Department of the Interior white oak assessment and pilot projects

(a) Definitions In this section: (1) Covered land The term covered land means land under the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary, including a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System and abandoned mine land. (2) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior. (b) Assessment (1) In general As soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall carry out an assessment of covered land to evaluate— (A) whether white oak is present on the covered land; and (B) the potential to restore white oak forests on the covered land. (2) Use of information In carrying out the assessment under paragraph (1), the Secretary may use information from sources other than the Department of the Interior, including information from— (A) the White Oak Restoration Initiative Coalition established by section 3(a); and (B) the Chief of the Forest Service. (3) Report Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress, and make publicly available on the website of the Department of the Interior, a report describing the results of the assessment carried out under paragraph (1). (c) Pilot projects (1) In general As soon as practicable after the date on which the Secretary submits the report required under subsection (b)(3), the Secretary shall establish and carry out 5 pilot projects on various areas of covered land, the purpose of which is to restore and naturally regenerate white oak. (2) Authority to enter into cooperative agreements The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements to carry out the pilot projects required under paragraph (1).