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Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act (RPA) of 1974 



This Congressional act provides for long range planning of the Nation's 

 natural resources. Administered by the USDA, Forest Service, the act 

 requires periodic resource assessment and program recommendations. 

 States were given the option of preparing their own RPA plan or having 

 the Forest Service prepare one for them. Montana is preparing its own 

 statewide plan under the aegis of the DNR&C, Division of Forestry. 

 Goals and objectives have been defined and include: 



1. Increase timber production through proper forest management 

 and forestry assistance (state and private forest lands). 



2. Maintain or improve water quality and quantity without 

 impairing land productivity. 



3. Increase and improve fish and wildlife habitat through 

 appropriate land management practices. 



Under this proposed plan, federal funding for cost-share programs will 

 be expanded at a rate of approximately 50 percent per year for five 

 years (beginning with implementation in 1980). 



Relative to forestry practices and water quality maintenance/enhancement, 

 this act seems to re-iterate the goals of many already existing federal 

 and state statutes. To prevent this proposed program from becoming as 

 ineffective as some of the other cooperative assistance programs, the 

 following reconmendations should be considered: 1) actively promote 

 public awareness of available services; 2) emphasize land treatment 

 measures that mitigate or prevent water quality problems; 3) provide 



