118 STAT. 2376 PUBLIC LAW 108–421—NOV. 30, 2004 (B) identified by the Forest Service in the Study, the Update, or any subsequent Pennsylvania and Connecticut Update as having high conservation value; and (C) in which a non Federal entity acquires land or an interest in land from a willing seller to permanently protect, conserve, or preserve the land through a partner ship with the Federal Government. (4) NON FEDERAL ENTITY.—The term ‘‘non Federal entity’’ means— (A) any Highlands State; or (B) any agency or department of any Highlands State with authority to own and manage land for conservation purposes, including the Palisades Interstate Park Commis sion. (5) STUDY.—The term ‘‘Study’’ means the New York New Jersey Highlands Regional Study conducted by the Forest Service in 1990. (6) UPDATE.—The term ‘‘Update’’ means the New York New Jersey Highlands Regional Study: 2002 Update conducted by the Forest Service. (7) PENNSYLVANIA AND CONNECTICUT UPDATE.—The term ‘‘Pennsylvania and Connecticut Update’’ means a report to be completed by the Forest Service that identifies areas having high conservation values in the States of Connecticut and Pennsylvania in a manner similar to that utilized in the Study and Update. SEC. 4. LAND CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS IN THE HIGH LANDS REGION. (a) SUBMISSION OF PROPOSED PROJECTS.—Each year, the gov ernors of the Highlands States, with input from pertinent units of local government and the public, may— (1) jointly identify land conservation partnership projects in the Highlands region from land identified as having high conservation values in the Study, the Update, or the Pennsyl vania and Connecticut Update that shall be proposed for Fed eral financial assistance; and (2) submit a list of those projects to the Secretary of the Interior. (b) CONSIDERATION OF PROJECTS.—Each year, the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall submit to Congress a list of the land conservation partnership projects submitted under subsection (a)(2) that are eligible to receive financial assistance under this section. (c) ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS.—To be eligible for financial assist ance under this section for a land conservation partnership project, a non Federal entity shall enter into an agreement with the Sec retary of the Interior that— (1) identifies the non Federal entity that shall own or hold and manage the land or interest in land; (2) identifies the source of funds to provide the non Federal share under subsection (d); (3) describes the management objectives for the land that will ensure permanent protection and use of the land for the purpose for which the assistance will be provided; (4) provides that, if the non Federal entity converts, uses, or disposes of the land conservation partnership project for Contracts. Reports.
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