118 STAT. 3040 PUBLIC LAW 108–447—DEC. 8, 2004 for cost shared projects supporting conservation of Bureau lands; and such funds shall be advanced to the Foundation as a lump sum grant without regard to when expenses are incurred. In addition, $32,696,000 is for Mining Law Administration pro gram operations, including the cost of administering the mining claim fee program; to remain available until expended, to be reduced by amounts collected by the Bureau and credited to this appropria tion from annual mining claim fees so as to result in a final appropriation estimated at not more than $848,939,000, and $2,000,000, to remain available until expended, from communication site rental fees established by the Bureau for the cost of admin istering communication site activities. WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT For necessary expenses for fire preparedness, suppression oper ations, fire science and research, emergency rehabilitation, haz ardous fuels reduction, and rural fire assistance by the Department of the Interior, $743,099,000, to remain available until expended, of which not to exceed $12,374,000 shall be for the renovation or construction of fire facilities: Provided, That such funds are also available for repayment of advances to other appropriation accounts from which funds were previously transferred for such purposes: Provided further, That persons hired pursuant to 43 U.S.C. 1469 may be furnished subsistence and lodging without cost from funds available from this appropriation: Provided further, That notwithstanding 42 U.S.C. 1856d, sums received by a bureau or office of the Department of the Interior for fire protection ren dered pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1856 et seq., protection of United States property, may be credited to the appropriation from which funds were expended to provide that protection, and are available without fiscal year limitation: Provided further, That using the amounts designated under this title of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior may enter into procurement contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements, for hazardous fuels reduction activities, and for training and monitoring associated with such hazardous fuels reduction activities, on Federal land, or on adjacent non Federal land for activities that benefit resources on Federal land: Provided further, That the costs of implementing any cooperative agreement between the Federal Government and any non Federal entity may be shared, as mutually agreed on by the affected parties: Provided further, That notwithstanding requirements of the Com petition in Contracting Act, the Secretary, for purposes of hazardous fuels reduction activities, may obtain maximum practicable competi tion among: (1) local private, nonprofit, or cooperative entities; (2) Youth Conservation Corps crews or related partnerships with State, local, or non profit youth groups; (3) small or micro businesses; or (4) other entities that will hire or train locally a significant percentage, defined as 50 percent or more, of the project workforce to complete such contracts: Provided further, That in implementing this section, the Secretary shall develop written guid ance to field units to ensure accountability and consistent applica tion of the authorities provided herein: Provided further, That funds appropriated under this head may be used to reimburse the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service for the costs of carrying out their responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) to consult and conference, as required by section 7 of such Act, in Guidance. Contracts. Grants.
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