; and (B) does not include any obligation with respect to a Federal law, regulation, or policy. (4) The term forest operations means the development of forest operating plans for eligible portions of the National Forest System acquired by a State, including the conduct of inventories of timber resources and the engineering of necessary access needed necessary for timber management and related management activities. (5) The term patent date means the last day of the selection-transition period. (6) The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service. (7) The term selection date means the date on which a State elects to acquire eligible portions of the National Forest System and notifies the Secretary of such election under section 3(a). (8) The term selection-transition period means the period beginning on the selection date and ending no more than one year thereafter, on the patent date. (9) The term State means each of the several States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (10) The term State forest practices law means a forest practices law applicable to State or privately owned forest land in a State, including established silvicultural best management practices or other regulations for forest management practices related to clean water, soil quality, wildlife or forest health. (11) The term State obligation means any obligation or duty of the State arising out of any lease, permit, license, contract and other legal instruments issued by or with the State relating to the selected lands under this Act. 3. State selection of eligible portions of the National Forest System for acquisition and management (a) Selection authorized