply to all resource management activities conducted under subsection (d) and all timber harvesting activities that occur in the pilot project area during the term of the pilot project. (B) GUIDELINES DESCRIBED.—The guidelines referred to in subparagraph (A) are those in the document entitled "Viability Assessments and Memagement Considerations for Species Associated with Late-Successional and Old-Growth Forests of the Pacific Northwest", a Forest Service research document dated March 1993 and co-authored by the Scientific Analysis Team, including Dr. Jack Ward Thomas. (C) LIMITATION.— Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the application of the Scientific Analysis Team guidelines to any livestock grazing in the pilot project area during the term of the pilot project, iinless the livestock grazing is being conducted in the specific location at which the Scientific Analysis Team guidelines are being applied to an activity under subsection (d). (3) COMPLIANCE. —All resource management activities required by subsection (d) shall be implemented to the extent consistent with applicable Federal law and the standards and guidelines for the conservation of the California spotted owl as set forth in the California Spotted Owl Sierran Provence Interim Guidelines or the subsequently issued guidelines, whichever are in effect. (4) ROADLESS AREA PROTECTION.—The Regional Forester for Region 5 shall direct that any resource management activity required by subsection (d)(1) and (2), all road building, all timber harvesting activities, and any riparian msinagement under subsection (d)(4) that utilizes road construction or timber harvesting shall not be conducted on Federal lands within the Plumas National Forest, Lassen National Forest, and the Sierraville Ranger District of the Tahoe National Forest that are designated as either "Off Base" or "Deferred" on the map referred to in subsection (a). Such direction shall be effective during the term of the pilot project. (d) RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.— During the term of the pilot project, the Secretary shall implement and carry out the following resource management activities on an acreage basis on the Federal lands included within the pilot project area designated under subsection (b)(2): (1) FUELBREAK CONSTRUCTION. —Construction of a strategic system of defensible fuel profile zones, including shaded fuelbreaks, utilizing thinning, individual tree selection, and other methods of vegetation management consistent with the Quincy Library Group-Community Stability Proposal, on not less than 40,000, but not more than 60,000, acres per year.
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