US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

16 U.S.C. § 620

Findings and purposes

(a)

Findings

The Congress makes the following findings:
(1)
Timber is essential to the United States.
(2)
Forests, forest resources, and the forest environment are exhaustible natural resources that require efficient and effective conservation efforts.
(3)
In the interest of conserving those resources, the United States has set aside millions of acres of otherwise harvestable timberlands in the western United States, representing well over 100,000,000,000 board feet of otherwise harvestable timber.
(4)
In recent years, administrative, statutory, or judicial action has been taken to set aside an increased amount of otherwise harvestable timberlands for conservation purposes.
(5)
16 U.S.C. 1531 In the next few months and years, additional amounts of otherwise harvestable timberlands may be set aside for conservation purposes, pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973 [ et seq.], the National Forest Management Act of 1976, or other expected statutory, administrative, and judicial actions.
(6)
There is evidence of a shortfall in the supply of unprocessed timber in the western United States.
(7)
There is reason to believe that any shortfall which may already exist may worsen unless action is taken.
(8)
In conjunction with the broad conservation actions expected in the next few months and years, conservation action is necessary with respect to exports of unprocessed timber.
(b)

Purposes

The purposes of sections 620 to 620j of this title are—
(1)
to promote the conservation of forest resources in conjunction with State and Federal resources management plans, and other actions or decisions, affecting the use of forest resources;
(2)
to take action essential for the acquisition and distribution of forest resources or products in short supply in the western United States;
(3)
section 3501(1)(B) of title 19 to take action necessary, to meet the goals of Article XI 2.(a) of the GATT 1994 (as defined in ), to ensure sufficient supplies of certain forest resources or products which are essential to the United States;
(4)
to continue and refine the existing Federal policy of restricting the export of unprocessed timber harvested from Federal lands in the western United States; and
(5)
section 3501 of title 19 to effect measures aimed at meeting these objectives in conformity with the obligations of the United States under the WTO Agreement and the multilateral trade agreements (as such terms are defined in paragraphs (9) and (4), respectively, of ).

Pub. L. 101–382, title IV, § 488104 Stat. 714Pub. L. 106–36, title I, § 1002(a)(1)113 Stat. 132(, , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 93–20587 Stat. 884section 1531 of this titleThe Endangered Species Act of 1973, referred to in subsec. (a)(5), is , , , which is classified generally to chapter 35 (§ 1531 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Pub. L. 94–58890 Stat. 2949section 1600 of this titleThe National Forest Management Act of 1976, referred to in subsec. (a)(5), is , , , which enacted sections 472a, 521b, 1600, and 1611 to 1614 of this title, amended sections 500, 515, 516, 518, 576b, 581h, and 1601 to 1610 of this title, repealed sections 476, 513, and 514 of this title, and enacted provisions set out as notes under sections 476, 513, 528, 594–2, and 1600 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1976 Amendment note set out under and Tables.

Pub. L. 101–382104 Stat. 714Sections 620 to 620j of this title, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original “this title”, meaning title IV of , , , known as the Forest Resources Conservation and Shortage Relief Act of 1990, which enacted sections 620 to 620j of this title and provisions set out as notes below. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out below and Tables.

Amendments

Pub. L. 106–36, § 1002(a)(1)(A)section 3501(1)(B) of title 191999—Subsec. (b)(3). , substituted “GATT 1994 (as defined in )” for “General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade”.

Pub. L. 106–36, § 1002(a)(1)(B)section 3501 of title 19Subsec. (b)(5). , substituted “WTO Agreement and the multilateral trade agreements (as such terms are defined in paragraphs (9) and (4), respectively, of )” for “General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 101–382, title IV, § 494104 Stat. 725

“Except as otherwise provided in this title, the provisions of this title [enacting this section and sections 620a to 620j of this title and provisions set out as a note below] take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [].”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1997 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–83, title VI, § 601111 Stat. 1617

“This title [amending sections 620b to 620f of this title] may be cited as the ‘Forest Resources Conservation and Shortage Relief Act of 1997’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title of 1993 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–45, § 1107 Stat. 223

section 620c of this title“This Act [amending sections 620c and 620d of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under ] may be cited as the ‘Forest Resources Conservation and Shortage Relief Amendments Act of 1993’.”
, , , provided that:

Short Title

Pub. L. 101–382, title IV, § 487104 Stat. 714

“This title [enacting this section and sections 620a to 620j of this title and provisions set out as a note above] may be cited as the ‘Forest Resources Conservation and Shortage Relief Act of 1990’.”
, , , provided that: