12 2 STA T .3904PUBLIC LA W 110 – 343 —O CT. 3 , 200 8‘ ‘ (iv)thecom mitme n to f the cont ra ctor to hirin g high lyqu alifie dw or k er s and local residents . ‘‘( 3 ) MERCHANT A BL ET IM BER C O NTRACTIN GP ILOT PRO - GRAM. — ‘‘( A ) ES TABLISHMENT.— T he S ecretary concerned shall esta b lish a p ilot program to implement a certain percentage of approved pro j ects involving the sale of merchantable timber using separate contracts for— ‘‘(i) the harvesting or collection of merchantable timber
and ‘‘(ii) the sale of the timber. ‘‘( B ) ANN U AL PERCENTAGES.— U nder the pilot program , the Secretary concerned shall ensure that, on a nationwide basis, not less than the following percentage of all approved projects involving the sale of merchantable timber are implemented using separate contracts
‘‘(i) F or fiscal year 20 0 8 ,3 5 percent. ‘‘(ii) For fiscal year 200 9 , 4 5 percent. ‘‘(iii) For each of fiscal years 20 1 0 and 2011, 50 percent. ‘‘( C ) I NCLUSION IN PILOT PROGRAM.—The decision whether to use separate contracts to implement a project involving the sale of merchantable timber shall be made by the Secretary concerned after the approval of the project under this title. ‘‘( D ) ASSISTANCE.— ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary concerned may use funds from any appropriated account available to the Secretary for the Federal land to assist in the administration of projects conducted under the pilot program. ‘‘(ii) MA X IMUM AMOUNT O F ASSISTANCE.—The total amount obligated under this subparagraph may not e x ceed $ 1,000,000 for any fiscal year during which the pilot program is in effect. ‘‘(E) R E V IE W AN D REPORT.— ‘‘(i) INITIAL REPORT.— N ot later than September 30, 2010, the Comptroller G eneral shall submit to the Committees on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committees on Agriculture and Natural Resources of the H ouse of Representatives a report assessing the pilot program. ‘‘(ii) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Secretary concerned shall submit to the Committees on Agriculture, Nutri- tion, and Forestry and Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committees on Agriculture and Natural Resources of the House of Representatives an annual report describing the results of the pilot program. ‘‘(f) RE Q UIREMENTS FOR P RO J ECT FUNDS.—The Secretary shall ensure that at least 50 percent of all project funds be used for projects that are primarily dedicated— ‘‘(1) to road maintenance, decommissioning, or obliteration; or ‘‘(2) to restoration of streams and watersheds.
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