S 2947
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2947
To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to encourage owners
and operators of privately held farm, ranch, and forest land to voluntarily
make their land available for access by the public for maple-tapping
activities under programs administered by States and tribal governments.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 30, 2008
Mr. SCHUMER introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
A BILL
To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to encourage owners
and operators of privately held farm, ranch, and forest land to voluntarily
make their land available for access by the public for maple-tapping
activities under programs administered by States and tribal governments.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Maple Tapping Access Program Act of 2008'.
SEC. 2. MAPLE TAPPING ACCESS PROGRAM.
Chapter 5 of subtitle D of title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985
(16 U.S.C. 3839bb et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
`SEC. 1240Q. MAPLE TAPPING ACCESS PROGRAM.
`(a) Definition of Maple Tapping- In this section, the term `maple tapping'
means the collection of sap from any species of tree in the genus Acer
for the purpose of boiling to produce food.
`(b) Program- The Secretary shall establish a voluntary public access
program under which States and tribal governments may apply for grants
to encourage owners and operators of privately held farm, ranch, and
forest land to voluntarily make that land available for access by the
public for maple-tapping activities under programs administered by the
States and tribal governments.
`(c) Applications- In submitting applications for a grant under the
program, a State or tribal government shall describe--
`(1) the benefits that the State or tribal government intends to achieve
by encouraging public access to private farm and ranch land for maple
tapping; and
`(2) the methods that will be used to achieve those benefits.
`(d) Priority- In approving applications and awarding grants under the
program, the Secretary shall give priority to States and tribal governments
that propose--
`(1) to maximize participation by offering a program the terms of
which are likely to meet with widespread acceptance among landowners;
`(2) to ensure that land enrolled under the State or tribal government
program has an appropriate stock of trees suitable for maple tapping;
and
`(3) to use additional Federal, State, tribal government, or private
resources in carrying out the program.
`(e) Relationship to Other Laws- Nothing in this section preempts a
State or tribal government law (including any State or tribal government
liability law).
`(f) Regulations- The Secretary shall promulgate such regulations as
are necessary to carry out this section.
`(g) Authorization of Appropriations- There is authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009
through 2012.'.
END
