103 S1462 RS: Fix Our Forests Act
U.S. Senate
2025-10-27
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.Short title; table of contents(a)This Act may be cited as the Fix Our Forests Act
.(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.Sec. 2. Definitions.TITLE I—Landscape-scale restorationSubtitle A—Addressing emergency wildfire risks in high-priority fireshedsSec. 101. Designation of fireshed management areas.Sec. 102. Wildfire Intelligence Center.Sec. 103. Fireshed Registry.Sec. 104. Shared stewardship.Sec. 105. Fireshed assessments.Sec. 106. Emergency fireshed management.Sec. 107. Sunset.Subtitle B—Expanding collaborative tools to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest healthSec. 111. Modification of treatment of certain revenue and payments under good neighbor agreements.Sec. 112. Fixing stewardship end result contracting.Sec. 113. Fireshed management project strike teams.Sec. 114. Locally led restoration.Sec. 115. Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership Program.Sec. 116. Collaborative forest landscape restoration program.Sec. 117. Utilizing grazing for wildfire risk reduction.Sec. 118. Water Source Protection Program.Sec. 119. Watershed Condition Framework technical corrections.Sec. 120. Tribal forest protection management activities and projects.Subtitle C—Litigation reformSec. 121. Commonsense litigation reform.Sec. 122. Consultation on forest plans.Subtitle D—Prescribed fireSec. 131. Prescribed fire eligible activities, policies, and practices.Sec. 132. Human resources.Sec. 133. Liability of prescribed fire managers.Sec. 134. Environmental review.Sec. 135. Cooperative agreements and contracts for prescribed fire.Sec. 136. Facilitating responsible use of prescribed fire.TITLE II—Protecting communities in wildland-urban interfaceSubtitle A—Community wildfire risk reductionSec. 201. Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Program.Sec. 202. Community Wildfire Defense Research Program.Sec. 203. Community wildfire defense accountability.Sec. 204. Community wildfire defense grant program improvements.Sec. 205. Updated definition of at-risk community.Subtitle B—Vegetation management, reforestation, and local fire suppressionSec. 211. Vegetation management, facility inspection, and operation and maintenance relating to electric transmission and distribution facility rights-of-way.Sec. 212. Fire-safe electrical corridors.Sec. 213. Categorical exclusion for high-priority hazard trees.Sec. 214. Seeds of Success strategy.Sec. 215. Program to support priority reforestation and restoration projects.Sec. 216. Reforestation, nurseries, and genetic resources support.Sec. 217. Fire department repayment.TITLE III—Transparency, technology, and partnershipsSubtitle A—Transparency and technologySec. 301. Biochar innovations and opportunities for conservation, health, and advancements in research.Sec. 302. Accurate hazardous fuels reduction reports.Sec. 303. Public-private wildfire technology deployment and demonstration partnership.Sec. 304. GAO study on Forest Service policies.Sec. 305. Keeping forest plans current and monitored.Sec. 306. Container Aerial Firefighting System.Sec. 307. Study on pine beetle infestation.Subtitle B—White oak resilienceSec. 311. White Oak Restoration Initiative Coalition.Sec. 312. Forest Service pilot program.Sec. 313. Department of the Interior white oak review and restoration.Sec. 314. White oak regeneration and upland oak habitat.Sec. 315. Tree nursery shortages.Sec. 316. White oak research.Sec. 317. USDA formal initiative.Sec. 318. Use of authorities.TITLE IV—Ensuring casualty assistance for firefightersSec. 401. Wildland Fire Management Casualty Assistance Program.2.In this Act:(1)The term end water user has the meaning given the term in section 303(a) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6542(a)).(2)The term Executive Director means the Executive Director of the Wildfire Intelligence Center appointed under section 102(g).(3)The term fireshed means a landscape-scale area, as delineated using methods developed through research conducted by the Forest Service, that represents similar source levels of community exposure to wildfire.(4)The term fireshed management area means a fireshed management area designated under section 101(a). (5)Fireshed management projectThe term fireshed management project means any of the following forest or vegetation management activities:(A)A hazardous fuels management activity.(B)Creating a fuel break or fire break.(C)Removing hazard trees, dead trees, or dying trees, as determined by a responsible official.(D)Developing, approving, or conducting routine maintenance under a vegetation management, facility inspection, and operation and maintenance plan under section 512(c) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1772(c)).(E)Removing trees to address overstocking or crowding in a forest stand, consistent with achieving the appropriate basal area of the forest stand, as determined by a responsible official.(F)Using treatments to address insects or disease or to control vegetation competition or invasive species.(G)A wet-meadow, floodplain, or riparian restoration activity that increases wildfire resistance.(H)A forest stand improvement activity necessary to protect life and property from catastrophic wildfire, as determined by a responsible official. (I)Any combination of activities described in this paragraph.(6)The term Fireshed Registry means the registry established under section 103(a).(7)The term forest plan means—(A)a land use plan prepared by the Bureau of Land Management for public land pursuant to section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712);(B)a land and resource management plan prepared by the Forest Service for a unit of the National Forest System pursuant to section 6 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604); and(C)a forest management plan (as defined in section 304 of the National Indian Forest Resources Management Act (25 U.S.C. 3103)) with respect to Indian forest land or rangeland.(8)The term Governor means the Governor or other appropriate executive official of—(A)a State; or(B)an Indian Tribe.(9)Hazardous fuels management activityThe term hazardous fuels management activity means a vegetation management activity, or any combination of such activities, that reduces the risk of wildfire, including mechanical thinning, mastication, prescribed burning, cultural burning (as determined by an applicable Indian Tribe), timber harvest, and grazing.(10)The terms at-risk community, community wildfire protection plan, and wildland-urban interface have the meanings given those terms in section 101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511).(11)Indian forest land or rangelandThe term Indian forest land or rangeland means land that—(A)is held in trust, or subject to a restriction against alienation, by the United States for an Indian Tribe or a member of an Indian Tribe; and(B)(i)is Indian forest land (as defined in section 304 of the National Indian Forest Resources Management Act (25 U.S.C. 3103)); or(ii)(I)has a cover of grasses, brush, or any similar vegetation; or(II)formerly had a forest cover or vegetative cover that is capable of restoration.(12)The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).(13)The term National Forest System has the meaning given the term in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a)).(14)The term public land means—(A)public lands (as defined in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702));(B)the land reconveyed to the United States pursuant to the first section of the Act of February 26, 1919 (40 Stat. 1179, chapter 47) (commonly known as Coos Bay Wagon Road Grant lands
) under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior; and(C)the land revested in the United States by the Act of June 9, 1916 (39 Stat. 218, chapter 137) (commonly known as Oregon and California Railroad Grant lands
) under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior.(15)Relevant committees of CongressThe term relevant committees of Congress means—(A)in the Senate—(i)the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; and (ii)the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; and(B)in the House of Representatives—(i)the Committee on Agriculture; and(ii)the Committee on Natural Resources.(16)The term Secretaries means—(A)the Secretary; and(B)the Secretary of the Interior.(17)The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.(18)The term Secretary concerned means—(A)the Secretary, with respect to National Forest System land; and(B)the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to public land.(19)The term special district means a political subdivision of a State that—(A)has significant budgetary autonomy or control;(B)was established by, or pursuant to, the laws of the State for the purpose of performing a limited and specific governmental or proprietary function primarily relating to land management; and(C)is distinct from any other unit of local government within the State.(20)The term State means—(A)each of the several States;(B)the District of Columbia; and(C)each territory of the United States.<enum>I</enum><header>Landscape-scale restoration</header><subtitle style="OLC" commented="no" level-type="subsequent" id="ide61690494dba4b598ee10049e7c68957"><enum>A</enum><header>Addressing emergency wildfire risks in high-priority firesheds</header><section id="HF2972E62A141424AA6D146A40DF79F5B"><enum>101.</enum><header>Designation of fireshed management areas</header><subsection id="H2C118F06D0BB471086789327DFE6A4A5"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Designations</header><paragraph id="HC647B7FDC94B41D89EB2CC93F06AE663"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Initial designations</header><text>Subject to paragraph (4), for the 5-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the following firesheds are designated as fireshed management areas:</text><subparagraph id="H353CA47A986B4BF88218DE198511C05B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Each landscape-scale fireshed identified as a <quote>high-risk fireshed</quote> in the document published by the Forest Service entitled <quote>Wildfire Crisis Strategy</quote> and dated January 2022.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H39C7AE1263D746D6A18A639FB0263D30"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Of the 7,688 firesheds described in the report published by the Rocky Mountain Research Station of the Forest Service in 2019, each landscape-scale fireshed identified by the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, as being in the top 20 percent for wildfire exposure based on the following criteria:</text><clause id="HC4A0992A7CC943EB86B274CF2BD5A9F9"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Wildfire exposure and corresponding risk to communities, including risk to life, critical infrastructure, and other structures.</text></clause><clause id="H11505EFD98304D5CADC29FCDE534B42D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Wildfire exposure and corresponding risk to municipal watersheds, including Tribal water supplies and systems.</text></clause><clause id="H93860D9FD76343A795525C3A959DD229"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Risk of vegetation type conversion due to wildfire, based on information from existing forest plans, State forest action plans, and best available science.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id21135ec2e9c4473cb48d6ce8b3d974f4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Designations in Alaska, Hawaii, and territories</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, shall designate in the States of Alaska and Hawaii and the territories of the United States such additional fireshed management areas as the Secretaries determine to be appropriate, based on the criteria described in clauses (i) through (iii) of paragraph (1)(B).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H2FE733038E174C66B63A2C4036732EFE"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Map-based updated designations</header><subparagraph id="H4879B8D2CF904BBC9F5215F9D076D90E"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Map of firesheds</header><text>Not later than the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress an updated map of firesheds, which shall—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide4ce7899814b4067b06fe8cfe79c7e34"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">be based on the Fireshed Registry; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4e7e40683c64464badca0737bb465d40"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">include firesheds in the States of Alaska and Hawaii and the territories of the United States.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBB39D860367646458D3376ABC43598B7"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Fireshed management areas</header><text>Not later than 60 days after submitting an updated fireshed map under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall designate as a fireshed management area each fireshed depicted on that map that the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, identifies as being in the top 20 percent of firesheds at risk of wildfire exposure based on the criteria described in clauses (i) through (iii) of paragraph (1)(B) and in accordance with this section.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf15c4e96f9414dbe80157768a1fb3e47"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Publication</header><text>The Secretary shall make each updated map prepared under this paragraph publicly available on the Fireshed Registry.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd98edff51aba42a68618f00887f1d2fd"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Land location and content</header><text>A fireshed management area designated under this subsection—</text><subparagraph id="H06E6CDCE0B584FC0AC181661A35E5143"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall not overlap with any other fireshed management area; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDEB75D1259734833882020D49085AFDE" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text>may contain Federal and non-Federal land, including Indian forest land or rangeland.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idfddd18e3657c4996ae1d9572758db8a8"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Combining multiple firesheds</header><text>On receipt of a request of an affected Governor, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, may expand a fireshed management area designated under this subsection to include more than 1 fireshed.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida4b3d9625b604ca0a51d27a63f7eb7cd"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Use</header><text>The Secretary concerned may carry out fireshed management projects on the fireshed management areas designated under this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="HFA30635055D1431785677AD2B9F85639"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Applicability of NEPA</header><text>The designation of a fireshed management area under this section shall not be subject to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></subsection></section><section id="id7161ce476c644f4491f3d71f7c03136e"><enum>102.</enum><header>Wildfire Intelligence Center</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1e36ae280c694e99ad703a14871b38c5"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3de2571b33574ce8aa9faeff13a3f5dd"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Board</header><text>The term <term>Board</term> means the Board governing the Center appointed under subsection (f).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8800840bee1c4b348077d59c961bd70e"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Center</header><text>The term <term>Center</term> means the Wildfire Intelligence Center established under subsection (b).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idf1714b0f90f74c70a1bf901addb1a615"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior shall establish a joint office, to be known as the <quote>Wildfire Intelligence Center</quote>, the duties of which are to study, plan, coordinate, and implement issues of joint concern among the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior, including—</text><paragraph id="idc7dc6acbd1384fd397aba473527a437a"><enum>(1)</enum><text>serving as the development and operational center for the comprehensive assessment and prediction of wildfires and fires that move into the built environment to provide decision support services to inform land and fuels management, community outreach and risk reduction, post-wildfire recovery and rehabilitation, and fire management and response activities carried out by entities, including—</text><subparagraph id="id1fa40144d2e94ceb90956db1997af7a9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Federal Government;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id87e43c5ef1a542d19d78c3038074d843"><enum>(B)</enum><text>State, Tribal, and local governments;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5afc42c8736f4539aa645536d9a9d0ec"><enum>(C)</enum><text>land managers;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id137b900642ac45808407e0814231bbc7"><enum>(D)</enum><text>incident management teams;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc177517f9a17432386afc01b7d8825eb"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the National Interagency Coordination Center;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9bafcccb53e948cdb5b7537071ea435a"><enum>(F)</enum><text>geographic coordination centers;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id096eac15784c40c39e3c30e64242c318"><enum>(G)</enum><text>land, air, and water managers;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idec89ac847ecb4c6d9d0d1be90533b184"><enum>(H)</enum><text>burned area rehabilitation teams;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id30e632da845247ee88f487876af418b6"><enum>(I)</enum><text>public health entities; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7ab1b68dc55744edbf27e31f8fbd578e"><enum>(J)</enum><text>other entities identified by the Board;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id6f5316ccdce84997b35fa5274dbd4bab"><enum>(2)</enum><text>facilitating collaboration and information sharing across Federal and State departments and agencies, Tribal entities, academia, and the private sector with respect to matters relating to wildfires; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id65e466645833438dbe6217c3b6b93edc"><enum>(3)</enum><text>addressing such other issues as the Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior may identify as issues of joint interest in support of the functions of the Center described in subsection (d).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idc72a30acef5246f1bb4c694e58e06edc"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Headquarters</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Board shall select from within the United States a permanent location for the physical headquarters of the Center.</text></subsection><subsection id="idaf92454b823045339effcec5e0275237"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Functions</header><text>The functions of the Center shall include the following:</text><paragraph id="id7464675fc39f45108663776e8f0b5241"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Providing real-time, science-based, and data-rich scientific and technical analytical services, decision support, and predictive services across all phases of fire to inform pre-fire land and fuels management, pre-fire community and built environment risk reduction, active fire management and emergency response, and post-fire recovery in the built and natural environments.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf6a39f0cc8004a1ca3dfb34ea815ee97"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Assessing and monitoring wildfires and wildfire conditions across all phases of fire, including ignition, behavior, and spread, climate, weather, drought, soil moisture, fuel conditions, smoke, aerosols, fire severity, debris flows, and erosion.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="iddfed499a737241c7896a8676605b52e1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Comprehensive modeling of wildfire behavior and risks, including ignitions, wildfire intensity and spread inside the built and natural environments, air quality, and dependence on burn history, vegetation conditions, climate, and weather.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5497032c1e424deab223c53a5dafd008"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Providing and procuring, if commercially available, and combining existing data, mapping, technological, and consultation services to support pre-, active, and post-fire activities, including—</text><subparagraph id="idfe837a3f2cf34f32a1685402105659bc"><enum>(A)</enum><text>creating and maintaining a real-time nationwide wildfire risk catalog by leveraging existing risk mapping at land management agencies;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idff3ac5fa227d403b846b7349eb66c3b3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>assisting with the creation of evacuation plans for at-risk communities;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb3179cd8ab404501af6105413f5b5e52"><enum>(C)</enum><text>assisting with the creation of public safety power shutoff plans;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id264375a9b4554e719428bb793fdd0619"><enum>(D)</enum><text>assisting with the creation and updating of wildfire response strategies, plans, and treatment and mitigation measures, including mitigation measures in the built environment and the development of community wildfire protection plans;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1ca5b43ef63744dfb1b0807b41f5050f"><enum>(E)</enum><text>providing decision support and gridded and point data forecast and assessment products in support of operational and planning activities, including the pre-positioning of wildfire suppression personnel and assets based on real-time-risk; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0f6bcd34270f4ddba9e31f88f83f83e0"><enum>(F)</enum><text>assisting with the safe and effective use of prescribed fire.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id1b9f1770237f4a439bce95eee059251e"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Consolidating air quality monitoring and forecasting data to support health risk information to help inform risks to public health and protect the public from smoke impacts associated with wildfires, including providing planning guidance for safe and effective beneficial fire opportunities to prevent the risk of wildfires.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id136d57efc8f640aba9d873cbabb9d1a4"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Providing accessible tools and products that support emergency and land management decisions relating to wildfire prevention, preparedness, and response, including risk assessment and contingency planning, which shall include the development of a data interface to assist and inform, in real-time, firefighters, first responders, and approved contractors in responding to wildfires, including the use of any observations by the civil, military, and intelligence communities of the Federal Government and commercial Earth observations.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id474f9896cf8945a0904f0c3e20277b03"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Establishing an interoperable information technology infrastructure accessible by Federal agencies, State government offices, units of local government, and Tribal governments.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd410a5bc95844f04a89ff6ce69aa6958"><enum>(8)</enum><text>To the extent feasible, establishing data interoperability through—</text><subparagraph id="idb2c66f2ba9f74498a5ddf17164e0a2de"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the development of common data standards;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf5b8bd3b84054a89825655292871b9f8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the provision of comprehensive searchable data inventories;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idded6cca741bc40bf86c53d2d118b566e"><enum>(C)</enum><text>working with Tribal governments in nation-to-nation partnership;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7efdb1a82cb84fb1b20d71da67e9121b"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the integration and sharing of information and resources of the Federal Government and State and local governments to support the essential functions of the Center;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida74a4122748642f7b2f408e670a67015"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the development of data standards to protect confidential information that may be essential to the core functions of the Center;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id143cd5b9a22344878e7f90c68e832468"><enum>(F)</enum><text>regular updates and maintenance of research and technology essential to achieving the core functions of the Center; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3b1834202c554cfba9ee5db2b0df721b"><enum>(G)</enum><text>the development and maintenance of a big-data architecture to compile, maintain, standardize, and evaluate data associated with the core functions of the Center.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id1b0cfb07f5d24417bef68395fcb629b9"><enum>(9)</enum><text>In coordination with relevant Federal agencies and coordinating entities, as determined by the Board, and in consultation with State government agencies, units of local government, territories of the United States, and federally recognized Indian Tribes, developing, procuring where commercially available, and disseminating tools to support wildfire planning, risk reduction and response guidance, guidelines, maps, and training materials to help inform State, territorial, local, and Tribal governments and decisionmakers with respect to—</text><subparagraph id="ideeed7925d2604238b9cf6ba02dd703ca"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the use and implementations of wildfire risk assessments;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id26ae78d329844364871a1af5f79634ce"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the applied use of the database and information developed under paragraphs (7) and (8);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id21570635cd04418aa57b54099586ae25"><enum>(C)</enum><text>reducing losses from wildfires;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id919fc2514f094286ac14840ac81b5ea7"><enum>(D)</enum><text>increasing benefits from wildfires;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idecb1c14cb70c4e0bbc7adf16ecfabb94"><enum>(E)</enum><text>resources available for communities and responders working to improve wildfire preparedness; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0b19ecd765074ecb903b5026d1841198"><enum>(F)</enum><text>enhancing communication management in emergency wildfire situations, land and resource management, and scientific studies.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idb629387e5f80420ebef659cf5f3cc47c"><enum>(10)</enum><text>Working with Federal, State, and Tribal agencies to develop and improve National Wildfire Coordinating Group wildfire preparedness curricula and training modules for—</text><subparagraph id="idf88e632d97a54d44912fd2ac6d030bde"><enum>(A)</enum><text>State, territorial, local, and Tribal officials; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7f8f900cf07b4371bd82413814cb27f4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Federal, State, territorial, local, and Tribal emergency managers and responders.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7713966b0e2449ef958e048065b55e5a"><enum>(11)</enum><text>Maintaining the Fireshed Registry.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7a341b3f36494f8ab03cfdd5b3cdd084"><enum>(12)</enum><text>Administering the pilot program established under section 303 and streamlining procurement processes for technologies identified under that pilot program and technology systems related to addressing wildfire and smoke for purposes of scaling such technologies and systems across Federal agencies.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ide49d6b3a9f464c10a1102841d8abb5b3"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Administration</header><paragraph id="id833aef6cc29d4f4aa18291d5b2a0df2d"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior shall cooperatively administer the Center.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idaa03fc05c49a42ac82e9fb3950426c83"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Transfer of funds</header><subparagraph id="idfa7052581c8f431bb212ee44fcaaec67"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior may transfer funds provided to establish, and carry out the duties of, the Center between—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id21541a5dd4f044998ec4a2fdbeeed3f4"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Forest Service; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc7c2e232b0a542bd90f93a93e3bb21dd"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the United States Geological Survey.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id96d2faa9d60b459f95904907a0a3a662"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Notice required</header><text>Not later than 15 days before transferring funds under subparagraph (A), the Secretary or the Secretary of the Interior, as applicable, shall submit to the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a notice of the proposed transfer.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id51979291f0244634b898bb66b37a9b32"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Board</header><paragraph id="id5d7a0489804f4c84945909a364bfc1b9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Membership</header><text>The Center shall be governed by a Board, to be composed of 16 members, as follows:</text><subparagraph id="id17be9c14382241c1820d7a0d82421738"><enum>(A)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the Department of Agriculture, to be appointed by the Secretary.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id06ba9929c599427b8b575b0eb4964587"><enum>(B)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the research and development areas of the Forest Service, to be appointed by the Chief of the Forest Service.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5c96064ebef44989b3cc38899c835155"><enum>(C)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee in fire and aviation management of the Forest Service, to be appointed by the Chief of the Forest Service.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide134a792f4904dddb286e4867d0eb70f"><enum>(D)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the Department of the Interior, to be appointed by the Secretary of the Interior.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd37cc501545642a987084697a4200179"><enum>(E)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the Bureau of Land Management, to be appointed by the Director of the Bureau of Land Management.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9215bae1bf564115b404c5d29866509e"><enum>(F)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, to be appointed by the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0b6dc364b36e4a3989837c2979f71a64"><enum>(G)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the National Park Service, to be appointed by the Director of the National Park Service.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id79f267f6172947ef9f8ed70fd79b1493"><enum>(H)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to be appointed by the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idbac0772a779f49cc9630558eb83fd224"><enum>(I)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the United States Geological Survey, to be appointed by the Director of the United States Geological Survey.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb33522d1c10642c891fe1941b0332f94"><enum>(J)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to be appointed by the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6adbb4403f4e4d219a62d32629cda435"><enum>(K)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the National Weather Service, to be appointed by the Director of the National Weather Service.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd5bde9ebeb6a48d8b84d0facbeed3812"><enum>(L)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to be appointed by the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5e37d19aaa114f95a7a968dd1da98e0e"><enum>(M)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the United States Fire Administration, to be appointed by the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide1bf98d0c71a4dd8980f8c16ece582c1"><enum>(N)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the Department of Defense, to be appointed by the Secretary of Defense.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd2f61c76d41b4ee9aead9f5e96e0a547"><enum>(O)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the National Science Foundation, to be appointed by the Director of the National Science Foundation.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id949ae025eecc4f2c9165fe78af3ab937"><enum>(P)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, to be appointed by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc861c1b7d38c4e5b820e97fbf1bdaa33"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Terms</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A member of the Board—</text><subparagraph id="id4e86e55ac45f401d826277ad4fb46706"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall be appointed for a term of 3 years; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide243ff8fd71e4344befc6dbc978e6ec9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>may be reappointed for not more than 3 additional terms.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idc4a512bd5b11416799234fa2cf98af39"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Chairperson; Vice Chairperson</header><text>The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Board shall—</text><subparagraph id="idc1710e499e8b457faccfcf527b436a34"><enum>(A)</enum><text>be selected by the members of the Board from among the members appointed under subparagraphs (B), (I), and (J) of paragraph (1); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id29e2da891383465b954a67880deaa9e3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>serve for a term of 1 year.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idee007b619a99472294672e44959cb54f"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Majority vote</header><text>A voting consensus by the Board shall be not less than a <fraction>2/3</fraction> majority vote of the members present.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1173554d727445cf996bc9028b36cf48"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Nonvoting status</header><text>At the discretion of the Board, the Board may include nonvoting observers to the Board.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id7707be3dc62148e79218596a3f18e585"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Executive Director</header><paragraph id="idc1bae0eec4ce492e87a2d9392182cdb8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Center shall have an Executive Director, who shall be appointed by, and serve at the direction of, the Board.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id360342eef1a84a6e84a1a91134a5aa3f"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Drought monitoring</header><text>The Executive Director shall engage with relevant Federal agencies, State agencies, and entities in the private sector to improve drought monitoring, forecasting, communication, and response that may be essential to the core functions of the Center, if the Executive Director determines that the engagement is appropriate, beneficial, and cost-effective.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4704d2eac8bf4a9cbc7c7433ae748916"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Contracting authority</header><subparagraph id="id14a5e62aefa24c9b807c6a2321e18a0f"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Executive Director may enter into and perform contracts, agreements, memoranda of understanding, or other, similar transactions, as the Executive Director determines to be appropriate to carry out the functions of the Center described in subsection (d).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9f0f113012f648469ecb49aee13b1ae3"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Board and the Executive Director shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress a report that provides—</text><clause id="id70f0e9af8a01401385fb280b066a4f7d"><enum>(i)</enum><text>an assessment of existing contracting authorities of the Executive Director;</text></clause><clause id="id634a6a9818934b5cb4a1cec500b6a1b9"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>recommendations regarding whether any new contracting authorities or modifications of existing contracting authorities are needed; and</text></clause><clause id="ideb692457bbe54f768713b1d1529e4c4b"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>a description of technologies that may be commercially available to perform the functions of the Center, together with the costs and timelines of procuring those technologies or developing relevant capabilities.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idbff7629180a6486d8b87a87c6d5577ec"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Detailees</header><text>The Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior may detail or assign to the Center such employees of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior, respectively, as the Secretaries determine to be necessary to carry out the duties of the Center.</text></subsection><subsection id="id2763d4907de142d4aa7e5d4f951380dd"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Interagency financing</header><text>Notwithstanding section 708 of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2023 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/117/328">Public Law 117–328</external-xref>; 136 Stat. 4706), or any other, similar provision of law, interagency financing may be used to fund the Center.</text></subsection><subsection id="idd43f692a7994479daa301247620aa6f7"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Coordination with other agencies and entities</header><text>To carry out the functions of the Center described in subsection (d), the Board shall coordinate with agencies represented on the Board and other relevant entities, including—</text><paragraph id="ida46ee6d2c83c432fb73ef78b4f579a3e"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the National Wildfire Coordinating Group;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id76031f32b5544e4088a445248d9fc563"><enum>(2)</enum><text>State and Tribal governments;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide1be909a62f04cd597a17138cfde4927"><enum>(3)</enum><text>any other agency that—</text><subparagraph id="idcbd51d607bc84e55b5cfda91c958031e"><enum>(A)</enum><text>is responsible for the management of Federal or State land; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idbca917b30a53480d86c58092be553b1b"><enum>(B)</enum><text>has data, science, and technology expertise relevant to the Center; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idc82995a16c904fd082c000a9c2ebae1b"><enum>(4)</enum><text>any other relevant Federal, State, Tribal, or nongovernmental entity that is representative of an element of the wildland fire community.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id55488856b2484f32a4f6c135de9e846c"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Operational plan</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc6c816b91ed645889e37035282d0a402"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the appointment of the Executive Director, the Executive Director shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress an operational plan describing—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0c967ec5cc124c75ac7d0a5f7eeef05a"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the structure of the Center;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7cf78d3d88544608b41cfe810b26374d"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">staffing and funding needs of the Center;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3d03e5e311dc470686badb5f8a1acd59"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">technological capabilities within the Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Interior, and the other Federal departments and agencies comprising the Board that are available to the Center;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4581f53400c4444c875a216383795267"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an assessment of the potential of commercially available technologies to perform the functions of the Center; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id201ce3cc22994d488eb618bf2182daaf"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a timeline for full operational functioning of the Center.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8855185c26a04c43987e720aa95f7de4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The plan under paragraph (1) shall include estimated costs, key milestones, coordination strategies with Federal, State, and private entities, and recommendations for ensuring the effective operation of the Center.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7a966d274239454a9defadc53bb6aa3b"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Updates</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Director shall update the plan not less frequently than annually to reflect progress, adjustments in funding, and the adoption of new technologies.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id9c0cad7f7ca04e52831d9db106a663cd"><enum>(l)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in this section affects the ownership of any data source.</text></subsection></section><section id="HB1679D4D14CF4375AB285D4B65EF162E"><enum>103.</enum><header>Fireshed Registry</header><subsection id="H8658C053B82E4541822EB8E025223D75"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The Secretaries, acting through the Executive Director, shall establish and maintain, on a publicly accessible website, a registry, to be known as the <quote>Fireshed Registry</quote>, that provides interactive geospatial data relating to individual firesheds, including information relating to—</text><paragraph id="H3B33263A9E3748DF9FEEB3D2BF6F9BB1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>wildland fire exposure, delineated by ownership, including rights-of-way for utilities and other public or private purposes;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HB80D55A4B26A4E44B1759F435E39D2A3"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any hazardous fuels management activities that have occurred within an individual fireshed during the preceding 10 years;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HE8AC4C0B75D14DBB96AF5A65B257D145"><enum>(3)</enum><text>wildland fire exposure with respect to a fireshed, delineated by—</text><subparagraph id="HC69BDC419B4F42678A57130B98A2A124"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">wildfire exposure and corresponding risk to communities, including risk to life, critical infrastructure, and other structures;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H66EA7428E9B64E8393FA9834AB97883E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>wildfire exposure and corresponding risk to municipal watersheds, including Tribal water supplies and systems; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4AA47D47F7C149898CBCB0625F182473"><enum>(C)</enum><text>risk of vegetation type conversion due to wildfire;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H03B217764EA64CDE982C73A383D8EED6"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the percentage of a fireshed burned in wildfire during the preceding 10 years, including, to the extent practicable, delineations of acres that have burned at a high severity;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HE317C944E2B247BAA38106B2C321E1E9"><enum>(5)</enum><text>spatial patterns of wildfire exposure, including plausible extreme fire events; and </text></paragraph><paragraph id="HDBD617584D324DC09C82411763794C78"><enum>(6)</enum><text>any hazardous fuels management activities planned for a fireshed, including fireshed management projects.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H363D12754FD149DCA36A3E8DE84046CA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Community wildfire protection plans</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Executive Director shall make data from the Fireshed Registry available to local communities developing or updating community wildfire protection plans.</text></subsection><subsection id="H0EEBFEB7ADD044CEBB17FB7191EA52D2"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Maintenance</header><text>As part of the website containing the Fireshed Registry, the Executive Director shall—</text><paragraph id="H51D5751852DE4E32926BAF6618BF619E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>publish fireshed assessments conducted under section 105; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HCA95C4E8BFAD47C5AAC3102DABBE8801"><enum>(2)</enum><text>maintain a searchable database to track—</text><subparagraph id="HE5C2D19422C743AFB275683CF2AB4FEF"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the status of Federal environmental reviews, permits, and authorizations for fireshed management projects, including—</text><clause id="HE1DB7EF265B74AC98118D70E79F6D899"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a comprehensive permitting timetable;</text></clause><clause id="H2DDE6C36A1FD47199A2F3859C1298812"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the status of the compliance of each lead agency, cooperating agency, and participating agency with the permitting timetable with respect to fireshed management projects;</text></clause><clause id="H7C8BD1906216431983C38276B285998A"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>any required modifications of the permitting timetable under clause (i), including an explanation regarding why the permitting timetable was modified; and</text></clause><clause id="H986A54DD704A4EE381CAFB6845740442"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>information regarding any public meetings, public hearings, and public comment periods relating to a fireshed management project, as that information becomes available, which shall be presented in—</text><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id85efc53adeea4e10a26cf4c458bfac03"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">English; and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd610b0af2df44da38a9e8c7be01f532f"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the predominant language of each community that is most affected by the fireshed management project, as that information becomes available;</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF4CDFD4525184770ABCB2A8D4B344B9A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the projected cost of fireshed management projects; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H3011D23306614046A120FCB0AF39F885"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in the case of a completed fireshed management project, the estimated effectiveness of the fireshed management project in—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida8a33d0da83744b7bb2cc1edb81acd54"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">reducing the wildfire exposure within the applicable fireshed, including wildfire exposure described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of subsection (a)(3); and</text></clause><clause id="id0132cc26f0f94a40ae161796614284c2"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>increasing the resilience of wildlife habitats, including habitat for species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H16E61D51B6C2450F928EA7898EAB800B"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Incorporation of existing assessments and data</header><text>In carrying out this section, the Executive Director shall incorporate any assessments completed or data gathered through existing partnerships, to the extent practicable.</text></subsection><subsection id="id5a66455bc88f40fb9a2391ef65066638"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Applicability of NEPA</header><text>The establishment and maintenance of the Fireshed Registry under this section shall not be subject to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></subsection></section><section id="H551D56841E7D43C594559496BE5E32C4"><enum>104.</enum><header>Shared stewardship</header><subsection id="id6a245487a36340029ec782d5ff506fda"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Joint agreements</header><text>The Secretary concerned shall seek to use an existing shared stewardship agreement, modify an existing shared stewardship agreement, or enter into a similar agreement with the Governor of each State and Indian Tribe that contains a fireshed management area designated under section 101(a) to jointly—</text><paragraph id="HE2AC97DB02434D0F829CE91B19D71D3E"><enum>(1)</enum><text>promote the reduction of wildfire exposure, based on the criteria described in clauses (i) through (iii) of section 101(a)(1)(B), in fireshed management areas across jurisdictional boundaries; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HABFA5BBE9FF347E3AE35D2571AA1B5AC" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text>conduct fireshed assessments under section 105.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HED20BB770BCD44EDBA162C14F88CC93E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Adjustment of boundaries and updates to agreements</header><text>With respect to an agreement under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned, on request of the applicable Governor, may—</text><paragraph id="iddc5afdc3c31e44b18ef8b3f54391be53"><enum>(1)</enum><text>adjust the boundaries of any applicable fireshed management area; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H52F49DE7DA2F4651B4DFE973B76BAF15" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text>update the agreement to address any new wildfire threats.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id63e7ab2b8a44412db34419e2814d07c7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Cooperative agreements</header><text>The Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior may enter into cooperative agreements with units of local government, special districts, end water users, nongovernmental organizations, institutions of higher education, and other entities, at the discretion of the applicable Secretary to carry out the activities described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a).</text></subsection></section><section id="id33471d621c9c4397a5402c357b662cb8"><enum>105.</enum><header>Fireshed assessments</header><subsection id="idb419042c0c7f4cdd8498c10fe1d32324"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned, in cooperation with the Governor with whom the Secretary concerned enters into an agreement under section 104(a), if applicable, shall conduct a fireshed assessment in accordance with this section with respect to each fireshed management area designated in the applicable State or area of Tribal land.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id35a40ce5be424a8e8ba54f4de3e5c9d8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirements</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2ab373c3ac7146fd9b104e2df5521036"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>Each fireshed assessment under subsection (a) shall—</text><subparagraph id="idb70c616e28ad488ca7556f3619ace48f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>identify—</text><clause id="id904d0b1b05004fcbb9a6512b13ae4036"><enum>(i)</enum><text>using the best available science, wildfire exposure risks within the applicable fireshed management area, including scenario planning and wildfire hazard mapping and models; and</text></clause><clause id="id78b345d5ccd942d68755e1dc06a4bb34"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>each at-risk community within the fireshed management area;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb7024225849743fd810f75e2505b970a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>identify the types of fireshed management projects that could benefit the fireshed management area, with an emphasis on reducing—</text><clause id="id8469ef855a7d41afa912857c5c531d2a"><enum>(i)</enum><text>wildfire exposure and corresponding risk to communities, including risk to life, critical infrastructure, and other structures;</text></clause><clause id="id75f9efc71fb24d68a56267312686276d"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>wildfire exposure and corresponding risk to municipal watersheds, including Tribal water supplies and systems;</text></clause><clause id="id9c2c97fb903044388ee94f7b93e2a021"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>risk of vegetation type conversion due to wildfire;</text></clause><clause id="idd1aca97495c245d19f956b144cd0c4be"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>wildfire risk for wildlife habitats, including habitat for species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>);</text></clause><clause id="idbb3ca93d81004f8887e53a31fea3e687"><enum>(v)</enum><text>wildfire risk to resources of an Indian Tribe, as defined by the Indian Tribe; or</text></clause><clause id="idb43f79e4df6049ce9d6e9e34c525a607"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>any combination of purposes described in clauses (i) through (v); and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc6f1687f28dd4e72a20bf03607686cdf"><enum>(C)</enum><text>include, with respect to the applicable fireshed management area—</text><clause id="idf100b1c364bc44ce95b026d447683a5d"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a strategy for reducing the threat of wildfire—</text><subclause id="id1811fd07df894624ad550304a8b8d8a8"><enum>(I)</enum><text>to protect at-risk communities in the wildland-urban interface on Federal and non-Federal land;</text></subclause><subclause id="idab13cf38ad3e4ff49e8fb23ae7fc5eb7"><enum>(II)</enum><text>to improve the effectiveness of wildfire firefighting, particularly the effectiveness of fuels treatments that would improve wildfire firefighter safety during wildfires; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id7b497f22250441808d82225d11858611"><enum>(III)</enum><text>to reduce risk to wildlife habitats, including habitat for species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>);</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id73bf722c83e541cfbd49662446455ba5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a timeline for the implementation of fireshed management projects;</text></clause><clause id="idffc8244f78d547958dcb1169522c1580"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>long-term benchmark goals for the completion of fireshed management projects in the highest wildfire exposure areas to ensure that those fireshed management projects contribute to the development and maintenance of healthy and resilient landscapes;</text></clause><clause id="idb7f35b281dc24062901014de2474c39e"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>a strategy to ensure that fireshed management projects comply with applicable forest plans and incorporate the best available science; and</text></clause><clause id="idf9fea159e31949c4991ba529f9855e13"><enum>(v)</enum><text>a strategy for maximizing the retention of late-successional forests, to the extent that the trees promote stands that are resilient to insects and disease, and reduce the risk or extent of, or increase resilience to, wildfires.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idf8f1dc07348544a0bc7be24d3a81f1de"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Existing plans</header><text>To the maximum extent practicable, a fireshed assessment shall incorporate and build on information, planning, and strategies contained in relevant forest plans, State forest action plans, watershed management plans, community wildfire protection plans, and similar locally led landscape-scale planning documents.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc27af8ce3e9d48999c7000f19751fedd"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Participation</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd099e6294b1b4b8c9e3183f0c046d0b9"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">State, Tribal, and local governments</header><text>In addition to the parties to an applicable agreement described in subsection (a), the Secretary concerned shall coordinate with States, Indian Tribes, units of local government, and other entities that are parties to an agreement under section 104(c) within a fireshed management area in conducting the fireshed assessment under paragraph (1).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="iddb4ad5c734074d04b7248ea8a17a83e3"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Public</header><text>In carrying out a fireshed assessment under this section, the Secretary concerned shall provide an opportunity for public participation during the 45-day period beginning on the date of initiation of the assessment, including—</text><clause id="idd7c5b6d9744044dc8fcd4833e17ba3be"><enum>(i)</enum><text>publication of information regarding the development of the assessment—</text><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2feebe005fad4ebb9acaa17f6ae3d2c3"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">on a website maintained by the Secretary concerned; and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfac589641a4e48fdbd1c54daea7a313e"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">at convenient locations within the applicable fireshed management area; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="idd4a4de67aafd42cca48803adec178ea9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>at least 1 public meeting.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd810a0dafbde42afb5d8d1b612e22cd5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Updates and availability</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each fireshed assessment under subsection (a) shall be—</text><paragraph id="H471BFA8377E24C59A16D1DE386015378"><enum>(1)</enum><text>regularly updated based on the best available science, subject to the requirements of subsection (d)(2); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H9299775309BF4AEAA63B1579854D1251"><enum>(2)</enum><text>made publicly available on 1 or more websites maintained by the Secretary concerned, including the Fireshed Registry.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H176AD47517C241F1B038294A158C01FF"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Information improvement</header><paragraph id="H48DA9E2697154F17BFBA037670870612"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Memoranda of understanding</header><text>In carrying out a fireshed assessment under this section, the Secretary concerned may enter into memoranda of understanding with other Federal departments and agencies (including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), States, Indian Tribes, private entities, or research or educational institutions to improve, with respect to the assessment, the use and integration of—</text><subparagraph id="H948CE98AC463415A9C44A4805980054B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>advanced remote sensing and geospatial technologies;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9BFC85314F31452381D7A82EC7BF3923"><enum>(B)</enum><text>statistical modeling and analysis; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8479E9A0B0224F68B11B07A2024C5238"><enum>(C)</enum><text>any other technology or combination of technologies and analyses that the Secretary concerned determines will benefit the quality of information in the assessment.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA1A89EF8542B46E5AC3CCEBC4C7E9971"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Best available science</header><text>In using the best available science for a fireshed assessment under this section, the Secretary concerned and the applicable Governor shall incorporate, to the maximum extent practicable—</text><subparagraph id="H8608EFD00A35441F953702BECBFFC472"><enum>(A)</enum><text>traditional ecological knowledge from Indian Tribes;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCC121643D74A4AF99D483D2DA7DF1EC9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>data from State forest action plans and State wildfire risk assessments;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8D435B7204394A4EB889C3E6B39F3436"><enum>(C)</enum><text>data from the Fireshed Registry; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA23F5083D134491D8046AF44D7BFFBD6"><enum>(D)</enum><text>data from other Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments or agencies.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H9C1E197B774648DFA88E1FE628CDB94F" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Applicability of NEPA</header><text>A fireshed assessment under this section shall not be subject to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></subsection></section><section id="HA4BEA2175F104907B13206A9F76E5D44"><enum>106.</enum><header>Emergency fireshed management</header><subsection id="idf0addf98667149c89a23c18cab98a7f3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Fireshed management projects</header><paragraph id="idccf765caf81a4ba5951797a87d2df17b"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary, acting through a responsible official, shall carry out fireshed management projects on land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned in fireshed management areas in accordance with this section, the applicable forest plan, and the laws (including regulations) applicable to the Secretary concerned.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idfe0d428fc0ae439ba02d95c6cc9cc77b"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Applicability of other provisions</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="iddc9a1b24f02c470fa3ea73433d112a20"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>The following shall have the force and effect of law with respect to any fireshed management project carried out in a fireshed management area:</text><clause id="idbc579de071cb4b38a8bc3e3a2f4e21e4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Section 220.4(b) of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on April 9, 2025), with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary.</text></clause><clause id="idee177e56a9434603b96608753c1bed7b"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Section 46.150 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on April 9, 2025), with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior.</text></clause><clause id="iddd0fba875f5c4df0975b8f8dc50a5367"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Section 402.05 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on April 9, 2025).</text></clause><clause id="idaf60e67ac2ab470991855ec1d3dc05a9"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>Section 800.12 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on April 9, 2025), except that any reference contained in that regulation to an <quote>agency official</quote> shall be considered to be a reference to a responsible official.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idce3ad40ffa724daf80f7459644ca7b19"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Determination of emergency</header><clause id="ide32b44a9f1be4e97adf19a66189b7ea7"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A regulation referred to in subparagraph (A) shall not apply pursuant to that subparagraph with respect to a fireshed management project unless, before carrying out the fireshed management project, a responsible official—</text><subclause id="id9fa7e856d27841589aec092d4559b792"><enum>(I)</enum><text>determines, in accordance with the regulation, that an emergency or emergency circumstance exists;</text></subclause><subclause id="id90b4891b5a694dba9e9c986e4a997515"><enum>(II)</enum><text>completes any documentation or identification processes required under such regulation; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id8560161f08924b2d834e5aff472e2768"><enum>(III)</enum><text>provides public notice of the determination of emergency and each related fireshed management project activity by publishing such determination on a website maintained by the Secretary concerned.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id4118e9cce10947e4811ecccd21d579f4"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>In carrying out a fireshed management project under a regulation referred to in subparagraph (A), a responsible official shall ensure that such fireshed management project is consistent with the applicable forest plan and the laws (including regulations) and policies applicable to the Secretary concerned.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5bafa985108b496a9b96e74868a6e679"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Further clarification</header><text>A regulation referred to in subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any fireshed management project unless such fireshed management project will achieve a land management goal described in section 604(c) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591c">16 U.S.C. 6591c(c)</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id224f3fb37f8a4912bac60af93091ee23"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Utilization of existing streamlined authorities in fireshed management areas</header><clause id="idb3010db6d4a243c8a31c81e7b25c9b67"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, with respect to each fireshed management area that contains Federal land, the Secretary concerned, acting through a responsible official, shall use not fewer than 1 of the following expedited authorities for environmental review to carry out fireshed management projects:</text><subclause id="H6F03DD6C2B61403D87037F98C3A316EC"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Section 603(a) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591b">16 U.S.C. 6591b(a)</external-xref>).</text></subclause><subclause id="H7FFC92A291924D77AC5805872CF49F0D"><enum>(II)</enum><text>Section 605(a) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591d">16 U.S.C. 6591d(a)</external-xref>).</text></subclause><subclause id="H7E9AEC2DDDE94E9D9338A04710080A1F"><enum>(III)</enum><text>Section 606(b) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591e">16 U.S.C. 6591e(b)</external-xref>).</text></subclause><subclause id="HC8D235075E764CDCB215D360BB63DE54"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>Section 40806(b) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6592b">16 U.S.C. 6592b(b)</external-xref>).</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id91ed7b145bfc4100839f1b1978d0abaf"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Compliance with NEPA</header><text>In applying expedited authorities for environmental review to carry out fireshed management projects under clause (i), the Secretary concerned shall ensure—</text><subclause id="id94e700a1141f478199e00be68ea491d2"><enum>(I)</enum><text>such project is carried out in accordance with the statute establishing the categorical exclusion applied by the Secretary concerned;</text></subclause><subclause id="ida7c96e2e3fd546d394436741dd9b0c37"><enum>(II)</enum><text>compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>); and</text></subclause><subclause id="idc7369255e5c24d428aa6985d153710cb"><enum>(III)</enum><text>such project is carried out in accordance with the applicable forest plan or resource management plan and the laws and policies applicable to the Secretary concerned.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id18244ddf0dd348389a1abebf110ffc88"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Additional emergency actions</header><text>The Secretary may declare an emergency pursuant to section 40807 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6592c">16 U.S.C. 6592c</external-xref>) for any fireshed management project.</text></clause><clause id="id710117bedce945a2b2084cf2fe564979"><enum>(iv)</enum><header>Fiscal Responsibility Act requirements</header><text>In carrying out this section, the Secretary concerned shall ensure compliance with the amendments made to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>) by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/118/5">Public Law 118–5</external-xref>; 137 Stat. 38).</text></clause><clause id="id31378a8ad28b43e78a9c4887de296865"><enum>(v)</enum><header>Use of other authorities</header><text>To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary concerned shall use the authorities provided under this section in combination with other authorities to carry out fireshed management projects, including—</text><subclause id="HBA0A9D336286451D8F95590A0E5CEF55"><enum>(I)</enum><text>good neighbor agreements under section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/2113a">16 U.S.C. 2113a</external-xref>) (as amended by this Act);</text></subclause><subclause id="HDDDC2B99B7A04F94BF6E155E8197E15B"><enum>(II)</enum><text>stewardship contracting projects entered into under section 604 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591c">16 U.S.C. 6591c</external-xref>) (as amended by this Act);</text></subclause><subclause id="H1D724D2D1BE24A75BC044BF5310C0052"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">self-determination contracts and self-governance compact agreements entered into under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/5301">25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.</external-xref>); and</text></subclause><subclause id="H84D3C3C8F9764ABB9D21FDBFA8BEC452"><enum>(IV)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">agreements entered into under the Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/108/278">Public Law 108–278</external-xref>; 118 Stat. 868).</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id327061113d984a30811e99f066ec18ee"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Expansion</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id79fd76b7aaad49f59a7fdd20351bc448"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Healthy Forests Restoration Act amendments</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4876913765ad42048bdcc9508bb2b128"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitions</header><text>Section 3 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6502">16 U.S.C. 6502</external-xref>) is amended—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id864c8827ed1e48bb894bbf0bec54b9b4"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>450b</quote> and inserting <quote>5304</quote>; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcacfd079bade47948bc97decddbc59c0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H231470F6053F4052A2F597557628F94B" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="HC4F1BA5C593B4865B673DF1C7170B937"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Local government</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>local government</term> means—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf9a0eb3b643f44479843c90483ee5ddf"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a county;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2a7623a168a3475e82dd94064e0c9d3e"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a municipality; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id499a6a595a3b452b8e566e4b81d84c78"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a special district.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H751199359E8F4B0D83FBC3473D0F69FE"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Special district</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>special district</term> means a political subdivision of a State that—</text><subparagraph id="HAD36BF8E3A7544EB87938514ACC8B312"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">has significant budgetary autonomy or control;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H6C78F43CB6414CA9ACBDE1BABA752B1A"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">was established by, or pursuant to, the laws of the State for the purpose of performing a limited and specific governmental or proprietary function primarily relating to forest or rangeland management; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFFD9D88FE7AB497D8787584CCE6F8479"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is distinct from any other unit of local government within the State.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id168B1511EF0546DCA777BA8F8D51269F"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Administrative review</header><text>Section 603(c) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591b">16 U.S.C. 6591b(c)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idea60caf8cf7b4a92a4c8f57ac534a3cd"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>3000 acres</quote> and inserting <quote>10,000 acres</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="HD713938D14894C5A98799D027480A3AF"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2)(B), by striking <quote>Fire Regime Groups I, II, or III</quote> and inserting <quote>Fire Regime I, Fire Regime II, Fire Regime III, or Fire Regime IV</quote>.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7A95AE5C2D5B4E63AAB984685B60E7F6"><enum>(C)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Wildfire resilience projects</header><text>Section 605(c) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591d">16 U.S.C. 6591d(c)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id05a18f755d644b159bf311efbc3ea278"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>3000 acres</quote> and inserting <quote>10,000 acres</quote>; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2f55185dd187482d9f4eca244778dc8b"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in paragraph (4), by striking <quote>code of Federal regulations (or successor regulations)</quote> and inserting <quote>Code of Federal regulations (or a successor regulation)</quote>.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc698472fcad74515baadb072858ea3cd"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Greater sage-grouse and mule deer habitat</header><text>Section 606 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591e">16 U.S.C. 6591e</external-xref>) is amended—</text><clause id="id71231aba367041659952ed57b2725f53"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subsection (a)(1)(A)—</text><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id454563c71ccb47fd91d92e730e9de780"><enum>(I)</enum><text>by striking clause (ii);</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id125e2c595f8c412899fc38eab98bce28"><enum>(II)</enum><text>by redesignating clauses (iii) through (vii) as clauses (ii) through (vi), respectively; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id79cfafd78dfb4549a673838952369cb1"><enum>(III)</enum><text>in clause (iii) (as so redesignated), in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking <quote>in a sagebrush steppe ecosystem</quote>;</text></subclause></clause><clause id="idfef29288e75547dbae44c58476dacdef"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subsection (c), by striking <quote>concurrently for both greater sage-grouse and</quote> and inserting <quote>for greater sage-grouse or</quote>; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8394280cbc1e4e719cac53f4b2692c5f"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in subsection (g)(1), by striking <quote>4,500 acres</quote> and inserting <quote>7,500 acres</quote>.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H79D73016CDB94C6A9B12C1BF985CA7FA"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act amendment</header><text>Section 40806(d)(1) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6592b">16 U.S.C. 6592b(d)(1)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>3,000 acres</quote> and inserting <quote>10,000 acres</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H3CA7B3A0FD5640A797021EE6FF7C9BBB"><enum>107.</enum><header>Sunset</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The authority under this subtitle terminates on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.<italic></italic></text></section></subtitle><subtitle style="OLC" commented="no" level-type="subsequent" id="id53bbafa03d47449ea9a17ff6c610ba6f"><enum>B</enum><header>Expanding collaborative tools to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health</header><section id="id8fa6761ada7349b6be844bdbd9119da2"><enum>111.</enum><header>Modification of treatment of certain revenue and payments under good neighbor agreements</header><subsection id="idc8ad6cb4808c4e67a30563a0b6872e17"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Good neighbor authority</header><text>Section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/2113a">16 U.S.C. 2113a</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="H27E77AB718174492B33CA5616F434E4B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a)—</text><subparagraph id="H8540E22A192E40CDAFF6F92CA306E0D3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)(B), by striking <quote>either the Secretary or a Governor or county</quote> and inserting <quote>the Secretary, a Governor, an Indian tribe, a special district, or a county</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8B7574FCF60C4A75A8AE0379D0A26EF5" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (5), by striking <quote>Governor or</quote> and inserting <quote>Governor, an Indian tribe, a special district, or a</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8e289c72de2846e1930d2eb7a063c0ce"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (6), by striking <quote>or Indian tribe</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9D919C54E1904AC7A7499B0129E1420F"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block id="id446B05E2BD174DC1B1E216AC365ABCE2" display-inline="no-display-inline" style="OLC" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="id23985B4688834328876D6DCF4FF0A3BA"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Special district</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>special district</term> means a political subdivision of a State that—</text><subparagraph id="idF70B8B23213E498C8A0177A9743CB928"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">has significant budgetary autonomy or control;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idA34C68F7D61249FA9F88270FC1727BF2"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">was established by, or pursuant to, the laws of the State for the purpose of performing a limited and specific governmental or proprietary function primarily relating to forest or rangeland management; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idE55FE2C13CB140F2A2AF3ACC877BDB67" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is distinct from any other unit of local government within the State.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id5e5be630efdc4b9d9de61595e6faf7e5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (b)—</text><subparagraph id="H375F60733F9442AF8050491B81EA9540"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)(A), by striking <quote>or county</quote> and inserting <quote>, an Indian tribe, a special district, or a county</quote>; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8197a87b8d4b429a82edc27a5abf0d71"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)(C)—</text><clause id="id4778a6dc7a2c4721904e236f2d924ab1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in clause (i)—</text><subclause id="id3e98e6a7bd274be3b7e4c6b87a6d4ffa"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in the matter preceding subclause (I), by inserting <quote>special district,</quote> after <quote>Indian Tribe,</quote> each place it appears;</text></subclause><subclause id="idd065d09398b740c38c232dc09e078297"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in subclause (I)—</text><item id="id2814ecb940584f039a783b4027e2bd1e"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>by striking <quote>on</quote>; and</text></item><item id="id2ef28048197e4de7af34bd38eb62bcca"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>by striking <quote>; and</quote> and inserting a semicolon;</text></item></subclause><subclause id="HE739AA0EA88A435E8FA4DEABD819FD49"><enum>(III)</enum><text>in subclause (II)—</text><item commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id23e8bdeb78294b1aa15467a3e9eb7253"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>in the matter preceding item (aa), by striking <quote>clause (i)</quote> and inserting <quote>subclause (I)</quote>; and</text></item><item id="id1724e9246a17404a82f249b9791b8a2e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(bb)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in item (bb), by striking <quote>the Good Neighbor Authority for Recreation Act.</quote> and inserting <quote>section 351 of the EXPLORE Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/8571">16 U.S.C. 8571</external-xref>);</quote>; and </text></item></subclause><subclause id="id8c4690022fbe48bcb53cd36805d5fa5a"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf67a67e7ed384244b7f225daee545562" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><subclause id="H1333F79D67ED49B2A4F282407109E69B"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">if there are funds remaining after carrying out subclause (II)—</text><item commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="iddae277af2d4949f09dde16e2acfffd19"><enum>(aa)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to carry out authorized restoration services under other good neighbor agreements; and</text></item><item commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="iddcb493ac28f84ff8a054a7293921ea15"><enum>(bb)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">for the administration of a good neighbor authority program by a Governor, Indian tribe, special district, or county.</text></item></subclause><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause></clause><clause id="iddd3a21e1a9484929bf83eda31bbced4a"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in clause (ii), by striking <quote>2028</quote> and inserting <quote>2030</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF1A29E6AB14D4B1D8DDDD26F193C6F61"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in paragraph (3), by striking <quote>or county</quote> and inserting <quote>, an Indian tribe, a special district, or a county</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE2FC9BF9FD824A9284E3ABA2B1BB32E1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (4).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HC059E8D9A00D4C3CA8768ACAF3878A89"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Technical amendment</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id05136244e2714dd994244e210824ffb9"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>Section 443 of division E of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/118/42">Public Law 118–42</external-xref> (138 Stat. 297) is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking <quote>Agriculture Act of 2014</quote> and inserting <quote>Agricultural Act of 2014</quote>.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5a11fa20da1c4dc5adc57c47c06c4071"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on the date of enactment of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/118/42">Public Law 118–42</external-xref> (138 Stat. 25).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H317934FAA47947D983D58599A954853E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to any project initiated pursuant to a good neighbor agreement (as defined in section 8206(a) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/2113a">16 U.S.C. 2113a(a)</external-xref>))—</text><paragraph id="H878F79A5E245487C8109F2A0167C9598"><enum>(1)</enum><text>before the date of enactment of this Act, if the project was initiated after the date of enactment of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/115/334">Public Law 115–334</external-xref>; 132 Stat. 4490); or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H8704FC5DF1954F29B39910C0BAA21ECD" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text>on or after the date of enactment of this Act. </text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id516d8de06a284f6b86786f262bfbedd8"><enum>112.</enum><header>Fixing stewardship end result contracting</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 604 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591c">16 U.S.C. 6591c</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="idc391cb3e3bec457588b0b75c49607cbe"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (b), by inserting <quote>, including retaining and expanding existing forest products infrastructure</quote> before the period at the end; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9078c44bc93e435da49ae4a30a5d8529"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (d)(3)(B), by striking <quote>10 years</quote> and inserting <quote>20 years</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc5192dba05344c91a28e6a048c3e7a0c"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (h), by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5b0280964cc741cbb55941200e756fbd" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="id0567ee6bac33495aac839e35c8abaa06"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Special rule for long-term stewardship contracts</header><subparagraph id="H82B301B2D275417089C22E8B6DD575DC"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Definition of long-term contract</header><text>In this paragraph, the term <term>long-term contract</term> means an agreement or contract under subsection (b) that—</text><clause id="H025616DE7075425790ED937F8842B64F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>has a term of longer than 5 years; and</text></clause><clause id="H89A9A2C4B9AF49FD9317E6BF3033BE0A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>is entered into on or after the date of enactment of this paragraph.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H72F262D5486F46528530141507489551"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Special rule</header><text>A long-term contract entered into under subsection (b) by the Chief or the Director with an entity shall provide that, in the case of cancellation or termination of the long-term contract by the Chief or the Director, the Chief or the Director, as applicable, shall provide to the entity an amount equal to 10 percent of the long-term contract amount as cancellation or termination costs.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="HE76745DAC587420AA5C6F7436D3E53F5"><enum>113.</enum><header>Fireshed management project strike teams</header><subsection id="H63FADDD9261E4D35A46C8F1301B47C1D"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The Secretary concerned shall establish intra-agency strike teams to assist the Secretary concerned with—</text><paragraph id="H36668E3A83054339B314B31A04B6A98E"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any reviews, including analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>), consultations under division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code (formerly known as the <quote>National Historic Preservation Act</quote>), and consultations under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>), with the intent to accelerate and streamline interagency consultation processes;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H838990BD9D3C4DBAA3536D29C9F3F311"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the implementation of any necessary site preparation work in advance of, or as part of, a fireshed management project;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HDCEBB27F162C4F1A981894307D950118"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the implementation of fireshed management projects; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF97C68E89352462BAF143EAEF8437310"><enum>(4)</enum><text>any combination of purposes described in paragraphs (1) through (3).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HF48BE829FE0542C5A6C94C4AEE83E1DD"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Members</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide33dedb6d6804d7b85944ccdbbabc451"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>The Secretary concerned may appoint not more than 10 individuals to serve on an intra-agency strike team under this section, to be composed of—</text><subparagraph id="H19D8FCBFAFE14A08998EB5E2747ADDA5"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">employees of the department under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H56910956A6F642719C49F22DB4A6810A"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">employees of a different Federal department or agency, with the consent of the head of that department or agency; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAFA7DE2327824057AB9807E5CC7903EE"><enum>(C)</enum><text>private contractors or volunteers from any nonprofit organization, State government, Indian Tribe, local government, quasi-governmental agency, academic institution, or private organization.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ida38d86f1302649f49aea390eeb082552"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>In appointing individuals under paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall appoint not fewer than 1 employee of the Federal agency with jurisdiction over the applicable Federal land.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idad8fe0ed7f7d45c7bac4f06f081b0597"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Review responsibility</header><text>The Secretary concerned shall—</text><paragraph id="id7ca08a76d9f54b9b8c08101095058acf"><enum>(1)</enum><text>determine the sufficiency of the documents prepared by an intra-agency strike team under this section; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idfe8def9cdf0e4ee8b3a978e8bda46e59"><enum>(2)</enum><text>retain responsibility for any authorizing decision relating to such a document.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H2F7C983727A447969273683ADC3C248C"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The authority under this section terminates on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section id="H238F89CD811B4745961CECF84BDDC4A0"><enum>114.</enum><header>Locally led restoration</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 14(d) of the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/472a">16 U.S.C. 472a(d)</external-xref>) is amended, in the first sentence, by striking <quote>$10,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$55,000</quote>.</text></section><section id="H6DAC138F2B3049F1A0245A614885E338"><enum>115.</enum><header>Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership Program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 40808 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6592d">16 U.S.C. 6592d</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="H5D5DC4A5548E44E8AC7FC80E9A74AD25"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a)(2)—</text><subparagraph id="H62A4592F63CE48CAABE2F74215B8624F"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>or</quote> at the end;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAA73E6358AF34141BFC921CB2DD3C689"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H74BB926E59784B66851006956C4511AE"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H7496A69F7C7B4250B9DC7E8CBCA925C2" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><subparagraph id="H353A80C4A2124F6EA1B8616ACBD6C804"><enum>(D)</enum><text>to recover from wildfire; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAABBEEAC31624E7EA41960BCEAC0CA0D"><enum>(E)</enum><text>to enhance soil, water, and related natural resources.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA7DB2461910749CA9F01AD7D81EA0186"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (d)(1)—</text><subparagraph id="HC7944C2B87F348F192F3A4206CE5B7C3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), by inserting <quote>and post-wildfire impacts</quote> after <quote>wildfire risk</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H55D9A3033F9B4BD4A533DC12DE50EFBE"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subparagraph (F), by inserting <quote>, as identified in the corresponding State forest action plan or similar priority plan (such as a State wildlife or water plan)</quote> before the semicolon;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HEFE8CE592F084C1CA7C39C996278C3D8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (g), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9b735b2b57b3494995d3d873a718cfed" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="id4a2f6849ca444060b7a212ae0cc463c9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Additional reports</header><text>For each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023, and not less frequently than once every 2 fiscal years thereafter, the Chiefs shall submit a report describing projects for which funding is provided under the Program, including the status and outcomes of those projects, to—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide9554b21920643af9c23b2158e41550f"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the Senate—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb6a29a21939f448b934bb385cd88802e"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8b38bd2c9c3540d9ba90a431177dda49"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4af0d82eab2643bd818f03f1682914e5"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Appropriations; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd2b6f9d62f654866a6dfc5574c2be95e"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the House of Representatives—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id907507677c044b368538ffad5c00f91c"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Agriculture;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2f1a28bf1ef14846b5c22922b206d232"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Natural Resources; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2c455a60ca2846b1bd8d3c95c3e3048f"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Appropriations.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="H025446B746464AC2A9D015A60FBD89B4" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in subsection (h)(1), by striking <quote>and 2023</quote> and inserting <quote>through 2031</quote>.</text></paragraph></section><section id="ida4cc896eda374ecf9d32948219b2f2b9"><enum>116.</enum><header>Collaborative forest landscape restoration program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 4003 of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/7303">16 U.S.C. 7303</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="H4860CBCAA4DF4FBF8276A658C166376C"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (b)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3ccd58ef25f14961b502d74001a9fc4f"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2)(B)(ii), by striking <quote>500 note</quote> and inserting <quote>7125</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1d349a1494f14cfdaf96f4d62e2349c5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (3)—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd618e25476ee4e38a799a5209c8efb90"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>plans to—</quote> and inserting <quote>plans—</quote>;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4e3dc473925048269f95bc06543648bd"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in each of subparagraphs (A) through (H), by inserting <quote>to</quote> after the subparagraph designation; and</text></clause><clause id="H4502F18CDC6246C786B383B34B86105F"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (D), by inserting <quote>or pathogens</quote> before the semicolon;</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA01913DCCE69451BBEA97F05348AD959"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (c)(3)(A)—</text><subparagraph id="H740673B8956F42DC99F47C36FF8D7581"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in clause (i), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3D112B2DAD834D7586B33E7C71F0EA63"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in clause (ii), by adding <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon at the end; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4F66EE80C18040CAA3F0B12067A0D189"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H3466EE07EEC846AE9BA93DE23A6EAD6C" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><clause id="H8606DADC9D6144AABC492679797A6438"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>include a Federal Government staffing plan for providing staff to support collaborative processes established under subsection (b)(2);</text></clause><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id6805cda8d7684a2fb96eba2dd0db1626"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (d)—</text><subparagraph id="id5f5afe6cc78e45b3ab1df5c8a1e6d2a1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)—</text><clause id="id3bc6a5dea93f4afcac12febbd433196c"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subparagraph (E), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></clause><clause id="iddeec1c0c1ca44d7db315c2786c5432a6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and</text></clause><clause id="id86cb2782b36b4b8096071db0cb423f4b"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block id="ida76bb2cbdc9a489982dda6e4f1998692" display-inline="no-display-inline" style="OLC" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><subparagraph id="idb465a4f2b8fa4657b8f3e8a16f6491d7"><enum>(G)</enum><text>proposals that seek to use innovative implementation mechanisms, including good neighbor agreements entered into under section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/2113a">16 U.S.C. 2113a</external-xref>);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1d19520da3f0416997ffee9604b058d0"><enum>(H)</enum><text>proposals that seek to reduce the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire or increase ecological restoration activities—</text><clause id="id16f8f9c1e1be42238a473e063ee5689a"><enum>(i)</enum><text>within areas across land ownerships, including State, Tribal, and private land; and</text></clause><clause id="idabee5d8d9ac34e17a8ab28250d2ba3ed"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>within the wildland-urban interface (as defined in section 101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6511">16 U.S.C. 6511</external-xref>)); and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id184cf143eede4800a1d1b414843dca53" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(I)</enum><text>proposals that seek to enhance watershed health and drinking water sources.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id09cee575b7334ba8b5fe9237fc9b894a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (3)—</text><clause id="H46EA555812724AB1ADCBA015819BCD14"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H2DC3A6E9F7AE47708400B4419B561B77" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><subparagraph id="H0B4A5858B78C49E8BFD4299718A8BF16"><enum>(A)</enum><text>4 proposals in any 1 region of the National Forest System to be funded during any fiscal year; and</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause><clause id="H6C2F274588EB40EF97E9D1204EED3947"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking subparagraph (B); and</text></clause><clause id="H4AEA452D81E8402B9196CDD1E5220E10" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (B);</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id012430fd7f9f42b9aae28e9d237a6789"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in subsection (e)(3), by inserting <quote>conflict resolution or collaborative governance,</quote> before <quote>and woody</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8188ccd532bf4ad88a95916742b83414"><enum>(5)</enum><text>in subsection (f)—</text><subparagraph id="id3221ac2467bb4aecb284a7f0020e640f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (4)(B)(ii), by striking <quote>$4,000,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$8,000,000</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ideb1dc2a634ed4840bd969271cd37a674" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (6), by striking <quote>2023</quote> and inserting <quote>2031</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="id28a93d933fec4407a99a5b90e41034ca"><enum>117.</enum><header>Utilizing grazing for wildfire risk reduction</header><subsection id="id16e59865307648f19ef02dfb15f0f58e"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Strategy</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id063dc1b14c3d4a4b897ad9e435e116f5"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned, in coordination with the holders of permits to graze livestock on Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned and in consultation with other relevant stakeholders, shall develop a strategy to utilize livestock grazing as a wildfire risk reduction tool on Federal land, consistent with the laws applicable to the Secretary concerned.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7734be5195514fe9bc9b745c7e46e7f8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The strategy under paragraph (1) shall include—</text><subparagraph id="idc86bd54e2ea94847abe60c1458a6256e"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the completion of any reviews required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>) to allow permitted grazing on vacant grazing allotments during instances of drought, wildfire, or other natural disasters that disrupt grazing on allotments already permitted;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7c12e6e110114558aa63ef43d0ecc224"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the use of targeted grazing to reduce hazardous fuels;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4813b35f816a4c6fad91e35cb92dc807"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an increased use of temporary permits to promote targeted fuels reduction and reduction of invasive annual grasses;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6c5f4fd1ca434fc2b97a92700e121c3a"><enum>(D)</enum><text>an increased use of livestock grazing—</text><clause id="idf6979561b983403fa37390af1c6199ef"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to eradicate invasive annual grasses; and</text></clause><clause id="id6abc582e15934dd39f9c0a3cafac4e67"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>as a post-fire restoration and recovery strategy, as appropriate;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id24377163667443078112687eea692a8b"><enum>(E)</enum><text>an integrated use of advanced technologies to dynamically adjust livestock placement;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida3eb1568aadf413d8c4b2d5719c33d61"><enum>(F)</enum><text>an increased use of any authorities applicable to livestock grazing, including modifications to grazing permits or leases to allow variances;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id602f0a506b164922b9d5498795fc00db"><enum>(G)</enum><text>the utilization of grazing on Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned in a manner that—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id049c5c1d6c1f4147886f26b3ecc67350"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">avoids conflicts with other uses of that Federal land; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfe355d88608f44a9be76cd7b81e3ffa3"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is consistent with any applicable land management plan; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id01d5ed90f09b4ec2ae36734a2f5e69f6"><enum>(H)</enum><text>the use of any other means determined to be appropriate by the Secretary concerned.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4c793dc29fac43a081c119889a7d9090"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effect on existing grazing programs</header><text>Nothing in this section affects—</text><paragraph id="id8c8da0ffd590464eba7742cf8d0b3652"><enum>(1)</enum><text>any livestock grazing program carried out by the Secretary concerned as of the date of enactment of this Act; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8c4b22a786a44ea6a2a0fbc2ca6cb489" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any statutory authority for any program described in paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section" id="HFBF7B710E37A45E1A3F87D1396D344CA"><enum>118.</enum><header>Water Source Protection Program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 303 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6542">16 U.S.C. 6542</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="HE4B2947202E64E92BABE9DFF44054A09"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a)—</text><subparagraph id="HAC45993B55564E53AC7EF8C15E5AE47D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (7) as paragraphs (2) through (8), respectively;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9DA6243563444CFEA6869C1B43644F3E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so redesignated) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HDA3AC4936F5540AEB3FDB944C04F5AFA" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="HF1EE6A5413F54AEC93DC4E4506B3C513"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Adjacent land</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>adjacent land</term> means non-Federal land, including State, local, and private land, that is adjacent to, and within the same watershed as, National Forest System land on which a watershed protection and restoration project is carried out under this section.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB9BB0C6DF8614E95A886F5138431E05D"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated)—</text><clause id="H013159E5F1244C3ABF425120544EEB51"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraphs (G) and (H) as subparagraphs (K) and (L), respectively; and</text></clause><clause id="H044A05795C724E5B903FA48132FDB6D2"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD74D3E88AEF344EFA0A0746793193F40" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><subparagraph id="H249DEBEF6BED487B9094C915361F0698"><enum>(G)</enum><text>an acequia association;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFF46A956D90944D2BBD7E04D8AFB02A8"><enum>(H)</enum><text>a local, regional, or other public entity that manages stormwater or wastewater resources or other related water infrastructure;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDF65B3FA74F6472A9AFA9C475DA02153"><enum>(I)</enum><text>a land-grant mercedes; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC174D21CAAC2441EBDC78976F4F84386"><enum>(J)</enum><text>a local, regional, or other private entity that has water delivery authority;</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; </after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HA2FC3BE1E81448F5B8845558FA59DDB6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (b)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id20173c95acad4b8dbdd8a53532d44049"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>and adjacent land</quote> before the period at the end;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD3CF400A7FA34958A3C1043BF2ADDBD0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking <quote>The Secretary</quote> and inserting the following: </text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0DE491DCBAD6407E9101B647733AEAB7" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="HDD247E907DE5492B87B37A36BBEED35B"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H5EAD22046C5D4487B92EC9405E4815F3"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFA6E8507A54C442EA139F7456E38F087" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="H0121E051750F4FC2AA556743131EB98C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>A watershed protection and restoration project under the Program shall be designed—</text><subparagraph id="HA4E754E087414373923798FB4291DAAD"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to protect and restore watershed health, water supply and quality, a municipal or agricultural water supply system, and water-related infrastructure;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HE288DCDD6C3A4221A8574CC16D2F1F1D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to protect and restore forest health from insect infestation and disease or wildfire; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0A9A5FEED1F34D51A1B025D210614E79"><enum>(C)</enum><text>to advance any combination of the purposes described in subparagraphs (A) and (B).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1E2930A87DDB4839A5B7817B86FFF230"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Priorities</header><text>In selecting watershed protection and restoration projects under the Program, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that would—</text><subparagraph id="H05E9F8F8EC5A40AE8AEFC0695543884A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>provide risk management benefits associated with drought, wildfire, post-wildfire conditions, extreme weather events, flooding, resilience to climate change, and watershed and fire resilience, including minimizing risks to watershed health, water supply and quality, and water-related infrastructure, including municipal and agricultural water supply systems;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HD93361CF19E74AD5815C1457FC92FE90"><enum>(B)</enum><text>support aquatic restoration and conservation efforts that complement existing or planned forest restoration or wildfire risk reduction efforts;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H96EC6CE26FE544E788E495BDC8C019F7"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide quantifiable benefits to water supply or quality and include the use of nature-based solutions, such as restoring wetland and riparian ecosystems;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id430ac3309efc4244a56b6e49a6b673d1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>include—</text><clause id="id941a24475798487e890748ed874705d1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>partners with demonstrated capacity to, and success in, designing and implementing ecological restoration projects, wildfire risk-reduction efforts, or post-wildfire restoration projects; or</text></clause><clause id="idfb6873cb114140c38c0e35330af37564"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in the case of communities that have historically lacked access to adequate resources, partners with a strong likelihood of success in designing and implementing a watershed protection and restoration project; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id13c87aefe8cb4c9086651ada266852ca"><enum>(E)</enum><text>include—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id937420980c294972884e80a4cc3ff058"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a contribution of funds or in-kind support from non-Federal partners in an amount greater than the amount required under subsection (g)(2); or</text></clause><clause id="ide38f004e7b2446fc8cfd7196f9d92691"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>such other characteristics as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H89350E6039124E97B76B0749F90982AB"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Conditions for projects on adjacent land</header><subparagraph id="H84CB2172441F4DC7ABADF68A64B6FBF9"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>No project or activity may be carried out under this section on adjacent land, unless the owner of the adjacent land provides express support for, and is a willing and engaged partner in, carrying out that project or activity.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H1D952FFD8688418D9A899C0DDA1448A1"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Effect</header><text>Nothing in this section authorizes any change in—</text><clause id="H1F7A6CC664874A3D89BD6AC91718431E"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the ownership of adjacent land on which a project or activity is carried out under this section; or</text></clause><clause id="HF7F9CAFC931E4308834B0427871A8998"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the management of adjacent land on which a project or activity is carried out under this section, except during the carrying out of that project or activity.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H85B94F82D06B4624AD9D0F970B5D7C6A"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (c)—</text><subparagraph id="H6CA400487E3E49A89460A26CDDFF833A"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>agreements with</quote> and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting the following: </text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idadc4c136e7f44f82b863ab488d280ffc" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><text>agreements with end water users to protect and restore the condition of National Forest watersheds and adjacent land that provide water to—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0545e2e0dd00418d9c12c875a00983fb"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">end water users; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida66ec328fd5942029f9e431c6554acf9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>end water users to protect and restore the condition of National Forest watersheds and adjacent land that provide water for the benefit of another end water user.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H9C121CEFA5454564BA0E26E88DD74D67"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)—</text><clause id="HC793AD400AC948388F299086AE519063"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C), by striking <quote>or</quote> at the end;</text></clause><clause id="HBAE63A3661BB4B44BD7FA32BDE631AA0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E); and</text></clause><clause id="HC8B1E244D4C547BC92C97E5A260AFB2B"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following: </text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H15BBFE7E730B4806B2FA960DC157FF04" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><subparagraph id="HEC2938F63748405A909F1609C6C57BFB"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the case of an agreement with a State, a county, or an Indian tribe for a project carried out on National Forest System land, a good neighbor agreement entered into under section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/2113a">16 U.S.C. 2113a</external-xref>); or</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H81B8789EFBF34B1F8C861E20C9E38086"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H06DD9027081941248B22C835EFBC8EB2" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="HBBE237BCAF244AEB9757A1486B67143A"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Cooperation with non-Federal partners</header><text>The Secretary shall cooperate with non-Federal partners in carrying out assessments, planning, project design, and project implementation under this section.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H6465D377D1FA472BAB242F4ED6C20477"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in subsection (d)—</text><subparagraph id="H53A0C924D284434AAB2A29FA42060727"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFC02E942E72D46DB91C6CC2FCFF99D04" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="H8CD7DFEC2678424A9378E7C9978509AD"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>A water source management plan shall be—</text><subparagraph id="HEA9BE16C79C843DF829EBD4500F427C8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>designed to protect and restore ecological integrity (as defined in section 219.19 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this subparagraph));</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0DBF8761149041629FABCA7925390FDA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>based on the best available scientific information; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H144004987C8140B687BB2CBABC3612CB"><enum>(C)</enum><text>conducted in a manner consistent with the forest plan applicable to the National Forest System land on which the watershed protection and restoration project is carried out.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HED014C9BA2A34D1099770C4BFCFD3D7E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following: </text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAE84395EFCB64139A39E5BEBA1DE3539" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="H40DCEF431B5949E4ACE88824DF717602"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Reducing redundancy</header><text>An existing watershed plan, such as a watershed protection and restoration action plan developed under section 304(a)(3), or other applicable watershed planning documents approved by the Secretary may be used as the basis for a water source management plan under this subsection.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1C6556C1902D45F3A420A25F366D63FA"><enum>(5)</enum><text>in subsection (e)(1), by striking <quote>purpose of</quote> in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting <quote>purpose of advancing any of the purposes described in subsection (b)(2).</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb121ed97faf84e01b6a097baea63486a"><enum>(6)</enum><text>in subsection (g)—</text><subparagraph id="id5c967d7f3b5045b180d8a5aae64e6a30"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)—</text><clause id="idf9c84ec3ac15424f8db8c51cd82240a5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>at least equal to</quote> and inserting <quote>not less than 20 percent of</quote>;</text></clause><clause id="id34194c5ba82f417ba073850b8b50c950"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>The Secretary</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id189c2b02f32745dc9ed05df960958336" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><subparagraph id="id519455e7bb91488094e18129458b8003"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfe259c2e93184313af3485af38781f8a"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida2c18d9a60c44be58c27449292411f2c" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><subparagraph id="id2262a316960b4be68d038fac9ade8446"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Waiver</header><text>The Secretary may waive the requirement under subparagraph (A) at the discretion of the Secretary.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf73460ec1a5e466f9c165def184a250f"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (4)—</text><clause id="id618ed13e355d47378a7b6df67ec0c461"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>fiscal years 2019 through 2023</quote> and inserting <quote>fiscal years 2025 through 2031</quote>;</text></clause><clause id="id37ef023ae7f146d8836973c1d6a29d4a"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); and</text></clause><clause id="id94e2f3a286764ed2a91223d944bc5f8e"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id55ce3c4714e641979b812a72a700ec67" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><subparagraph id="idf32b39c39fca4d9396ed76da327617e1"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Set-aside for partner participation in planning and capacity</header><text>Of the amounts made available under subparagraphs (A) and (B) to carry out this section for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall use not less than 10 percent for non-Federal partner technical assistance participation and capacity-building efforts in developing or implementing a water source management plan under subsection (d).</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id507df2f7d8db463fb8dab7f05cfd940f"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb131311b7f7f43a5b31ebc6c4a9a5c09" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="id35a4c629693448e2a8d5f09deb5e318f"><enum>(5)</enum><header>In-kind contributions</header><text>The Secretary may include the value of forest restoration and watershed improvement work implemented on adjacent land in the project area in determining in-kind contributions to a project from non-Federal partners under paragraph (4)(A).</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="H2D6091C5EFA04A7CA37292312AB52449" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>119.</enum><header>Watershed Condition Framework technical corrections</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 304(a) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6543">16 U.S.C. 6543(a)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id0f600f86252f486aa5ff976c4989bd71"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (3)(A), by inserting <quote>protection and</quote> before <quote>restoration</quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id90d4dc9917634b7bb4309b1cbc9ef490"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (5), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7b874a9e65b74e228729a4ddc13972b0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id00d84d087c414a90939fd16b05bf8010"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbe81f25d4e6543bcab30650b4063257e" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="id34a00352f3ad42a3b11b0b3fcd51eb20"><enum>(7)</enum><text>to ensure that management activities and authorizations do not result in long-term degradation of watershed health or lower the classification under paragraph (1) of any watershed in a National Forest.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="id9bcabe99b942400d9253894dea3ffa9a"><enum>120.</enum><header>Tribal forest protection management activities and projects</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 8703 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/3115b">25 U.S.C. 3115b</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="ide76b4937cbe642a29e4a899faf9f811c"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the section heading, by striking <quote><header-in-text style="OLC" level="section">management demonstration project</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text style="OLC" level="section">protection management activities and projects</header-in-text></quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1b457bd736ce43ae82904a6ce9a6bc82"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc02465c3e6014b279ea07e93233d7265"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (a)—</text><subparagraph id="id2aa2bb0dcceb4201b43186f58c35180a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>demonstration</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2a1a38785b2645e5b6e94881bdbc8f48"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking <quote>federally recognized</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id09b1dd12647e426794cc0a86108e9737"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by striking <quote>programs of</quote> and inserting <quote>activities and projects under</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4e8ad7a7f189413ba39cd661ae7e833f"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>5304 et seq.</quote> and inserting <quote>5301 et seq.</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd32645fd816049b2995efee69a49fd6f"><enum>(E)</enum><text>by striking the subsection designation and heading and all that follows through <quote>and the Secretary</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida063c6cc369a4b9480172bec5db5d311" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><subsection id="id6d7f5785c244469d9ace5b281d95b672"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="idae75b6a4694d47bbbc94b3089597bd7c"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Indian Tribe</header><text>The term <term>Indian Tribe</term> means an Indian Tribe included on the list published by the Secretary of the Interior under section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/5131">25 U.S.C. 5131</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf9f23952dfbe473f85f190f4450e90f2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Tribal organization</header><text>The term <term>Tribal organization</term> has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/5304">25 U.S.C. 5304</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5e12a7597aa0469683b50b096a9de570"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Activities and projects</header><text>The Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idbfb2d3a2fa644dc0adfba586f6175b7f"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in subsection (c) (as so redesignated)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id93dd55cceec147cebbc7bc6d10a9f644"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking <quote>subsection (a)</quote> and inserting <quote>subsection (b)</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idF494CEAD49534999AA25F2EBEC62AEE7"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>5304 et seq.</quote> and inserting <quote>5301 et seq.</quote>; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idf9464f1bdc0b41429acfd42f4e291123"><enum>(5)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0760bea1fce44362ae8e5b015e429fd0" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><subsection id="idff3e05606b4844398bbae6919f6aa590"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Publication of information</header><text>The Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior shall—</text><paragraph id="id5a1e817c3b0c4de880637fb0f86880c7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, make available, in an easily accessible format and location, on the website of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior, respectively, a list of the types of activities and projects that Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations may enter into contracts to perform under subsection (b); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb65ae45c1e9f459eacfd5ab76c5b684e"><enum>(2)</enum><text>update the list under paragraph (1) as necessary.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section></subtitle><subtitle style="OLC" commented="no" level-type="subsequent" id="id920aa38c841b448d8f5e78352f723a3d"><enum>C</enum><header>Litigation reform</header><section commented="no" id="H139D2AEE9DF745749249A318B20B8B80"><enum>121.</enum><header>Commonsense litigation reform</header><subsection id="id61e16b78596f42f88393de87ea1ad148"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="id3fc7f9f2e8be403f9c5c8378405d347e"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Agency document</header><text>The term <term>agency document</term>, with respect to a fireshed management project, means a record of decision, decision memorandum, environmental document, or programmatic environmental document.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide704fa51a33d4995a48575a2fb82589e"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Covered agency action</header><text>The term <term>covered agency action</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="id29c825a290d54208a7d47934228df06d"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the establishment of a fireshed management project by an agency;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id05b9ea9ad39d4d6c8fb9938e180ac43c"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the application of a categorical exclusion to a fireshed management project;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id23cec2eb56e945d7b23b803f017401df"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the preparation of any agency document for a fireshed management project; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1dd32a4f6fa440e391a393e80d8d2f56"><enum>(D)</enum><text>any other agency action as part of a fireshed management project.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id5ca741fe45734ccb9427264cb98482d0" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header>NEPA terms</header><text>The terms <term>categorical exclusion</term>, <term>environmental document</term>, and <term>programmatic environmental document</term> have the meanings given those terms in section 111 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4336e">42 U.S.C. 4336e</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id924f97602e6743f689f4c329beac71a4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Limitations on judicial review</header><paragraph id="idc2a6baa79c234de3a1069f6062b6512b"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Limitations on injunctive relief</header><subparagraph id="id328c493519ce4b4b82f6d9ed43cdc1d7"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Temporary delay of covered agency action</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the case of a claim arising under Federal law seeking judicial review of a covered agency action, a court shall not issue a preliminary injunction against such covered agency action unless the court determines that—</text><clause id="idf25df0dce0ed457dae77db03d29be1e8"><enum>(i)</enum><text>subject to subparagraph (C), such preliminary injunction is in the public interest;</text></clause><clause id="id31c21aed4bbd4aa9b2ce6c145ad78849"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the balance of equities favors the plaintiff;</text></clause><clause id="id4e1f232bfe204007ade03a7bf517dafc"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the plaintiff is likely to succeed on the merits; and</text></clause><clause id="id08870e16fb614843b8340ef30d6437f9"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the plaintiff is likely to suffer irreparable injury in the absence of preliminary relief.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idef4fc969102840ca820023372d43b1f3"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Permanent limit on agency action</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the case of a claim arising under Federal law seeking judicial review of a covered agency action, a court shall not issue a permanent injunction against such covered agency action, or an order to otherwise permanently limit such covered agency action, unless a court determines that—</text><clause id="id8fa35b68fcc541f5a289abd8cfaee46f"><enum>(i)</enum><text>subject to subparagraph (C), such permanent injunction or order is in the public interest;</text></clause><clause id="idbb3a412f857a42b98f28647d7800eae7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the balance of equities favors the plaintiff;</text></clause><clause id="id33027a7e680a4b0fbbd7b8734bd55135"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the plaintiff has suffered or will suffer irreparable injury; and</text></clause><clause id="idbe3fe63ca4024838a94b109ae2414b56"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>no adequate remedy is available at law.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ideba0726d72c2430cb5e7ca6f2ce860d8"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Public interest determination</header><clause id="id9f77dd2e84f24aa89ca02f1d0ddd039c"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In determining under subparagraphs (A) and (B) whether a preliminary or permanent injunction against, or other order with respect to, a covered agency action is in the public interest, the considerations of the court shall include—</text><subclause id="id3079cd80b409457a965f5fd3d2d10281"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the purpose for which an agency is undertaking the fireshed management project relating to such covered agency action;</text></subclause><subclause id="idbd836f36a6c24d19b003fe81ae9e27e6"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the likelihood that the fireshed management project will achieve the stated purpose of the fireshed management project; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id191e8422ebc04195b0ef712faa61f0a3"><enum>(III)</enum><text>the short- and long-term effects of proceeding with the covered agency action, as compared to delaying or limiting such covered agency action, including the potential for significant increases in wildfire risk or severity and significant threats to the health of the ecosystem.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id476c28760627414a8c7c7429068f3415"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Weight of public interest factor</header><text>In determining whether to issue any injunction or order under subparagraph (A) or (B), a court shall give significant, but not necessarily dispositive, weight to its consideration of whether such order is in the public interest.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id475f4b65ee9340f7bd668c65b60a0d24"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Remand</header><subparagraph id="idb769a86eae2f4c3d95ea06debcdb1a97"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the case of a claim arising under Federal law seeking judicial review of a covered agency action, if the court remands the matter to the agency, the court shall remand with instructions to carry out, during the 180-day period beginning on the date of such remand, such additional actions as may be necessary to redress any cognizable harm giving rise to such claim.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7c89c60bdb3c48a7918e701ba8636a54"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Vacatur</header><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4c0a1c9f782942d283805e26a951f086"><enum>(i)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>In remanding a matter to an agency under subparagraph (A), the court shall remand with vacatur only if—</text><subclause id="id73b1c46f6d224df8bce4b04df3b0a3f2"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the seriousness of any deficiencies in the covered agency action weigh in favor of vacatur; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idf222b0e657934d90a7fac85a44696476"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the court determines that any disruptive consequences of vacatur, including the short- and long-term effects of vacating the covered agency action or any part of such covered agency action, do not outweigh the justification for vacatur.</text></subclause></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idecab2ea7626040399739d502eb9936ff"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Considerations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In making the determination described in clause (i)(II), the court shall consider whether vacatur would cause—</text><subclause id="id88c8164da0ff40338eeec85b560dce78"><enum>(I)</enum><text>any significant increases in wildfire risk or severity, and</text></subclause><subclause id="id61c7d7b56df84b39954753540a671e07"><enum>(II)</enum><text>any significant threats to the health of the ecosystem.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb243da70ca4b49a083d09b7145899031"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Effect of remand on agency</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of a covered agency action subject to remand without vacatur, or with partial vacatur, pursuant to this paragraph, the agency may—</text><clause id="id4054c090ab4e428a9a30438cefcc34d2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>continue to carry out such covered agency action, or such parts of the covered agency action as are not vacated, to the extent that doing so does not interfere with any additional actions required pursuant to subparagraph (A); and</text></clause><clause id="idb337046160e04acdb9444ce549185fac"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>use any format, as appropriate, to correct an agency document (including a supplemental environmental document, memorandum, or errata sheet), provided that such format is appropriate to the nature of the deficiency.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idf3eb72a604414444b35308db6b0aa982"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Preservation of authority</header><text>Nothing in this section alters, limits, or displaces the authority of a court to review a covered agency action under section 706(2) of title 5, United States Code.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id82a89e5da4604154a9060a01787ad9a0"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Limitations on claims</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a claim arising under Federal law seeking judicial review of a covered agency action shall be barred unless—</text><paragraph id="id748f4d7f7c874a29af152d8e6006b28f"><enum>(1)</enum><text>with respect to an agency document or the application of a categorical exclusion noticed in the Federal Register, such claim is filed not later than 150 days after the date of publication of a notice in the Federal Register of agency intent to carry out the fireshed management project relating to such covered agency document or application, unless a shorter period is specified in such Federal law; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id527ba71ca4f1419684773b6a999591f6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the case of an agency document or the application of a categorical exclusion not described in paragraph (1), if such agency document or application is otherwise published or noticed, such claim is filed not later than 150 days after the date that is the earlier of—</text><subparagraph id="id8036be4683f34db3b3518817b4d10ad8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the date on which such agency document or application is published; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0d01402b65394bff845952474c2d29be"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the date on which such agency document or application is noticed.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H807E9DDEEA6F4E23A5B71DD4E0948B7B"><enum>122.</enum><header>Consultation on forest plans</header><subsection id="id9a2cce2d707a474dbcab960761cc2f35"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Forest Service plans</header><text>Section 6(d)(2) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1604">16 U.S.C. 1604(d)(2)</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2aa185daa5c245dda764a34c582cb8a7" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="id1bc14156c4da448a9c3506940f868b95"><enum>(2)</enum><header>No additional consultation required under certain circumstances</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall not be required to reinitiate consultation under section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1536">16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2)</external-xref>) or section 402.16 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation), on a land management plan approved, amended, or revised under this section when—</text><subparagraph id="idd8a9e4d0aee5482788307ebcdf0c7d46"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a new species is listed or critical habitat is designated under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>); or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide5751978d69542b59e7fac6aa18c7e40"><enum>(B)</enum><text>new information reveals effects of the land management plan that may affect a species listed or critical habitat designated under that Act in a manner or to an extent not previously considered.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="idd213419b5cb1457290a8dd40ad16a794"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Bureau of Land Management plans</header><text>Section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1712">43 U.S.C. 1712</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide00c82c0ef9b41a8893d4c6078556b04" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><subsection id="id3d7e28a20cb041ca98b9efbeadd8363a"><enum>(g)</enum><header>No additional consultation required under certain circumstances</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall not be required to reinitiate consultation under section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1536">16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2)</external-xref>) or section 402.16 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation), on a land use plan approved, amended, or revised under this section when—</text><paragraph id="id7a7c9085210b4ff9a4c4ce091f1bab8a"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a new species is listed or critical habitat is designated under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>); or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1ccf748a90b04bd39a443525415d293f"><enum>(2)</enum><text>new information reveals effects of the land use plan that may affect a species listed or critical habitat designated under that Act in a manner or to an extent not previously considered.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle style="OLC" commented="no" level-type="subsequent" id="idb81210f3765c4aa78b22b835a1f80db7"><enum>D</enum><header>Prescribed fire</header><section id="id65fdbb3231494063a070c8c65ff33753"><enum>131.</enum><header>Prescribed fire eligible activities, policies, and practices</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc44232dffa4649d39cb1793b4f059f8c"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definition of prescribed fire</header><paragraph id="ide617f9d13c7040e4a7ecf3aa3552be1d"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In this section, the term <term>prescribed fire</term> means a fire deliberately ignited to burn wildland fuels in a natural or modified state—</text><subparagraph id="id59cb60a2dbc447fd973bf4cfcf96c08b"><enum>(A)</enum><text>under specified environmental conditions that are intended to allow the fire—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id61c8cc8b93a24f8b8a8cea2c9842aa97"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to be confined to a predetermined area; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0a05f74c46dd4e08b3ff9358afd1564a"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to produce the fireline intensity and rate of spread required to attain planned resource management objectives; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida8c5983aa135457693c6ecbdf819cbeb"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in accordance with applicable law (including regulations).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id0a29ba8a058a4447998aecc7af1a756f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exclusion</header><text>In this section, the term <term>prescribed fire</term> does not include a fire that is ignited for the primary purpose of pile burning.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc8eeb476e5b045c2bbcf97fda5dff193"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Eligible activities</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0747f2f1a26a47369f5f0a04ac7e9a22"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>The Secretary concerned may carry out eligible activities described in paragraph (2) for hazardous fuels management with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6a181d66f6f54376a2bf8c24902ace54"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Description of activities</header><text>The activities referred to in paragraph (1) are—</text><subparagraph id="idcfce16e89ff44e7a8d853764c73c5ef9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>with respect to prescribed fires on Federal land, or on non-Federal land if the Secretary concerned determines that such activities would benefit resources on Federal land—</text><clause id="id5a0189aab211489fa784dd461122f96f"><enum>(i)</enum><text>entering into procurement contracts or cooperative agreements for prescribed fire activities;</text></clause><clause id="id28079a5448bd4dd997ba2139f2551a00"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>issuing grants from an existing grant program to a State, Tribal government, local government, prescribed fire council, prescribed burn association, or nonprofit organization for the implementation of prescribed fires, including—</text><subclause id="idca38a214804e4a7bacd2b5321bfd6938"><enum>(I)</enum><text>carrying out necessary environmental reviews;</text></subclause><subclause id="idddae1f36e1ba42fdb21d1319076c2a32"><enum>(II)</enum><text>carrying out any site preparation necessary for implementing prescribed fires; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idbf2485448cc749f9a65342cc9576b89c"><enum>(III)</enum><text>conducting any required pre-ignition cultural and environmental surveys; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="idbe4546b07272440899008668fda08b5b"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>conducting outreach to the public, Indian Tribes and beneficiaries, and adjacent landowners;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf1a99adf34764d3c94a9c5817c80114c"><enum>(B)</enum><text>implementing prescribed fires on non-Federal land, if the Secretary concerned determines that the prescribed fire would benefit Federal land, including—</text><clause id="id26752d6b72394aa9a7ffe04d2b11f0ff"><enum>(i)</enum><text>carrying out necessary environmental reviews;</text></clause><clause id="idda67482f4e8c4cffb85ee3669df5921b"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>carrying out any site preparation necessary for implementing prescribed fires; and</text></clause><clause id="idf325f97395c34c01b8f55c7f7bdd7f07"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>conducting any required pre-ignition cultural and environmental surveys;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida6bfe128e6f34b5f836d828ec89f9650"><enum>(C)</enum><text>providing training for prescribed fire and basic smoke management practices to Federal employees and cooperators;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idbb9a034a11774377b0bdac2312c1f9ca"><enum>(D)</enum><text>conducting post-prescribed fire activities, such as monitoring for hazard trees or reignitions and invasive species management; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida8115b58bd2847ad87335fb062cb3270"><enum>(E)</enum><text>providing technical or financial assistance to a State, Tribal government, local government, prescribed fire council, prescribed burn association, or nonprofit organization for the purpose of providing training for prescribed fire or basic smoke management practices, consistent with any standards developed by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group or State-prescribed fire standards.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3ffc86da6d794ed285b11ac9e3418528"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Prioritization</header><subparagraph id="id3d9adf2be54c4af39e13e6e5bae734e4"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary concerned shall coordinate with the other Secretary concerned, State and local government agencies, Indian Tribes, and applicable nongovernmental organizations to establish prioritization criteria for carrying out the activities described in paragraph (2).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5584160cdf7545e69738e82a66954efe"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>In establishing criteria under subparagraph (A), the Secretary concerned shall give priority to a project that is—</text><clause id="idebafb271b4b04f2096b35c610a8ad188"><enum>(i)</enum><text>implemented across a large contiguous area;</text></clause><clause id="id11e95947ec544c399828ed72a38c62c7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>cross-boundary in nature;</text></clause><clause id="ida8eecee345b44dd89973ab6c97610c8f"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>located in an area that is—</text><subclause id="id52e10243e0364f628ce0e29f6c84d693"><enum>(I)</enum><text>within or adjacent to the wildland-urban interface and identified as a priority area in a statewide forest action plan, fireshed assessment, or community wildfire protection plan; or</text></subclause><subclause id="idfcb9428a178b4f0987b8ec6cf29acb35"><enum>(II)</enum><text>identified as important to the protection of a Tribal trust resource or the reserved or treaty rights of an Indian Tribe;</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id5ec796920d7c4707afe4a410b82e64dd"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>on land that is at high or very high risk of experiencing a wildfire that would be difficult to suppress;</text></clause><clause id="id5f7d7ae717044e3b861cc84e54493ade"><enum>(v)</enum><text>in an area that is designated as critical habitat and in need of ecological restoration or enhancement that can be achieved with the aid of prescribed fire; or</text></clause><clause id="id953fa396e1b24a1c9764bb706bca7ba2" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>supportive of potential operational delineations or strategic response zones.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id226642dbd4084fc6a18429cd910094f3"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Policies and practices</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary concerned, in coordination with State, local, and Tribal governments, shall develop a prescribed fire operational strategy for each region of the National Forest System or the Department of the Interior, as applicable, that describes—</text><paragraph id="idd9087888eb154dc8b7a12c622129a3b3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the fire deficit, by region; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idaf98bae0473643788838949f5e6e1c45" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text>staffing and funding needs to address the fire deficit described in paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id2de225dfb64d4dfdae0867ce848f7d07"><enum>132.</enum><header>Human resources</header><subsection id="id76eb621e86c9438996e4a0f4c003d4ba"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Competencies for firefighters</header><text>The Secretaries, in coordination with the Fire Executive Council, shall task the National Wildfire Coordinating Group with the duty to adjust training requirements to obtain a certification to serve in a supervisory role for a prescribed fire and any other positions determined to be necessary by the Secretaries—</text><paragraph id="ida1a3cda19093455a9bdf9ef74894fec4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in order to reduce the time required to obtain such a certification; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8e2fff3ce4764778bc7b644998de7fa1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>such that significant experience, gained exclusively during a prescribed fire, is required to obtain such a certification.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idee3577b29298402495fcc4ec97a311e4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Enhancing interoperability between Federal and non-Federal practitioners</header><paragraph id="idd5a1b74e0d5d47f5a662eb04ba7974cb"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Qualification databases and dispatch systems</header><text>The Secretaries shall establish, to the extent practicable, a collaborative process to create mechanisms for non-Federal fire practitioners to be included in prescribed fire and wildfire resource ordering and reimbursement processes.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id45717444f391464c949057c2e5ad2c83"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Partnership agreements</header><text>The Secretaries may—</text><subparagraph id="ida626789db1da4a2395f5beadee6eedcb"><enum>(A)</enum><text>develop partnership agreements for prescribed fire with all relevant State, Federal, Tribal, university, and nongovernmental entities that choose to be included in resource ordering and reimbursement processes under paragraph (1);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3d167fe110c74c52a41abcbc56da372f"><enum>(B)</enum><text>create agreements and structures necessary to include non-Federal and other nontraditional partners in direct work with Federal agencies to address prescribed fires; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id84740f608dee43c8be5b4231b35ed93c"><enum>(C)</enum><text>treat any prescribed fire practitioner meeting the National Wildfire Coordinating Group standards as eligible to be included in statewide participating agreements.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ida172e638f2694e5f935df445d3d272f3"><enum>133.</enum><header>Liability of prescribed fire managers</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd1b8ea2ec99b4008b85a46dc4273380c"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Training course</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretaries, in coordination with the Attorney General of the United States, shall develop a voluntary training course for employees involved in any activity carried out on Federal land that is directly related to a prescribed fire in the course of executing a Federal action.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idad1fb1c083504054afdec748dcba0573"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The training course developed under subsection (a) shall include a description of—</text><paragraph id="id46fcc475e5514974903c9adb0ec5fd62"><enum>(1)</enum><text>liability protections afforded to the employees described in that subsection when acting within the scope of their employment;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id25cf7ff79d1447599bb9474021831cee"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the limits on any liability protections under paragraph (1); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5a79d20318184e2a82f1295ffab1b613"><enum>(3)</enum><text>any reimbursement available for qualified employees for professional liability insurance under section 636 of division A of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/104/208">Public Law 104–208</external-xref> (5 U.S.C. prec. 5941 note).</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id18647e7d43dc41329db8cb012caf045d"><enum>134.</enum><header>Environmental review</header><subsection id="id4c5e88754f91400cb9f9987cb943d2c1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Smoke management agencies</header><paragraph id="idb48465c844e4489c8b62f3b9d623f346"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Policy</header><text>The Secretaries shall ensure that policies, training, and programs of the Secretaries are consistent with this subsection—</text><subparagraph id="id9f5807b2cc4746d6907d6ce6840b9d26"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to facilitate greater use of prescribed fire in a safe and responsible manner, with appropriate monitoring to prevent prescribed fires from exceeding containment; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id614735f8a7e342808e41f04fae8e5802"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to address public health and safety, including impacts from smoke from wildfires and prescribed fires.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idbce1dcd9e66b4bd5be42c13380290ce4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Coordination among Federal, Tribal, and State air quality agencies and Federal, Tribal, and State land management agencies</header><text>To facilitate the use of prescribed fire on Federal, State, Tribal, and private land, the Executive Director, in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency, Federal and State land management agencies, shall coordinate with State, Tribal, and local air quality agencies that regulate smoke under the Clean Air Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/7401">42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.</external-xref>)—</text><subparagraph id="idaa231b820ea3466abba614bf897cde40"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to the maximum extent practicable, to provide State, Tribal, and local air quality agencies with guidance, data, imagery, or modeling to support the development of exceptional event demonstrations in accordance with sections 50.14 and 51.930 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id740c6234deb94647843038219bae5f45"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to develop archives and automated tools to provide State, Tribal, and local air quality agencies with the data, imagery, and modeling under subparagraph (A);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc8a994c85ac54b91ac3b6220cdd0200c"><enum>(C)</enum><text>to provide technical assistance, best practices, or templates to States, Indian Tribes, and local governments for the use of the State, Indian Tribe, or local government in approving the use of prescribed fire under a State, Tribal, or local government smoke management program;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2f06153867fc413ab24a78f8b2959687"><enum>(D)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id7885efcf6c5a48ae86a225fde2ae5b25"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to promote basic smoke management practices and other best practices to protect the public from wildfire smoke;</text></clause><clause indent="up1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idceeb466ab567444ea065921008ea068f"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to disseminate information about basic smoke management practices;</text></clause><clause indent="up1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbc9de7f7e7e246a1b005fb7a1d00dc37"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>to educate landowners that use prescribed fire about the importance of—</text><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1bc95d3b86904f5f98f7b95f07c26858"><enum>(I)</enum><text>using basic smoke management practices; and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcb0e2167f1e4471ab3350f586dfd9774"><enum>(II)</enum><text>including basic smoke management practices as a component of a prescribed fire plan; and</text></subclause></clause><clause indent="up1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9def1cfa19384cf18728f40606796a62"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>to share with the public information, in coordination with other public health agencies, about measures that individuals can take to protect themselves from wildfire smoke; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id241de447fddd4e5d926534a7324c0d4e"><enum>(E)</enum><text>to develop guidance and tools to streamline the demonstration of a clear causal relationship between prescribed fire smoke and a related exceedance of a national ambient air quality standard.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id5939ea659b894b37ae9cb72627d7d313"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Programs and research</header><text>To address the public health and safety risk of the expanded use of prescribed fire under this subtitle, the Secretaries, in coordination with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall conduct research to improve or develop—</text><subparagraph id="id475018af17da43b7b4556ec178d16441"><enum>(A)</enum><text>wildfire smoke prediction models;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide39723f2c28c4ee196192f06ef7033ac"><enum>(B)</enum><text>smoke impact display tools for the public and decisionmakers;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id214839c6110b4b57ab64b0097c2578af"><enum>(C)</enum><text>appropriate, cost-effective, and consistent strategies to mitigate the impacts of smoke from prescribed fire on nearby communities;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd08678c4887546fba3b61dc6c1938563"><enum>(D)</enum><text>consistent nationally and scientifically supported messages regarding personal protection equipment for the public; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1ceb4281b96d4a76b74f9c1a8f69f09d"><enum>(E)</enum><text>prescribed fire activity tracking and emission inventory systems for planning and post-treatment accountability.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id80254491c2c0461cb49ca4acc0c1e5f8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Development of landscape-Scale Federal prescribed fire plans</header><paragraph id="id3946d748bb224702a9350cceee154793"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Inclusion of landscape-scale prescribed fire plans</header><text>The Secretary concerned, with respect to units of the National Forest System and Bureau of Land Management districts with existing prescribed fire programs—</text><subparagraph id="id4c65ae5e4d954229a14feb1a1d5539a5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, shall determine which of those units or districts have landscape-scale prescribed fire plans;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8ab7e16c75404c39981a5073b9742c1f"><enum>(B)</enum><text>not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, shall—</text><clause id="id1b8f487c874b471aa153f72d5f03242c"><enum>(i)</enum><text>determine whether each plan described in subparagraph (A) requires revision; and</text></clause><clause id="id5af606e0cb8c4dd79d878a3e31258930"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>establish a schedule for the revision of each plan described in subparagraph (A) that requires revision; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc0f4cec80af348b8ba809cf57cfd86ff"><enum>(C)</enum><text>may develop landscape-scale prescribed fire plans for any units or districts that do not have landscape-scale prescribed fire plans, as determined appropriate by the Secretary concerned.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ida1eeb5afa96a46238fc9d7ffb9075ae9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Environmental compliance</header><text>In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall—</text><subparagraph id="ide9fe3c05e81a4962b27de8309e79e2f2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>comply with—</text><clause id="idbd59ed4852f94963801b10a8c7a4c2fb"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>);</text></clause><clause id="id18b2711770e744139ded596edc70d5da"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>);</text></clause><clause id="id12522d84d97f485eb3d7a9e8e11b2fef"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code; and</text></clause><clause id="id7511f6bc2e164a5cb2afbfdb5a286f5c"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>any other applicable laws; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4487f29721544a4b951afcb578fd981c"><enum>(B)</enum><text>consider the site-specific environmental consequences of the landscape-scale prescribed fire decisions under this subsection.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idcb533d5c701c47f2818a9a82b98564ec"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Collaborative development</header><text>In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall collaborate with diverse actors from academia, the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management research and development offices, nongovernmental organizations, cultural fire practitioners, and other entities, as determined appropriate by the Secretary concerned.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id75eac180e2c94c8582267d4625a46ac0"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Reports</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary concerned shall submit to Congress a report describing the progress of the Secretary concerned in carrying out this subsection.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id6942da05ca6748279e81fcc285bc4504"><enum>135.</enum><header>Cooperative agreements and contracts for prescribed fire</header><subsection id="iddd48a1e3dbf34f6491ce1cf33c9e0689"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Agreements and contracts</header><paragraph id="idab7a5fd17255490ca534e38ae56e0961"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definition of eligible entity</header><text>In this subsection, the term <term>eligible entity</term> means a State, an Indian Tribe, a unit of local government, a fire district, a nongovernmental organization, and a private entity.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd0d6c880dae6455b9781daf95ea5db9c"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Authorization</header><text>The Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior may each enter into a cooperative agreement or contract with an eligible entity, for a period of not longer than 10 years, that authorizes the eligible entity—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf17c6449c0904e349ca0443f2257c660"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to coordinate, plan, or conduct a prescribed fire on Federal land; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6354d1b33bf042f2b75022f67028d48a"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to conduct a prescribed fire training event.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id89443437f0ed4692944e5ac22e278f91"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Subcontracts</header><text>A State, Indian Tribe, county, or eligible entity that enters into a cooperative agreement or contract under paragraph (1) may enter into a subcontract, in accordance with applicable contracting procedures of the State, Indian Tribe, county, or eligible entity—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9392f63988dc42a79c28f24e77e47041"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to conduct a prescribed fire on Federal land; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8ddc032a8ca048caa55518c80dc5c386"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to conduct a prescribed fire training event pursuant to that cooperative agreement or contract.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id54805aa951ca44a5a92a2f2f4e3585fe"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Applicable law</header><text>A prescribed fire conducted pursuant to this subsection shall be carried out on a project-by-project basis under existing authorities of the applicable Federal agency responsible for the management of the applicable Federal land.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd55d0440235e4870a1b6c93fc731187a"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Preservation of decision authority</header><text>An eligible entity may not carry out a project under this subsection pursuant to a cooperative agreement or contract without the prior written approval of each Secretary that entered into the cooperative agreement or contract.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id725ad3e822a34ec1afcbe97ce199da84"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 amendments</header><text>The Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/108/278">Public Law 108–278</external-xref>; 118 Stat. 868) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id06709454713d4eb7a54cb0f3b0bd973c" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><section id="id069ccdebe27b489d9b3cf57db656eea7"><enum>4.</enum><header>Tribal prescribed burn demonstration project</header><subsection id="id7d5d29e87b52426fa047bae067375e31"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary may enter into a contract or agreement with an Indian Tribe under this Act that provides for prescribed burns on Federal land pursuant to this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="id7663c8c6d72a47138101c7a3de254aa0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Scope</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a contract or agreement entered into under this section may—</text><paragraph id="id8a3b18af7a66463ebca36b4c6fc80eec"><enum>(1)</enum><text>use a burn plan that, on approval by the Secretary, allows multiple prescribed burns to be conducted in accordance with the burn plan to eliminate the need for individual burn plans for each prescribed burn and enable forest managers to have the flexibility to conduct prescribed burns when conditions allow; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8566f39a72a0434e90a358f3cc85d167"><enum>(2)</enum><text>include terms that—</text><subparagraph id="id06858879d2054a27bb97a89967d29168"><enum>(A)</enum><text>authorize the Secretary to delegate their authority to an Indian Tribe to plan, coordinate, and execute prescribed burns on the behalf of the Secretary within the scope of the burn plan including applying the National Wildfire Coordinating Group standards for prescribed fire planning and implementation, to the extent authorized by Federal law;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="iddc9dd1a216044e73be147f2771359522"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any applicable Federal standard that requires a certain number of personnel to be on-hand during prescribed burns may be satisfied by regional Federal, State, or Tribal resources and personnel; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0c0855a78534435e8364bad45c5e9e18"><enum>(C)</enum><text>where appropriate, the Secretary shall work with other Federal agencies and Tribal, State, and local governments to coordinate and communicate the shared objectives of the prescribed burn and ensure activities comply with applicable law and regulations.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="idcee72c77342b4e09a9b954a61f4eefc4"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Cooperative Funds and Deposits Act amendments</header><text>Public Law 94–148 (commonly known as the <quote>Cooperative Funds and Deposits Act</quote>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id5e447615dbfa4d9680b5117335087ef9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the first sentence of the first section (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/565a-1">16 U.S.C. 565a–1</external-xref>), by inserting <quote>prescribed fire and prescribed fire training events,</quote> after <quote>including fire protection,</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc6d5bb00cddc441687db3526ddb14903"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 2 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/565a-2">16 U.S.C. 565a–2</external-xref>), by inserting <quote>, section 4 of the Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/108/278">Public Law 108–278</external-xref>; 118 Stat. 868) or section 135(a) of the <short-title>Fix Our Forests Act</short-title></quote> after <quote>authorized by section 1</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ideb46d1a20d874958b6ea5a6bee0ad7ba"><enum>136.</enum><header>Facilitating responsible use of prescribed fire</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall—</text><paragraph id="id51eca8bb122c42c09dfbd318a83ed1b2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>use all available resources to ensure prescribed burns conducted by the Forest Service are extinguished; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="iddf28b361b81b4d15b75b52e415cb4efc" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text>update the prescribed burn policies of the Forest Service to reflect the findings and recommendations included in the report of the Forest Service entitled <quote>National Prescribed Fire Program Review</quote> and dated September 2022.</text></paragraph></section></subtitle><enum>II</enum><header>Protecting communities in wildland-urban interface</header><subtitle style="OLC" commented="no" level-type="subsequent" id="id690f18bf98494d498e5ba9d6fa3d319d"><enum>A</enum><header>Community wildfire risk reduction</header><section id="HB7D755915CF04DEEB53511F142E2E9D3"><enum>201.</enum><header>Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Program</header><subsection id="H3516D4134EA246DABC0DFA2D277AF3B5"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall jointly establish an interagency program, to be known as the <quote>Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Program</quote> (referred to in this section as the <term>Program</term>), which shall consist of at least 1 representative from each of the following:</text><paragraph id="H1B8BA67F5E0A4AB092AEBBD36BF1B826"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Office of Wildland Fire of the Department of the Interior.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H30F1453B89E24DE9B764B4FBE5487447"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The National Park Service.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF713F4817F304E1C859F93ABEC68F30B"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The Bureau of Land Management.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H8287671DEE5A4CD893340D76CCDEDD14"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The United States Fish and Wildlife Service.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H95790E93B1104131AF39FBA7636D7BA8"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The Bureau of Indian Affairs.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H5BF64A953E8042A2925CC84D22933A3C"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The Forest Service.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H0492C999FC134E01BD16CC739760F0AB"><enum>(7)</enum><text>The Federal Emergency Management Agency.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HD1B5429E3BAF409CAA36F8A316976B5A"><enum>(8)</enum><text>The United States Fire Administration.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HCC530FA272BC4E6BB17DA5B9A56D4418"><enum>(9)</enum><text>The National Institute of Standards and Technology.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HC15503321B17424E8803DDE1977C2C57"><enum>(10)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HDF29EED711F741E69F17341D15466A13"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Purpose</header><text>The purpose of the Program is to support interagency coordination in reducing the risk of, and the damages resulting from, wildland fires in communities (including Tribal communities) in the wildland-urban interface through—</text><paragraph id="H5C7AA58679E14F74B5238C0683D40A42"><enum>(1)</enum><text>advancing research and science in wildland fire resilience, land management, and risk reduction in the built environment, including support for non-Federal research partnerships;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5f248d6ecca94b3ebc234271b6707445"><enum>(2)</enum><text>supporting the development of fire-resistant building methods, codes, and standards for community wildland fire risk reduction, including by promoting ignition-resistant construction, defensible space, and other measures demonstrated to effectively reduce wildland fire risks, as informed by the best available science;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF5EA76CB921E4D90BE8222C526D3A5E8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>supporting adoption by Indian Tribes and local governmental entities of fire-resistant building methods, codes, and standards;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF63ED16D953C498B9CAE68D361AF24BF"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">supporting efforts by Indian Tribes and local governmental entities to address the effects of wildland fire on those communities, including property damages, air quality, and water quality;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H3901C3D60189420DB47C89838B3C4844"><enum>(5)</enum><text>encouraging public-private partnerships to conduct hazardous fuels management activities in the wildland-urban interface, including creating or improving defensible space around structures;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H910ED8AE039C413BA273E27149355CCD"><enum>(6)</enum><text>providing technical and financial assistance targeted towards communities (including Tribal communities) through streamlined and unified technical assistance and grant management mechanisms, including the portal and uniform grant application established under subsection (c)—</text><subparagraph id="H104C1B4D98A74B839AB67FA5662F2BF7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to encourage critical risk-reduction measures on private property with high wildland fire risk exposure in those communities; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HAE4A9CB9779945D296E62F5C95CC6AD9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to mitigate costs for, and improve capacity among, those communities;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idf7c034434a9a4235ae6dbf0c914e0b8b"><enum>(7)</enum><text>reducing risk in the built environment by encouraging increased mitigation measures, such as the use of ignition-resistant construction and retrofitting materials;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id439f41f89ebb4e18a0c731ee60ba38da"><enum>(8)</enum><text>coordinating budgets among the agencies described in subsection (a) to identify gaps and reduce overlap;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id260fcef61b934eb49db633f0f3f17e90"><enum>(9)</enum><text>supporting the integration of wildland fire risk reduction measure and technical assistance into existing Federal programs, where practicable; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9a4f4d3affd347dd8d860a566ae4e5aa"><enum>(10)</enum><text>advancing the development of early wildfire detection and warning systems for rapid response and community alerts.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H5C513F51260148C984454559CF18ED2D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Portal and uniform grant application</header><paragraph id="HEB961EB52FA44CC384E8B0FA0B21306C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>As part of the Program, the Secretaries and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall establish a portal through which a person may submit a single, uniform application for any of the following:</text><subparagraph id="H84370D1887D04F89BBD56C0220872D86"><enum>(A)</enum><text>A community wildfire defense grant under section 40803(f) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6592">16 U.S.C. 6592(f)</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H018D245C7E9C4C129F0A486EE932CAA9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>An emergency management performance grant under section 662 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/6/762">6 U.S.C. 762</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDF9EF9446D3A404E9B73E5E593583846"><enum>(C)</enum><text>A grant under section 33 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/2229">15 U.S.C. 2229</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H79C421947C1F4066B0A9C62823BA67D8"><enum>(D)</enum><text>A grant under section 34 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/2229a">15 U.S.C. 2229a</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H41E8F2F55DA04505905F7E39E736E729"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Financial or technical assistance or a grant under section 203, 205, 404, 406, or 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5133">42 U.S.C. 5133</external-xref>, 5135, 5170c, 5172, 5187).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H5850D220A78049048B91AEFF8020ADE5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Simplification of application</header><text>In establishing the portal and application under paragraph (1), the Secretaries and the Administrator shall seek to reduce the complexity and length of the application process for the forms of assistance described in paragraph (1).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H8B0FDE518C0241E3A0F2C171AF9D3B58"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Technical assistance</header><text>The Secretaries shall provide technical assistance to communities or persons seeking to apply for financial assistance through the portal using the application established under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idd9ab609b89c4445d816aecc64ca09877"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>In carrying out this section, the representatives described in subsection (a) shall—</text><paragraph id="idae90141d576845af96d61219ffed4161"><enum>(1)</enum><text>meet not less frequently than once per year;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6686b1d0a1344a9a937ca80f092315f4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>ensure coordination, as appropriate, with other Federal agencies not identified in that subsection; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0fc845eb80ca4bbf86f30655751988ba"><enum>(3)</enum><text>seek to gather feedback, as appropriate, from States, Indian Tribes, local governments, academic or research institutions, private entities, and such other entities as the Secretaries determine to be appropriate, to improve the function and operation of the Program.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id05a0cc55315045a2a4f40ce911e5c76e"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Coordination</header><text>The Secretaries shall seek to ensure that States and Indian Tribes are invited and represented in meetings and other activities under this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="id56e82a79f258485fa9a7ab63b81d4c21"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall jointly submit to the relevant committees of Congress a report that—</text><paragraph id="id86af6667774048b0bbc8096628c54741"><enum>(1)</enum><text>describes and itemizes the total amount of funding relating to community wildfire risk reduction that was obligated during the 2 preceding fiscal years by the agencies described in subsection (a);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd0831cdb8ac64d17a712cea80d9ee630"><enum>(2)</enum><text>describes the activities carried out under the Program since the date of enactment of this Act;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id591209d69abd49588de5a7d8b82b9599"><enum>(3)</enum><text>describes any feedback incorporated from non-Federal stakeholders to improve the function and operation of the Program; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id479a0984e9034f21935cd78e4c05e0f1"><enum>(4)</enum><text>includes an evaluation of the Program in achieving the purposes described in subsection (b). </text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HB7FAC64D60154085AAE3203810570B23"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The Program terminates on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section id="HAA77A08190B64F88928BF1496742E686"><enum>202.</enum><header>Community Wildfire Defense Research Program</header><subsection id="H7017B1B794DF4A01B2503306A0A486A6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretaries, acting jointly, shall expand the Joint Fire Science Program to include a performance-driven research and development program, to be known as the <quote>Community Wildfire Defense Research Program</quote> (referred to in this section as the <term>Program</term>), for the purpose of testing and advancing innovative designs to establish or improve the wildfire resistance of structures and communities.</text></subsection><subsection id="HF89C7E15602E4F6C85DF049A5D78A031"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Program priorities</header><text>In carrying out the Program, the Secretaries shall evaluate opportunities to establish wildfire-resistant structures and communities through—</text><paragraph id="H1508230E226244CABD9F6B78F3008BBF"><enum>(1)</enum><text>different affordable building materials, including mass timber;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HFA7EF1DEDB0C4DEF910E70A53A40191B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>home hardening, including policies to incentivize and incorporate defensible space;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HBFFFD55BC484436C8869A8182D69D343"><enum>(3)</enum><text>subdivision design and other land-use planning and design;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H0AA9E2AB9E9F490A9677F097D06C1146"><enum>(4)</enum><text>landscape architecture; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H32307F9B0B584E7299BD0784A26F3BD0"><enum>(5)</enum><text>other wildfire-resistant designs, as determined by the Secretary.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H3473AF204BCE4D979F3809DE08D129BC"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Community wildfire defense innovation prize</header><paragraph id="HAB5E77E806F849D69002561784D9D4DA"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out the Program, the Secretaries shall carry out a competition through which a person may submit to the Secretaries innovative designs for the establishment or improvement of an ignition-resistant structure or fire-adapted community.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HA71710416F724854B4A62D07A1831159"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Prize</header><text>Subject to the availability of appropriations made in advance for that purpose, the Secretaries may award a prize under the competition described in paragraph (1), based on criteria established by the Secretaries and in accordance with paragraph (3). </text></paragraph><paragraph id="HD61402EE14C64D7F9D1F71FF8929F58D"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Scale</header><text>In awarding a prize under paragraph (2), the Secretaries shall prioritize for an award designs with the greatest potential to scale to existing infrastructure.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H44D4A765C20242F593FAB8A29668AD06"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Collaboration and nonduplication</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out the Program, the Secretaries shall ensure collaboration and nonduplication of activities with the Building Technologies Office of the Department of Energy.</text></subsection><subsection id="H09B7EA5A19494AEF96938845DFFD1263" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The Program terminates on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section id="id5bc7bc6e282d4cb9be4ffd8317d3b17d"><enum>203.</enum><header>Community wildfire defense accountability</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once every 2 years thereafter, the Secretaries, acting through the United States Fire Administration, shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress an assessment of the Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Program established under section 201(a) that—</text><paragraph id="ida7d51f3cfeae4ee6b80d2c9dd3cb0b91"><enum>(1)</enum><text>assesses the management, coordination, implementation, and effectiveness of program activities;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id177e3abd29bb4ce391b4ef1a750232f2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>suggests improvements for improving the coordination and engagement of the program with States, Indian Tribes, units of local government, and at-risk communities;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4334b29225c14e438d53336e1482a165"><enum>(3)</enum><text>assesses trends and developments in science and engineering relating to wildfire risk reduction in the built environment, land use planning, and vegetation management that could be used to improve the effectiveness or efficiency of the program;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6a5d5586a35d48a49899eddcb31c6294"><enum>(4)</enum><text>provides recommendations to improve the ability of the program to provide financial or technical assistance to States, Indian Tribes, units of local government, and at-risk communities;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idcc543c324ad843838205be6f3394f4da"><enum>(5)</enum><text>identifies opportunities to modify existing requirements for Federal assistance or programs that support community wildfire risk reduction to improve the delivery, effectiveness, or availability of those assistance or programs; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc2a8465353e64978a8353270657848ed"><enum>(6)</enum><text>includes policy and program recommendations to improve that program, as determined by the United States Fire Administration.</text></paragraph></section><section id="id9f71ec04a16142a08471c16c36b2a555"><enum>204.</enum><header>Community wildfire defense grant program improvements</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 40803(f) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6592">16 U.S.C. 6592(f)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id5471eb9c025448719727986bc0564ab0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (1)(B), and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8372973a39904333b8d993dfb94dd383" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><subparagraph id="id4076aeefb105448aa01cf67da103aa3c"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to carry out projects including—</text><clause id="idcba2d8ab790249fd803040abfc354573"><enum>(i)</enum><text>landscape and hazardous fuels reduction treatments;</text></clause><clause id="id56df6a26c6994139a6f9d184559505dc"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the retrofit, modification, or maintenance of a structure to improve resistance to fire;</text></clause><clause id="id59998c00a8924768b06a5225ecc39944"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>creating defensible space around structures to improve resistance to fire;</text></clause><clause id="ida1049e947e224f98a8bafe9721557ebf"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>hardening infrastructure, including evacuation routes, to improve resistance to fire;</text></clause><clause id="id25671ad83d374839aa463b0e298bba66"><enum>(v)</enum><text>any other project described in a community wildfire protection plan that is not more than 10 years old; and</text></clause><clause id="id3ecc426713ff44dfb4601e129781b159"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>deployment of wildfire technologies determined to be successful under section 303 of the <short-title>Fix Our Forests Act</short-title>.</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="id0265671fd4b6407ab192e4a8010f9ff7"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb8c4db30730d41b6a87a0a5535075214"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>or</quote> at the end;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id70b72b148a7c4355ae6d6bc5f04d9d80"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; or</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1ce22da1816f4ac78de9a89efdf1d3ad"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6a086c50c76c4460b745340f9b90743f" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><subparagraph id="id99da3cd8cf8c49ffb359f3491af26d41"><enum>(D)</enum><text>located in a fireshed management area (as defined in section 2 of the <short-title>Fix Our Forests Act</short-title>).</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id97148cb073ec4a51895ef1be35fa954e"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in paragraph (3)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id36cdcbe693d445d58adae131d75611ba"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (C)(i), by striking <quote>continental</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb21ffd4cad244866b4f02e7dbc040d40"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5fdd4855cfa2482ea3594dce6babc8ba" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><subparagraph id="ida769cd915149403a937a2d8f97b32fbd"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Limitation on administrative expenses</header><text>Not more than 7 percent of funds obligated under this section may be used for administrative expenses incurred by the Secretary of Agriculture or an at-risk community.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="idce33e5548650472e9e1dee06e750e976"><enum>205.</enum><header>Updated definition of at-risk community</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6511">16 U.S.C. 6511</external-xref>) is amended by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block id="id00d702886bac43e9bd8f2bff876c4310" display-inline="no-display-inline" style="OLC" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="id121b9de5f74d4bb1bbbd62e2f3b799d5"><enum>(1)</enum><header>At-risk community</header><text>The term <term>at-risk community</term> means an area that is composed of—</text><subparagraph id="iddc7feb8e558a4a0fbd18cdf2895a7f6e"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an interface community (as defined in the notice entitled <quote>Wildland Urban Interface Communities Within the Vicinity of Federal Lands That Are at High Risk From Wildfire</quote> (66 Fed. Reg. 753 (January 4, 2001)) issued by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior in accordance with title IV of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 (114 Stat. 1009));</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2798470b67bf4a63a173fc1697b98adc"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a group of homes and other structures with basic infrastructure and services (such as utilities and collectively maintained transportation routes) at risk from wildfire, as recognized in a fireshed, State, Tribal, local, regional, territorial, or national wildfire risk assessment; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2d91bcf6296a4935a7d05bae062dc592" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a group of homes and other structures with basic infrastructure and services (such as utilities and collectively maintained transportation routes) located inside, or within 5 miles of, a Wildfire Crisis Strategy landscape, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section></subtitle><subtitle style="OLC" commented="no" level-type="subsequent" id="idb961c2a799364a44ae4ecbb527532ec9"><enum>B</enum><header>Vegetation management, reforestation, and local fire suppression</header><section id="idaec75bc5c73e4814ab7204b637bf7639"><enum>211.</enum><header>Vegetation management, facility inspection, and operation and maintenance relating to electric transmission and distribution facility rights-of-way</header><subsection id="H9C33B2130CA4406FB8486695E0C3EBE0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Hazard trees within 150 feet of electric power line</header><text>Section 512(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1772">43 U.S.C. 1772(a)(1)(B)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5eaf1ee6142445b6817c6c716ea79d12"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking <quote>likely to—</quote> and inserting <quote>likely—</quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8bff14f5575746e093b7ef2c4455c381"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (i), by inserting <quote>to</quote> after the clause designation; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8d0f8967b2244b4a8c1ac020bf4f9b11"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (ii), by striking <quote>come within 10</quote> and inserting <quote>to come within 150</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HF55815704B814733B36D57A934EE1898"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Consultation with private landowners</header><text>Section 512(c)(3)(E) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1772">43 U.S.C. 1772(c)(3)(E)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="H40DDD5D213754D27B2E17E73C8CCD827"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in clause (i), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HCEE981C944D44BFD8FD9D5720D2483B0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in clause (ii), by striking the period and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H6BEF27AF0C644031A466A01009389821"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="H7AE66BE5FF8E4DE8AAFC6204B81803F3" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><clause id="HA3B37F0B534A4CFDB6FEED6F22947447"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>consulting with a private landowner with respect to any hazard trees identified for removal from land owned by the private landowner.</text></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H3DDB1A300BB244A7A1805B7A3831D846"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Review and approval process</header><text>Section 512(c)(4)(A) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1772">43 U.S.C. 1772(c)(4)(A)</external-xref>) is amended by striking clause (iv) and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="HE40C82E8207C49D6AABB6C726A2FCE4E" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><clause id="H3263616C3AF34131842B754B2A98A941"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>ensures that—</text><subclause id="H6122E5AF52B84D0CBCBC5832C778BFF0"><enum>(I)</enum><text>a plan submitted without a modification under clause (iii) shall be automatically approved by the date that is 120 days after the date of submission; and</text></subclause><subclause id="H840D1D1B4A5A4E2C88B9517A7C16063C"><enum>(II)</enum><text>for a plan submitted with a modification under clause (iii), if the plan is not approved by the date that is 120 days after the date of submission, the Secretary concerned shall develop and submit to the owner and operator a letter describing—</text><item id="H21FE58AEB5064D44AA83D753B0473CD2"><enum>(aa)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a detailed timeline (to conclude by the date that is 165 days after the date of submission of the plan) for completing review of the plan;</text></item><item id="H849E1FF20EA74733924CDC985ADF7793"><enum>(bb)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any identified deficiencies in the plan and specific opportunities for the owner or operator to address each deficiency; and</text></item><item id="H4C27FDA1089547868A8DA456B6D48508"><enum>(cc)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any other relevant information, as determined by the Secretary concerned.</text></item></subclause></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide9cc88d4492248119e1a1a48476fefad"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Technical corrections</header><text>Section 512 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1772">43 U.S.C. 1772</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida2ecf251ff044f308b06d2d77f0b44a9"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the section heading, by striking <quote><header-in-text style="OLC" level="section">managment</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text style="OLC" level="section">management</header-in-text></quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id25771f2ee27d4c0f8235ab47b1a076ba" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (c)(4)(A)(ii), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida0412ce4ef7c426c96a1a724c856c477"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Vegetation management plan review</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress a report describing, with respect to vegetation management plans submitted under section 512 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1772">43 U.S.C. 1772</external-xref>)—</text><paragraph id="id25c6235ba2c74a8e9cc5d733577db52c"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the extent to which those vegetation management plans under are reviewed and approved within the 120-day period required under subsection (c)(4)(A)(iv) of that section;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd1ea3a677dc444e8bd82809ddfeb8eee"><enum>(2)</enum><text>for any vegetation management plan not reviewed and approved by the applicable deadline described in paragraph (1), the reason for any delay in review or approval; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9226eb1582fe452b815e5a4a1feeb642" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text>for any vegetation management plan submitted for review and approval for which the Secretary concerned requested a modification, the timeline for reviewing the modification on resubmission.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id4de9ed6da15a488493c89123b047508e"><enum>212.</enum><header>Fire-safe electrical corridors</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 512 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1772">43 U.S.C. 1772</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id231a4bad2de6449aae5efa3753b79f03"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating subsections (j) and (k) as subsections (k) and (l), respectively; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id43c6c5844037461a886f6e01be27f281"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after subsection (i) the following:</text><quoted-block id="id14633b8bf6e94a22bb4ab5e691e80d53" display-inline="no-display-inline" style="OLC" changed="deleted" reported-display-style="strikethrough" committee-id="SSAF00"><subsection id="id08b06079b53046d6a931ad3b71cae804"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Permits and agreements with owners and operators of electric transmission or distribution facilities</header><paragraph id="idbed6dfc49e6342bab50dcc84cd4379dc"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In any special use permit or easement on National Forest System land or land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management provided to the owner or operator of an electric transmission or distribution facility, the Secretary concerned may provide permission to cut and remove trees or other vegetation from within the vicinity of the electric transmission or distribution facility without requiring a separate timber sale, if that cutting and removal is consistent with—</text><subparagraph id="iddfae3b2487bc44acab48a0d49f1bdfee"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the applicable plan;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf2962f991e8a45d6b31499e8fa21bdb3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the applicable land and resource management plan or land use plan; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idcb136b36bca24f2f9bf0fc6309b9e0ae"><enum>(C)</enum><text>other applicable environmental laws (including regulations).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7aba0defbdec4c64b66f9c1d3633e23d"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Use of proceeds</header><text>A special use permit or easement that includes permission for cutting and removal described in paragraph (1) shall include a requirement that, if the owner or operator of the electric transmission or distribution facility sells any portion of the material removed under the permit or easement, the owner or operator shall provide to the Secretary concerned any proceeds received from the sale, less any transportation costs incurred in the sale.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3e0e160dcb2942e38f9bdaf6af0acb0b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Effect</header><text>Nothing in paragraph (2) shall require the sale of any material removed under a permit or easement that includes permission for cutting and removal described in paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="idb8374b84c5f44ad3b56e8fd05af19eb7"><enum>213.</enum><header>Categorical exclusion for high-priority hazard trees</header><subsection id="id5498d061ac2e4febb0fa70c798df819e"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="idf68eb19545354a23adb529e103361f5d"><enum>(1)</enum><header>High-priority hazard tree</header><text>The term <term>high-priority hazard tree</term> means a standing tree that—</text><subparagraph id="idc7337fcaf85940d0bda9add1d010d515"><enum>(A)</enum><text>presents a visible hazard to people or Federal property due to conditions such as deterioration of, or damage to, the root system, trunk, stem, or limbs of the tree, or the direction or lean of the tree, as determined by the Secretary;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3eca0a1d5bb547a38e2fc7dc2c864605"><enum>(B)</enum><text>is determined by the Secretary to be highly likely to fail and, on failure, would be highly likely to cause injury to people or damage to Federal property; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida6944496fa13410489e19e804d6d7c56"><enum>(C)</enum><text>is located—</text><clause id="iddfdc6ff7319d4671a6fb9ae5819fa588"><enum>(i)</enum><text>within 300 feet of a National Forest System road with a maintenance level of 3, 4, or 5;</text></clause><clause id="id24beea72ae714ebd93350a9a6cd2b486"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>along a National Forest System trail; or</text></clause><clause id="idfcc49e420a5e47539b32de19d1a90897"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in a developed recreation site on National Forest System land that is operated and maintained by the Secretary.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id6945d08a45ec4777afcf364f8311215b"><enum>(2)</enum><header>High-priority hazard tree activity</header><subparagraph id="id4a8ab2a7eea04f5ebb8db087764411a4"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <term>high-priority hazard tree activity</term> means a forest management activity that mitigates the risks associated with high-priority hazard trees, including pruning, felling, and disposal of a high-priority hazard tree.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide967d88f24184303914c75959c526ffd"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Exclusions</header><text>The term <term>high-priority hazard tree activity</term> does not include any activity—</text><clause id="id183828acf4304003ba2787db2b56738e"><enum>(i)</enum><text>conducted in a wilderness area or wilderness study area;</text></clause><clause id="id01089fac80094831a3a14fa4fb6b7860"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>for the construction of a permanent road or permanent trail;</text></clause><clause id="id92c513887f944c04b9f02cff396c6e66"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>conducted on Federal land on which, by Act of Congress or Presidential proclamation, the removal of vegetation is restricted or prohibited;</text></clause><clause id="id8bbcc82ba8324f2cb5efd5423682e854"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>conducted in an area in which activities described in subparagraph (A) would be inconsistent with the applicable land and resource management plan; or</text></clause><clause id="ide83fb67add18450991cc922859db9dc8"><enum>(v)</enum><text>conducted in an inventoried roadless area.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idf53b19272f374d4eabfc2d423462c3e1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Categorical exclusion</header><paragraph id="id45fdb98112584f1883557829b201dc56"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a categorical exclusion (as defined in 111 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4336e">42 U.S.C. 4336e</external-xref>)) for high-priority hazard tree activities.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8083964959e647e9aa50c4c89375765b"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Administration</header><text>In developing and administering the categorical exclusion under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—</text><subparagraph id="id60ff424bd30744d898ee314c08210d39"><enum>(A)</enum><text>comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5347753806fc46aea83d30d33ac37d06"><enum>(B)</enum><text>apply the extraordinary circumstances procedures under section 220.6 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), in determining whether to use the categorical exclusion.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ida6d9a729573f48788e0be4442aff2c40" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Project size limitation</header><text>A project carried out using the categorical exclusion developed under paragraph (1) may not exceed 6,000 acres.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id2f0f8f05e2924de394c0edaf30915bd0"><enum>214.</enum><header>Seeds of Success strategy</header><subsection id="H57161FE323E94A01A305A2D99BBB27C7"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall jointly develop and implement a strategy, to be known as the <quote>Seeds of Success strategy</quote>, to enhance the domestic supply chain of seeds.</text></subsection><subsection id="H82DCCCD017374FABAB44302193D80F95"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Elements</header><text>The strategy developed under subsection (a) shall include a plan for each of the following:</text><paragraph id="HD7DD1699CB064137969F358A90BF4F7A"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Facilitating sustained interagency coordination in, and a comprehensive approach to, native plant materials development and restoration.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HC3E3591372784A84905A25409050EFE8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Promoting the re-seeding of native or fire-resistant vegetation post-wildfire, particularly in the wildland-urban interface.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H1AA7B0220F0F47E4AE03ECD6EA515A09"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Creating and consolidating information relating to native or fire-resistant vegetation and sharing that information with Indian Tribes and State and local governments.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HF22E8C9767A143F8BD893656E18622A3"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Building regional programs and partnerships to promote the development of materials made from plants native to the United States and restore those plants to their respective, native habitats within the United States, giving priority to the building of those programs and partnerships in regions of the Bureau of Land Management where the partnerships and programs do not exist on the date of enactment of this Act.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc37f799de61242778c70550e53412168"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Expanding workforce and infrastructure capacity to locally collect, process, and store seed as necessary to implement revegetation and reforestation projects on priority land (as defined in section 215(b)(1)).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id39b6d0c1a47b4459baa7f5eebf4392f3"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Expanding the warehouse system of the Bureau of Land Management, particularly the cold storage capacity of the system.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide7f9e31f43264d0b8f58c7b201e8d852"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Shortening the timeline for the approval of permits to collect seeds on public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id18f075cbf5a3448e9d5f6f6713f5faff" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(8)</enum><text>Coordinating with the other Federal agencies, States, Indian Tribes, and private entities, as appropriate, for the purpose of seed collection.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id3230c6cb6e8244a79084aa76262fd09c"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The Secretaries shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress the strategy developed under subsection (a).</text></subsection><subsection id="id280293d4fca74c6297904ac2400602fe" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Coordination</header><text>In implementing the strategy developed under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, shall coordinate with the heads of other applicable Federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, for the purpose of collecting seeds from land under the jurisdiction under those Federal agencies.</text></subsection></section><section id="id8121f50344a64d38acfe224106d929ca"><enum>215.</enum><header>Program to support priority reforestation and restoration projects</header><subsection id="id862d4ee5c05a43a8a506670e57b435f2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Reforestation reports submitted to additional committees</header><text>Section 70303 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1601">16 U.S.C. 1601</external-xref> note; <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/117/58">Public Law 117–58</external-xref>) is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking inserting <quote>, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives,</quote> after <quote>Senate</quote>.</text></subsection><subsection id="idd58fc393f37a49f8986bb12cf322f312"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Interior reforestation program</header><paragraph id="id23738a920ccd4811acdc5be4cbaf4c15"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this subsection:</text><subparagraph id="id6c8e8633d0b94317b2d95cbda3513341"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Covered institution of higher education</header><text>The term <term>covered institution of higher education</term> means a land-grant college or university, including—</text><clause id="id5EE3CB0DC95F4BA19746FBEEE4A0F1BD"><enum>(i)</enum><text>an 1862 Institution (as defined in section 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/7601">7 U.S.C. 7601</external-xref>));</text></clause><clause id="id06FF655736384C4A94D2721463E9575D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>an 1890 Institution (as defined in that section);</text></clause><clause commented="no" id="idCB3A7B8DC7CB40198C4A98F0CEC7E44E"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an institution that is eligible to receive funding under <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/87/788">Public Law 87–788</external-xref> (commonly known as the <quote>McIntire-Stennis Act of 1962</quote>); and</text></clause><clause id="id31C162B4F7D046A6AA6E47BE4B77CAC9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>a 1994 Institution (as defined in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/301">7 U.S.C. 301</external-xref> note; <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/103/382">Public Law 103–382</external-xref>)). </text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id979db13d510e4bd889c5ebdf0c406c43"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Natural regeneration; reforestation; unplanned event</header><text>The terms <term>natural regeneration</term>, <term>reforestation</term>, and <term>unplanned event</term> have the meanings given those terms in section 3(e)(4)(A) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1601">16 U.S.C. 1601(e)(4)(A)</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idac88b602627b4c4fa9bc37571df3c546"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Priority land</header><text>The term <term>priority land</term> means historically forested land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned that, due to an unplanned event—</text><clause id="idc4c66a8b4dce4347aaf59abab7cac477"><enum>(i)</enum><text>requires reforestation to meet the objectives described in an applicable land use plan; and</text></clause><clause id="id5b4d2e7f597c467ab48786a8be8d7c94"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>is unlikely to experience natural regeneration.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id1c489732d514480e9d56bd8f79d97b4a"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Program establishment</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall establish a program to implement reforestation projects on priority land identified under paragraph (4)(A), in accordance with this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf1ccd92a5ec5409786642e7ab8a05e3a"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Support</header><text>In carrying out the program established under paragraph (2), the Secretary may enter into—</text><subparagraph id="idcafb3895c6274183938a71eafc7dfe91"><enum>(A)</enum><text>cooperative agreements in accordance with processes established by the Secretary; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id296be06c8dc6469bb68a17b2213f74c3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>contracts, including contracts entered into pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/5301">25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idff0d421f213942e0ad42b96d462d93b4"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Annual identification of priority projects</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of the Interior shall—</text><subparagraph id="idc3ed315e08494435bf5b2d83dc1e62f6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>identify priority land within the United States;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfb873da87a3f4c3bad726884643ed033"><enum>(B)</enum><text>establish a list of reforestation projects on priority land for the upcoming year, which may include activities to ensure adequate and appropriate seed and seedling availability to further the objectives of other priority projects; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idcc4bc091145948c482b983e3954995b3"><enum>(C)</enum><text>estimate the costs necessary to implement the list established under subparagraph (B).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9ae9cd5cb14143cb88ee17ab2795e537"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>In carrying out the program under this subsection, the Secretary shall consult or coordinate with, as appropriate—</text><subparagraph id="id97ae25a9004943e2b8836b11a1c5076d"><enum>(A)</enum><text>applicable State and local governments;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id88160381170e49e5aaae37111d8b1d36"><enum>(B)</enum><text>applicable Indian Tribes;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0650abe9aba848a99342bc73d654d101"><enum>(C)</enum><text>covered institutions of higher education;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id269a498fe1724fbeaccf0c1ad987100b"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Federal agencies that administer Federal land that adjoins, or is adjacent to, land that is the subject of a project identified under paragraph (4)(B); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2a008e7259b54d4e9c1ec4eb0e0cc8db"><enum>(E)</enum><text>other stakeholders, at the discretion of the Secretary.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idd5a72bafa3f14d94b453ab2457c93c4c"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Annual report</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for each of the following 6 years, the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report that includes the following, with respect to the period covered by the report:</text><subparagraph id="idccc557638d0c40a0868baeabb34974b6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>An accounting of all priority land.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id47f554c4caf14f71aaecd211c5f26cd9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>A list of projects identified under paragraph (4)(B).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6161f345e51b4d5aab2efbbaf6b9327c"><enum>(C)</enum><text>An accounting of any progress made on projects identified in any previous report under this paragraph.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6ad3bf3260844f409291aca55c2ceed2"><enum>(D)</enum><text>An accounting of each contract and cooperative agreement established under the program under this subsection.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id66adb2afcc844e0cad5f81291b491c38"><enum>(E)</enum><text>The amounts necessary to be appropriated, in addition to amounts available from other sources, to implement reforestation projects on all priority land by not later than 10 years after the date of submission of the report.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idf03977ba9167443abfdc9f2d6a399b7d" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Nonduplication</header><text>In carrying out this section, the Secretary of the Interior shall collaborate with the Secretary and the Secretary of Defense to ensure the nonduplication of activities carried out under section 214.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id36dc3489904a45429dde4fc2e6a88e0c"><enum>216.</enum><header>Reforestation, nurseries, and genetic resources support</header><subsection id="idf83b6fb3c15d4369a74e4d74bf36d9a9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="idc162914c61df44b3932dcef8332602e9"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Eligible recipient</header><text>The term <term>eligible recipient</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="id6aa75e67e90b4dd6a505cb537de2fe80"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a State forestry agency;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb9cebb16d5554c57a2bc58e19b4c06d8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an Indian Tribe; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida30ea3e9f15f4d3380c9b2bdb1241e25"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a private nursery that has experience, as determined by the Secretary, in growing high-quality native trees of appropriate genetic sources in bareroot or container stocktypes specific for reforestation, restoration, or conservation, including native plants and seeds that are of cultural significance to Indian Tribes.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idd356b4d067ee4ad99bb08a48d729e788"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Nursery</header><text>The term <term>nursery</term> means a tree or native plant nursery.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc75f64f9fdbe4a16b609e2ba94b6b3b4"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Seed orchard</header><text>The term <term>seed orchard</term> means a tree or native plant seed orchard.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc074ef60ac9446ac8de9b3e8410460ad"><enum>(4)</enum><header>State</header><text>The term <term>State</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="id6c11db881daf4e56bc43f218d71292d7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>each of the several States;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb08b9002fa9746b5816ed3ac17022e48"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the District of Columbia;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9bcbf09c285046a5a6d08beb6bec1f86"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7da9f8586fd344168c2a743ad89a05e0"><enum>(D)</enum><text>any territory or possession of the United States.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ide1b07f2911e24b6d9c406e2a90bfcce7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Partnerships, collaboration, and other assistance in support of nurseries and seed orchards</header><text>The Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall—</text><paragraph id="id92eab69a9a2a459dad3dfd1e05c79cb3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>partner with Federal and State agencies, Indian Tribes, institutions of higher education, and private nurseries to provide training, technical assistance, and research to nursery and tree establishment programs that support natural regeneration, reforestation, agroforestry, and afforestation;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id50db6cb6fd2e4e638eaaa56a3ebbff3b"><enum>(2)</enum><text>promote information-sharing to improve technical knowledge and practices and understand demands, climate change impacts, and other issues as necessary to address all facets of the reforestation supply chain;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide86fdb53d2a2443ea4d92d43e8cfb7b8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>provide technical and financial assistance to international nursery and tree establishment programs through the Forest Service International Programs, the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, and the International Institute of Tropical Forestry;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide73af272ab8144bd9d8d482a8533afe9"><enum>(4)</enum><text>collaborate with other relevant Federal departments and agencies, including the Foreign Agricultural Service, the United States Agency for International Development, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and international organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, to provide technical and financial assistance relating to nurseries and reforestation;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idcb51e964d19b4c88b242ece1e6d767ec"><enum>(5)</enum><text>coordinate the efforts of the Department of Agriculture—</text><subparagraph id="idd4d58b268e1f431fb474c5ea57646d25"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to address the challenges associated with the reforestation supply chain; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4ecfb8bd24794eceb15620c45539cac3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to leverage economic development assistance for work with private nurseries; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7a42dfff92654645ba3dd22ca798f8f3"><enum>(6)</enum><text>expand reforestation supply chains through science and research, seed collection and storage, and nursery infrastructure and operations.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idbb5f3f341cc243b0b95e6e2273720379"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Nursery and seed orchard grants</header><paragraph id="idc6c27941b78c42e1b292ebe87ba6688b"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish or expand an existing program to provide grants to eligible recipients to support nurseries and seed orchards.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7289232dbd7f49b4b99e450fef648bbb"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Eligible projects</header><text>An eligible recipient that receives a grant under paragraph (1) shall carry out a project that comprises 1 or more of the following activities:</text><subparagraph id="idebfa9f3fab5d4d55989ce6bfc9d94034"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The development, expansion, enhancement, or improvement of nursery production capacity or other infrastructure—</text><clause id="id94db9cbca13b47dcb500613b7bf39bc9"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to improve seed collection and storage;</text></clause><clause id="id85e38176a7cd41ff8328d4931083a639"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to increase seedling production, storage, and distribution; or</text></clause><clause id="idafd511f19ccc4444a41fea624cac5e16"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>to enhance seedling survival and properly manage tree genetic resources.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc985e9a0c8a645db9291786bf0b68bdb"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The establishment or expansion of a nursery or seed orchard, including by acquiring equipment for a nursery or seed orchard.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idcf41b1d444ac47d6b79814de6d3c30ca"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The development or implementation of quality control measures at nurseries or seed orchards.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id01106d60683c4bdbaec386e780015d80"><enum>(D)</enum><text>The promotion of workforce development within any facet of the reforestation pipeline.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2c7ca399e502436786a045e0a80ce6c9"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Such other activities as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idca647eae9ac9488881a939849f1803ad"><enum>217.</enum><header>Fire department repayment</header><subsection id="id60d45b496c3d46e8aa446d88db5c3180"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment of standard operating procedures</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall—</text><paragraph id="idec38c847b9c649bcb888ef691bf203cb"><enum>(1)</enum><text>establish standard operating procedures relating to payment timelines for fire suppression cost-share agreements established under section 2 of the Act of May 27, 1955 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1856a">42 U.S.C. 1856a</external-xref>) (commonly known as the <quote>Reciprocal Fire Protection Act</quote>); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide1fde82c0fbd41f88b06deb160f2d099"><enum>(2)</enum><text>with respect to each fire suppression cost-share agreement in operation on that date—</text><subparagraph id="idd5002e6e074a41a38abb66a1fa441b87"><enum>(A)</enum><text>review the agreement; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idca94c0619c79473698ebef5af92e12d0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>modify the agreement as necessary to comply with the standard operating procedures established under paragraph (1).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id47fdfbff5d8e44cf9c42d18f76710489"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Alignment of agreements</header><text>The standard operating procedures under subsection (a)(1) shall include a requirement that each fire suppression cost-share agreement shall be aligned with each cooperative fire protection agreement applicable to the entity subject to the fire suppression cost-share agreement.</text></subsection><subsection id="id1f321d8170234cecaa2ba4f46c14fc49"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Payments</header><text>With respect to payments made pursuant to a fire suppression cost-share agreement, the standard operating procedures under subsection (a)(1) shall require that the Federal paying entity shall reimburse a local fire department or a State wildland firefighter agency if that entity submits to the Federal paying entity an invoice in accordance with applicable cost settlement procedures.</text></subsection><subsection id="id2f0ddac51f604e138cdbf56d7fbc692b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that the Secretaries should carry out reciprocal fire suppression cost-share agreement repayments to local fire suppression organizations and State wildland firefighting agencies as soon as practicable, but not later than 1 year, after the date on which the applicable fire suppression occurs. </text></subsection></section></subtitle><enum>III</enum><header>Transparency, technology, and partnerships</header><subtitle id="id5b4ac6b33dd1410bb4e951e6a45b15c4"><enum>A</enum><header>Transparency and technology</header><section id="id68937cb29db84594976c91230f35c687"><enum>301.</enum><header>Biochar innovations and opportunities for conservation, health, and advancements in research</header><subsection id="H11918E8C0B9D46B6929E2E18A9686A66"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="HA472F5700E25474D93561252C1318B71"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Biochar</header><text>The term <term>biochar</term> means carbonized biomass produced by converting feedstock through reductive thermal processing for a nonfuel use.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H2429CDEB11204228AD300C3410130FAB"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Eligible entity</header><text>The term <term>eligible entity</term> means—</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="H006326472AD441F7AAB61AE33CC80B6E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a unit of State, Tribal, or local government;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5c0ef3cd6814446fa690d08accc4ce36"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a special district;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H56A8029DC598411C8CDB17F016DAA2FA"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an eligible institution; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H2EE752999DEF4649885B1447562FA15A"><enum>(D)</enum><text>a public, private, or cooperative entity or organization;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HB3E4BEC71E5D4DB7B9F89591F2E1C07E"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"> a National Laboratory (as defined in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/15801">42 U.S.C. 15801</external-xref>)); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA5B08FD1CB2845F5BCBCDF9E19BB54CB"><enum>(F)</enum><text>a partnership or consortium of 2 or more entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (E).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HDFBA21ADFB2B4524A691E4545DA03A50"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Eligible institution</header><text>The term <term>eligible institution</term> means a land-grant college or university, including—</text><subparagraph id="id3ab638cf13b941e89a0faf55a8410219"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an 1862 Institution (as defined in section 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/7601">7 U.S.C. 7601</external-xref>));</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7c3395b523dd4edfa502c0e9e70312c2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an 1890 Institution (as defined in that section);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H8A383A820E78493C9B1F272C11B0C8CD"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an institution that is eligible to receive funding under <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/87/788">Public Law 87–788</external-xref> (commonly known as the <quote>McIntire-Stennis Act of 1962</quote>); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd48fcbd7afd747cab3f4ae525d8fb971"><enum>(D)</enum><text>a 1994 Institution (as defined in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/301">7 U.S.C. 301</external-xref> note; <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/103/382">Public Law 103–382</external-xref>)).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H2A165934431C487C8BAE56001B9AF828"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Feedstock</header><text>The term <term>feedstock</term> means excess biomass in the form of plant matter or materials that serves as the raw material for the production of biochar.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HBED6EE52D2494E16B31182F2E9FAC3EC"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Secretaries</header><text>The term <term>Secretaries</term> means—</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="H9DC1AF0C4D8941E69ED4D0CD8D9010ED"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H83F6661236F2496391826F8DE0D15053"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H16D52A6F62CF451E8DA69414175E341F" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the Secretary of Energy, acting through the Director of the Office of Science.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idd33f26d3872f457391e733077f32f178"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Demonstration projects</header><paragraph id="idc6483bf650df412185f69cd24a304d3c"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment</header><subparagraph id="id2dc09c4dfd8f4808bc4c0b855d79f96b"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to the availability of appropriations made in advance for that purpose, not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall establish a program under which the Secretaries shall enter into partnerships with eligible entities to carry out demonstration projects to support the development and commercialization of biochar in accordance with this subsection.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3847cc59479a4a518c58f0885148a417"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Location</header><text>In carrying out the program established under subparagraph (A), the Secretaries shall, to the maximum extent practicable, enter into partnerships with eligible entities in a manner that ensures that—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id97080ca24062408c8e39d77bbd710683"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">at least 1 demonstration project is carried out in each region of the Forest Service; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0a2074cdc6984aafbe6a54f26b444cac"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">at least 1 demonstration project is carried out in each region of the Bureau of Land Management.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id1c8f5a39f9984f45ac6b777e0da5d11f"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Proposals</header><text>To be eligible to enter into a partnership under paragraph (1)(A), an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretaries a proposal at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretaries may require.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide33b9e6d6c3e45e49f6fd2ff55e1f53e"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Priority</header><text>In selecting proposals under paragraph (2), the Secretaries shall give priority to entering into partnerships with eligible entities that submit proposals to carry out biochar demonstration projects that—</text><subparagraph id="id6fb7463ae9d145d9bea8713e83b09496"><enum>(A)</enum><text>have the most potential to improve forest health and resiliency;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4c19c97e55b34d56b5bb52f74cbfd0d8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>have the most potential to create new jobs and contribute to local economies, particularly in rural areas;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4ea7cd7021dd4070aa07668a2a2a965b"><enum>(C)</enum><text>have the most potential to demonstrate—</text><clause id="id170fbe35eae44bb59b118530de25df7d"><enum>(i)</enum><text>new and innovative uses of biochar;</text></clause><clause id="id5250181f453b4d33b1ae2d5b639fb23f"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>market viability for cost-effective biochar-based products;</text></clause><clause id="idaeac28827dbe46db935f3f841347f2c0"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the restorative benefits of biochar with respect to forest health and resiliency, including forest soils and watersheds; or</text></clause><clause id="idbadcae33077c4e16866ff47ea29d1a97"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>any combination of the purposes described in clauses (i) through (iii);</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb4bfd54e38bf47aea9deb0275b18a19c"><enum>(D)</enum><text>are located in areas that have a high need for biochar production, as determined by the Secretaries, due to—</text><clause id="id378276bf119a4009b9d27de767cd93fc"><enum>(i)</enum><text>nearby land identified as having high, very high, or extreme risk of wildfire;</text></clause><clause id="id4d875a1697ee4fe595999381035417c5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>availability of sufficient quantities of feedstocks; or</text></clause><clause id="id86cb82e6525b4fb2b7808df3367e6979"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>a high level of demand for biochar or other commercial byproducts of biochar; or</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id20244ec0ca1f4940bfcc33ec5fe4798f"><enum>(E)</enum><text>satisfy any combination of the purposes described in subparagraphs (A) through (D).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id97aeaa9c10ec4e7fa9de4275d9929e64"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Use of funds</header><text>In carrying out the program established under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretaries may enter into partnerships and provide funding to the partnerships to carry out demonstration projects—</text><subparagraph id="id0aacbfecd1e44a628313b84226330d92"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to acquire and test various feedstocks and the efficacy of those feedstocks;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3da7cc8a47294028a0629349602a3386"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to develop and optimize commercially and technologically viable biochar production units, including mobile and permanent units;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2a23686a5684439d96b6cbfd742d161f"><enum>(C)</enum><text>to demonstrate—</text><clause id="ida47c4529e970422b82df6b8d9cc23c40"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the production of biochar from forest residue; and</text></clause><clause id="id1bd0e0019eec4dc9915aae335bb1958e"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the use of biochar to restore forest health and resiliency;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1999fee1f3ac404daba0b4eee2bdb8fd"><enum>(D)</enum><text>to build, expand, or establish biochar facilities;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc5da0573fc684cefb2535f7d93ea064f"><enum>(E)</enum><text>to conduct research relating to new and innovative uses of biochar;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1a1ea14a0f994c708b9371ee9e2036da"><enum>(F)</enum><text>to demonstrate cost-effective market opportunities for biochar and biochar-based products;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id11c97367ac1f43d8b074cbd34a499079"><enum>(G)</enum><text>to carry out any other activities the Secretaries determine to be appropriate; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id55a184d11dce4776adc83c85670dc371"><enum>(H)</enum><text>to achieve any combination of the purposes described in subparagraphs (A) through (G).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id5b864f3af3684d9ca686eb8392cb109f"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Feedstock requirements</header><text>To the maximum extent practicable, an eligible entity that carries out a biochar demonstration project under this subsection shall derive not less than 50 percent of the feedstock used under the project from forest thinning and management activities, including mill residues, conducted on National Forest System land or public land.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id47bfa2fc31ef44c08ecae622c503153c"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Review</header><subparagraph id="idb307594c5f8942bf96d79876df31dcfb"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretaries shall conduct regionally specific research, including economic analyses and lifecycle assessments, relating to any biochar produced from a demonstration project carried out under the program established under paragraph (1)(A), including—</text><clause id="id3cf8688e259f41f0a42a5efb1eaa3884"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the effects of that biochar on—</text><subclause id="idb6557b0aeab74419806eb4cd940ce080"><enum>(I)</enum><text>forest health and resiliency;</text></subclause><subclause id="id67d2bba3620a4c92b06a6fe5eab0e99a"><enum>(II)</enum><text>carbon capture and sequestration, including increasing soil carbon in the short-term and long-term;</text></subclause><subclause id="id065f5539ae054585aa75c25daec8c007"><enum>(III)</enum><text>productivity, reduced input costs, and water retention in agricultural practices;</text></subclause><subclause id="id87dfd3d0230941199cc2836a78f96b24"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>the health of soil and grasslands used for grazing activities, including grazing activities on National Forest System land and public land; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id12b8b950935d4cf4a0c5cdd0be78a2b5"><enum>(V)</enum><text>environmental remediation activities, including abandoned mine land remediation;</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id98cf732c00b348a29f66a6b97e4fb46f"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the effectiveness of biochar as a coproduct of biofuels or in biochemicals; and</text></clause><clause id="id86092915c48548edacac6f0ea864573a"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the effectiveness of other potential uses of biochar to determine if any such use is technologically and commercially viable.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id809d13193cc94ac1ad1dfde032ab5302"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Coordination</header><text>The Secretaries, to the maximum extent practicable, shall provide data, analyses, and other relevant information collected under subparagraph (A) to recipients of grants under subsection (c).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id99abdc4809eb4602884fdafb7bc2d268"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Limitation on funding for establishing biochar facilities</header><text>The amount provided by the Secretaries under this subsection to an eligible entity for establishing a biochar facility may not exceed 35 percent of the total capital cost of establishing that facility.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idabfcd5045a5e48f9801d08998c7c82af"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Biochar research and development grant program</header><paragraph id="id3c6b8bf83aca485396a0bfc91e2516ce"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall establish, or expand an existing, applied biochar research and development grant program to provide to eligible institutions grants, on a competitive basis, to carry out the activities described in paragraph (3).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3848d3134add4fa6881043dbdf602a98"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Applications</header><text>To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an eligible institution shall submit to the Secretary of the Interior a proposal at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary of the Interior may require.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id85f2d24554064610859ef5dd77b17015"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Use of funds</header><text>An eligible institution that receives a grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds to conduct applied research relating to—</text><subparagraph id="id6614118b31494636b15f80f4a4bccfac"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the effect of biochar on forest health and resiliency, taking into account variations in biochar, soil, climate, and other factors;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7d188633094b4080a4e87bd64fac9761"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the effect of biochar on soil health and water retention, taking into account variations in biochar, soil, climate, and other factors;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id437e791dbff0483fa9f27906f518642d"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the long-term carbon sequestration potential of biochar;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0062e9ea550442bcb376675da5623fb3"><enum>(D)</enum><text>best management practices with respect to biochar and biochar-based products that maximize—</text><clause id="idf054fd3385d14ba9bccf5b112c479b52"><enum>(i)</enum><text>carbon sequestration benefits; and</text></clause><clause id="id982d074a119944d287caf53ee6ed1782"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the commercial viability and application of those products in forestry, agriculture, environmental remediation, water quality improvement, and any other similar uses, as determined by the Secretary of the Interior;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb4911d8c96744ac0bb9d3a720d2379c1"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the regional uses of biochar to increase productivity and profitability, including—</text><clause id="ida7368fff44074b20a580ed98e30dcba4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>uses in agriculture and environmental remediation; and</text></clause><clause id="id4e14720d055245ddba432ccaf8724d82"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>use as a coproduct in fuel production;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id37eb399354054fc3949d94ed71cf8e4c"><enum>(F)</enum><text>new and innovative uses for biochar byproducts; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idda769bd238e6418190bbe2a8f431f217"><enum>(G)</enum><text>opportunities to expand markets for biochar and create related jobs, particularly in rural areas.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1b0d11eb68f5412f85b6f04fc08b7969"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Reports</header><paragraph id="idcbdcf8666e4c455bb3b909fad7cdc169"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Report to Congress</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall submit to Congress a report that—</text><subparagraph id="id50aab37243a6437dbcc4faf049083055"><enum>(A)</enum><text>includes policy and program recommendations to improve the widespread use of biochar;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb4d068f5482b436b8a1724616b8613f5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>identifies any area of research needed to advance biochar commercialization; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd1046129ac3b42bfbefc71a313bb0130"><enum>(C)</enum><text>identifies barriers to advancing biochar commercialization, including permitting and siting considerations.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idba4d7441104e4654bbb73bf4c5751f7b"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Materials submitted in support of President’s budget</header><text>Beginning with the second fiscal year that begins after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until the date described in subsection (e), the Secretaries shall include in the materials submitted to Congress in support of the President’s budget pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, a report describing, for the fiscal year covered by the report, the status of—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8914d179c3454707babd5e750e77d1da"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">each demonstration project carried out under subsection (b); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf9216ebb9941440580065514b962af62"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">each research and development grant provided under subsection (c).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id964658dac3e6430396bf90378335908b"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The authority to carry out this section terminates on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section id="id70e7ba02259f4475a67ce326f70b0ae7"><enum>302.</enum><header>Accurate hazardous fuels reduction reports</header><subsection id="id2f864bf186df4d70979c19855faea795"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="id97e36c0151e447cd9c0b2a9c9956c4fb"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Federal land</header><text>The term <term>Federal land</term> means any land under the jurisdiction of—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8426f84922ff4fd3ac7e333d32873be8"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Secretary; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3f8377d5a1ec4ddf881f09689197479c"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Secretary of the Interior.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id21d7db54b828448f82c31d6317100e1b"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Hazardous fuels reduction activity</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idff146de73c98401c8bd484ef0c89cfa6"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>The term <term>hazardous fuels reduction activity</term> means any vegetation management activity to reduce the risk of wildfire, including mechanical treatments, grazing, and prescribed burning.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id391f3990a235482fbd76fa94eb0f5b2f"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Exclusion</header><text>The term <term>hazardous fuels reduction activity</term> does not include the provision or execution of a contract to carry out an activity described in subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ide02d6f4c8f82476c8946cf07f78c128e"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Materials submitted in support of President’s budget</header><paragraph id="idee72214cb4cf48bf9376a2c9a3e3bc14"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Beginning with the first fiscal year that begins after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary concerned shall include in the materials submitted to Congress in support of the President’s budget pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, a report describing the number of acres of Federal land on which the Secretary concerned carried out hazardous fuels reduction activities during the preceding fiscal year, as determined using—</text><subparagraph id="idac15bd9fe39e4aeab200d07de955c874"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the methodology of the Secretary concerned in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0c844b1f328f431fba6dc2085e3da652"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the methodology described in paragraph (2).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9b97e6b5af034afbae1eefe09b6ab8ad"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>For purposes of a report required under paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall—</text><subparagraph id="id421a4676296b462ab15d16de60ff4176"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in determining the number of acres of Federal land on which the Secretary concerned carried out hazardous fuels reduction activities during the period covered by the report—</text><clause id="idf22fda0f03f143f394c26f2378b0681a"><enum>(i)</enum><text>record acres of Federal land on which hazardous fuels reduction activities were completed during that period; and</text></clause><clause id="idfbf0f5e874bd432689f1ca309aff5a00"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>record each acre described in clause (i) once in the report, regardless of whether multiple hazardous fuels reduction activities were carried out on that acre during the applicable period; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2aa9ae8378d5402ea69b3cf3f09de795"><enum>(B)</enum><text>with respect to the acres of Federal land recorded in the report, include information relating to—</text><clause id="id1f456d9ed9af49f184f21d4c39ac00bc"><enum>(i)</enum><text>which acres are located in the wildland-urban interface;</text></clause><clause id="id11ad044073884c64a0705e6937b18e1f"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the level of wildfire risk (high, moderate, or low) of the acres on the first and last day of the period covered by the report;</text></clause><clause id="id5320672cca9849baa76f70e50b59a27a"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the types of hazardous fuels reduction activities completed with respect to the acres, including a description of whether those hazardous fuels reduction activities were conducted—</text><subclause id="id0adf62554f564204955f47f79f31df6e"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in a wildfire managed for resource benefits; or</text></subclause><subclause id="id356ab7c9c20e4dabaa3b12afa181bf11"><enum>(II)</enum><text>through a planned hazardous fuels reduction project;</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id67de5b110167458aa2ab9185350ebf23"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the cost per-acre of the hazardous fuels reduction activities carried out during the period covered by the report;</text></clause><clause id="id6fdaaf40c635413a815f6e5d7b013efe"><enum>(v)</enum><text>the region or System unit in which the acres are located; and</text></clause><clause id="idd5fec5f1fc0749da93646da5eb1bf5d0"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>the effectiveness of the hazardous fuels reduction activities with respect to reducing the risk of wildfire.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id8adfd40b201b47c58ea0b915644392c4"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Transparency</header><text>The Secretary concerned shall make each report submitted under paragraph (1) publicly available on the website of the Department of Agriculture or the Department of the Interior, as applicable.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id12a86768a45d4a9e8ed8c15fd423f069"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Accurate data collection</header><paragraph id="id2781d910322249eda8be8c24440916a8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall implement standardized procedures for tracking data relating to hazardous fuels reduction activities carried out by the Secretary concerned.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide1edcab7dc214dc39bf2a31ecd2ee0e1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Elements</header><text>The standardized procedures required under paragraph (1) shall include—</text><subparagraph id="id5dcbf4a80ecc403b888b2905a5f01de3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>regular, standardized data reviews of the accuracy and timely input of data used to track hazardous fuels reduction activities;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="iddaf5855fa94c4423a2119be6301718c3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>verification methods that validate whether those data accurately correlate to the hazardous fuels reduction activities carried out by the Secretary concerned;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id04c604325924413a8d484314c5c01897"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an analysis of the short- and long-term effectiveness of the hazardous fuels reduction activities on reducing the risk of wildfire; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb1b0d6d3a8144d7491fd361f6258726a"><enum>(D)</enum><text>for hazardous fuels reduction activities that occur partially within the wildland-urban interface, methods to distinguish which acres are located within the wildland-urban interface and which acres are located outside the wildland-urban interface.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id8a4ab3383883403bbfadeeb59c437aec"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 14 days after implementing the standardized procedures required under paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall submit to Congress a report that describes—</text><subparagraph id="id4b6e903518934e7fb39f6eb06ac37877"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the standardized procedures; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6ead6756fef3479486bf82dd044aa89d"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any programmatic or policy recommendations to Congress to address limitations in tracking data relating to hazardous fuels reduction activities under this subsection.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4076711a53ad42ca87d083601acaf3db"><enum>(d)</enum><header>GAO study</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall—</text><paragraph id="id2d68a4bc80f04ed1908b323010949391"><enum>(1)</enum><text>conduct a study regarding the implementation of this section, including any limitations with respect to—</text><subparagraph id="idb549c80b5e2b400795ec197c3d5edee5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>reporting hazardous fuels reduction activities under subsection (b); or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idaf42f10d6d4a470c9f6029fa4c58d63c"><enum>(B)</enum><text>tracking data relating to hazardous fuels reduction activities under subsection (c); and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3d84edc6002b4d9a8e0f67b9c7f5bf54"><enum>(2)</enum><text>submit to Congress a report that describes the results of the study under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id503ed6ce8df14aad9ec9777ee2732a38"><enum>(e)</enum><header>No additional funds authorized</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb3a783ba4b6e4eadac176d4aae5235a9"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>No additional funds are authorized to carry out this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2d48c0b653094a9c817860063658cf2d"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Subject to appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The activities authorized by this section are subject to the availability of appropriations made in advance for those purposes.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idd4f38ffee96643b3abb7a22de556fcb7"><enum>303.</enum><header>Public-private wildfire technology deployment and demonstration partnership</header><subsection id="id9eccf919ec4b4d0283d2de4bfef2087f"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="id421783b2c15845bb8b93d28dbda12d49"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Covered agency</header><text>The term <term>covered agency</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="id57676db7f34a4b61995f615ca8173fd8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>each Federal land management agency (as defined in section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6801">16 U.S.C. 6801</external-xref>));</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id021e3545322541878fb50e05a0120c40"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Department of Defense;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5ff134aa16bb459ab24abec03602c93a"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the Bureau of Indian Affairs;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id122ad996bc8f41f5a2b5b58ab243afb6"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0d18764a55a34acc85507abf0581c9b9"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the Federal Emergency Management Agency;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id472c4201d0274b69905d6cc4cccf1135"><enum>(F)</enum><text>the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id366665694109492b821f9e4f63c2d173"><enum>(G)</enum><text>the United States Fire Administration;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf2640655c1fa4dea8aad1ae4455276fd"><enum>(H)</enum><text>a State, Tribal, county, or municipal fire department or district operating through the United States Fire Administration or pursuant to an agreement with a Federal agency; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4875f81263db480e9d11eb7273fefe70"><enum>(I)</enum><text>any other Federal agency involved in wildfire response.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id4b16b9c208af482d976c31a0f58b6a28"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Covered entity</header><text>The term <term>covered entity</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="id1d9bafbf71ee4f10a15dca9a1dac0f21"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a private entity;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6cf89ac347eb4b8f8aa4b4a023e5d368"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a nonprofit organization; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd5446baf5bce4041b94b97c6c236494e"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1001">20 U.S.C. 1001</external-xref>)).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idaad5fe1d8eb147e2a42b2caeb6d3b725"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Pilot program</header><text>The term <term>Pilot Program</term> means the deployment and demonstration pilot program established under subsection (b). </text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4c611b7f8fb14256bc39bc3de9cd4296"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Secretaries</header><text>The term <term>Secretaries</term> means the Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior, acting jointly.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id381be6494c0f43f888bb22ec91810230"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries, in coordination with the heads of the covered agencies, shall establish a deployment and demonstration pilot program for new and innovative wildfire prevention, detection, communication, and mitigation technologies.</text></subsection><subsection id="ide2129512b31f41db870e227418d9e888"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Functions</header><text>In carrying out the Pilot Program, the Secretaries shall—</text><paragraph id="id8c0754f16b4746f2855e96e4505e6a37"><enum>(1)</enum><text>incorporate the Pilot Program into the National Wildfire Coordinating Group;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7463f68394a24705b73ea5098851843b"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in consultation with the heads of the covered agencies, identify and advance the demonstration and deployment of key technology priority areas with respect to the deployment of wildfire prevention, detection, communication, and mitigation technologies, including—</text><subparagraph id="idd860b1dee6bb4ea6aa9442e18eedee12"><enum>(A)</enum><text>hazardous fuels reduction activities or treatments;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id04dc7fd828614ab8b1dbd21b76f1cd75"><enum>(B)</enum><text>dispatch communications;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2c0870dfc07f4e718c4b4aa483e441ae"><enum>(C)</enum><text>remote sensing, detection, and tracking;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf65971f1c64e49729b5536182b13ed51"><enum>(D)</enum><text>safety equipment;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfbff22cb2b9a49818b00be5b4ccf16fe"><enum>(E)</enum><text>common operating pictures or operational dashboards; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf0e3e579568a4a8c81a618b89865b5e6"><enum>(F)</enum><text>interoperable commercial data; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3c1b72eee03e4ea6b0839a6f33190a9d"><enum>(3)</enum><text>connect each covered entity selected to participate in the Pilot Program with the appropriate covered agency to coordinate real-time and on-the-ground testing of technology during wildfire mitigation activities and training.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida635d96d4f37497fa459c16947b5f8dd"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Applications</header><text>To be eligible to participate in the Pilot Program, a covered entity shall submit to the Secretaries an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretaries may require, including a proposal to demonstrate technologies specific to key technology priority areas identified under subsection (c)(2).</text></subsection><subsection id="id8d3d631f9f9d4d4188fde3020008219c"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Prioritization of emerging technologies</header><text>In selecting covered entities to participate in the Pilot Program, the Secretaries shall give priority to covered entities that—</text><paragraph id="id37623a3e8569465abf4ed0cd86876de9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>have participated in the Fire Weather Testbed of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; or</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8c090883e9544492bc342464b2a5fda0"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">propose in the application under subsection (d) to develop and apply emerging technologies for wildfire mitigation, including artificial intelligence, quantum sensing, computing and quantum-hybrid applications, satellite detection, augmented reality, 5G private networks, and device-to-device communications supporting nomadic mesh networks and detection.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idcf5d87e497c6477f80c6733099b6d5c8"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Outreach</header><text>The Secretaries, in coordination with the heads of the covered agencies, shall make publicly available the key technology priority areas identified under subsection (c)(2) and invite covered entities to apply under subsection (d) to deploy and demonstrate technologies to address those priority areas.</text></subsection><subsection id="id3191e326471d4fb491bdbb6cfcec5334"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Reports and recommendations</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the duration of the Pilot Program, the Secretaries shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, and the relevant committees of Congress a report that includes the following with respect to the Pilot Program:</text><paragraph id="id07bdc47121c54284931bf1f46a89cf5f"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A list of participating covered entities.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2807104018eb4371a8a125e1ed781bb8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>A brief description of the technologies deployed and demonstrated by each such covered entity.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id83c21b60d496466890d5e94efba0b49a"><enum>(3)</enum><text>An estimate of the cost of acquiring the each such technology and applying the technology at scale.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idfcc90c53e7dc4c82b68b5db23a020da5"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Outreach efforts by covered agencies to covered entities developing wildfire technologies.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ida485483efddd4e26b3695ed3ec260c55"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Assessments of, and recommendations relating to, new technologies with potential adoption and application at-scale in the wildfire prevention, detection, communication, and mitigation efforts of Federal land management agencies (as defined in section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6801">16 U.S.C. 6801</external-xref>)).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd0f1e2f08d6145e9acf89e9c06e0937a"><enum>(6)</enum><text>A description of the relationship and coordination between the Pilot Program and the activities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including the Fire Weather Testbed.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idca43b67e647b4f2a90b56aac7fd8696e"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The Pilot Program terminates on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section id="id54b22991843448e98ac85663154fbe56"><enum>304.</enum><header>GAO study on Forest Service policies</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall—</text><paragraph id="ide3288dbd822644499f01845e97e80d2d"><enum>(1)</enum><text>conduct a study evaluating—</text><subparagraph id="id6acd122243d7475ea86c5c9aac7d943a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the effectiveness of Forest Service wildland firefighting operations;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id92f5a76b5ab7419897acdab54b98f979"><enum>(B)</enum><text>transparency and accountability measures in the budget and accounting process of the Forest Service; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id30093725e7144f36a8351d1178f40b00"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the suitability and feasibility of establishing a new Federal agency with responsibility for responding to, and suppressing, wildfires on Federal land; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id234f3aa3f84b4812a21060df07eba9a9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>submit to Congress a report that describes the results of the study under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></section><section id="id89897e4298f54435861a900e758e071c"><enum>305.</enum><header>Keeping forest plans current and monitored</header><subsection id="idc84cd24f1b4649c6bf870cad4b12be88"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall—</text><paragraph id="idad2088b0e096455395745ee0ab04ece1"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to the maximum extent practicable and subject to the availability of appropriations—</text><subparagraph id="idbc68899921774b61b4787ca3a7ff61aa"><enum>(A)</enum><text>ensure that each forest plan for a unit of the National Forest System is in compliance with the applicable requirements of section 6(f)(5)(A) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1604">16 U.S.C. 1604(f)(5)(A)</external-xref>); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide54587c5d6c0434ba330422bdb93d106"><enum>(B)</enum><text>prioritize revising any forest plan not in compliance with that section;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id5e6499c6c4a64dddbe0f32a7c3c6481c"><enum>(2)</enum><text>not be considered to be in violation of section 6(f)(5)(A) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1604">16 U.S.C. 1604(f)(5)(A)</external-xref>) solely because more than 15 years have passed without revision of the plan for a unit of the National Forest System;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id71a930162157459384ff70b7840e5f79"><enum>(3)</enum><text>not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, submit to the relevant committees of Congress a notice describing the date on which each forest plan referred to in paragraph (1)(A) was most recently revised, amended, or modified;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4012a3f6b60c4422a259b0090605c5d8"><enum>(4)</enum><text>seek to publish a new, complete version of any forest plan that the Secretary has been directed by court order to amend, revise, or modify by not later than 60 days after the date of the amendment, revision, or modification, subject to the availability of appropriations made in advance for that purpose; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc7ae2be2e5834b3eb2f290f28a16bfa3"><enum>(5)</enum><text>maintain a central, publicly accessible website with links to—</text><subparagraph id="idcc6c1e6a4cf542d9ae40faf9c0d88bf9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the most recently available forest plan adopted, amended, or modified by a court order as a single document; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb0160923d6714064ae2c341196bfbd16"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the most recently published forest plan monitoring report for the unit.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id67f50d0ed3b5486ba89316667d908c43"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Good faith updates</header><text>If the Secretary fails to act expeditiously and in good faith using available funding to revise, amend, or modify a plan for a unit of the National Forest System as required by an applicable law or court order—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida33f9cc617e44a76b75c29b3630aa311"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">subsection (a) shall be void with respect to the plan; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7e38f6de88cb45f2a22d821ee8e0ec23"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a court of competent jurisdiction may order completion of the plan on an accelerated basis.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id06daa6a5d7fc4b6190acc0d92be3ab70"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress a report summarizing the implementation of this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="id0d04ea576b8e4f8ebe73db32cb779273"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The authority under this section terminates on September 30, 2031.</text></subsection></section><section id="id6fbebfd33e684c6b9215791183bdf4d9"><enum>306.</enum><header>Container Aerial Firefighting System</header><subsection id="id5c5540e555fa4d2d806662c874ac6a38"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Evaluation</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the National Interagency Aviation Committee and the Interagency Airtanker Board, shall jointly conduct an evaluation of the container aerial firefighting system to assess the use of that system to mitigate and suppress wildfires.</text></subsection><subsection id="id12c63b09750240a390ba6f078918468b"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the National Interagency Aviation Committee and the Interagency Airtanker Board, shall jointly submit to the relevant committees of Congress a report that describes the results of the evaluation under subsection (a).</text></subsection></section><section id="id6bc3b6158757474b8f6d29a06711083e"><enum>307.</enum><header>Study on pine beetle infestation</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall—</text><paragraph id="id513d27e4495f426fba9b4cddc31de5f9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>carry out a study relating to the causes and effects of, and solutions for, the infestation of pine beetles in the Northeastern region of the United States; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idfa348f5739ba416aa2181f545c7d5058"><enum>(2)</enum><text>submit to the relevant committees of Congress a report that describes the results of the study under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></section></subtitle><subtitle id="id201124d755714a7e97d4c90773b03dc4"><enum>B</enum><header>White oak resilience</header><section id="id26d8b10ff5714862bc5ab41940c7a895"><enum>311.</enum><header>White Oak Restoration Initiative Coalition</header><subsection id="idd08282d7ae32447098d5a6610e719cb8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>There is established a coalition, to be known as the <quote>White Oak Restoration Initiative Coalition</quote> (referred to in this section as the <term>Coalition</term>)—</text><paragraph id="ida70a9a9e1bda4af7bef9f3141079cd3e"><enum>(1)</enum><text>as a voluntary collaborative group of Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments and private and nongovernmental organizations the purpose of which is to carry out the duties described in subsection (b); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id354dee63a0894cb99812780e9ddc5e4b"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in accordance with the charter entitled <quote>White Oak Initiative Coalition Charter</quote> adopted by the White Oak Initiative Board of Directors on March 21, 2023 (or a successor charter).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id21954929619d4491bfa7b5a26154c71e"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>In addition to the duties specified in the charter referred to in subsection (a)(2), the duties of the Coalition are—</text><paragraph id="id27a17ef9d5f1438abf35a1a81aa59d45"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to coordinate Federal, State, Tribal, local, private, and nongovernmental activities for the restoration of white oak trees in the United States; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc8070d738d8b42398ee3085d36ed0b66"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to make program and policy recommendations, consistent with applicable forest management plans, with respect to—</text><subparagraph id="id7c5148aa8c5848729da970a9736a3ff9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>changes necessary to address Federal and State policies that impede activities to improve the health, resiliency, and natural regeneration of white oak trees;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd8d256abe240495a8a8e1991666f3c59"><enum>(B)</enum><text>adopting or modifying Federal and State policies to increase the pace and scale of white oak regeneration and the resiliency of white oak trees;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id57e5bb628ade4bc4a66b99b5bdb4f76c"><enum>(C)</enum><text>options to enhance communication, coordination, and collaboration among forest land owners, particularly with respect to cross-boundary projects, to improve the health, resiliency, and natural regeneration of white oak trees;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id036c024de8294da184004f195b2c88f4"><enum>(D)</enum><text>research gaps that should be addressed to improve the best available science on white oaks;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7f57ea265ea4487db25b8b324df470bf"><enum>(E)</enum><text>outreach to forest landowners the land of which possesses white oak trees or white oak regeneration potential, as determined by the Coalition; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc6b1baec760d432e9d10ba461aff6171"><enum>(F)</enum><text>options and policies necessary to improve the quality and quantity of white oak trees in tree nurseries.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ide3e7f6b2002e4c8782cc09ffa54fcebf"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Administrative, staffing, and technical support</header><text>The Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior shall make available to the Coalition such personnel for administrative support, technical services, and the development and dissemination of educational materials as those Secretaries determine to be necessary to carry out this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="idce8d0a5db30b4f6ba95c3ba0aebd4c9d"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Private funding</header><text>Subject to the availability of appropriations made in advance for that purpose, the Secretary may make funds available to the Coalition to carry out this section from the account established pursuant to section 1241(f) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3841">16 U.S.C. 3841(f)</external-xref>).</text></subsection></section><section id="idcf9d608abb914d81a6757c32f996079b"><enum>312.</enum><header>Forest Service pilot program</header><subsection id="idd4203371f69e4b0fa2a9ee4204f65ba0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall establish and carry out 5 pilot projects in units of the National Forest System to restore white oak trees in those units through white oak restoration and natural regeneration practices that are consistent with applicable forest management plans.</text></subsection><subsection id="id47492b8ab50842c48371fc7be5b6e4e6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>Of the pilot projects carried out under subsection (a), not fewer than 3 shall be carried out on units of the National Forest System that are reserved or withdrawn from the public domain.</text></subsection><subsection id="id57d993d7205c47edb3433cc68aa146ed"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Cooperative agreements</header><text>The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements to carry out the pilot projects under this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="ida77b626e113b48b7ab1c934dc9206492"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The authority under this section terminates on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section id="id34f7a45b8c9f433fbd1717809e3ac415"><enum>313.</enum><header>Department of the Interior white oak review and restoration</header><subsection id="id85218a4dd27d45e68553c9bd0fe0ffce"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Assessment</header><paragraph id="id7be934746c8143d894cbc48fc1bb2596"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of the Interior shall carry out an assessment of land under the administrative jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior, including fish and wildlife refuges and abandoned mine land, to evaluate—</text><subparagraph id="ide0cc42b03f83443cb5ca9e12911def63"><enum>(A)</enum><text>whether white oak trees are present on the land; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id55dcbc2de52049b0a06c982a167d4e89"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the potential to restore white oak forests on the land.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id856c3844276d4ffa88c03b434bf2af29"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Use of information</header><text>In carrying out the assessment under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Interior may use information from sources other than the Department of the Interior, including the White Oak Initiative and the Forest Service.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id591eff2252f14798ad27074a7464fef6"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to 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 this subsection.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id393dda61e52f4bec8a54dc92ae3ed31a"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Pilot projects</header><text>After the date of submission of the report under subsection (a)(3), the Secretary of the Interior shall establish and carry out 5 pilot projects in different areas of land described in subsection (a)(1) to restore and naturally regenerate white oak trees.</text></subsection><subsection id="idc422876727d744bab94c2d4cd57e26df"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Cooperative agreements</header><text>The Secretary of the Interior may enter into cooperative agreements to carry out the pilot projects under subsection (b).</text></subsection><subsection id="id7d01f54d6fa847d0946843b0f97433d8"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The authority under this section terminates on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section id="idf66e6d847fa04ea68b019aab96157e42"><enum>314.</enum><header>White oak regeneration and upland oak habitat</header><subsection id="id89f1f4ee814b4cd8887dfc0e43ba1ab8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a nonregulatory program, to be known as the <quote>White Oak and Upland Oak Habitat Regeneration Program</quote> (referred to in this section as the <term>Program</term>).</text></subsection><subsection id="idcca78f3869bd4234b69add39636bf96e"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Purposes</header><text>The purposes of the Program shall include—</text><paragraph id="id35c6939ec90d4a2f9a84efcef4e288e4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>coordinating restoration and conservation activities among Federal, State, local, and Tribal entities and conservation partners to address white oak restoration priorities;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id80805d3a06f448e2941cde652c2ee729"><enum>(2)</enum><text>improving and regenerating white oak and upland oak forests and the wildlife habitat such forests provide;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd11ec2d2e8c54a5b9ebfd413b4e1eadc"><enum>(3)</enum><text>carrying out coordinated restoration and conservation activities that lead to the increased growth of species of white oak in native white oak regions on Federal, State, Tribal, and private land;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ida4d7ecbccad04a4fba28df30f02c53a6"><enum>(4)</enum><text>facilitating strategic planning to maximize the resilience of white oak systems and habitats under changing climate conditions;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0e4f5515b4104feb91d54c9586d71c3f"><enum>(5)</enum><text>engaging the public through outreach, education, and citizen involvement to increase capacity and support for coordinated restoration and conservation activities for species of white oak; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idae5e49fb18fb4274b2463fb5032d96d5"><enum>(6)</enum><text>increasing scientific capacity to support the planning, monitoring, and research activities necessary to carry out such coordinated restoration and conservation activities.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idd9a70d38d5c24f61b0c909f64219bc39"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>In establishing the Program, the Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall consult with—</text><paragraph id="idfd4e1c7d8a0c4f2fa8cc29ef6c976fae"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the heads of Federal agencies, including—</text><subparagraph id="id9f62b1ca7c97410bbfc6dba68b091d0b"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide87cc275a25244b7b2e928f09e659c1d"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id97fb70b92a40428dae8567fffa09f35e"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Governor of each State in which restoration efforts will be carried out pursuant to the Program.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idfa5cd0fabeda439b8b4a40b6a533ce70"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>In carrying out the Program, the Secretary shall—</text><paragraph id="id903f39600e4b4e148c8e5deb4d84b55c"><enum>(1)</enum><text>draw on the best available science and management plans for species of white oak to identify, prioritize, and implement restoration and conservation activities that will improve the growth of white oak trees in the United States;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1329220b6e294762ad02a6b091a76e89"><enum>(2)</enum><text>collaborate and coordinate with the White Oak Restoration Initiative Coalition established by section 311(a) to prioritize white oak restoration initiatives;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id38d3ce2b55424730a1e161a4cd769ca6"><enum>(3)</enum><text>adopt a white oak restoration strategy that—</text><subparagraph id="id7eeaafaca7894526a6c7ffd421c2e336"><enum>(A)</enum><text>supports the implementation of a shared set of science-based restoration and conservation activities developed in accordance with paragraph (1);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd258d3fff03e4018af0e4d0818181d18"><enum>(B)</enum><text>targets cost-effective projects with measurable results; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id913f1b54e17b42eab3aec71078d4cb8e"><enum>(C)</enum><text>maximizes restoration outcomes with no net gain of Federal full-time equivalent employees; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id5adc830793f54bc88bd4d580a1d6e8e5"><enum>(4)</enum><text>establish voluntary grant and technical assistance programs in accordance with subsection (e).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idfcbe478b69cc4d3b9f5e091e41992927"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Grants and assistance</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id71af32bed243434cb655e940539afc19"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitions</header><text>In this subsection:</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd2660cc12cfd48cb80f1648b6d2cb41b"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Foundation</header><text>The term <term>Foundation</term> means the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5355420906cb433ab8ca3f7963094c93"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Grant program</header><text>The term <term>grant program</term> means the voluntary grant and technical assistance program established under paragraph (2).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id757f341ca10240969b40cddec6d56dad"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>To the extent that funds are available to carry out this section, the Secretary shall establish a voluntary grant and technical assistance program to achieve the purposes of the Program described in subsection (b).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id37fa9292e5494021abdec85ff3866902"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Administration</header><subparagraph id="id646142f7d6414c1e9335c32ed8d2447e"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall offer to enter into a cooperative agreement with the Foundation to manage and administer the grant program.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5be55645b09f4dfd96a3bbe7cb9a6b5c"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Funding</header><text>Subject to the availability of appropriations made in advance for that purpose, on entering into a cooperative agreement with the Foundation under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall pay to the Foundation to carry out this subsection for each fiscal year an advance payment of the entire amount for the applicable fiscal year—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide743b182c26143bd96722d501930357f"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">on October 1 of that fiscal year; or</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="iddc0a31f0efd74583b1c5befaf189c8bb"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">as soon as practicable thereafter.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id81b8dd26f767472d97ec6476a5561bd8"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Application of National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act</header><text>Amounts received by the Foundation to carry out the grant program shall be subject to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3701">16 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.</external-xref>), excluding section 10(a) of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3709">16 U.S.C. 3709(a)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idf884b7e902954406a90d6318a8d4b563"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The authority under this section terminates on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section id="id61cb20b442d44fe68779d99ad0ebfae8"><enum>315.</enum><header>Tree nursery shortages</header><subsection id="id75283719e39748cd8d33f095d4e55d8e"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall—</text><paragraph id="idfd3004aee2d34e90903d48e05595c5e3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>develop and implement a national strategy to increase the capacity of Federal, State, Tribal, and private tree nurseries to address the nationwide shortage of tree seedlings; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id05e119210bb64fedb414f529a88c414c"><enum>(2)</enum><text>coordinate the strategy under paragraph (1) with—</text><subparagraph id="idd95f9cceb31e49e09a8baa8407c3cd64"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the national reforestation strategy of the Forest Service; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idcbd5985661d64223b59fd64b3571924e"><enum>(B)</enum><text>each regional implementation plan for National Forests.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idfa50de1177354f39b9fe92fa256ea6e0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Elements</header><text>The strategy required under subsection (a) shall—</text><paragraph id="id918d73068f744d2fb2a904fc8e13f8c2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>be based on the best available science and data; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id21c2455516e04c668ef6183a11a2c5c5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>identify and address—</text><subparagraph id="idcf4f45ea25d6432881590296d2f5b411"><enum>(A)</enum><text>regional seedling shortages of bareroot and container tree seedlings;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9839ed19ca2d476c9fe2b877fa8175b7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>regional reforestation opportunities and the seedling supply necessary to fulfill those opportunities;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idff0df1a5ec364beba76051ecb0fb052e"><enum>(C)</enum><text>opportunities to enhance seedling diversity and close gaps in seed inventories; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0e3c0031225b4811b9e7ad202917d209"><enum>(D)</enum><text>barriers to expanding, enhancing, or creating new infrastructure to increase nursery capacity.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idde0eade4628243569266f868e7522218"><enum>316.</enum><header>White oak research</header><subsection id="id40e50e5e4faf4099b0e58b9fa9fe4dab"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition of eligible institution</header><text>In this section, the term <term>eligible institution</term> means an institution of higher education, including an 1862 Institution, an 1890 Institution, and a 1994 Institution (as those terms are defined in section 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/7601">7 U.S.C. 7601</external-xref>)).</text></subsection><subsection id="id6ebab2e9a82b4a14a58030981a690715"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Research</header><text>The Secretary may enter into a memorandum of understanding with an Indian Tribe or an eligible institution to collaboratively conduct research relating to—</text><paragraph id="id77aedb6586a0440b84bea3ad8f82830f"><enum>(1)</enum><text>white oak genes with resistance or tolerance to stress;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8535faf410954a62b3403a757714ea09"><enum>(2)</enum><text>white oak trees that exhibit vigor for the purpose of increasing survival and growth;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5a1735ea90574c98b4d9cf55b81ab2ec"><enum>(3)</enum><text>establishing a genetically diverse white oak seed bank capable of responding to stressors;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc4578bfd37e148cd9e34d833c6976d14"><enum>(4)</enum><text>providing a sustainable supply of white oak seedlings and genetic resources;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf93c61cb97314ff2b1b12deba6d0e2b7"><enum>(5)</enum><text>improved methods for aligning seed sources with the future climate at planting sites;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd56bf2dae84a4a07981e1212afc36848"><enum>(6)</enum><text>reforestation of white oak trees through natural and artificial regeneration;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id09b2162d1fca431eaa0f579404e122a9"><enum>(7)</enum><text>improved methods for retaining and increasing white oak trees in forests;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id75b6ec6f11604d39947ffbb8d0a0981f"><enum>(8)</enum><text>improved methods for reforesting abandoned mine land sites; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id87fe7dd65d964d9f8b0dafe35ef9a706"><enum>(9)</enum><text>economic and social aspects of white oak forest management across land ownerships.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida367b4e5d27943f9833ad46898b28f90"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>In carrying out research under subsection (b), an Indian Tribe or eligible institution may consult with such States, nonprofit organizations, and other institutions of higher education and scientific entities as the Indian Tribe or eligible institution determines to be appropriate.</text></subsection><subsection id="idb0f14f8081c841bfa7a98e20b520252d"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The authority under this section terminates on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section id="id90e873c8e05d4503a82935aafd11dafa"><enum>317.</enum><header>USDA formal initiative</header><subsection id="id6f8d3c54a96a4fcc9aa723a84d408eb8"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service and in coordination with the Chief of the Forest Service, shall establish a formal initiative on white oak trees—</text><paragraph id="id67a26d69a2024f13b866c169d186e0b4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to reestablish white oak forests where appropriate;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id082da2e5021547a290cae5407bd344a2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to improve the management of existing white oak forests to foster natural regeneration of white oak trees;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ida61f085859cb4d8fa078a661e0e41ca4"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to provide technical assistance to private landowners to reestablish, improve the management of, and naturally regenerate white oak trees;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id32880fdf16a840feb3271a0cd73b1f17"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to improve and expand white oak nursery stock; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id18694ce9f0ed48fba24bf8d1563012f3"><enum>(5)</enum><text>to adapt and improve white oak seedlings.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idf96697b1fb904cafb6b3c503ff4d730f"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The authority under this section terminates on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section id="idc551ad7770d840489fb79fa5766ffad7"><enum>318.</enum><header>Use of authorities</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior shall use the authorities provided under this title in combination with other authorities to carry out projects, including—</text><paragraph id="id667b72265eba48fa879739665e61eca6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>good neighbor agreements entered into under section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/2113a">16 U.S.C. 2113a</external-xref>) (as amended by this Act); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idaf8f7a82e3d54d45ad49ee87cb8b75d6" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text>stewardship contracting projects entered into under section 604 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591c">16 U.S.C. 6591c</external-xref>) (as amended by this Act).</text></paragraph></section></subtitle><enum>IV</enum><header>Ensuring casualty assistance for firefighters</header><section id="HACCF716197E349539D3C782ED2B0B66F"><enum>401.</enum><header>Wildland Fire Management Casualty Assistance Program</header><subsection commented="no" id="HB8555EA972794B8F9147F7E00BE8372A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc8bb30e1829643c7a5632102c6b4b08e"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Next-of-kin</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>next-of-kin</term>, with respect to an individual, means a person in the highest category of priority in relation to that individual, as determined in accordance with the following (in descending order of priority):</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="H12B4D9400BCF497580AB2500D96E749E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>A legal spouse of the individual.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H1E5C7129C2534064A33DD123577B31D9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>A child (whether by current or prior marriage) aged 18 years or older of the individual, in descending order of precedence by age.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H185957C6F237460D87A205CF96033252"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The father or mother of the individual, unless custody has been vested by court order in another individual, with an adoptive parent taking precedence over a natural parent.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HA850E685DE8A41C9A9A5D4FAB91D3BF1"><enum>(D)</enum><text>A sibling (whether whole or half) aged 18 years or older of the individual, in descending order of precedence by age.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H9128AB1DE21D467E990946E3972279F7"><enum>(E)</enum><text>A grandfather or grandmother of the individual.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4EDE48F585454BE6BF48AD8CDE263650" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(F)</enum><text>Any other relative of the individual, with the order of precedence to be determined in accordance with the civil laws of descent of the State of domicile of the individual at time of death.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9353a5a6c0774e96b7d8d8a5e292c115"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Program</header><text>The term <term>program</term> means the Wildland Fire Management Casualty Assistance Program established under subsection (b).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H3E5D75E8F8794F39B5A6C50DC256B3B0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall establish a program, to be known as the <quote>Wildland Fire Management Casualty Assistance Program</quote>, to provide assistance to the next-of-kin of—</text><paragraph commented="no" id="H6BF7F942320C4E0495B9BA60CA10BF60"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">firefighters who, while in the line of duty—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd8bbb6fd06194229a2710b1e6304c367"><enum>(A)</enum><text>are killed;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id15d57f45c43143a3ad4f01736e4ab325"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">are critically injured; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida04da1cbea5d4b2f953686102562b707"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">suffer illness as a result of an exposure or incident occurring during that line of duty; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HD5BD467C5A7E407E9DA2228CC64121CE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>wildland fire support personnel who are killed or critically injured in the line of duty.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H72942F756B5244ADB962091B7C6C4256"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Elements</header><text>The program shall address each of the following:</text><paragraph id="H4E9D6DDB0968458E98E03DC294EDA4A8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The initial, and any subsequent, notification to the next-of-kin of firefighters or wildland fire support personnel who—</text><subparagraph id="H2DF67CD5E3C74EDF8D7202C51F987204"><enum>(A)</enum><text>are killed in the line of duty; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEA5B4D09F0754C309B7E8CF8646902FD"><enum>(B)</enum><text>require hospitalization or treatment at a medical facility due to a line-of-duty injury or illness.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H67DE5CD57F594CAD9B9945DCD3CF5E71"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The reimbursement of next-of-kin for expenses associated with travel to visit firefighters or wildland fire support personnel who—</text><subparagraph id="H5A5AD475ABD44138B226746BC47D0375"><enum>(A)</enum><text>are killed in the line of duty; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0851EDCFB9474D26B8B2D958859E5728"><enum>(B)</enum><text>require hospitalization or treatment at a medical facility due to a line-of-duty injury or illness.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H8EB90688C05F4D1986AB85777630D309"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The qualifications, assignment, training, duties, supervision, and accountability for the performance of casualty assistance responsibilities.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HABB6265F9C0E46A9B1C9F2D32EB8698E"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The relief or transfer of casualty assistance officers, including notification to survivors of critical injury or illness in the line of duty of the reassignment of those officers to other duties.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H74057915FFB640BD8347E62AAF955019"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Centralized short-term and long-term case management procedures for casualty assistance, including rapid access to expert case managers and counselors by—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idec1a5d89f6af4fd19879d403752247b5"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">survivors of firefighters or wildland fire support personnel; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc161361d2e99461c940b48521b713786"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">casualty assistance officers.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H2C391334F2BC47349602796EDDBA2388"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The provision, through a computer-accessible website and other means and at no cost to survivors or next-of-kin of firefighters or wildland fire support personnel, of personalized, integrated information relating to Federal benefits and Federal financial assistance available to those survivors and next-of-kin.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HAC4B1C7A61204156B8F74BE59C881CBB"><enum>(7)</enum><text>The provision to survivors and next-of-kin of firefighters or wildland fire support personnel of information relating to mechanisms for registering complaints about, or requests for, additional assistance related to casualty assistance.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="HEC8F5892A1EB476C85E5FCD61F8FCD1D"><enum>(8)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Liaison with the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Justice, and the Social Security Administration to ensure prompt and accurate resolution of issues relating to benefits administered by those agencies for survivors of firefighters or wildland fire support personnel.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H898AA5E40F254330A12EB9DCC4821E2E"><enum>(9)</enum><text>Data collection, in consultation with the United States Fire Administration and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, regarding the incidence and quality of casualty assistance provided to survivors and next-of-kin of firefighters or wildland fire support personnel.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H188C2D48C9464FA0A104659409500DEB" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(d)</enum><header>No effect on other line-of-Duty death benefits</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The program shall not affect any existing authority for line-of-duty death benefits for Federal firefighters or wildland fire support personnel.</text></subsection></section>1.Short title; table of contents(a)This Act may be cited as the Fix Our Forests Act
.(b)The table of contents for this Act is as follows:Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.Sec. 2. Definitions.TITLE I—Landscape-scale restorationSubtitle A—Addressing emergency wildfire risks in high-priority fireshedsSec. 101. Designation of fireshed management areas.Sec. 102. Wildland Fire Intelligence Center.Sec. 103. Fireshed Registry.Sec. 104. Shared stewardship.Sec. 105. Fireshed assessments.Sec. 106. Emergency fireshed management.Sec. 107. Study on the impacts of fireshed management projects on wildfire risk to communities and wildlife habitat.Sec. 108. Sunset.Subtitle B—Expanding collaborative tools to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest healthSec. 111. Modification of treatment of certain revenue and payments under good neighbor agreements.Sec. 112. Fixing stewardship end result contracting.Sec. 113. Fireshed management project strike teams.Sec. 114. Locally led restoration.Sec. 115. Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership Program.Sec. 116. Collaborative forest landscape restoration program.Sec. 117. Utilizing grazing for wildfire risk reduction.Sec. 118. Water Source Protection Program.Sec. 119. Watershed Condition Framework technical corrections.Sec. 120. Tribal forest protection management activities and projects.Sec. 121. Establishment of regional wildland fire research centers.Sec. 122. Contracts, grants, and agreements to carry out certain ecosystem restoration activities.Sec. 123. Reforestation of land destroyed by Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire.Sec. 124. Contract preference for local contractors for certain hazardous fuel reduction projects.Subtitle C—Litigation reformSec. 131. Litigation reform.Sec. 132. Consultation on forest plans.Subtitle D—Prescribed fireSec. 141. Prescribed fire eligible activities, policies, and practices.Sec. 142. Human resources.Sec. 143. Liability of prescribed fire managers.Sec. 144. Environmental review.Sec. 145. Cooperative agreements and contracts for prescribed fire.Sec. 146. Facilitating responsible use of prescribed fire.TITLE II—Protecting communities at riskSubtitle A—Community wildfire risk reductionSec. 201. Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Program.Sec. 202. Community Wildfire Defense Research Program.Sec. 203. Community wildfire defense grant program improvements.Sec. 204. Updated definition of at-risk community.Subtitle B—Vegetation management, reforestation, and local fire risk mitigationSec. 211. Vegetation management, facility inspection, and operation and maintenance relating to electric transmission and distribution facility rights-of-way.Sec. 212. Fire-safe electrical corridors.Sec. 213. Categorical exclusion for high-priority hazard trees.Sec. 214. Seeds of Success strategy.Sec. 215. Program to support priority reforestation and restoration projects.Sec. 216. Reforestation, nurseries, and genetic resources support.Sec. 217. Fire department repayment.TITLE III—Transparency, technology, and partnershipsSubtitle A—Transparency and technologySec. 301. Biochar innovations and opportunities for conservation, health, and advancements in research.Sec. 302. Accurate hazardous fuels reduction reports.Sec. 303. Public-private wildfire technology deployment and demonstration partnership.Sec. 304. GAO study on Forest Service policies.Sec. 305. Keeping forest plans current and monitored.Sec. 306. Container Aerial Firefighting System.Sec. 307. Study on pine beetle infestation.Sec. 308. Study on wildfire smoke.Subtitle B—White oak resilienceSec. 311. White Oak Restoration Initiative Coalition.Sec. 312. Forest Service pilot program.Sec. 313. Department of the Interior white oak review and restoration.Sec. 314. White oak regeneration and upland oak habitat.Sec. 315. Tree nursery shortages.Sec. 316. White oak research.Sec. 317. National Institute of Food and Agriculture.Sec. 318. USDA formal initiative.Sec. 319. Use of authorities.TITLE IV—Ensuring casualty assistance for firefightersSec. 401. Wildland Fire Management Casualty Assistance Program.TITLE V—Other mattersSec. 501. Use of funds from cooperative funds agreements.Sec. 502. Emergency forest watershed program.Sec. 503. Improving the Emergency Conservation Program.Sec. 504. Improving the Emergency Forest Restoration Program.Sec. 505. Establishment of a unified disaster assistance intake process and system.2.In this Act:(1)The term end water user has the meaning given the term in section 303(a) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6542(a)).(2)The term Executive Director means the Executive Director of the Wildland Fire Intelligence Center appointed under section 102(g).(3)The term fireshed means a landscape-scale area, as delineated using methods developed through research conducted by the Forest Service, that represents similar source levels of community exposure to wildfire.(4)The term fireshed management area means a fireshed management area designated under section 101(a). (5)Fireshed management projectThe term fireshed management project means any of the following forest or vegetation management activities:(A)A hazardous fuels management activity.(B)Creating a fuel break or fire break.(C)Removing hazard trees, dead trees, or dying trees, as determined by a certified or licensed arborist or forester under the supervision of the Secretary concerned.(D)Developing, approving, or conducting routine maintenance under—(i)a vegetation management, facility inspection, and operation and maintenance plan under subsection (c) of section 512 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1772); or(ii)an agreement under subsection (d)(1) of that section (43 U.S.C. 1772).(E)Removing trees to address overstocking or crowding in a forest stand, consistent with achieving the appropriate basal area of the forest stand, as determined by a responsible official.(F)Using treatments to address insects or disease or to control vegetation competition or invasive species.(G)A wet-meadow, floodplain, or riparian restoration activity that increases wildfire resistance.(H)A forest stand improvement activity necessary to protect life and property from catastrophic wildfire, as determined by a responsible official. (I)Any combination of activities described in this paragraph.(6)The term Fireshed Registry means the registry established under section 103(a).(7)The term forest plan means—(A)a land use plan prepared by the Bureau of Land Management for public land pursuant to section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1712);(B)a land management plan prepared by the Forest Service for a unit of the National Forest System pursuant to section 6 of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1604); and(C)a forest management plan (as defined in section 304 of the National Indian Forest Resources Management Act (25 U.S.C. 3103)) with respect to Indian forest land or rangeland.(8)The term Governor means the Governor or other appropriate executive official of—(A)a State; or(B)an Indian Tribe.(9)Hazardous fuels management activityThe term hazardous fuels management activity means a vegetation management activity, or any combination of such activities, that reduces the risk of wildfire, including mechanical thinning, mastication, prescribed burning, cultural burning (as determined by an Indian Tribe), timber harvest, and grazing.(10)The terms at-risk community, community wildfire protection plan, and wildland-urban interface have the meanings given those terms in section 101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (16 U.S.C. 6511).(11)Indian forest land or rangelandThe term Indian forest land or rangeland means land that—(A)is held in trust, or subject to a restriction against alienation, by the United States for an Indian Tribe or a member of an Indian Tribe; and(B)(i)is Indian forest land (as defined in section 304 of the National Indian Forest Resources Management Act (25 U.S.C. 3103)); or(ii)(I)has a cover of grasses, brush, or any similar vegetation; or(II)formerly had a forest cover or vegetative cover that is capable of restoration.(12)The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).(13)The term National Forest System has the meaning given the term in section 11(a) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1609(a)).(14)The term public land means—(A)public lands (as defined in section 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702));(B)the land reconveyed to the United States pursuant to the first section of the Act of February 26, 1919 (40 Stat. 1179, chapter 47) (commonly known as Coos Bay Wagon Road Grant lands
) under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior; and(C)the land revested in the United States by the Act of June 9, 1916 (39 Stat. 218, chapter 137) (commonly known as Oregon and California Railroad Grant lands
) under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior.(15)Relevant committees of CongressThe term relevant committees of Congress means—(A)in the Senate—(i)the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; (ii)the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources;(iii)the Committee on Indian Affairs; and(iv)the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; and(B)in the House of Representatives—(i)the Committee on Agriculture; and(ii)the Committee on Natural Resources.(16)The term Secretaries means—(A)the Secretary; and(B)the Secretary of the Interior.(17)The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.(18)The term Secretary concerned means—(A)the Secretary, with respect to National Forest System land; and(B)the Secretary of the Interior, with respect to public land.(19)The term special district means a political subdivision of a State that—(A)has significant budgetary autonomy or control;(B)was established by, or pursuant to, the laws of the State for the purpose of performing a limited and specific governmental or proprietary function primarily relating to forest, watershed, or rangeland management or water supply; and(C)is distinct from any other unit of local government within the State.(20)The term State means—(A)each of the several States;(B)the District of Columbia; and(C)each territory of the United States.<enum>I</enum><header>Landscape-scale restoration</header><subtitle style="OLC" commented="no" level-type="subsequent" id="id00df578d-64e4-413e-a4ff-5b5806fb44e8"><enum>A</enum><header>Addressing emergency wildfire risks in high-priority firesheds</header><section id="id297b493b-d33a-4591-a417-8d960e90eb7d"><enum>101.</enum><header>Designation of fireshed management areas</header><subsection id="id1ed0dc806b7b48d49c5852f3fed50a94"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Designations</header><paragraph id="id72e5edc63aaa41da9bc5ebe3248c436c"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Initial fireshed designations</header><text>For the 5-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the firesheds of the United States shall comprise—</text><subparagraph id="id3bb41ffd901340498bf18d3d27094cc0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the 7,688 firesheds described in the report published by the Rocky Mountain Research Station of the Forest Service in 2021; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide210aed7a7b2410597476f301ab23de0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the additional 1,262 firesheds in the States of Alaska and Hawaii and the territories of the United States designated by the Secretary in the same manner as the firesheds designated in the report described in subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id5e9d6e78f04249a781090224acdcbfc9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Initial fireshed management area designations</header><text>Subject to paragraph (5), for the period beginning not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act and ending on the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, each Secretary concerned shall designate and make publicly available on the website of the Secretary concerned a map of the following fireshed management areas:</text><subparagraph id="id1c9b4518cea04fab996a0fdb436e4dd2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Each landscape-scale fireshed identified as a <quote>high-risk fireshed</quote> in the document published by the Forest Service entitled <quote>Wildfire Crisis Strategy</quote>, dated January 2022, and expanded in 2023.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1d99c0212d2341a9b166651b36ca6ea2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The top 20 percent of firesheds in the continental United States, and the top 25 percent of firesheds in the continental United States if the fireshed has a historical presence of <italic>Picea glauca var. densata</italic>, identified by the Secretary for wildfire exposure based on the following criteria:</text><clause id="id0c3899de84084637a8f624ab08bb92d7"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Wildfire exposure and corresponding risk to communities, including risk to life, critical infrastructure, and other structures.</text></clause><clause id="id969fdae446324e86a5f45bc6ad3e7c74"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Wildfire exposure and corresponding risk to municipal watersheds, including Tribal water supplies and systems.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="iddab6c7758166469186312e83ba4af3ad"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Initial designations in Alaska, Hawaii, and territories</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall designate in the States of Alaska and Hawaii and the territories of the United States such additional fireshed management areas as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, based on the criteria described in clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (2)(B).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc42a74319b5c40eb8cc5f0e6192ba5f7"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Map-based updated designations</header><subparagraph id="id83e968921a0145ffa5fc50053120afbf"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Map of firesheds</header><text>Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress an updated map of the firesheds of the United States, which shall—</text><clause id="id325653edc1fd476da8d556ed5d0047e0"><enum>(i)</enum><text>be based on the Fireshed Registry; and</text></clause><clause id="idbf5ffa5a0ed147b1b38f1a42948b4d3d"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>include firesheds in the States of Alaska and Hawaii and the territories of the United States.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id210b639b038b4c10ac2cc2383358947b"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Fireshed management areas</header><text>Not later than 60 days after submitting an updated fireshed map under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall update the designations of fireshed management areas to reflect firesheds depicted on that map that the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, identifies as being in the top 20 percent of firesheds at risk of wildfire exposure based on the criteria described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of section 103(a)(3) and in accordance with this section.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5682a85d41c44110b4000b09a3e356e8"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Publication</header><text>The Secretary shall make each updated map prepared under this paragraph publicly available on the Fireshed Registry.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide77dae84-e514-492c-904a-0a9b20862882"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Land location and content</header><text>A fireshed management area designated under this subsection—</text><subparagraph id="id357cb61c-79ff-43fc-9442-ecc97478ff7b"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall not overlap with any other fireshed management area; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida5e306fd-c67d-4505-bd7b-4ece428612fb" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text>may contain Federal and non-Federal land, including Indian forest land or rangeland.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ida86048aa0254434a839d0df4a86e2d1a"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Combining multiple firesheds</header><text>The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, if applicable, may expand a fireshed management area designated under this subsection to include more than 1 fireshed that is designated as a fireshed management area under the applicable criteria described in this section.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6b0a8e0e-5a03-453b-b98d-28c88cccd0a2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Use</header><text>The Secretary concerned may carry out fireshed management projects on the fireshed management areas designated under this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="idea9b5215-e5ba-4395-b4d5-fd07d833649d"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Applicability of NEPA</header><text>The designation of a fireshed management area under this section shall not be subject to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></subsection></section><section id="id570b837e-7c01-4475-849e-0095aa3187e7"><enum>102.</enum><header>Wildland Fire Intelligence Center</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9c8ba51e-e36f-4155-b08b-b571ddce5109"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0c75510f-de3c-40b5-8d2b-c66cf1e9d83b"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Board</header><text>The term <term>Board</term> means the Board of Directors governing the Center appointed under subsection (f).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfd350f9c-60a8-44de-b76d-ef602f709fa2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Center</header><text>The term <term>Center</term> means the Wildland Fire Intelligence Center established under subsection (b).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd5c302d4f6c74d119ce74c66e981a8f6"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Federal science agency; institution of higher education; land-grant colleges and universities; regional center; wildland fire; wildland fire management agencies; wildland fire research</header><text>The terms <quote>Federal science agency</quote>, <quote>institution of higher education</quote>, <quote>land-grant colleges and universities</quote>, <quote>regional center</quote>, <quote>wildland fire</quote>, <quote>wildland fire management agencies</quote>, and <quote>wildland fire research</quote> have the meanings given those terms in section 121(a). </text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide4c57ca760bd4485b19b9f11a4c603c8"><enum>(4)</enum><header>National laboratory</header><text>The term <term>National Laboratory</term> has the meaning given that term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/15801">42 U.S.C. 15801</external-xref>). </text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idfe8ff98c-d886-4138-a851-24f07428fd63"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall establish a joint office, to be known as the <quote>Wildland Fire Intelligence Center</quote>, to serve Federal and non-Federal entities through the functions described in subsection (d).</text></subsection><subsection id="id1f04b586-ff87-4308-88aa-2d866cdbfcca"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Headquarters</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Board shall select from within the United States a permanent location for the physical headquarters of the Center.</text></subsection><subsection id="id240aea05-bda7-4620-8897-267098e857e2"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Functions</header><text>The functions of the Center shall include the following:</text><paragraph id="idccb24fc5-901d-4ff1-9a57-df5ba1a89395"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Providing real-time, science-based, and data-rich scientific and technical analytical services, modeling, monitoring, mapping, decision support, and predictive services across all phases of fire to inform land and fuels management (including prescribed fire), pre-fire community and built environment risk reduction, active fire management and emergency response, and post-fire recovery in the built and natural environments.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd59116de-b7ae-4e69-8511-b2e93f3be029"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Providing, disseminating, procuring, if commercially available, and combining existing data, mapping, technological, and consultation services to support pre-, active, and post-fire activities at the local, State, and national levels, including—</text><subparagraph id="id7b7c1059-31c9-4945-98ba-eb734966558d"><enum>(A)</enum><text>creating and maintaining a real-time nationwide risk catalog, including the Fireshed Registry;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id364b9bf4-57de-4ab3-bbfe-28ac36ece079"><enum>(B)</enum><text>assisting with the creation of evacuation plans, public safety power shutoff plans, and wildfire mitigation and response strategies or plans (including built environment mitigation plans and community wildfire protection plans) for at-risk communities;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7180f4b7-a5b0-4f6a-98c7-03439b5af7c6"><enum>(C)</enum><text>providing decision support and gridded and point data forecast and assessment products in support of operational and planning activities, including the pre-positioning of wildfire suppression personnel and assets based on real-time-risk;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idac4d9423-b17c-49cd-940c-7bef91582070"><enum>(D)</enum><text>assisting with the safe and effective use of prescribed fire; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id257b90b583124788b22b2772a5fde0dc"><enum>(E)</enum><text>developing a real-time data interface to assist and inform, in real time, firefighters, first responders, and approved contractors in responding to wildfires.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id5efb2376-1172-4d30-bfc7-15a7a9211442"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Consolidating air quality monitoring and forecasting data, including utilizing existing Federal programs, as appropriate, to help inform risks to public health and protect the public from smoke impacts associated with wildfires, including providing planning guidance for safe and effective beneficial fire opportunities to prevent the risk of wildfires.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0e90914f-a541-45e8-a6d9-8b0a488c8c74"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Establishing information technology and data interoperability through—</text><subparagraph id="id0ef00cd7-cd13-4de8-9232-31fea995e2a7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the development of common data standards to protect confidential information;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6cfafab1-61f7-4348-8102-7f1536dc17fb"><enum>(B)</enum><text>comprehensive searchable data inventories;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7929bc8e-6651-4b3a-9a19-8b05713a03a2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>working with Tribal governments in nation-to-nation partnerships, with protections for Tribal data sovereignty;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id26bb5550-ac4e-4d82-82dc-ac9b4d0ed051"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the integration and sharing of information and resources of the Federal Government, States, local governments, and participating Indian Tribes, as determined by Tribal governments, to support the essential functions of the Center; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idba41e506-e962-4254-9d25-cde90e073252"><enum>(E)</enum><text>regular updates and maintenance of research and technology essential to achieving the core functions of the Center, including the evaluation of new and competing models as those models become available.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3de56b7e-531a-48ec-ae50-21ece4e393f4"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Coordinating with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, as requested, to develop and improve wildfire preparedness curricula and training modules for States, Indian Tribes, and local officials, including emergency managers and responders.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id63646358-5488-4daf-a8c9-28665ac9e580"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Administering the pilot program established under section 303 and streamlining procurement processes for technologies identified under that pilot program and technology systems related to addressing wildfire and smoke for purposes of scaling such technologies and systems across Federal agencies.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf51ff23d70a247979b2ba7a6a3ab996a"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Engaging with relevant Federal agencies, State agencies, and entities in the private sector to improve fire environment monitoring, forecasting, communication, and response that may be essential to the core functions of the Center, if the Executive Director determines that the engagement is appropriate, beneficial, and cost-effective.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide8ac04508c0f4c67b702c7668a008282"><enum>(8)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id22e1bc2f14254aa2b34736b13beba2c1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Establishing wildland fire science, data management and sharing protocols, and technological research priorities in cooperation with each regional center informed by the operational needs of wildland fire management agencies.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph indent="up1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4c1684795c41486ea4158777fd0f8aa0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Coordinating data collection efforts supporting the efforts of each regional center, including—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id90261957a70a43f895762bc07da4fbe4"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">building data layers across each region described in section 121(c)(3)(B); </text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbc1dd9e3eb82487a836795e4215d20a6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">ensuring data collection and reporting across each region described in section 121(c)(3)(B) is consistent and standardized; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida1d459abdac3480d872b58c3de0be8e3"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">providing updates on the development of wildland fire research models.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph indent="up1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1a85f15a13454016a8ecc9ae7ee7c746"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Ensuring the coordination of, and avoid unnecessary duplication of, the activities of the regional centers and the activities of institutions of higher education, land-grant colleges and universities, Federal science agencies, and State research organizations with respect to wildland fire research, including—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9cdf1f171d06402d9e80001d69a9804a"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id225604daab884b649af553cde32663ef"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the National Science Foundation;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf41f9a1aca1b418789b9a80591a461ea"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the National Laboratories;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc105b55a112d460caed42287c2a18a51"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id659104f04d124ce8ad47924b13d2aa1a"><enum>(v)</enum><text>the Environmental Protection Agency;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide461c03597d0499b9129c70d9d137fda"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>the United States Fire Administration;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd44cbfb7edc849d2af88114c88c65cf8"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>the United States Geological Survey; </text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id28f0b35086634f87a2e78f6f9889b7ff"><enum>(viii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the research and development program of the Forest Service;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb80d1426e0f3497b9e4b52384746ab0e"><enum>(ix)</enum><text>the interagency Joint Fire Science Program;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7bc367c21b014759ae0d8e3b59e23e48"><enum>(x)</enum><text>the Department of Defense Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7415f6620ccd43f7b7fe34e2f8dc4d9d"><enum>(xi)</enum><text>any other relevant entity with specialized expertise in wildland fire research.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph indent="up1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idef788047df18449ab85f985bfde2fce3"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Supporting end-to-end applications that assist wildland fire management agencies in adopting technologies and incorporating research findings produced by the regional centers.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id99bf97d3-678e-445e-9498-7259be64344d"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Center funding</header><paragraph id="id35e19d60-1299-4617-a315-5f99f76fc9ae"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>To carry out the functions of the Center, the Secretaries may transfer funds provided to establish, and carry out the duties of, the Center among—</text><subparagraph id="id24c29435092b49aca765529bc182a941"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Forest Service, from amounts made available for Wildland Fire Management;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5e5dd7e4264e49b09c44b03a0e91ddeb"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Department of the Interior, from amounts made available for Wildland Fire Management; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7c3c8ad3602449ea93b89344f091d0da"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the United States Geological Survey.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idf522dc00-5d13-4c2c-9279-0d011b082a2a"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Interagency financing</header><text>Notwithstanding section 708 of the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2023 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/117/328">Public Law 117–328</external-xref>; 136 Stat. 4706), or any other, similar provision of law, interagency financing may be used to fund the Center.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4fa32694-812f-47c1-aa21-ad8d3309958f"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Notice required</header><text>Not later than 15 days before transferring funds under paragraph (1) or (2), the Secretary or the Secretary of the Interior, as applicable, shall submit to the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a notice of the proposed transfer.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idca81b50f-be47-4b42-a8d8-32166e24494c"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Board</header><paragraph id="id30e953e6-81e3-4240-ae50-6d160488c51d"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Membership</header><text>The Center shall be governed by a Board of Directors, to be composed of 18 members, as follows:</text><subparagraph id="id7737d6c2-12fe-403c-86a3-50f28820c856"><enum>(A)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the Department of Agriculture, to be appointed by the Secretary.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4de094e3-aa8c-49d3-b7e3-595d38585b0a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the research and development areas of the Forest Service, to be appointed by the Chief of the Forest Service.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id38d1bed8-cd23-4252-ad83-effca013e95f"><enum>(C)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee in fire and aviation management of the Forest Service, to be appointed by the Chief of the Forest Service.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idda3e6509-cf9a-4339-a843-318f4565f228"><enum>(D)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the Department of the Interior, to be appointed by the Secretary of the Interior.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6f453b6a-8316-4f4b-8cd1-151d8bb18404"><enum>(E)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the Bureau of Land Management, to be appointed by the Director of the Bureau of Land Management.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id58ad1c10-0983-463a-8325-f44701581ea3"><enum>(F)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, to be appointed by the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id94f33a49-cda0-4de9-940b-151567fd62ad"><enum>(G)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the National Park Service, to be appointed by the Director of the National Park Service.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id850167d1-a6cf-4d32-a18c-6020c8163544"><enum>(H)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, to be appointed by the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idea1538b8-4baf-475b-9c7d-90572d0a4dcd"><enum>(I)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the United States Geological Survey, to be appointed by the Director of the United States Geological Survey.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id429b673f-6d4f-4bd7-86a6-b096ce02f71a"><enum>(J)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to be appointed by the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd0780948-c9a0-47b7-ad72-d0b1ba385968"><enum>(K)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the National Weather Service, to be appointed by the Director of the National Weather Service.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf858a368-5796-4f71-bbda-f09c22a6e0da"><enum>(L)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to be appointed by the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7ba9ecbb-6d63-4daa-8881-a42012248111"><enum>(M)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the United States Fire Administration, to be appointed by the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idac11d046-8c1b-43d5-aba4-a35f7cdff957"><enum>(N)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the Department of Defense, to be appointed by the Secretary of Defense.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0b81f9e8-2416-42bb-b1e3-93493bc9235e"><enum>(O)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the National Science Foundation, to be appointed by the Director of the National Science Foundation.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id83cf5894-23b5-4349-b9db-ca1c0264128f"><enum>(P)</enum><text>1 member who is a career employee of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, to be appointed by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id32bae1c38cb24f3cbf9922717e3bec29"><enum>(Q)</enum><text>1 member who is an elected leader of a Tribal government or an expert in wildfire management designated by a Tribal government.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd3d8851d0fa84a06af518440c66f2d1d"><enum>(R)</enum><text>1 member representing State forestry agencies, to be appointed by the Secretaries.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7461d378-8020-472f-88b0-df531cd6e595"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Terms</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7cb1e1cf88a34f7bb6de37b0f61523c6"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term of a member of the Board shall be 3 years, except that, of the members first appointed—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idef2a7466c89e4680860fe22be1d4a310"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"><fraction>1/3</fraction> shall serve for a term of 4 years;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf831bf7857e949ed81ad3aa49719452e"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"><fraction>1/3</fraction> shall serve for a term of 3 years; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idccba4140c4684c8e940c2ee0a0755375"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"><fraction>1/3</fraction> shall serve for a term of 2 years.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id67cbc23e50f047b3ad507523fe87d527"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Additional terms</header><text>After the initial term of a member of the Board, including the members first appointed, the member may serve not more than 3 additional 3-year terms, except that a member initially appointed to a serve a term of 4 years may serve not more than 2 additional 3-year terms.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id6f4d4c73-2671-4f81-9eb1-4f7060c832da"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Chairperson</header><text>The Chairperson of the Board—</text><subparagraph id="idbf25e2be-3c61-4b6e-9894-805fa64b7a01"><enum>(A)</enum><text>shall be selected by the members of the Board from among the members appointed under subparagraphs (B), (I), and (J) of paragraph (1);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide819b27b-2b8d-40dc-a769-97c06fe910f7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>shall serve for a term of 1 year; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7f2cf1e2f292446b830e6378ae1af976"><enum>(C)</enum><text>may be reselected as Chairperson not more than twice.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="iddc29a6b4-039f-4004-9052-82a68bc08c88"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Majority vote</header><text>A voting consensus by the Board shall be not less than a <fraction>2/3</fraction> majority vote of the members present.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2cd2c790-f849-4e0f-97a9-12f65b10e4e3"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Nonvoting status</header><text>At the discretion of the Board, the Board may include nonvoting observers to the Board.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id09dc973f-3e6d-4ab7-96fd-fdcaa1307277"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Executive Director</header><paragraph id="ida4523ddd-2c6b-4806-8e62-561cedccacda"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Center shall have an Executive Director, who shall—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id655ca057915e4c149fb751e64a4214ba"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">be appointed by, and serve at the direction of, the Board; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida1b19f75824945b78e2f9e3d001396b2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>be responsible for the management and operation of the Center.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7944c987-cbdf-404a-9219-a1826817b374"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contracting authority</header><text>The Executive Director may enter into and perform contracts, agreements, memoranda of understanding, or other, similar transactions, as the Executive Director determines to be appropriate to carry out the functions of the Center described in subsection (d).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id468b6297-d93c-4212-a10f-210001070b80"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Detailees</header><text>The Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior may detail or assign to the Center such employees of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior, respectively, as the Secretaries determine to be necessary to carry out the duties of the Center.</text></subsection><subsection id="id0f4c6720-4c83-4cc2-8c1a-f9bcdd4fe5e6"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Coordination with other agencies and entities</header><text>To carry out the functions of the Center described in subsection (d), the Board shall coordinate with agencies represented on the Board and other relevant entities, including—</text><paragraph id="ide91efba7-e34c-407d-8dc1-85759d5f0448"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the National Wildfire Coordinating Group; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3b531327-f184-46e8-bb8b-43679d410e71"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any relevant Federal agency, State, Indian Tribe, local government, or nongovernmental entity that is representative of an element of the wildland fire community.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id2cee3fb5-2b23-4c7d-b2ad-f1590ebc70e8"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Operational plan</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="iddd6d57aa-1eed-4140-98aa-b6abd88568f6"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the appointment of the Executive Director, the Executive Director shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress an initial operational plan describing—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id54de0f6d-d951-4ddf-8423-90acd729c7f6"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the structure of the Center;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id22c5ba1f-7830-4afd-ad66-9edc866c6ce2"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">staffing and funding needs of the Center;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcdfce697-a39e-41db-9444-d2e3f185bfd4"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">technological capabilities within the Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Interior, and the other Federal departments and agencies comprising the Board that are available to the Center;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb827f3ab-1bc4-4aab-b73f-c25423fea72a"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an assessment of the potential of commercially available technologies to perform the functions of the Center, together with the costs and timelines of procuring those technologies or developing relevant capabilities;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id081540af569d4876876f69a8257faeea"><enum>(E)</enum><text>an assessment of—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfe06b17ac09b447fb72275e57b29106a"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">existing contracting authorities of the Executive Director to be used for purposes of subsection (g)(2); and </text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id02a75560a33d4fdd9413bc755ae394e3"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">new contracting authorities needed; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc971053b-d00b-4e64-93e9-06636c1b8c93"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a timeline for full operational functioning of the Center.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc7f128be-8c65-408c-824e-6b31844568e5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The plan under paragraph (1) shall include estimated costs, key milestones, coordination strategies with Federal, State, and private entities, and recommendations for ensuring the effective operation of the Center.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id22f4607a-1432-450b-ab82-0fe3054a5a54"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Updates</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Executive Director shall update the plan not less frequently than annually to reflect progress, adjustments in funding, and the adoption of new technologies.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id3a72d93a90524ddaa615f6cefeab71d3"><enum>(k)</enum><header>Pilot program to monitor wildfires by satellite</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, in partnership with the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Geological Survey, and with the Executive Director, shall establish a pilot program—</text><paragraph id="ida9703bb303104226b9bbbb970072e5af"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to purchase and integrate, through a public-private partnership, data from the latest-generation of wildfire monitoring satellites that provide monitoring of active fire behavior, including fire perimeters, burned area, intensity, severity, and the detection of fires with a low false-positive rate;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id113d72377ef549d487beaf68934a98cc"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to use the data acquired under paragraph (1), and any analyses relating to that data—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id75e39eb9fc5142b3a885e89c4eab44c0"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to detect, assess, respond to, and manage wildfires and rangeland fires; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1bb12e9f4404454689ed22a9c1d3b2f9"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to ensure the safety and effectiveness of prescribed fire treatments; </text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idfc19871dd0e44502b76adfc43ca293ab"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to develop information-sharing partnerships with State, local, and Tribal emergency managers, foresters, or other equivalent officials—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf8d10ff8fff94582affbf1746f58ee01"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to improve State, local, and Tribal wildfire monitoring, response, and analysis; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb7c256c96a694b8b8ef3efdaa670ab75"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to provide to the Executive Director an operational plan for scaling the pilot program across the United States; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6b716d03f3f743a59b0c17eee5076601"><enum>(4)</enum><text>under which the Secretary of the Interior shall have the authority to enter into other transactions to leverage satellite-based wildfire monitoring capabilities.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idd928db6f-852d-4b7b-861f-2721aedf15dd"><enum>(l)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in this section affects the ownership of any data source.</text></subsection></section><section id="idc215a52f-6be4-4dc1-a8a2-4d35722e388c"><enum>103.</enum><header>Fireshed Registry</header><subsection id="id120a5c28-1511-4fd9-b7a1-f2127ce9dac2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The Secretaries, acting through the Executive Director, shall establish and maintain, on a publicly accessible website, a registry, to be known as the <quote>Fireshed Registry</quote>, that provides interactive geospatial data relating to individual firesheds, including information relating to—</text><paragraph id="id4f7e4380-4ba4-438e-a9e8-11141d8af589"><enum>(1)</enum><text>wildland fire exposure, delineated by—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbb095392ad47427f891c261faa6c9ffa"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">ownership, including rights-of-way for utilities and other public or private purposes; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id967f1c396903409bb9b25005b324e2b3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>administrative or management responsibility;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ida2a0671c-6ac5-4a44-840c-1c96ec5b0af8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any hazardous fuels management activities that have occurred within an individual fireshed during the preceding 10 years;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2757d248-ba8b-4973-a1da-f858c3e547fc"><enum>(3)</enum><text>wildland fire exposure with respect to a fireshed, delineated by—</text><subparagraph id="id5d8ba9bc-6200-4176-8f73-08567d536945"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">wildfire exposure and corresponding risk to communities, including risk to life, critical infrastructure, and other structures;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id232302c9-87ec-4207-a41e-57a8740361fd"><enum>(B)</enum><text>wildfire exposure and corresponding risk to municipal watersheds, including Tribal water supplies and systems; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0d51ef01-2945-40d7-883c-f4043093eb75"><enum>(C)</enum><text>risk of vegetation type conversion due to wildfire;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idfa0b82a9-c738-4e91-aca4-c006e96a361e"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the percentage of a fireshed burned in wildfire during the preceding 10 years, including, to the extent practicable, delineations of acres that have burned at a high severity;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id964a40cb-9fa3-4602-9d2a-f5181fb7391f"><enum>(5)</enum><text>spatial patterns of wildfire exposure, including plausible extreme fire events; and </text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8d4264c7-34a8-41c7-a722-e0d7728ea97a"><enum>(6)</enum><text>any hazardous fuels management activities scheduled for a fireshed, including fireshed management projects.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id7efa0e8e-cfe2-4ace-afa2-47df98f9a560"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Community wildfire protection plans</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Executive Director shall make data from the Fireshed Registry available to local communities developing or updating community wildfire protection plans.</text></subsection><subsection id="idd9fbd186-6d71-4c35-bf2b-8398c3cb919f"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Maintenance</header><text>As part of the website containing the Fireshed Registry, the Executive Director shall—</text><paragraph id="idc140ba31-3481-4a48-8e39-a8274e92d5dd"><enum>(1)</enum><text>publish fireshed assessments conducted under section 105; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0ce62fbd-7aa1-47b9-958b-e8443616957b"><enum>(2)</enum><text>maintain a searchable database to track—</text><subparagraph id="id7fe92fcf-7ccb-4088-bc52-099b3eb86cdc"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the status of Federal environmental reviews, permits, and authorizations for fireshed management projects, including—</text><clause id="id1900c102-12db-4ed5-8479-b11e0f947d8e"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a comprehensive permitting timetable;</text></clause><clause id="id074db7cf-9fe5-41f5-a9a2-70c6bc6b2a61"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the status of the compliance of each lead agency, cooperating agency, and participating agency with the permitting timetable with respect to fireshed management projects;</text></clause><clause id="id9d162342-3c19-4170-8ba0-28f6ccffddb1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>any required modifications of the permitting timetable under clause (i), including an explanation regarding why the permitting timetable was modified; and</text></clause><clause id="id1b50a550-fd27-4887-953e-b46ba9bed6a8"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>information regarding any public meetings, public hearings, and public comment periods relating to a fireshed management project, as that information becomes available, which shall be presented in—</text><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id278eaf59-fe39-4cfe-9e7d-426bd722bb32"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">English; and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id28ee6024-3034-4cb7-bd55-49b72c91d18f"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the predominant language of each community that is most affected by the fireshed management project, as that information becomes available;</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0ae47f1d-4bef-48e6-99cf-d3cd1938c322"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the projected cost of fireshed management projects; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="ide0a25641-1705-46f6-9b96-9de75e4dc7da"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in the case of a completed fireshed management project, the estimated effectiveness of the fireshed management project in—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd643c332-86d3-40e3-a379-3be5bfa2cbdb"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">reducing the wildfire exposure within the applicable fireshed, including wildfire exposure described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of subsection (a)(3); and</text></clause><clause id="id8c1927a7-527d-4a04-90e2-6f4fd6a9fa4c"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>increasing the resilience of wildlife habitats, including habitat for species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5be2c8fd-7e9e-40a8-911d-d103c5e62350"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Incorporation of existing assessments and data</header><text>In carrying out this section, the Executive Director shall incorporate any assessments completed or data gathered through existing partnerships, to the extent practicable.</text></subsection><subsection id="idbc99dc46-c51f-4827-aac8-2de27d85bf9c"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Applicability of NEPA</header><text>The establishment and maintenance of the Fireshed Registry under this section shall not be subject to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></subsection></section><section id="id93d8bdea-0a7a-42f0-a808-1e27efa8f901"><enum>104.</enum><header>Shared stewardship</header><subsection id="id5a448575-4b1a-4195-b849-659e6c559b13"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Joint agreements</header><text>The Secretary concerned shall seek to use an existing shared stewardship agreement, modify an existing shared stewardship agreement, or enter into a similar agreement with the Governor of each State and Indian Tribe that contains a fireshed management area designated under section 101(a)—</text><paragraph id="id9705a26d-794d-4e13-9dae-41ff046cbf4d"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to promote the reduction of wildfire exposure, based on the criteria described in section 103(a)(3), in fireshed management areas across jurisdictional boundaries; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8e86b89d-3b1e-4f99-8cea-0c61468a3372" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to conduct fireshed assessments under section 105.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idf07ef19e-f524-4ccb-8316-1b8fa50c1719"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Adjustment of boundaries and updates to agreements</header><text>With respect to an agreement under subsection (a), the Secretary concerned, on request of the applicable Governor, may—</text><paragraph id="idb7c7c648-67ba-469b-bfc7-b2585639dec1" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><text>adjust the boundaries of any applicable fireshed management area to include additional areas from within a separate fireshed management area designated under section 101; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2c1af55d-dc6d-4413-a5e7-1dc88cb6b936" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text>update the agreement to address any new wildfire threats.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id8f1dae87-5dc6-4466-a061-183bcd7feaae"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Cooperative agreements</header><text>The Secretaries may enter into cooperative agreements with units of local government, special districts, end water users, nongovernmental organizations, institutions of higher education, Native Hawaiian organizations (as defined in section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/7517">20 U.S.C. 7517</external-xref>)), and other entities, at the discretion of the applicable Secretary to carry out the activities described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a).</text></subsection></section><section id="id004076a7-e612-4dfd-affc-8e9b3f6bf296"><enum>105.</enum><header>Fireshed assessments</header><subsection id="id530a5a49-05ca-4a22-b589-19406fc9d578"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned, in cooperation with the Governor with whom the Secretary concerned enters into an agreement under section 104(a), if applicable, shall conduct a fireshed assessment in accordance with this section with respect to each fireshed management area designated in the applicable State or area of Tribal land.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb2b7d7d1-0f2a-4c36-a232-7d707bc5950d"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirements</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd6e0cc16-130b-4fde-95bb-1cc68d30c1a4"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>Each fireshed assessment under subsection (a) shall—</text><subparagraph id="id4f4f1faa-917b-4ddd-a3bf-eae3e37edf1a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>identify—</text><clause id="id5a553709-7e5f-46fa-9d70-18e24981d7c9"><enum>(i)</enum><text>using the best available science, wildfire exposure risks within the applicable fireshed management area, including scenario planning and wildfire hazard mapping and models; and</text></clause><clause id="id458332a9-a5e4-4480-be46-ca740808083a"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>each at-risk community within the fireshed management area;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idebe985e1-2595-4835-b06e-3dd3671dcef9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>identify the types of fireshed management projects that could benefit the fireshed management area, with an emphasis on reducing—</text><clause id="idc72587fd-8b12-46b9-8ede-2ab89417ba61"><enum>(i)</enum><text>wildfire exposure and corresponding risk to communities, including risk to life, critical infrastructure, and other structures;</text></clause><clause id="id7492ccc0-def6-418d-925b-176633ce29d6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>wildfire exposure and corresponding risk to municipal watersheds, including Tribal water supplies and systems;</text></clause><clause id="id4f67ffab-d098-44ed-a631-b52a161f99a1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>risk of vegetation type conversion due to wildfire;</text></clause><clause id="idb1917c14-5e72-40d9-a471-dcd134134e0a"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>wildfire risk for wildlife habitats, including habitat for species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>);</text></clause><clause id="id0cfdcffb-1503-4e85-b963-29a447ee5247"><enum>(v)</enum><text>wildfire risk to resources of an Indian Tribe, as defined by the Indian Tribe; or</text></clause><clause id="id2f45b86d-1598-49e6-a71f-5c2ecd40ec04"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>any combination of purposes described in clauses (i) through (v); and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id38b8708d-d55f-4689-96eb-c925798e4049"><enum>(C)</enum><text>include, with respect to the applicable fireshed management area—</text><clause id="id7e6349a9-7258-4f36-84e0-aad1480c0555"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a strategy for reducing the threat of wildfire—</text><subclause id="id0dbe99d7-6933-4836-8920-f0cfe53b83ac"><enum>(I)</enum><text>to protect at-risk communities in the wildland-urban interface on Federal and non-Federal land;</text></subclause><subclause id="idb437d6b2-4a38-412d-8aee-75376398bb36"><enum>(II)</enum><text>to improve the effectiveness of wildfire firefighting, particularly the effectiveness of fuels treatments that would improve wildfire firefighter safety during wildfires; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id58d0d11c-0b3e-461a-b911-145a8a821687"><enum>(III)</enum><text>to reduce risk to wildlife habitats, including habitat for species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>);</text></subclause></clause><clause id="ide84d91b3-0285-4b1b-aa66-84a7b270a2e0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a timeline for the implementation of fireshed management projects;</text></clause><clause id="id4fe91a72-0d8b-46da-a54a-f17abdfb64cf"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>long-term benchmark goals for the completion of fireshed management projects in the highest wildfire exposure areas to ensure that those fireshed management projects contribute to the development and maintenance of healthy and resilient landscapes;</text></clause><clause id="idbb4990b3-8a49-41d2-b0d9-d7cf1d32e30b"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>a strategy to ensure that fireshed management projects comply with applicable forest plans and incorporate the best available science; and</text></clause><clause id="idd4e15364-0daa-4cf9-9fab-410a751b12a5"><enum>(v)</enum><text>a strategy for maximizing the retention of late-successional forests, to the extent that the trees promote stands that are resilient to insects and disease, and reduce the risk or extent of, or increase resilience to, wildfires.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9a9e40a8-d57d-40d6-9005-833e73a243b1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Existing plans</header><text>To the maximum extent practicable, a fireshed assessment shall incorporate and build on information, planning, and strategies contained in relevant forest plans, State forest action plans, Tribal integrated resource management plans or Tribal forest management plans, watershed management plans, community wildfire protection plans, and similar locally led landscape-scale planning documents.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id251fdb16-bac1-4ee2-89b7-f1226095f366"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Participation</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9cf430e2-7776-4490-b2e0-fae6a3092b95"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">State, Tribal, and local governments</header><text>In addition to the parties to an applicable agreement described in subsection (a), the Secretary concerned shall coordinate with States, Indian Tribes, units of local government, and other entities that are parties to an agreement under section 104(c) within a fireshed management area in conducting the fireshed assessment under paragraph (1).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6a2cb48f-7ae0-4ab1-87ee-36beabc4caa8"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Public</header><text>In carrying out a fireshed assessment under this section, the Secretary concerned shall provide an opportunity for public participation during the 45-day period beginning on the date of initiation of the assessment, including—</text><clause id="id62f96618-4c1b-4011-92a9-4e8c5f831df3"><enum>(i)</enum><text>publication of information regarding the development of the assessment—</text><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide1e51955-454b-41f9-a4da-10b8ad52d5c7"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">on a website maintained by the Secretary concerned; and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfef628bd-2411-46f2-9032-dae0856ad4b0"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">at convenient locations within the applicable fireshed management area; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id08ea1f0a-56d2-4a05-bd5a-e1a77beddd48" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>at least 1 public meeting.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idab5bd595-24c7-44df-91c4-63e5e7986fd0"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Updates and availability</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each fireshed assessment under subsection (a) shall be—</text><paragraph id="id5491ee1c-1dd5-4680-a81c-2d011971b49c"><enum>(1)</enum><text>regularly updated based on the best available science, subject to the requirements of subsection (d)(2); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf7a7f23b-5a4b-40d1-9345-b361ac1e395a"><enum>(2)</enum><text>made publicly available on 1 or more websites maintained by the Secretary concerned, including the Fireshed Registry.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5a87770d-c443-45f1-bd3b-d3604e4e8b67"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Information improvement</header><paragraph id="id744e4455-babd-4138-baf0-bf5d1df72126"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Agreements</header><text>In carrying out a fireshed assessment under this section, the Secretary concerned may enter into agreements with other Federal departments and agencies (including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), States, Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations (as defined in section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/7517">20 U.S.C. 7517</external-xref>)), private entities, or research or educational institutions to improve, with respect to the assessment, the use and integration of—</text><subparagraph id="idfb5891a7-9d0c-42c7-82ef-96a6358f90be"><enum>(A)</enum><text>advanced remote sensing and geospatial technologies;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf0e3cd21-2a40-41ef-8687-f9872dfdae08"><enum>(B)</enum><text>statistical modeling and analysis; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id36f6363e-b8c0-4eea-a77d-cb0f5438f2d1"><enum>(C)</enum><text>any other technology or combination of technologies and analyses that the Secretary concerned determines will benefit the quality of information in the assessment.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idafa85628-770e-48ef-a73a-85b04af90170"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Best available science</header><text>In using the best available science for a fireshed assessment under this section, the Secretary concerned and the applicable Governor shall incorporate, to the maximum extent practicable—</text><subparagraph id="ida9499cee-9b5d-40c6-8e34-69eef4dbad22"><enum>(A)</enum><text>traditional ecological knowledge from Indian Tribes, if requested by the relevant Indian Tribe;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5ee22a62-29fa-4682-95c8-80c9f089bd11"><enum>(B)</enum><text>data from State forest action plans and State wildfire risk assessments;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd61f346b-eb10-4f68-a4de-b32134b64a94"><enum>(C)</enum><text>data from the Fireshed Registry; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id45d1cf29-50f6-4c28-a15c-445581f8d000"><enum>(D)</enum><text>data from other Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments or agencies.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0b8046e7-1ddb-4b8d-9aca-18fa1dedadf6" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Applicability of NEPA</header><text>A fireshed assessment under this section shall not be subject to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></subsection></section><section id="id1f03acee-5dfa-4ffe-a2d3-df73f922bcec"><enum>106.</enum><header>Emergency fireshed management</header><subsection id="idc88fc736-95eb-46ed-a0dd-212a57ce9dfe"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Fireshed management projects</header><paragraph id="id9c84e436-1fa0-4cba-8f5c-976d75310438"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary concerned, acting through a responsible official, shall carry out fireshed management projects on land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned in fireshed management areas in accordance with this section, the applicable forest plan, and the laws (including regulations) applicable to the Secretary concerned.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ida3590bb3-d56a-4a39-8d64-eeba4e9b7761"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Applicability of other provisions</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id197783c4-c81d-4308-b7c7-6e0bc82e9922"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>The following shall have the force and effect of law with respect to any fireshed management project carried out in a fireshed management area:</text><clause id="ida45e1bf3-0aa2-40c3-a698-def275bfb8c2"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Section 220.4(b) of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on April 9, 2025), with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary.</text></clause><clause id="ida53b24bc-a34c-4867-a010-fc69b66e7ddc"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Section 46.150 of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on April 9, 2025), with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior.</text></clause><clause id="id2ead5f84-3e4e-4561-81d9-e4f5a0fa7a26"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Section 402.05 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on April 9, 2025).</text></clause><clause id="idefdb20b7-e306-4ed1-8ecb-1ff7e1f57b0c"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>Section 800.12 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on April 9, 2025), except that any reference contained in that regulation to an <quote>agency official</quote> shall be considered to be a reference to a responsible official.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide672c379-5b8a-452b-89e2-3b1210730bb7"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Determination of emergency</header><clause id="id77df6968-8c4c-4e4b-9b66-4afc577e9d2c"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A regulation referred to in subparagraph (A) shall not apply pursuant to that subparagraph with respect to a fireshed management project unless, before carrying out the fireshed management project, a responsible official—</text><subclause id="idfa410ae8-9fd9-4e7e-a6e8-3f727bf0cdef"><enum>(I)</enum><text>determines, in accordance with the regulation, that an emergency or emergency circumstance exists;</text></subclause><subclause id="id167d41a9-4641-42b7-89b8-303576bcf29f"><enum>(II)</enum><text>completes any documentation or identification processes required under such regulation; and</text></subclause><subclause id="idaf875d23-0fac-4b9a-b9da-6ec927efa702"><enum>(III)</enum><text>provides public notice of the determination of emergency and each related fireshed management project activity by publishing such determination on a website maintained by the Secretary concerned.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id24e8f8bf-a236-4771-9cea-fb3b4492d3f7"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>In carrying out a fireshed management project under a regulation referred to in subparagraph (A), a responsible official shall ensure that such fireshed management project is consistent with the applicable forest plan and the laws (including regulations) and policies applicable to the Secretary concerned.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id539a1270-25dc-4976-a117-476cbf1188d1"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Further clarification</header><text>A regulation referred to in subparagraph (A) shall not apply to any fireshed management project unless such fireshed management project will achieve a land management goal described in section 604(c) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591c">16 U.S.C. 6591c(c)</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id12553611-62ce-4186-b0d1-214795efe9ed"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Utilization of existing streamlined authorities in fireshed management areas</header><clause id="id2f510b93-33bc-4f64-9bb8-b9d1440a526e"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, with respect to each fireshed management area that contains Federal land, the Secretary concerned, acting through a responsible official, shall use not fewer than 1 of the following expedited authorities for environmental review to carry out fireshed management projects:</text><subclause id="id9c33eff8-3e6e-4d43-9117-132bc6e7a7c5"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Section 603(a) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591b">16 U.S.C. 6591b(a)</external-xref>).</text></subclause><subclause id="idb0a74bf0-f334-4049-bb7b-6d61fca87ea6"><enum>(II)</enum><text>Section 605(a) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591d">16 U.S.C. 6591d(a)</external-xref>).</text></subclause><subclause id="id3f3831e6-c27f-4315-b783-a23240ddf5b7"><enum>(III)</enum><text>Section 606(b) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591e">16 U.S.C. 6591e(b)</external-xref>).</text></subclause><subclause id="idf1ac3aea-7002-4bb8-8c94-5b1525c6b3e8"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>Section 40806(b) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6592b">16 U.S.C. 6592b(b)</external-xref>).</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id057c28c4-bc98-4659-8156-ac6ad9c763bc"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Compliance with NEPA</header><text>In applying expedited authorities for environmental review to carry out fireshed management projects under clause (i), the Secretary concerned shall ensure—</text><subclause id="id9c155d99-c54d-4c6c-b2bf-60d6dc8e69ab"><enum>(I)</enum><text>such project is carried out in accordance with the statute establishing the categorical exclusion applied by the Secretary concerned;</text></subclause><subclause id="id522d6115-87d7-49d0-a8a8-f14d1b711189"><enum>(II)</enum><text>compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>); and</text></subclause><subclause id="idd29ed284-b8b9-49dd-b6de-eb3526aa78b8"><enum>(III)</enum><text>such project is carried out in accordance with the applicable forest plan and the laws and policies applicable to the Secretary concerned.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id5714d6ed-d2e1-44b6-a1d0-615e1b4f1039"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Additional emergency actions</header><text>The Secretary may declare an emergency pursuant to section 40807 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6592c">16 U.S.C. 6592c</external-xref>) for any fireshed management project.</text></clause><clause id="idf9d337e6-321c-47f9-830f-57ffb09648d7"><enum>(iv)</enum><header>Fiscal Responsibility Act requirements</header><text>In carrying out this section, the Secretary concerned shall ensure compliance with the amendments made to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>) by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/118/5">Public Law 118–5</external-xref>; 137 Stat. 38).</text></clause><clause id="idfea101f3-2b43-4156-8586-694736e4a25a"><enum>(v)</enum><header>Use of other authorities</header><text>To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary concerned shall use the authorities, if applicable, provided under this section in combination with other authorities to carry out fireshed management projects, including—</text><subclause id="idaad27f2d-53e3-4242-a5d1-6256c689f270"><enum>(I)</enum><text>good neighbor agreements under section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/2113a">16 U.S.C. 2113a</external-xref>) (as amended by this Act);</text></subclause><subclause id="id20b40f96-f710-4925-af08-25422dc8e94b"><enum>(II)</enum><text>stewardship contracting projects entered into under section 604 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591c">16 U.S.C. 6591c</external-xref>) (as amended by this Act);</text></subclause><subclause id="idd86bd5fa-2009-422d-ba0b-68b2a9ccf45d"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">self-determination contracts and self-governance compact agreements entered into under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/5301">25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.</external-xref>); and</text></subclause><subclause id="ide44ae0c0-c488-45f4-9b58-09ea5dd2bdee"><enum>(IV)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">agreements and contracts entered into under the Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/108/278">Public Law 108–278</external-xref>; 118 Stat. 868).</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idffacdec3-6084-4f7d-bb11-6dcb4f046d99"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Expansion</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id34004ddf-cc6f-49ff-b059-a928523e90a9"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Healthy Forests Restoration Act amendments</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idba5b5f26-a0b4-41bc-a80d-a64fa8e7e2cd"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitions</header><text>Section 3 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6502">16 U.S.C. 6502</external-xref>) is amended—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida8acdb0a-fd4e-4a3d-8b3c-36709f36dfcb"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>450b</quote> and inserting <quote>5304</quote>; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0528c814-7039-41cc-9eb0-8b57d2b37531"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0b7c08e0-a784-4519-9511-6b4d53bac1bc" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="idc97d7f74-19cf-436f-a9bd-f3f0f8b62ff8"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Local government</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>local government</term> means—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id566ff84c-37e8-4298-8d5e-0fe29d3f9671"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a county;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5210de64-e754-430a-8e89-239aee3ce164"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a municipality; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1f53962f-8ebe-46b4-b04d-992c423c1bf0"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a special district.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id097b9a8b-bbdc-437c-9c9a-34b717c4e953"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Special district</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>special district</term> means a political subdivision of a State that—</text><subparagraph id="idc1f28028-407f-47db-9115-7c035fb6ac27"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">has significant budgetary autonomy or control;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id95f8ad02-f9fd-493c-b98a-5291592c17b8"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">was established by, or pursuant to, the laws of the State for the purpose of performing a limited and specific governmental or proprietary function primarily relating to forest, watershed, or rangeland management or water supply; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0921b138-5002-4a44-a8de-d12dead28a1f"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is distinct from any other unit of local government within the State.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idff4a1f1e-3511-4abb-98b2-8c64756aeb50"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Administrative review</header><text>Section 603(c) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591b">16 U.S.C. 6591b(c)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd4166551-a013-4ffb-bbae-ded7e3fcb82d"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>3000 acres</quote> and inserting <quote>10,000 acres</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="id04f9af49-0fda-4be3-a3d3-efa370058036"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2)(B), by striking <quote>Fire Regime Groups I, II, or III</quote> and inserting <quote>Fire Regime I, Fire Regime II, Fire Regime III, or Fire Regime IV</quote>.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8814b38c-9bc7-4326-8458-b15102f29ef7"><enum>(C)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Wildfire resilience projects</header><text>Section 605(c) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591d">16 U.S.C. 6591d(c)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3b34b86e-cd87-4495-91d6-bc054f5db31e"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>3000 acres</quote> and inserting <quote>10,000 acres</quote>; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide7bd5196-b8bd-4b28-8c55-427786798ae6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in paragraph (4), by striking <quote>code of Federal regulations (or successor regulations)</quote> and inserting <quote>Code of Federal regulations (or a successor regulation)</quote>.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc3872348-f720-4edb-b66f-bc197fb9b160"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Greater sage-grouse and mule deer habitat</header><text>Section 606 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591e">16 U.S.C. 6591e</external-xref>) is amended—</text><clause id="id7cdfa502-8af8-4768-af4c-18033fab4ac4"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subsection (c), by striking <quote>concurrently for both greater sage-grouse and</quote> and inserting <quote>for greater sage-grouse or</quote>; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide0467e8e-7622-4b6a-96dc-ecef2b6b644a"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subsection (g)(1), by striking <quote>4,500 acres</quote> and inserting <quote>7,500 acres</quote>.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3e498c83-6228-4ec8-ac0f-41fb3bef775c"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act amendment</header><text>Section 40806(d)(1) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6592b">16 U.S.C. 6592b(d)(1)</external-xref>) is amended by striking <quote>3,000 acres</quote> and inserting <quote>10,000 acres</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id336aaf2b3d2b4b2ab74f7ffc16759e8b"><enum>107.</enum><header>Study on the impacts of fireshed management projects on wildfire risk to communities and wildlife habitat</header><subsection id="ida5565da2887348ff9f31c465c526d922"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Study requirement</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, shall enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences, under which the National Academy of Sciences shall conduct 1 or more studies on the impacts of fireshed management projects, including—</text><paragraph id="idfbe439871b8b43aeadcc0f1e40e7486c"><enum>(1)</enum><text>an evaluation of select, regionally varied fireshed management projects and approaches, including—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd61e6034b8c447799e676e08b9dd8e43"><enum>(A)</enum><text>methodologies used to assess fireshed management areas;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf7db3f22aeb54c938d8001c77b5536a9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the reduction in fuel hazards in fireshed management areas;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4c418cfe3f1f400581e1849e0b1dbd71"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the status of, and trends in, watershed conditions;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8e3657b859c941dcabaa8b91b0c176b2"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the economic use of fireshed management project byproducts;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id62bf1f1f0c6049f89a2d17583f88dd01"><enum>(E)</enum><text>local jobs and labor income supported by fireshed management projects; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idcf4e831f46c54a81a748f302795f77c3"><enum>(F)</enum><text>coordinated approaches taken to plan and implement fireshed management projects;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id01a612291aa8429d98bb592be8a75e35"><enum>(2)</enum><text>changes to wildfire risk within fireshed management areas, and to resources of an Indian Tribe, due to fireshed management projects;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id9c71523e6a3c4ea18fb28cf48f1bb8d6"><enum>(3)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idb54500a948784de2994a898f82b5286a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a description of the cost of—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6460912a64f4497189d013fcffccc8c4" indent="up1"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the implementation of section 105; and </text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" indent="up1" id="idbc41cfbf197f449288fc9da15d7316ab"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the development and implementation of fireshed management projects; and </text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3990cdd84cb24e1b9c966a1c1373643e" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an estimate of the amount of the damages avoided as a result of that development and implementation;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="iddd8a897ec36f4ea2b737ffc74db7efee"><enum>(4)</enum><text>an evaluation of how fireshed management projects affect—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcb671d9482f24bbda3e13943127fe6f3"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">critical habitat areas designated under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idce1da95099804bfbb9f333d50e25679b"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the conservation and recovery of species listed as threatened or endangered under the that Act;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idc8469cf215f7497d8750c62e1cfbf5f5"><enum>(5)</enum><text>an identification of fireshed management project best practices for minimizing harm to critical habitat areas described in paragraph (4)(A) and the natural environment while reducing wildfire risk; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idcab8e1d57e8f4bb6a04c705f447d75c2"><enum>(6)</enum><text> recommendations for policy, regulatory, or operational changes to improve fireshed management projects.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id22d6e2924cff4a8796ff94839910cd77"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Engagement</header><text>In conducting the 1 or more studies under subsection (a), the National Academy of Sciences shall—</text><paragraph id="id9d336bdd38e94e89a9338107050ea592"><enum>(1)</enum><text>consult with relevant Federal, State, and Tribal agencies, including the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id482d9a55af124e078fc5af31a1c9aa55"><enum>(2)</enum><text>provide an opportunity for public comment and input during the 1 or more studies, including from nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and other scientific bodies.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id3f1afc56e08d49bd8aecd73c44c31f96"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Submission of report</header><text>As soon as practicable after the conclusion of the 1 more studies under subsection (a), but not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the National Academy of Sciences shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress and the Secretaries 1 or more reports containing the results of the 1 or more studies.</text></subsection></section><section id="idc63f8f8a-0e4c-4ff1-8ae9-cc3280aee362"><enum>108.</enum><header>Sunset</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The authority under this subtitle terminates on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.<italic></italic></text></section></subtitle><subtitle style="OLC" commented="no" level-type="subsequent" id="id7137a246-2757-4666-b0ea-63eac325d601"><enum>B</enum><header>Expanding collaborative tools to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health</header><section id="id33ccad3e-3407-49f3-817e-0a6b4c28506a"><enum>111.</enum><header>Modification of treatment of certain revenue and payments under good neighbor agreements</header><subsection id="id68716d6a-0bab-4d39-9db1-b38bb12247d1"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Good neighbor authority</header><text>Section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/2113a">16 U.S.C. 2113a</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id66fc21d4-32f6-4c3f-979d-0fa7b8ef5a21"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a)—</text><subparagraph id="id1715984a-9e30-45dd-9e63-38ee7fb5eb33"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)(B), by striking <quote>either the Secretary or a Governor or county</quote> and inserting <quote>the Secretary, a Governor, an Indian tribe, a special district, or a county</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id04ebc918-a7dc-409a-8feb-2112f9074903" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (5), by striking <quote>Governor or</quote> and inserting <quote>Governor, an Indian tribe, a special district, or a</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idaa1ffe11-2035-4b83-9210-1c8b0d372c70"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (6), by striking <quote>or Indian tribe</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0b76220b-ed98-4bb8-8d00-be5b1b9b3ea4"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block id="id14956175-764d-4e8d-8758-bb93de5c8041" display-inline="no-display-inline" style="OLC" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="ida1b65414-de81-4fcf-bc33-978de9ee3abc"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Special district</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>special district</term> means a political subdivision of a State that—</text><subparagraph id="id13d69a39-37f7-49fd-bf5e-bfa035036fa8"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">has significant budgetary autonomy or control;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7350e681-9130-4793-a513-8a1063ba3cf4"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">was established by, or pursuant to, the laws of the State for the purpose of performing a limited and specific governmental or proprietary function primarily relating to forest, watershed, or rangeland management or water supply; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id49a6fdb4-fc37-47bc-8361-cafd077acd7e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is distinct from any other unit of local government within the State.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="iddd11e2db-f374-4719-8f70-8d492f01bdea"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (b)—</text><subparagraph id="id458c2c7c-14d5-484a-8e61-4565a35c9a9d"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)(A), by striking <quote>or county</quote> and inserting <quote>, an Indian tribe, a special district, or a county</quote>; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="iddd3c7578-3cc1-42d0-8f0a-9a19be30725e"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)(C)—</text><clause id="idc5e9ea2f-2337-4283-a80d-b3ca3fa00405"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in clause (i)—</text><subclause id="id3587644a-8578-4965-af2b-1d415248e310"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in the matter preceding subclause (I), by inserting <quote>special district,</quote> after <quote>Indian Tribe,</quote> each place it appears;</text></subclause><subclause id="id6e7789d9-b3f7-4a9a-9d2f-179b328d9915"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in subclause (I)—</text><item id="idbfdd9666-af0b-499f-8b65-a1cbb8ed3986"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>by striking <quote>on</quote>; and</text></item><item id="id0a626867-828d-4b80-885b-dd9f3efa03d2"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>by striking <quote>; and</quote> and inserting a semicolon;</text></item></subclause><subclause id="idc3c1c88f-c5b1-4c47-ba2c-0114350922ab"><enum>(III)</enum><text>in subclause (II)—</text><item commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idaa45dd61-cec1-4c27-9871-4ce82ad92a17"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>in the matter preceding item (aa), by striking <quote>clause (i)</quote> and inserting <quote>subclause (I)</quote>; and</text></item><item id="id2f6b942b-8658-41c5-b35a-da9abdfb8964" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(bb)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in item (bb), by striking <quote>the Good Neighbor Authority for Recreation Act.</quote> and inserting <quote>section 351 of the EXPLORE Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/8571">16 U.S.C. 8571</external-xref>);</quote>; and </text></item></subclause><subclause id="ida68fa6ac-968b-42fa-ae24-681f0d5d1289"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc36c9ff1-e373-453d-b555-3b7e99a8b86b" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><subclause id="id077833bf-d5cd-4661-8652-0e46a2bbae04"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">if there are funds remaining after carrying out subclause (II)—</text><item commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide791145a-e95e-4ca7-ae62-ee9c2dfe5559"><enum>(aa)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to carry out authorized restoration services under other good neighbor agreements; and</text></item><item commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5a4b319c-2574-4250-8fc1-5cc78fa1749e"><enum>(bb)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">for the administration of a good neighbor authority program by a Governor, Indian tribe, special district, or county.</text></item></subclause><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subclause></clause><clause id="id2d4d03f5-f216-48c5-8c93-98dd4ceac740"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in clause (ii), by striking <quote>2028</quote> and inserting <quote>2030</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7f428137-0b34-4838-9482-77d44d05b2a2"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in paragraph (3), by striking <quote>or county</quote> and inserting <quote>, an Indian tribe, a special district, or a county</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id76e9e64e-a5b4-404e-8f2e-4cfdf27490ee" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (4).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4c39b4e5-e5c6-4d8d-bd0c-de3e0a96ef14"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Technical amendment</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6b51c1c8-721b-4f21-aa38-2a88d98147e1"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>Section 443 of division E of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/118/42">Public Law 118–42</external-xref> (138 Stat. 297) is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking <quote>Agriculture Act of 2014</quote> and inserting <quote>Agricultural Act of 2014</quote>.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6d9cb2a6-a7b6-49fb-ad49-6ebc49c23d44"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect on the date of enactment of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/118/42">Public Law 118–42</external-xref> (138 Stat. 25).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id798ce86b-45f6-4d11-b354-01391bda14d3"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Effective date</header><text>The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to any project initiated pursuant to a good neighbor agreement (as defined in section 8206(a) of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/2113a">16 U.S.C. 2113a(a)</external-xref>))—</text><paragraph id="idf55bc31d-2268-43f2-8445-d33b769f43d8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>before the date of enactment of this Act, if the project was initiated after the date of enactment of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/115/334">Public Law 115–334</external-xref>; 132 Stat. 4490); or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8be098e8-35d3-48db-974f-be0055f1a489" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text>on or after the date of enactment of this Act. </text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id8f4b87f2-35f8-4270-a1bf-6473ffd19206"><enum>112.</enum><header>Fixing stewardship end result contracting</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 604 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591c">16 U.S.C. 6591c</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="idd1e1a979-4568-4be3-93b9-e4762114d3ab"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (b), by inserting <quote>, including retaining and expanding existing forest products infrastructure necessary to carry out an agreement or contract under this subsection</quote> before the period at the end; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7cd79920-584b-49e1-b766-1d662c94c3e2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (d)(3)(B), by striking <quote>10 years</quote> and inserting <quote>20 years</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5f328d85-efc2-4800-be17-df976f5025d6"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (h), by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id140cf04f-0b32-4af4-b78e-d96fc6041cea" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="idf7cb3a6e-b1aa-4b6f-b58b-774ce76c818d"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Special rule for long-term stewardship contracts</header><subparagraph id="idf439c1f32fbc4b39989228aeabfccfca"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Definition of multiyear contract</header><text>In this paragraph, the term <term>multiyear contract</term> means a contract entered into under subsection (b) that—</text><clause id="id74c4ec17098f457890e4f99e4b86cdb1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>has a term of longer than 5 years; and</text></clause><clause id="id868b228534244f6ba0a1d16990b12a17"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>is entered into on or after the date of enactment of this paragraph.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id261ce6cc67784ba3b25085afa00a8e76"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Special rule</header><text>A multiyear contract entered into under subsection (b) by the Chief or the Director with an entity shall provide that, in the case of cancellation or termination of the multiyear contract by the Chief or the Director, the Chief or the Director, as applicable, shall provide to the entity a cancellation or termination payment that is the lesser of—</text><clause id="id15fbfc2b2d6b4429bc53daa4e3915b4e"><enum>(i)</enum><text>an amount equal to 10 percent of the multiyear contract; or</text></clause><clause id="idc3dc805f1dba44b3943cb87aad60538c"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the amount of unrecovered costs that would have been recouped through amortization over the full term of the contract (including the term canceled).</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="ida53f0bd8-d137-4389-bbf3-38acf3854d0d"><enum>113.</enum><header>Fireshed management project strike teams</header><subsection id="id36667471-1cf8-4027-92be-ea66f97f7eb2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The Secretary concerned shall establish strike teams to assist the Secretary concerned with—</text><paragraph id="id60cb4457-ed02-455a-96a3-81972abba2c8"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any reviews, including analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>), consultations under division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code (formerly known as the <quote>National Historic Preservation Act</quote>), and consultations under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>), with the intent to accelerate and streamline interagency consultation processes;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5c8978a8-7d26-43bf-9dec-b62bc5f6034f"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the implementation of any necessary site preparation work in advance of, or as part of, a fireshed management project;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id34f7adaa-2f1d-44d2-8286-b1e023759739"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the implementation of fireshed management projects; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd6a9c848-56c8-41ea-8c91-46d6fc8f929e"><enum>(4)</enum><text>any combination of purposes described in paragraphs (1) through (3).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id490e15d4-4553-4790-a5fd-3e3b7891d848"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Members</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5a8b05ff-90dd-422c-8e6c-63451d6914d6"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>The Secretary concerned may appoint not more than 10 individuals to serve on a strike team under this section, to be composed of—</text><subparagraph id="id0caa4a95-edf0-434b-ac1f-b88d1788c0a3"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">employees of the department under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id821ef186-1b8e-48e8-baa5-88a900682257"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">employees of a different Federal department or agency, with the consent of the head of that department or agency; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc78aeba8-5587-4e91-b2e8-eced5496d0b0"><enum>(C)</enum><text>private contractors or volunteers from any nonprofit organization, State government, Indian Tribe, local government, quasi-governmental agency, academic institution, or private organization.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id12b1577d-d97d-49e3-820c-4b8913b509ee"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>In appointing individuals under paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall appoint not fewer than 1 employee of the Federal agency with jurisdiction over the applicable Federal land.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id47d3e6fd-1ee2-4ab7-af64-f8da85f163ef"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Review responsibility</header><text>The Secretary concerned shall—</text><paragraph id="id125f94f2-f695-409c-a142-0ab482f3d7a9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>determine the sufficiency of the documents prepared by a strike team under this section; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8374c4e6-72c4-4bc5-b629-e89c71f66310"><enum>(2)</enum><text>retain responsibility for any authorizing decision relating to such a document.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id30b34e03-a684-40a7-86c0-bc9887f6fb37"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The authority under this section terminates on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section id="id29d3c44d-37e8-4d97-aa4f-20477cdf97ba"><enum>114.</enum><header>Locally led restoration</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 14(d) of the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/472a">16 U.S.C. 472a(d)</external-xref>) is amended, in the first sentence, by striking <quote>$10,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$55,000</quote>.</text></section><section id="idc8eb8cf2-0168-49ab-82a1-6a1122e4060e"><enum>115.</enum><header>Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership Program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 40808 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6592d">16 U.S.C. 6592d</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="idb6ff627f-486c-44fd-8469-2fc0ffa5d6f2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a)(2)—</text><subparagraph id="id5061c071-84f7-41c0-bf0a-fffb4af04683"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>or</quote> at the end;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd76dd9c7-42c4-460c-903c-66e63c3ecfe7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9f94c4d9-e7c2-49ea-bda4-c8ee8d58ca0c"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="id4d0ed45a-7a3f-4ec0-a41d-0967559a1b69" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><subparagraph id="id3d24b33c-f9a8-4def-8178-2339999eb40b"><enum>(D)</enum><text>to recover from wildfire; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2e095fad-dafd-42f0-a26a-c8349a38594f"><enum>(E)</enum><text>to enhance soil, water, and related natural resources.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9fa795b8-02d4-4051-a2b0-c5a4c5b61c81"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (d)(1)—</text><subparagraph id="id6f6d1859-4a6f-4472-8e5a-86cb568c4bf7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), by inserting <quote>and post-wildfire impacts</quote> after <quote>wildfire risk</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id45aad1a9-6922-4d78-9039-fd39eeae6562"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subparagraph (F), by inserting <quote>, as identified in the corresponding State forest action plan, Tribal-integrated resource management plan or Tribal forest management plan, or similar priority plan (such as a State wildlife or water plan)</quote> before the semicolon;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id432fee90-3620-4438-b660-a1984d73656a"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (g), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6a43750b-9bc8-43be-b339-eea49e353142" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="idb415a18d-31fd-49da-b7b3-f95ab4c9c3da"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Additional reports</header><text>For each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023, and not less frequently than once every 2 fiscal years thereafter, the Chiefs shall submit a report describing projects for which funding is provided under the Program, including the status and outcomes of those projects, to—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8aa6cc79-8f5e-4b8f-b868-25f28ad3fabb"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the Senate—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5a4e65ce-9c49-4808-8f3c-8d9156569fbc"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idabb9f5cc-fe24-46d2-ad35-177ea078cefb"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; </text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd70d6440-04d7-42e6-89bd-8993ae1f0e10"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Appropriations; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id62369690417744b5ae254f1b027e7f08"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the Committee on Indian Affairs; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida547d04c-6dfe-4e0c-8299-4a7c76bc6a58"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the House of Representatives—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id14b71e84-669d-4254-822b-eb9a92806ea6"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Agriculture;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id029de269-eb69-4f37-9971-8371ab65dc31"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Natural Resources; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id99422376-beab-4ed2-b29a-29600dae6474"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Committee on Appropriations.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="id399a6d6a-66eb-450e-ba1c-e2fe14b275c5" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in subsection (h)(1), by striking <quote>and 2023</quote> and inserting <quote>through 2031</quote>.</text></paragraph></section><section id="idA2D7D533D0F44131977623F055C288A5"><enum>116.</enum><header>Collaborative forest landscape restoration program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 4003 of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/7303">16 U.S.C. 7303</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="idDA1BFBD85C7049C5ABFF55B2BBEC8F58"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (b)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9135b2af-fcf2-452a-99c4-d706e29da1e8"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (2)(B)(ii), by striking <quote>500 note</quote> and inserting <quote>7125</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idcc7ec9b6-3075-406e-965d-2dc61621871b" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (3)—</text><clause id="idDE27B1A38F6140E0A8B9FEEF3E0DED28"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subparagraph (D), by striking <quote>species;</quote> and inserting <quote>species or pathogens;</quote>;</text></clause><clause id="id18D5540822FE4B1CA56EB905DCDF9D2C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (G), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></clause><clause id="id64B7AC82EA8F40DAA4822C764638BEA3"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (H), by adding <quote>and</quote> after the semicolon at the end; and</text></clause><clause id="id4453FD6634CC4943828F09F2157D8E16"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA51E28AAC42F4A069BEFFB8A316DBDBE" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><subparagraph id="idFDC9BE233AA24DB58FF5B316FF6D0231"><enum>(I)</enum><text>address standardized monitoring questions and indicators;</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idA472453E13E3477E81E299A570BC6588"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (c)(3)(A)—</text><subparagraph id="id89A7F3F41839439AAFDDA534F67FBEE7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in clause (i), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8A364FA6F38A46D6910D6EDC0F416868"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in clause (ii), by adding <quote>and</quote> at the end; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idAEF3829BD57141E3936CAB69D90C9457"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4C89187448EC4C6BB96A3564D270BF97" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><clause id="id259F42D368DB49C9B023E3F5773375F1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>include a Federal Government staffing plan for providing support to collaboratives established pursuant to subsection (b)(2);</text></clause><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idA3BA1632DBA04957AF21B6D333AD2154"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (d)—</text><subparagraph id="idD046460AAE8D4ABA9BDAFE29BDFAD6CA"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)—</text><clause id="idD631423127DF4E2B855347FF30A5B3B1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subparagraph (E), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></clause><clause id="idF3231C84340C468A95D42748291D5802"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and</text></clause><clause id="idA19431A8F4F948DD8EC9610CE5552D18"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB13244E6143944E485AC6E81C3861DC5" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><subparagraph id="id253d3cdb11214e168da533f420588aec"><enum>(G)</enum><text>proposals that seek to use innovative implementation mechanisms, including conservation finance agreements, good neighbor agreements entered into under section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/2113a">16 U.S.C. 2113a</external-xref>), and similar implementation mechanisms;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id68fadca996114cd4999f55ea1da9ceb4"><enum>(H)</enum><text>proposals that seek to reduce the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire or increase ecological restoration activities—</text><clause id="idE86A1ABDCA35406CBFBED59D4CC58970"><enum>(i)</enum><text>within areas across land ownerships, including State, Tribal, and private land; and</text></clause><clause id="id3EE8CCEAD1F6402098C5CA006A4D3AB3"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>within the wildland-urban interface (as defined in section 101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6511">16 U.S.C. 6511</external-xref>)); and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idad8168a8ca1b45f1b92e3f0a4d10c768"><enum>(I)</enum><text>proposals that seek to enhance watershed health and drinking water sources.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6C9FEA038E7E4511ABCED58140C5CCBB"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (3)—</text><clause id="id9E531A53280743AE9D7C8251EC020D52"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subparagraph (A), by striking <quote>10</quote> and inserting <quote>20</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="idB25C965BFE454800A6EEE6914386BF4A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>2</quote> and inserting <quote>4</quote>;</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idA3A3903DE9C74217AA6DE9478E57B581"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in subsection (e)(3), by inserting <quote>conflict resolution or collaborative governance,</quote> before <quote>and woody</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1D2B5E40166F4C8299B53C3F5993CD90"><enum>(5)</enum><text>in subsection (f)—</text><subparagraph id="idFB60C8818FF84C07B6275B1B722B2237"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (4)(B)(ii), by striking <quote>$4,000,000</quote> and inserting <quote>$8,000,000</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB7D1E9B0C33C46E6873A84716C82D614" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (6), by striking <quote>2023</quote> and inserting <quote>2034</quote>.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="id54ced39c-69a4-4af8-9119-1153d3641486"><enum>117.</enum><header>Utilizing grazing for wildfire risk reduction</header><subsection id="ida1858cfb-7e49-4bc1-bfa3-125c7405ac3e"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Strategy</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id67c26db2-0745-4bdf-b619-3d2df30bc3ab"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned, in coordination with the holders of permits to graze livestock on Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned and in consultation with other relevant stakeholders, shall develop a strategy to utilize livestock grazing as a wildfire risk reduction tool on Federal land, consistent with the laws applicable to the Secretary concerned.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id33f004bf-96b5-48c2-90d0-3c8aa05f418a"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Inclusions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The strategy under paragraph (1) shall include—</text><subparagraph id="ide64e83fd-c49c-4f9d-ba02-1de32e2bcb5f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the completion of any reviews required under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>) to allow permitted grazing on vacant grazing allotments during instances of drought, wildfire, or other natural disasters that disrupt grazing on allotments already permitted;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5b244eb6-22e9-4033-a269-a5f06e80eaf5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the use of targeted grazing to reduce hazardous fuels;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id606a3404-f8ed-47ec-9639-1dade1181a44"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an increased use of temporary permits to promote targeted fuels reduction and reduction of invasive annual grasses;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idcee96a36-bc84-4eba-a9d6-2ae9b242a9be"><enum>(D)</enum><text>an increased use of livestock grazing—</text><clause id="idd26721a5-39fd-4f33-b6e2-8d917fe50928"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to eradicate invasive annual grasses; and</text></clause><clause id="id38ae631d-d92e-4681-bb45-78075695b7fe"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>as a post-fire restoration and recovery strategy, as appropriate;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9e7f1035-77cf-4819-81d7-2858ff748b55"><enum>(E)</enum><text>an integrated use of advanced technologies to dynamically adjust livestock placement;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id58214334-eb56-4962-804c-d7648c4e2876"><enum>(F)</enum><text>an increased use of any authorities applicable to livestock grazing, including modifications to grazing permits or leases to allow variances pursuant to paragraph (3);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb5a0a7bc-1d29-42e0-89c5-2fa9a723de0f"><enum>(G)</enum><text>the utilization of grazing on Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned in a manner that—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4e5cecde-7ff5-4ebf-901c-7efe790f637c"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">avoids conflicts with other uses of that Federal land; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id62ced771-5bf9-48d6-a5fb-a35f5002bdbd"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is consistent with any applicable land management plan; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idefea99bc-135c-433e-ac0d-b3640c15030e"><enum>(H)</enum><text>the use of any other means determined to be appropriate by the Secretary concerned.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idfd825faed685490e9cb3de0afa3a83a3"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Variances</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4af246e25cf945c4bec7373cf7c18c95"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">At the request of an authorized grazing permittee or lessee, the Secretary concerned may allow a temporary variance to the terms and conditions of a grazing permit or lease to address significant changes in weather, forage production, the effects of fire or drought, or other temporary circumstances that impact resource conditions, to facilitate the long-term ecological health of the Federal land.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id361538e7ec56410db7893d505385e8f8"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Variances</header><text>In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretary concerned may authorize a temporary variance to the terms and conditions of the applicable grazing permit or lease to adjust the beginning date, the ending date, both the beginning date and ending date, or water transportation, as applicable, as specified in the applicable grazing permit or lease, subject to—</text><clause id="idac4d062077954201a8e9ac93556a4a17"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the requirement that, unless otherwise specified in the appropriate allotment management plan or any other activity plan that is the functional equivalent to the appropriate allotment management plan under section 4120.2(a)(3) of title 43, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation), the applicable adjusted date of the season of use—</text><subclause id="id8e6468ed84a74902a700fe241735f787"><enum>(I)</enum><text>occurs—</text><item id="id7bcbf69e64494fc4aa5ed8e3a601d42e"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>not earlier than 21 days before the beginning date specified in the applicable grazing permit or lease; or</text></item><item id="id788973d8e2fa44f2855a2753bd234680"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>not later than 21 days after the ending date specified in the applicable grazing permit or lease; and</text></item></subclause><subclause id="id59f5e4714de84b5e9c660f7dd21774b9"><enum>(II)</enum><text>would not result in forage removal that exceeds the amount of active use specified in the applicable grazing permit or lease; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="idad56dc312b064ee8aca13498b3d5cf2f"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the requirement that, in accordance with applicable law (including regulations) and the terms and conditions of the applicable grazing permit or lease, an authorized grazing permittee or lessee using a variance under this paragraph shall develop and use a monitoring plan determined to be acceptable to the Secretary concerned as a reasonable way to track the effects of the variance on the long-term ecological health of the allotment on which the variance is used.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0a97ee45-a356-4ba8-8cc7-b5265e53faf7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effect on existing grazing programs</header><text>Nothing in this section affects—</text><paragraph id="id9d9811e2-d2ed-4f25-a991-f43700c23e62"><enum>(1)</enum><text>any livestock grazing program carried out by the Secretary concerned as of the date of enactment of this Act; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id69bbd459-9ac3-4192-8a5a-ef5368caf8a6" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text>any statutory authority for any program described in paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section" id="idb7bbb949-d7e3-4aac-99ab-a47f523bd5ac"><enum>118.</enum><header>Water Source Protection Program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 303 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6542">16 U.S.C. 6542</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id9e0038f2-9210-47eb-aad8-dbc08df25373"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a)—</text><subparagraph id="id91faafb4-2bc0-461f-abb3-c4f0d38f896d"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (7) as paragraphs (2) through (8), respectively;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1d1ee1a1-ca78-4020-819b-094c8c62ca0d"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by inserting before paragraph (2) (as so redesignated) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idefbe223a-7291-4a7b-a20e-f5a75d060c26" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="idbd3c151e-4786-4e66-9ebe-4c0b5bd7a3bd"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Adjacent land</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>adjacent land</term> means non-Federal land, including State, local, Tribal, and private land, that is adjacent to, and within the same watershed as, National Forest System land on which a watershed protection and restoration project is carried out under this section.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id04973043-7dfd-4f0d-baa0-c21d03c86c59"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated)—</text><clause id="id5111d6de-40e2-46fa-b13d-c4c27cbb696d"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraphs (G) and (H) as subparagraphs (K) and (L), respectively; and</text></clause><clause id="ida3cf5679-a930-46ce-a0ab-475da1fd14b0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida721b99c-cfb0-473a-ba55-80ece0623d4c" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><subparagraph id="idccc920bd-0957-46e1-88bc-2590dd57c98b"><enum>(G)</enum><text>an acequia association;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id34921ed2-bebe-439d-b12d-a98508404664"><enum>(H)</enum><text>a local, regional, or other public entity that manages stormwater or wastewater resources or other related water infrastructure;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id96ea787a-65d3-43ab-be40-7e47ebd41ad7"><enum>(I)</enum><text>a land-grant mercedes; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idaa5d6315-5776-4a61-846c-fdd57337a1d5"><enum>(J)</enum><text>a local, regional, or other private entity that has water delivery authority;</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; </after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id864d1558-cc15-4d58-a2fd-9d3ea877b60a"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (b)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida960e0fb-250a-4cc2-95fb-74b43fc07b93"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>and adjacent land</quote> before the period at the end;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id72845cc3-a8bb-4170-a075-d0b32b006f55"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking <quote>The Secretary</quote> and inserting the following: </text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3a2f7385-f955-4827-bb31-d5f134774eeb" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="idc9a90207-e018-41e9-9310-7b0c376d659e"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7488c3d4-4802-432b-b8d8-d78fdee80f84"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc68c4679-ee26-41d0-a0a3-bade0011a7ee" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="id2f34037f-ab01-4f2e-bc04-dda188e70404"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>A watershed protection and restoration project under the Program shall be designed—</text><subparagraph id="idaf28777a-3322-4d6f-9481-957f609b2a2e"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to protect and restore watershed health, water supply and quality, a municipal or agricultural water supply system, and water-related infrastructure;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id68bc4bb8-5023-448e-91b4-4ae39d8af20f"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to protect and restore forest health from insect infestation and disease or wildfire; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id835a8fd9-adfb-4cce-80e8-fa49f05f7319"><enum>(C)</enum><text>to advance any combination of the purposes described in subparagraphs (A) and (B).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id09f2bb6e-c590-447d-baa3-2028ec0b6c7c"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Priorities</header><text>In selecting watershed protection and restoration projects under the Program, the Secretary shall give priority to projects that would—</text><subparagraph id="idfad488da-892b-44fc-95be-fc74b195e4db"><enum>(A)</enum><text>provide risk management benefits associated with drought, wildfire, post-wildfire conditions, extreme weather events, flooding, resilience to climate change, and watershed and fire resilience, including minimizing risks to watershed health, water supply and quality, and water-related infrastructure, including municipal and agricultural water supply systems;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0a8837cc-6a1f-4799-b838-ec41f75bde17"><enum>(B)</enum><text>support aquatic restoration and conservation efforts that complement existing or planned forest restoration or wildfire risk reduction efforts;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1f8a0867-6c0b-4e75-8ac1-3a80c0549bfa"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">provide quantifiable benefits to water supply or quality and include the use of nature-based solutions, such as restoring wetland and riparian ecosystems;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc64e6b78-00ca-41c0-96a8-14526b355c23"><enum>(D)</enum><text>include—</text><clause id="id29fbb345-4586-444e-ba77-78dcacb01612"><enum>(i)</enum><text>partners with demonstrated capacity to, and success in, designing and implementing ecological restoration projects, wildfire risk-reduction efforts, or post-wildfire restoration projects; or</text></clause><clause id="id8c2eb60f-46ac-45f5-9d71-ec0d4cec06e1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in the case of communities that have historically lacked access to adequate resources, partners with a strong likelihood of success in designing and implementing a watershed protection and restoration project; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd7586749-e4d7-4ead-9310-7fc16162c49f"><enum>(E)</enum><text>include—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id79fb45a9-fd78-4fb1-bc7f-aaec17a256c3"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a contribution of funds or in-kind support from non-Federal partners in an amount greater than the amount required under subsection (g)(2); or</text></clause><clause id="id03a88fda-c0d5-4f08-afed-cd171af4410c"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>such other characteristics as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ida6090b03-93c5-4446-a92c-2bb6dba80baa"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Conditions for projects on adjacent land</header><subparagraph id="id9d846df5-7913-4432-a5ce-5d3ba2a86140"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>No project or activity may be carried out under this section on adjacent land, unless the owner of the adjacent land provides express support for, and is a willing and engaged partner in, carrying out that project or activity.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id18959d39-5839-42ef-9ed8-7b48da9cc750"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Effect</header><text>Nothing in this section authorizes any change in—</text><clause id="idf444f178-975e-4dad-9a26-50892d9282b6"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the ownership of adjacent land on which a project or activity is carried out under this section; or</text></clause><clause id="id7903c1fa-4290-418e-ae3d-e1dba6a5d817"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the management of adjacent land on which a project or activity is carried out under this section, except during the carrying out of that project or activity.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id40ff23c8-7f19-47cf-95dd-b5b5050e088a"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (c)—</text><subparagraph id="idc0eee955-52ae-427c-9efe-0a0b68501ac4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>agreements with</quote> and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting the following: </text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id4542cb49-6e01-4e1e-8535-031e91d49543" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><text>agreements with end water users to protect and restore the condition of National Forest watersheds and adjacent land that provide water to—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide83996d0-f7ab-4586-a1fc-d82a42c590e7"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">end water users; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9d8ef36a-9ee4-4f5b-9b31-16335bf24daf"><enum>(B)</enum><text>end water users to protect and restore the condition of National Forest watersheds and adjacent land that provide water for the benefit of another end water user.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id298898f9-a399-4ded-b8e3-912f4e3d5f64"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)—</text><clause id="id9f17d73c-6e51-4134-a784-6280e4c45789"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C), by striking <quote>or</quote> at the end;</text></clause><clause id="id01f301e4-a357-40d4-a746-ffdb3ca7f3e2"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E); and</text></clause><clause id="id791da4aa-ab4b-4850-a49d-940c45075e25"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following: </text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd7b44e9d-ab6e-498a-926a-891480342424" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><subparagraph id="id6408afec-1272-42b5-be31-2e4c398ad2f2"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the case of an agreement with a State, a county, or an Indian tribe for a project carried out on National Forest System land—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9eb3107dd7864eaba35d93ea4d0a54d3"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a good neighbor agreement entered into under section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/2113a">16 U.S.C. 2113a</external-xref>); or</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idca2f6203b03d4badb29f984cc5186b9d"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an agreement or contract entered into under the Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/108/278">Public Law 108–278</external-xref>; 118 Stat. 868); or</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8617cd44-e25d-4f50-b3d4-9b2a6341aa4c"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb3ddea33-9e23-4ba4-ba74-60604d22a3b8" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="id6800ccbc-8ece-4d98-a658-281f6b270213"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Cooperation with non-Federal partners</header><text>The Secretary shall cooperate, to the maximum extent practicable, with non-Federal partners in carrying out assessments, planning, project design, and project implementation under this section.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ida6dc9343-88e4-4a62-a5f2-943032e8c22d"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in subsection (d)—</text><subparagraph id="id2014be96-cfb4-4559-b565-69eba8149419"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4b5cbca6-e120-48a0-93d7-3c1c381e900e" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="idc4983e8c-18e8-4b56-963f-5a50037f763a"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>A water source management plan shall be—</text><subparagraph id="idd3b2c2d6-b647-446c-8e2a-3a26ec2dc43a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>designed to protect and restore ecological integrity (as defined in section 219.19 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date of enactment of this subparagraph));</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc1420fd7-e2a3-47f5-9238-3c08f5bfa13a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>based on the best available scientific information; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idce739be1-9b62-4be1-a9a3-84786c262a24"><enum>(C)</enum><text>conducted in a manner consistent with the forest plan applicable to the National Forest System land on which the watershed protection and restoration project is carried out.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5f4b55de-2b36-4585-88da-91861a7fba93"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following: </text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id38f16e5c-6bd4-4141-996c-f73feb09ef22" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="id10acf0c9-c45e-417b-8d1c-3626abb4ec69"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Reducing redundancy</header><text>An existing watershed plan, such as a watershed protection and restoration action plan developed under section 304(a)(3), or other applicable watershed planning documents approved by the Secretary may be used as the basis for a water source management plan under this subsection.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id4f93fbe0-3e60-44ff-8199-8e972c4c1586"><enum>(5)</enum><text>in subsection (e)(1), by striking <quote>purpose of</quote> in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting <quote>purpose of advancing any of the purposes described in subsection (b)(2).</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idae7db26f-ab0c-4c23-9c8d-d489c6d01224"><enum>(6)</enum><text>in subsection (g)—</text><subparagraph id="id6f02e2d2-3424-45d7-bff7-9c4cd8607ea1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)—</text><clause id="id40494e67-8791-4590-b6ed-aa9ffc5d88c9"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>at least equal to</quote> and inserting <quote>not less than 20 percent of</quote>;</text></clause><clause id="id0c0ab6bb-4051-475a-8971-e45bcc521cb7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>The Secretary</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf883d3e5-edc2-4b9c-bdd5-c765bc4cb423" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><subparagraph id="id594b996d-09a6-4651-b92e-394aed59c053"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idef947cc7-c432-4709-b2fb-884398facaf6"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idda7b8f5e-a6c8-4ab9-be0d-9766a3c44053" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><subparagraph id="id56bec1c3-a410-41cf-b56d-a3ecad5de3c6"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Waiver</header><text>The Secretary may waive the requirement under subparagraph (A) at the discretion of the Secretary.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf102cf39-0d81-45cc-b408-9e3f22780e13"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (4)—</text><clause id="idecdf861a-bcbe-4673-bbcf-5d97f06c6b6c"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>fiscal years 2019 through 2023</quote> and inserting <quote>fiscal years 2025 through 2031</quote>;</text></clause><clause id="id671fe39e-f173-4e82-ba97-0bafc3c12890"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); and</text></clause><clause id="id9356db9f-5981-417d-b1e6-9732cd731607"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id705b37f3-3987-40b7-8da4-8b10a0d8ab15" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><subparagraph id="id26b3cec4-c94c-44b4-868b-eafc977d8cde"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Set-aside for partner participation in planning and capacity</header><text>Of the amounts made available under subparagraphs (A) and (B) to carry out this section for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall use not less than 10 percent for non-Federal partner technical assistance participation and capacity-building efforts in developing or implementing a water source management plan under subsection (d).</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id995aff1f-e364-4e49-b4c4-ca09d27400bb"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb08330cb-91a4-4aea-a1b1-2ecae715ebef" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="idac733e72-dc5c-4325-90d6-f902c9ca4dcf"><enum>(5)</enum><header>In-kind contributions</header><text>The Secretary may include the value of forest restoration and watershed improvement work implemented on adjacent land in the project area in determining in-kind contributions to a project from non-Federal partners under paragraph (4)(A).</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="id83d8c5b0-4735-45ac-bb49-8cc5fabe8cfe" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>119.</enum><header>Watershed Condition Framework technical corrections</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 304(a) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6543">16 U.S.C. 6543(a)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id7cabe581-4944-4614-acc6-f1923f2dedec"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (3)(A), by inserting <quote>protection and</quote> before <quote>restoration</quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id585ce490-72fb-47a5-ba68-31956f8878bb"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (5), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5464b7d9-3fc5-4538-a934-cfc127efc675"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idee28ab5e-73f9-4cad-9837-fcc9582cf861"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id85cb4a84-1d4d-4b75-aa9f-010e4c39af05" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="id540d0ee5-c030-45bf-9dfa-fcfa4ea024b6"><enum>(7)</enum><text>to ensure that management activities and authorizations do not result in long-term degradation of watershed health of any watershed in a National Forest.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="idc6c69b6d-181c-4e15-8d22-35733791c512"><enum>120.</enum><header>Tribal forest protection management activities and projects</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 8703 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/3115b">25 U.S.C. 3115b</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="idd1b5c5dc-9386-4b77-82f0-72f1f5fd2145"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the section heading, by striking <quote><header-in-text style="OLC" level="section">management demonstration project</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text style="OLC" level="section">protection management activities and projects</header-in-text></quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id92a011d7-2fe5-4279-b549-f5e0c9b61880"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4508837d-8a66-4c06-9bb7-b8de852e30e8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in subsection (a)—</text><subparagraph id="id519169b3-bde7-4402-aa75-b5f2bd7eda32"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking <quote>demonstration</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id64530bec-e199-4ecc-8640-831428cf8fa4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking <quote>federally recognized</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2f9f6d45-c026-460f-bac0-5f7269a5cb84"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by striking <quote>programs of</quote> and inserting <quote>activities and projects under</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide2e196931de14a66a3a546580a4abf47"><enum>(D)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>or compacts</quote> after <quote>contracts</quote>;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfc71c355-88dd-46f2-b270-368d1b063b8b"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>5304 et seq.</quote> and inserting <quote>5301 et seq.</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb310ba0f-68e2-4d09-b14e-225c9ffd1f56"><enum>(F)</enum><text>by striking the subsection designation and heading and all that follows through <quote>and the Secretary</quote> and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id966c72c6-fbf9-4e13-abb7-b3a7d4f8e8ff" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><subsection id="idf0bbc25e-6f91-44b2-921d-0c2a5d786728"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="idb35f65fa-e273-464e-af1b-7829bf1b33fb"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Indian Tribe</header><text>The term <term>Indian Tribe</term> has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/5304">25 U.S.C. 5304</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id88043525-80a7-48d5-9ea9-3201c9e0baf3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Tribal organization</header><text>The term <term>Tribal organization</term> has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/5304">25 U.S.C. 5304</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idd90a5f4f-fbeb-45a5-9939-675fe06de1ac"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Activities and projects</header><text>The Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior</text></subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id300669f0-429b-4173-b234-f0d9e3e314da"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in subsection (c) (as so redesignated)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0ce5b685aea7436e956cc743a42c9f8a"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>contract or project</quote> each place it appears and inserting <quote>contract, compact, or project</quote>; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd4326aca-6cb3-47b0-8af2-7b56b8e6b613"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking <quote>subsection (a)</quote> and inserting <quote>subsection (b)</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb9250f5b-205b-463d-b4bf-049e468ed5e6"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>5304 et seq.</quote> and inserting <quote>5301 et seq.</quote>; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id25765154-9dd6-44e1-ade1-6e6da117cab8"><enum>(5)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcf2b31a9-e643-4131-bdb5-e5361c98252a" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8a27f01500f34bffae93ae10dc001c9a"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Tort claims procedure</header><text>For purposes of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/28/171">chapter 171</external-xref> of title 28, United States Code, an employee of an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization that enters into an agreement, contract, or compact under subsection (b) shall be considered an employee of the Forest Service while carrying out activities and projects on behalf of the Forest Service pursuant to that agreement, contract, or compact.</text></subsection><subsection id="id72239f5e-3ef7-4196-97c8-c1e01149dc6e"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Publication of information</header><text>The Secretary and the Secretary of the Interior shall—</text><paragraph id="id99063681-d4f8-45eb-8a15-f1250c8f3962"><enum>(1)</enum><text>not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this subsection, make available, in an easily accessible format and location, on the website of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior, respectively, a list of the types of activities and projects that Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations may enter into agreements, contracts, or compacts to perform under subsection (b); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id01ddc2e7-2ddb-426c-8dd9-9ee3b23b8ee8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>update the list under paragraph (1) as necessary.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="ide64121e7728843afaa10004fb03e6895"><enum>121.</enum><header>Establishment of regional wildland fire research centers</header><subsection id="id16d1fce11818428fb857227c344ff702"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section:</text><paragraph id="id4c4b0073804f420b83034562bbde4e96"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Appropriate committees of congress</header><text>The term <term>appropriate committees of Congress</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="id5fff1e8f2f574dd1854f61526b751af9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3a6c9a9a9ce94253b015911a0f249743"><enum>(B)</enum><text> the Committee on Natural Resources, the Committee on Agriculture, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3702132da331494a9545fe2f06a523b4"><enum>(C)</enum><text>any other committee of Congress with the authority to facilitate the development of wildland fire research.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idb2312cd4a40e4fe792d3850c8260ee93"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Career pathway</header><text>The term <term>career pathway</term> has the meaning given that term in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/29/3102">29 U.S.C. 3102</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf3f4b64a65af41e79bfe4162c1c8d6bc"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Federal science agency</header><text>The term <term>Federal science agency</term> has the meaning given that term in section 103(f) of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/6623">42 U.S.C. 6623(f)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idfdf4c43d71634474a96ab8df14fa1b6c"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Institution of higher education</header><text>The term <term>institution of higher education</term> has the meaning given that term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1001">20 U.S.C. 1001(a)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id714e7d4def54416294be9b27207c9ea0"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Land-grant colleges and universities</header><text>The term <term>land-grant colleges and universities</term> has the meaning given that term in section 1404 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/3103">7 U.S.C. 3103</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idfec628eea40148a4a2efdaa4d1fc24a2"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Minority-serving institution</header><text>The term <term>minority-serving institution</term> means an institution defined in any of paragraphs (1) through (7) of section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1067q">20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3c8b125ef38f47b291448dbc558df7c2"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Regional center</header><text>The term <term>regional center</term> means a regional wildland fire research center established under subsection (c)(1).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1cca4d4a5fac4387bb52db5f93766a7b"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Tribal organization</header><text>The term <term>Tribal organization</term> has the meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/5304">25 U.S.C. 5304</external-xref>).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc5f397386cd449b5b3b922d99189f8f0"><enum>(9)</enum><header>Wildland fire</header><text>The term <term>wildland fire</term> means any non-structure fire that occurs in vegetation or natural fuels and includes wildfires originating from an unplanned ignition or prescribed fire.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf31182d96f3d4d42b1e9ab230f715e4b"><enum>(10)</enum><header>Wildland fire management agencies</header><text>The term <term>wildland fire management agencies</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="id5ac97aac3bf142de93d8a368c3c0aa8f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Forest Service;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4b2a57b43edf4abfa57fcdf0f800d30c"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Bureau of Land Management;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id67e6732a69ea42dbaa93ee9b49dab6b3"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the National Park Service;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7266297299fc4e76908b1b18687b8c09"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id944a4cc053044736aa98308e0889cb4a"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the Bureau of Indian Affairs.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ide5ef31da8c64445da30b589095a0801f"><enum>(11)</enum><header>Wildland fire research</header><text>The term <term>wildland fire research</term> means research to better understand—</text><subparagraph id="idb06599aa207d42aba9d35f75bfcd2dc7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the causes and consequences of wildland fires, including antecedent and contemporaneous factors that increase the risk of catastrophic events;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id54452d59237d43cfaff88c5b3422934f"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the spread and behavior of wildland fires, including fires in the wildland-urban interface;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc6d8eedd61604924a9d59f20852ee578"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the efficacy of mitigation strategies for wildland fires;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4f473317d51d4b39b509930e4085c884"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the impact of wildland fires on public health, safety, and the environment;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3b8bd26bb3b44e1eab7da0cec07d3fc1"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the rehabilitation and restoration of affected ecosystems after wildland fires; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd269bb317bd342bf92073afaa42f0b35"><enum>(F)</enum><text>the development of mitigation strategies and techniques to improve the safety of wildland fire managers and firefighters.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ide0a827f890c747a7872021a6403e588c"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Competitive process</header><text>The Secretaries shall establish a competitive process for the selection and establishment of regional wildland fire research centers in accordance with subsection (c).</text></subsection><subsection id="idd4e9815221204855acc85c929f6a0af3"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Selection and establishment of regional centers</header><paragraph id="id01f8366b780547ba9a7a77580537ad9c"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretaries shall select not fewer than 8 institutions of higher education or land-grant colleges and universities at which to establish, in accordance with the timeline described in paragraph (2), regional centers to coordinate the development of wildland fire research.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida3b844abbac44153a2962bc928ae4f76"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Timeline</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In establishing regional centers under paragraph (1), the Secretaries shall establish—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id606b9ce65acf40be87217b61d140698b"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, subject to the availability of appropriations, a pilot program under which not fewer than 2 regional centers shall be established; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id67ae695011b74a8391e3030a49e2f110"><enum>(B)</enum><text>not later than 2 years after the date on which the pilot program is established under subparagraph (A), the remaining regional centers.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id8a21a8c9b66c46118d6b545ddb5fe4c0"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Criteria for selection</header><subparagraph id="id76c82f7e0f484154802e061f3590ea7c"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In establishing a regional center at an institution of higher education or land-grant college or university under this section, the Secretaries shall prioritize the selection of institutions, colleges, or universities that meet not fewer than one of the following criteria:</text><clause id="idc0d68ad463b44fc6b436153390cb4ecc"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Have existing programs of record in wildland fire research.</text></clause><clause id="id252c247f9e1d4d6393a3af391868771c"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Have existing partnerships with research institutions of the Federal Government and other academic institutions and entities relating to wildland fire research.</text></clause><clause id="id296e56fd2d0f4d8f8fd5980f4366b26f"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>Participate in or lead a program under the Joint Fire Science Program.</text></clause><clause id="idc5600ebac3e74dab956d457bc11f8985"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>Are a minority-serving institution.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb2b5054a74c5477abab141946de0bc93"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Regions</header><text>The Secretaries shall establish not fewer than one regional center in each of the following regions of the United States, as defined by the Secretaries:</text><clause id="idf1f6919aef434bea85decd2d6658abf6"><enum>(i)</enum><text>Alaska.</text></clause><clause id="iddd33f43683ca4a8b938c1c769f7d1b7f"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>California.</text></clause><clause id="id623ed0d837384541be8567ccc8b35d02"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>The Pacific Northwest.</text></clause><clause id="id75253a08a625496397da54b6b0777283"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>The Pacific Islands.</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb1755e53bd644a9db23872f6a28c8259"><enum>(v)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Plains and Northeast.</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7d7e57b794be4e2cb721443c6e538189"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>The Rockies.</text></clause><clause id="id12c144a8caf049f991f75827a2ca1a4d"><enum>(vii)</enum><text>The Southeast.</text></clause><clause id="id40a648bf36034b1a96b8b717eb60176d"><enum>(viii)</enum><text>The Southwest.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idd858371c42b74c1da6a900b3cb3eecfd"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Purpose</header><text>Each regional center, with respect to the region covered by the regional center, shall—</text><subparagraph id="id821539da81a740cb9108890116eecc38"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to the extent practical, coordinate research with other wildland fire research entities, such as other academic institutions, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Energy, the research and development program of the Forest Service, the National Laboratories, the United States Geological Survey, and State and regional research organizations;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf4617bf44589426cae7780b60c72b20b"><enum>(B)</enum><text>improve the understanding of wildland fire through wildland fire research that can be applied by wildland fire management agencies;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id72cf164b67284e26ac54856dec6aba7a"><enum>(C)</enum><text>develop technologies and other tools to understand, monitor, and predict wildland fire, including—</text><clause id="id3b1241e209e948b8bb28087c09f21b16"><enum>(i)</enum><text>models to predict fire potential and the spread and behavior of wildland fire and smoke;</text></clause><clause id="id19883e9027464ecf8e621d28d7b8c7b0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>models to predict how vegetation will respond to changes in the environment and wildland fire;</text></clause><clause id="idb52a20bd57924a299ad57dd9b31c7c3a"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the integration of technologies to predict the spread and behavior of wildland fire and smoke in as near-real-time as possible; and</text></clause><clause id="id3a753fda19a04789945bff668458e433"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>other innovations to be integrated into operational decision support systems relating to wildland fire, such as the Wildland Fire Decision Support System and the Interagency Fuel Treatment Decision Support System;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2d07693fc2fc4a8b8ee412bedb009a8d"><enum>(D)</enum><text>develop technologies and other tools to safely support land management activities to reduce the severity of wildland fire;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0a1ecc1ea004436bb1fa2f36fc496706"><enum>(E)</enum><text>leverage predictive capabilities to reduce the impact of smoke on communities and wildfire incident management teams, including wildland firefighters;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd43f7a6a6fc0407dbc52de8269679aee"><enum>(F)</enum><text>improve the understanding of post-fire risk to the landscape, including flash flooding potential and watershed impacts;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7c9ab0bb993d4248b85a5ad06bbacc18"><enum>(G)</enum><text>test and operate models to support land management decision-making, including through—</text><clause id="idf86377b815974d3185478cce930fcde1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>operating models to support management of wildland fire and vegetation;</text></clause><clause id="idc7bb6c94fae0418aaa16e688156654a5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the demonstration of integration technologies to support management of wildland fire in as near-real-time as possible; and</text></clause><clause id="id9c160451e9cb4add9cee01d5d5755226"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the incorporation of decision science and social science that examines the perception and adoption of information related to wildland fire risk;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd31163974fa744408519ee6cde02b552"><enum>(H)</enum><text>develop a career pathway training program with respect to carrying out wildland fire research;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="iddb3497b02c6d4ffb95d3f88cbdc38d8e"><enum>(I)</enum><text>develop data management protocols to allow for full and open exchange of data pursuant to the principles of findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability (commonly referred to as the <quote>FAIR principles</quote>) and archive and access that data; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb99898021fb44b409f3285b903138aa8"><enum>(J)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">develop training programs for prescribed fire implementation; and </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id97cd61a5bdee4bd0bcedf48de1db43b4"><enum>(K)</enum><text>make its work and data fully and openly available.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id32d48e0abde34072bd969ce78e8a272f"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Advisory boards</header><paragraph id="idb99746ff519c4e1d8b5346812693381c" commented="no"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In accordance with <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/5/10">chapter 10</external-xref> of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the <quote><act-name parsable-cite="FACA">Federal Advisory Committee Act</act-name></quote>), the Secretary shall establish at each regional center an advisory board, to be known as the <quote>Regional Advisory Board</quote>, to carry out the duties described in paragraph (4).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2555a39f2e294f27bcbfecb89a2a3245"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Composition</header><subparagraph id="id430429e612f945d5a800549640cd47e0"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Each Regional Advisory Board shall consist of members, who shall be from, or have responsibility covering, the region covered by the relevant regional center, including at minimum—</text><clause id="id896a967fc025477da698c971fdb78a71"><enum>(i)</enum><text>one regional representative from each wildland fire management agency, appointed by that agency;</text></clause><clause id="ide8dfb5385eb74cb99abf06125bfa9a7b"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>one representative from a State government agency from each State located in that region with expertise in forestry and wildland fire mitigation and management, appointed by the Governor of that State;</text></clause><clause id="id3ee8d85847e0468db05426ffab06dae7"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>one representative from an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization from that region with expertise in forestry and wildland fire mitigation and management on Tribal or Federal land, appointed by the Secretaries; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2394f7ee97b14dec8bf224da992f3eee"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>additional representatives elected under subparagraph (B)(ii).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3779948b42834fe991569fa212db1b1c"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Elected membership</header><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf48e2b5cade14781beed69f9e51a14cd"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Subcommittee</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each Regional Advisory Board shall solicit and approve, on at least an annual basis, nominations for individuals with operational expertise in wildland fire mitigation and management to serve as a representative on a subcommittee to the Regional Advisory Board for the purposes of clause (ii), composed of not more than 15 individuals, including representatives from, as applicable—</text><subclause id="id44c547ee5e564559b9f36caa506fd764"><enum>(I)</enum><text>institutions of higher education or land-grant colleges and universities;</text></subclause><subclause id="id02f65c06d8f84e9da675fe60730ef4e8"><enum>(II)</enum><text>nongovernmental organizations;</text></subclause><subclause id="id58439e40f18d438eafee6b5d081b779a"><enum>(III)</enum><text>private industry; </text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9e02e3c2b16941879bf91d156c3ea65f"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>the wildland firefighter community, including organizations that represent the interests of wildland firefighters; and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id164d0c84f9a448a09a0ceb7ce9178ce5"><enum>(V)</enum><text>Southwest Ecological Restoration Institutes established under section 5(a) of the Southwest Forest Health and Wildfire Prevention Act of 2004 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6704">16 U.S.C. 6704(a)</external-xref>). </text></subclause></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3ac636035a314e9dbf9efef1f73b3c7f"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Election</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The subcommittee described in clause (i) for a Regional Advisory Board may elect a member or members of the subcommittee to serve as a member of the Regional Advisory Board under subparagraph (A)(iv) for a 2-year term.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id5c121397d3c34afeaa5725fb36a9b08d"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Compensation</header><text>Each member of a Regional Advisory Board shall serve on a voluntary basis without compensation.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd0510ae1fd5542d893d254099bedf0ae"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>Each Regional Advisory Board shall—</text><subparagraph id="id77b74093083c42fb9777911bc414a5aa"><enum>(A)</enum><text>ensure and support the coordination of wildland fire research between the relevant regional center and Federal and State land management agencies in that region;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id279f2fc5b3b049008b7e6d231e889b50"><enum>(B)</enum><text>communicate the operational needs of Federal and State land management agencies and wildland fire management agencies in that region to the relevant regional center and to the Board governing the Wildfire Intelligence Center appointed under section 102(f);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7046b573a8824b17a89eff0617382d70"><enum>(C)</enum><text>advise, in coordination with the relevant regional center, on research goals and objectives; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id67ddbda5ca8b464bb35686a5125a0894"><enum>(D)</enum><text>assist the relevant regional center with the dissemination of research outputs and data to the Board governing the Wildfire Intelligence Center appointed under section 102(f) and Federal and State land management agencies and wildland fire management agencies in that region.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id5875bed6895e42baa8cff8c2886baa1d"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Meetings</header><text>Each Regional Advisory Board shall meet quarterly.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8773fb4924064bc7bac2ddab8d1f9276"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Term</header><text>Unless specified otherwise, a member of a Regional Advisory Board shall serve for a term of 4 years.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idfdc1b91a60d143de93e7e729e4398a3f"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Vacancies</header><subparagraph id="id69c8f1e8a72b4895907eaf2f5d02b1fc"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>A vacancy on a Regional Advisory Board—</text><clause id="idc5ef216c12144a248359254865b4581f"><enum>(i)</enum><text>shall not affect the powers of the Regional Advisory Board; and</text></clause><clause id="id325b9ca1b3484b1d873c10c69115c4f0"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made by not later than 180 days after the date on which the vacancy occurs.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id048a7d5f478847b5a2b6e2dbd27a38d4"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Filling unexpired term</header><text>An individual chosen to fill a vacancy shall be appointed for the unexpired term of the member replaced.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id6c54f370c4d44ea1a49a9c2e689469af"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Report on wildland fire research</header><text>Not later than each of 2 years and 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries, in consultation with the Board governing the Wildfire Intelligence Center appointed under section 102(f), shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report describing—</text><paragraph id="ida4a1de4af50547c3bfacb42701a27a12"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the progress each regional center has made in the development of wildland fire research; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id655f7ba0100d4fc3bb8d5fa4e50813a0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>recommendations to improve wildland fire research.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0ba0cbecef974854819e368034ee4a96"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>In carrying out the requirements of this section, the Secretaries shall consult with—</text><paragraph id="id4fb619b93ccc494aad8df13b567e8a12"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Federal science agencies; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id79511a812ba04513b9c5429f347d00d5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Office of Science and Technology Policy.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id74f6733ddef54e3ea5a8afb0f7b6599b"><enum>122.</enum><header>Contracts, grants, and agreements to carry out certain ecosystem restoration activities</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 40804 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6592a">16 U.S.C. 6592a</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBA096CB4A0134FF9833EB491DAF456E8" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf3294eb385ae415f96877b096a0a67a7"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Contracts, grants, and agreements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To carry out the ecosystem restoration activities described in subsection (b), the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, may enter into contracts, grants, or agreements, as appropriate, with State agencies, Indian Tribes, institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1001">20 U.S.C. 1001(a)</external-xref>)), and multistate coalitions—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id298e41a7e6ec45ba871438f9855b2e67"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">for the collection and maintenance of native plant materials, including material from managed seed orchards; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide7bc9ffcd1794890b78e6f119cf8ed66"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">for the production of native plant materials for revegetation.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" section-type="subsequent-section" id="idf6cb918856e0491898f0d21eed31fc99"><enum>123.</enum><header>Reforestation of land destroyed by Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 104(d)(4) of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act (division G of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/117/180">Public Law 117–180</external-xref>; 136 Stat. 2172) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfcd3ac81d01f4dfe8e57f778c10662a5" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><subparagraph id="idb7faf718ef084cebb8950e9b94eb13c4"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Reforestation</header><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id538790338e954094967e26a59f46fc06"><enum>(i)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(B), subject to clause (ii), a claim that is paid for injury under this Act may include damages resulting from the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire for otherwise uncompensated resource losses for costs of reasonable efforts, as determined by the Administrator, incurred by the State of New Mexico not later than December 31, 2030, to design and construct a center for the purpose of researching, developing, and generating native seedlings.</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id420d4fe323a149d1a94c90317e4718ea"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The payment of a claim under this Act may not include amounts to design or construct a center described in clause (i) until after all claims by an injured person that are pending on the date of enactment of this subparagraph are paid or otherwise resolved.</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section><section section-type="subsequent-section" id="id8ad90bfe1a764328a7e96aecf5d0e96b"><enum>124.</enum><header>Contract preference for local contractors for certain hazardous fuel reduction projects</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide9cec9e8b8f9437a8d9e7f8fa42db64f"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>Title I of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 is amended—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id019a86223fe042abbc4a75c20a7fe23c"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating sections 107 and 108 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6517">16 U.S.C. 6517</external-xref>, 6518) as sections 108 and 109, respectively; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4f648bd6f53a4376b17d3d87d3a5d70c"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after section 106 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6516">16 U.S.C. 6516</external-xref>) the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7469816CC6B149C6847D4DE0A46770BA" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><section id="id03250366b2104d8c827c18c9b68fbd42"><enum>107.</enum><header>Contract preference for local contractors for certain hazardous fuel reduction projects</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida0148be882e640edaba55be4f43b61e2"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide41fa1119b9240d68d5af89464d2c0d4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Appropriate local contractor</header><text>The term <term>appropriate local contractor</term> means an entity that carries out, pursuant to a contract or agreement, 1 or more authorized projects located—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9a703d71bcf24ddb87027e23099e2e03"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in a State in which—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb7be98cb7ada4f899adb26fae66b067f"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the entity has its principal place of business, as certified by the entity or an individual representing the entity; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idecb70edac9e34176bdced1ee6e927bf4"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>not fewer than 26 percent of the total workforce assigned to the applicable contract or agreement (including subcontractors at any tier) will reside, as certified by the entity or an individual representing the entity; or</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id11e64132276b4b9d826729d8bc3ebf41"><enum>(B)</enum><text>within a 60-mile radius of the State in which the entity is registered as a business or has its principal place of business, as certified by the entity or an individual representing the entity.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id27001eab1996434d9594e5270fe9a2f1"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authorized project</header><text>The term <term>authorized project</term> includes any activity carried out pursuant to—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2d4ba5f922014d3ab04fee6682629ebd"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an authorized hazardous fuel reduction project; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1e28ca6183034b00b7c99e89ca57c213"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a fireshed management project (as defined in section 2 of the <short-title>Fix Our Forests Act</short-title>).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id42110d47919c45b887fff87724d3fdbc"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id91fb760401884789af7d87db04225b1e"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Contract preference</header><text>Effective beginning on the date of enactment of the <short-title>Fix Our Forests Act</short-title>, the Secretary shall give preference in awarding a contract to carry out an authorized project in a State to an appropriate local contractor, to the maximum extent practicable.</text></subsection><subsection id="id3c6c3e81ef7348d49e7c28bdb9b10d27"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the <short-title>Fix Our Forests Act</short-title>, and not less frequently than annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that includes—</text><paragraph id="idd29deb19dadf45c49e097fea83bfd939"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a quantitative analysis of the number and percentage of contracts awarded to appropriate local contractors, the total dollar value of those contracts, and an assessment of the economic impact of the contract preference under subsection (b) on local employment and contractor capacity;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd4e233eb4e7c4fe186482a2f57aaadd9"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a description of the reasons for awarding a contract to carry out an authorized project in a State to an individual or entity that is not an appropriate local contractor; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5a3e2beb883d470bac6dbccda455aca9"><enum>(3)</enum><text>a description of the implementation by the Secretary of this section.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id747cc47acb6046d49ba9e384497b2482"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Monitoring and evaluation</header><paragraph id="id7268af94dbce45919394894194a400d7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall establish a monitoring and evaluation process—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd351c24ccf524eb5a1e4bf8eaa179dff"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to assess compliance with the requirements of this section, including the contract preference under subsection (b); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida048a77ffce94b8ca199710aec3d3d9f"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to support the reports required under subsection (c).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="iddcf7fca9b70e4d1592429af03c70935d"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Participants</header><text>The process described in paragraph (1) may include participation by—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide9b3d5ddb7864631898dab4bf2937fad"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any cooperating governmental agencies, including Tribal governments; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7e8f19f95c3c4affb0432a0f87d30337"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any other interested groups or individuals.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7cd6c0a56ebc46ef8111b410886dfaed"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical amendment</header><text>The table of contents contained in section 1(b) of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/108/148">Public Law 108–148</external-xref>; 117 Stat. 1887) is amended by striking the items relating to sections 107 and 108 and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5808E8ECA4CC4576A88316816EBE52A2" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><toc changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><toc-entry bold="off" level="section">Sec. 107. Contract preference for local contractors for certain hazardous fuel reduction projects.</toc-entry><toc-entry bold="off" level="section">Sec. 108. Effect of title.</toc-entry><toc-entry bold="off" level="section">Sec. 109. Authorization of appropriations.</toc-entry></toc><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle style="OLC" commented="no" level-type="subsequent" id="id0c36a308-9d0f-4ff3-a887-f12909e52185"><enum>C</enum><header>Litigation reform</header><section commented="no" id="idd3f67ea5-e19a-43c9-999c-a2c9aed23aec"><enum>131.</enum><header>Litigation reform</header><subsection id="id07104527-a651-4154-afb2-eddb5d2af0dc"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="id01e69e33-3fc1-4c9d-8656-21300f4d3529"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Agency document</header><text>The term <term>agency document</term>, with respect to a fireshed management project, means a record of decision, decision memorandum, environmental document, or programmatic environmental document.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id68cd0997-ec59-4b7f-b16c-e5e0dba68de5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Covered agency action</header><text>The term <term>covered agency action</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="ide8c38901-c1de-4284-908d-e638212b3515"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the establishment of a fireshed management project by an agency;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf0d1e181-9392-400f-8c55-a9289e632e9e"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the application of a categorical exclusion to a fireshed management project;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3a978057-5f87-42ef-8ff8-2eb7649c537a"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the preparation of any agency document for a fireshed management project; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idba2b1ac9-edb7-4d7d-aa24-233f9b96f066"><enum>(D)</enum><text>any other agency action as part of a fireshed management project.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id34b595c1-5f90-47f1-a735-88d71b3bf328" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header>NEPA terms</header><text>The terms <term>categorical exclusion</term>, <term>environmental document</term>, and <term>programmatic environmental document</term> have the meanings given those terms in section 111 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4336e">42 U.S.C. 4336e</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5b3217c0-81b9-4db3-8ba1-0371f12c1d30"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Limitations on judicial review</header><paragraph id="id836d2433-285c-48d1-b55c-64646ddaa361"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Limitations on injunctive relief</header><subparagraph id="id70027852-81aa-487a-abe3-a116fa0367ed"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Temporary delay of covered agency action</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the case of a claim arising under Federal law seeking judicial review of a covered agency action, a court shall not issue a preliminary injunction against such covered agency action unless the court determines that—</text><clause id="idb208230e-b585-45a2-af82-2d6d09c0ef71"><enum>(i)</enum><text>subject to subparagraph (C), such preliminary injunction is in the public interest;</text></clause><clause id="id713d91b6-786c-4cd0-9a5a-41721c996963"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the balance of equities favors the plaintiff;</text></clause><clause id="id7d3bcea8-3b87-4902-99df-cfc837dd2602"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the plaintiff is likely to succeed on the merits; and</text></clause><clause id="id61a3e97a-ad4a-47f0-96a0-e7216ae3dbc3"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the plaintiff is likely to suffer irreparable injury in the absence of preliminary relief.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id316c32fe-95de-4eb1-b0fd-e79a203ac65b"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Permanent limit on agency action</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the case of a claim arising under Federal law seeking judicial review of a covered agency action, a court shall not issue a permanent injunction against such covered agency action, or an order to otherwise permanently limit such covered agency action, unless a court determines that—</text><clause id="idf0c91f47-ef79-4a4c-a7c4-03ee379a969a"><enum>(i)</enum><text>subject to subparagraph (C), such permanent injunction or order is in the public interest;</text></clause><clause id="id9ed233f1-669b-4308-a624-0d46a7511e00"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the balance of equities favors the plaintiff;</text></clause><clause id="id5565600f-5d56-4ada-8e87-de3f6591e82f"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the plaintiff has suffered or will suffer irreparable injury; and</text></clause><clause id="id5a2110a3-d7e5-4049-989d-15d0260f14a2"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>no adequate remedy is available at law.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf54c8b31-1511-4433-bef5-59ce2c40afb0"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Public interest determination</header><clause id="id83ccb675-9c8b-40cc-9734-92b0acd788bd"><enum>(i)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In determining under subparagraphs (A) and (B) whether a preliminary or permanent injunction against, or other order with respect to, a covered agency action is in the public interest, the considerations of the court shall include—</text><subclause id="idca957811-2626-47c9-9069-b111b576da3f"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the purpose for which an agency is undertaking the fireshed management project relating to such covered agency action;</text></subclause><subclause id="id80b1ba9a-955f-4a80-9fc0-22eedaf4eec4"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the likelihood that the fireshed management project will achieve the stated purpose of the fireshed management project; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id38d0d97b-6e4d-4158-82f5-bf1d5b08c2ce"><enum>(III)</enum><text>the short- and long-term effects of proceeding with the covered agency action, as compared to delaying or limiting such covered agency action, including the potential for significant increases in wildfire risk or severity and significant threats to the health of the ecosystem.</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id7a960dd0-b0fb-430d-851d-75b9c84aac6f"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Weight of public interest factor</header><text>In determining whether to issue any injunction or order under subparagraph (A) or (B), a court shall give significant, but not necessarily dispositive, weight to its consideration of whether such order is in the public interest.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9e060551-8154-4bb5-89c9-ad87721ac8ff"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Remand</header><subparagraph id="id6585afdb-5de9-48be-bd16-37655eff27fe"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the case of a claim arising under Federal law seeking judicial review of a covered agency action, if the court remands the matter to the agency, the court shall remand with instructions to carry out, during the 180-day period beginning on the date of such remand, such additional actions as may be necessary to redress any cognizable harm giving rise to such claim.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id90de1828-2abb-45bc-83ac-51077bc833ec"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Vacatur</header><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcbb876cf-7975-454c-839e-0a484ec5f9e2"><enum>(i)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>In remanding a matter to an agency under subparagraph (A), the court shall remand with vacatur only if—</text><subclause id="idba99017b-a1c1-41eb-bb9d-92f3b8bd5dcb"><enum>(I)</enum><text>the seriousness of any deficiencies in the covered agency action weigh in favor of vacatur; and</text></subclause><subclause id="ide7c2a9db-4de4-489c-9aac-446672b11775"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the court determines that any disruptive consequences of vacatur, including the short- and long-term effects of vacating the covered agency action or any part of such covered agency action, do not outweigh the justification for vacatur.</text></subclause></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf09433a1-0b0b-43c4-a548-df3b1979a99c"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Considerations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In making the determination described in clause (i)(II), the court shall consider whether vacatur would cause—</text><subclause id="idc5f06b36-da77-4662-98f8-4e8583d14636"><enum>(I)</enum><text>any significant increases in wildfire risk or severity, and</text></subclause><subclause id="ide1bbfb1f-bb6a-4d2f-ae3d-718dcb4559c1"><enum>(II)</enum><text>any significant threats to the health of the ecosystem.</text></subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idce2c294d-9233-41c3-a8ea-cc41b50973a0"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Effect of remand on agency</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of a covered agency action subject to remand without vacatur, or with partial vacatur, pursuant to this paragraph, the agency may—</text><clause id="idaeb5a345-6559-479c-8f4d-18aec208a4b6"><enum>(i)</enum><text>continue to carry out such covered agency action, or such parts of the covered agency action as are not vacated, to the extent that doing so does not interfere with any additional actions required pursuant to subparagraph (A); and</text></clause><clause id="id44c933bb-c50f-4439-9053-b97bda518a7c"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>use any format, as appropriate, to correct an agency document (including a supplemental environmental document, memorandum, or errata sheet), provided that such format is appropriate to the nature of the deficiency.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idca896528-49f8-437d-b80a-3b9c22080ca5"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Preservation of authority</header><text>Nothing in this section alters, limits, or displaces the authority of a court to review a covered agency action under section 706(2) of title 5, United States Code.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id17b99fa9-4210-4c15-9e7b-fc67c7e0edc9"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Limitations on claims</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a claim arising under Federal law seeking judicial review of a covered agency action shall be barred unless—</text><paragraph id="idb8ffda79-3976-4550-b221-fbc0c0c20f0f"><enum>(1)</enum><text>with respect to an agency document or the application of a categorical exclusion noticed in the Federal Register, such claim is filed not later than 150 days after the date of publication of a notice in the Federal Register of agency intent to carry out the fireshed management project relating to such covered agency document or application, unless a shorter period is specified in such Federal law; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id073472bb-992e-458d-a59d-406458f8a4ca"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the case of an agency document or the application of a categorical exclusion not described in paragraph (1), if such agency document or application is otherwise published or noticed, such claim is filed not later than 150 days after the date that is the earlier of—</text><subparagraph id="id8b08b5dd-1b9e-43ef-935e-61610f034cc2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the date on which such agency document or application is published; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id270d29cc-adee-413f-b171-df3a24abfc6e"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the date on which such agency document or application is noticed.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id07d8d1d4-d812-476d-8c14-4a4d07a7ab4c"><enum>132.</enum><header>Consultation on forest plans</header><subsection id="id1c1548a8-f80c-4a73-871e-63998b98edc9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Forest Service plans</header><text>Section 6(d)(2) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1604">16 U.S.C. 1604(d)(2)</external-xref>) is amended to read as follows:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc631e1eb-489a-40d4-b677-fafdc2069003" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="id1665c028-df74-4b8e-997c-6f964c6c5997"><enum>(2)</enum><header>No additional consultation required under certain circumstances</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall not be required to reinitiate consultation under section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1536">16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2)</external-xref>) or section 402.16 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation), on a land management plan approved, amended, or revised under this section when—</text><subparagraph id="ida0400d3b-b3fe-4790-a433-2da6925b3e41"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a new species is listed or critical habitat is designated under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>); or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3d6fe07a-b67d-4cd8-bc28-d9151f1fb3cd"><enum>(B)</enum><text>new information reveals effects of the land management plan that may affect a species listed or critical habitat designated under that Act in a manner or to an extent not previously considered.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="id8b3ef7b5-0186-4774-b2f7-eefe6f6497a2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Bureau of Land Management plans</header><text>Section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1712">43 U.S.C. 1712</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id89adcaaa-7348-454d-bd7a-b214e993613b" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><subsection id="ide6907228-4cec-4b7c-a638-6d181cba6f7f"><enum>(g)</enum><header>No additional consultation required under certain circumstances</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall not be required to reinitiate consultation under section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1536">16 U.S.C. 1536(a)(2)</external-xref>) or section 402.16 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation), on a land use plan approved, amended, or revised under this section when—</text><paragraph id="idef048de9-4392-4cd9-8f79-cf3c19541481"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a new species is listed or critical habitat is designated under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>); or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd4af994c-a38c-4d24-8074-1e2bdd6a34df"><enum>(2)</enum><text>new information reveals effects of the land use plan that may affect a species listed or critical habitat designated under that Act in a manner or to an extent not previously considered.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle style="OLC" commented="no" level-type="subsequent" id="idc658fd17-8af5-4ed8-b73b-515e3b8f5cb2"><enum>D</enum><header>Prescribed fire</header><section id="id5a916220-6775-4bb2-868f-a397e4efedaf"><enum>141.</enum><header>Prescribed fire eligible activities, policies, and practices</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida8239807-a870-46a4-88fe-5dfed5d901c6"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definition of prescribed fire</header><paragraph id="idec82c1b2-5ec7-485b-b806-edc60db87957"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In this section, the term <term>prescribed fire</term> means a fire deliberately ignited to burn wildland fuels in a natural or modified state—</text><subparagraph id="id980e0ce7-a8d9-416b-87dd-371e864b5af4"><enum>(A)</enum><text>under specified environmental conditions that are intended to allow the fire—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id88c0bb42-7141-4ffc-b3ca-56e17988dfa7"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to be confined to a predetermined area; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7e60c701-22bb-40ff-87c1-cf760d107a1b"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to produce the fireline intensity and rate of spread required to attain planned resource management objectives; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idaf1fc8a7-adbc-4d68-b9d2-d2268926c086"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in accordance with applicable law (including regulations).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id6fa2836b-8f66-4d0a-b814-d9a0a17da0ab" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exclusion</header><text>In this section, the term <term>prescribed fire</term> does not include a fire that is ignited for the primary purpose of pile burning.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb0659d23fdaa41209973047de761fbab"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Cultural burning</header><text>In this section, the term <term>prescribed fire</term> includes specified cultural burning activities that an Indian Tribe designates for treatment as prescribed fire for the purposes of this section.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id721197b0-f487-4be3-997e-bcabb0af269a"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Eligible activities</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idc6c7eceb-dff9-4d61-a028-6c7b0b9c7670"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>The Secretary concerned may carry out eligible activities described in paragraph (2) for hazardous fuels management with respect to land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="iddbaa9163-8c76-4e55-9f2e-e89b410cfc51"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Description of activities</header><text>The activities referred to in paragraph (1) are—</text><subparagraph id="id7f9095cc-4e76-4c45-97a9-a68ea6ea7c1a"><enum>(A)</enum><text>with respect to prescribed fires on Federal land, or on non-Federal land if the Secretary concerned determines that such activities would benefit resources on Federal land—</text><clause id="idf8f30e8d-6a9c-45f0-8efb-6b6c20ca037d"><enum>(i)</enum><text>entering into procurement contracts or cooperative agreements for prescribed fire activities;</text></clause><clause id="id025a8343-567f-4c1a-b3bf-6cc64a1c3749"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>issuing grants from an existing grant program to a State, Indian Tribe, local government, prescribed fire council, prescribed burn association, or nonprofit organization for the implementation of prescribed fires, including—</text><subclause id="id87f308ce-fd84-44a1-8a42-be4d0b147b78"><enum>(I)</enum><text>carrying out necessary environmental reviews;</text></subclause><subclause id="id4c8f4409-dc6b-4450-bcb2-d522e9e855e4"><enum>(II)</enum><text>carrying out any site preparation necessary for implementing prescribed fires; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id977b375d-b6ef-4bfa-8e63-5b862f62768a"><enum>(III)</enum><text>conducting any required pre-ignition cultural and environmental surveys; and</text></subclause></clause><clause id="ide8d1f3fe-8aa2-4ea6-9ef2-87f5665b17c3"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>conducting outreach to the public, Indian Tribes and beneficiaries, and adjacent landowners;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idffab8c6a-1982-4d7f-951e-0f973ce7fcb5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>implementing prescribed fires on non-Federal land, if the Secretary concerned determines that the prescribed fire would benefit Federal land, including—</text><clause id="id94b8bbc1-e8c3-406a-80d1-b57a900dad03"><enum>(i)</enum><text>carrying out necessary environmental reviews;</text></clause><clause id="id2108d2ba-d523-4803-a9b8-25d933de9057"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>carrying out any site preparation necessary for implementing prescribed fires; and</text></clause><clause id="idaf09f283-e36d-4982-9817-94ab6f6c5a46"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>conducting any required pre-ignition cultural and environmental surveys;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2341d173-3a56-4493-a8cc-5a79194f0c9b"><enum>(C)</enum><text>providing training for prescribed fire and basic smoke management practices to Federal employees and cooperators;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id88f670b9-933c-46ff-ae43-c5056a4b2e16"><enum>(D)</enum><text>conducting post-prescribed fire activities, such as monitoring for hazard trees or reignitions and invasive species management; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6ad057fe-6e68-4dc2-a293-fd54c9233df2"><enum>(E)</enum><text>providing technical or financial assistance to a State, Indian Tribe, local government, prescribed fire council, prescribed burn association, or nonprofit organization for the purpose of providing training for prescribed fire or basic smoke management practices, consistent with any standards developed by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group or State-prescribed fire standards.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id0804a398-6352-40ce-9b1b-4309fe0894f4"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Prioritization</header><subparagraph id="ideb953259-a9af-49c0-afcd-8cef826ab1f2"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary concerned shall coordinate with the other Secretary concerned, State and local government agencies, Indian Tribes, and applicable nongovernmental organizations to establish prioritization criteria for carrying out the activities described in paragraph (2).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3fee50e7-425c-42f8-975a-33e4edf284b0"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>In establishing criteria under subparagraph (A), the Secretary concerned shall give priority to a project that is—</text><clause id="idf93506c9-091c-4b04-8561-48ae134d4c23"><enum>(i)</enum><text>implemented across a large contiguous area;</text></clause><clause id="idc721e27e-a715-46fe-bbf9-f66ccea2f431"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>cross-boundary in nature;</text></clause><clause id="id66b15108-f38f-4ae5-923e-4afc26cd318d"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>located in an area that is—</text><subclause id="idfb5a6d6f-9361-43fb-a9f4-178bd826011c"><enum>(I)</enum><text>within or adjacent to the wildland-urban interface and identified as a priority area in a statewide forest action plan, fireshed assessment, or community wildfire protection plan; or</text></subclause><subclause id="id1e9abbae-95c2-4d9e-ab19-e909c7829f1a"><enum>(II)</enum><text>identified by the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribe, as important to the protection of a Tribal trust resource or the reserved or treaty rights of an Indian Tribe identified by the Secretary concerned, in consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribe;</text></subclause></clause><clause id="idd6348705-ee69-430d-af94-c619c003cf09"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>on land that is at high or very high risk of experiencing a wildfire that would be difficult to suppress;</text></clause><clause id="idd12531aa-9701-4a34-954e-d69dfc4b4b5e"><enum>(v)</enum><text>in an area that is designated as critical habitat and in need of ecological restoration or enhancement that can be achieved with the aid of prescribed fire; or</text></clause><clause id="id9d2efc6c-7bfe-4d23-808d-d1f40dc5ead7" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>supportive of potential operational delineations or strategic response zones.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ide639ba1f-b09d-4e66-a2e4-e712003d77a2"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Policies and practices</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary concerned, in coordination with State and local governments and Indian Tribes, shall develop a prescribed fire operational strategy for each region of the National Forest System or the Department of the Interior, as applicable, that describes—</text><paragraph id="id2918451b-fcd8-44d0-a5a7-bc78630fa559"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the fire deficit, by region; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id08d88616-54dd-4cc5-b0a6-7d30262b9573" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text>staffing and funding needs to address the fire deficit described in paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id32eb4290-2187-48b7-ae5b-229472b67783"><enum>142.</enum><header>Human resources</header><subsection id="idfe308313-36c2-4166-afb6-3f30a1a58d0e"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Competencies for firefighters</header><text>The Secretaries, in coordination with the Fire Executive Council, shall task the National Wildfire Coordinating Group with the duty to adjust training requirements to obtain a certification to serve in a supervisory role for a prescribed fire and any other positions determined to be necessary by the Secretaries—</text><paragraph id="id13c16230-1229-436d-be1f-979f21d429f3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in order to reduce the time required to obtain such a certification; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idfc8f12f5-035c-49de-820b-14bf3304d043"><enum>(2)</enum><text>such that significant experience, gained exclusively during a prescribed fire, is required to obtain such a certification.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="iddcfcfe2c-f9a1-403c-af42-6f14d43fdd7e"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Enhancing interoperability between Federal and non-Federal practitioners</header><paragraph id="id212dd950-42bb-4934-be04-2515140bfcfc"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Qualification databases and dispatch systems</header><text>The Secretaries shall establish, to the extent practicable, a collaborative process to create mechanisms for non-Federal fire practitioners to be included in prescribed fire and wildfire resource ordering and reimbursement processes.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id868b0552-9803-4943-98be-ea865814d5a9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Partnership agreements</header><text>The Secretaries may—</text><subparagraph id="id8386b23e-afc5-4a56-a7ac-b9239e0dc342"><enum>(A)</enum><text>develop partnership agreements for prescribed fire with all relevant State, Federal, Tribal, university, and nongovernmental entities that choose to be included in resource ordering and reimbursement processes under paragraph (1);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc97d8c79-aa07-4c2c-b620-6175c81b9c92"><enum>(B)</enum><text>create agreements and structures necessary to include non-Federal and other nontraditional partners in direct work with Federal agencies to address prescribed fires; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4da7f421-efe9-4969-8250-b0d9fc60b55d"><enum>(C)</enum><text>treat any prescribed fire practitioner meeting the National Wildfire Coordinating Group standards as eligible to be included in statewide participating agreements.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id77b05a4c-caaf-47cf-9afa-ea41894d22d0"><enum>143.</enum><header>Liability of prescribed fire managers</header><subsection id="id0e506e4587034795ba189b015cd2627c"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="id6bc980f7489544b0b25263f010c4b685"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Covered activity</header><text>The term <term>covered activity</term> means an activity carried out on Federal land directly related to a wildland fire, prescribed fire, or prescribed fire with cultural objectives in the course of executing a Federal action.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf7c992f2c600444c8fb7afcd9855788b"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Covered entity</header><text>The term <term>covered entity</term> means a non-Federal entity that—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id466ed637ab184da395f3d2500eca76d6"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">carries out a covered activity; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idced25f12b3334ce6bf2a599b43cc771a"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is acting—</text><clause id="id6cd17780930f467ebbe0369ed1a8a69c"><enum>(i)</enum><text>under the direct supervision of a Federal employee; and</text></clause><clause id="idb563498b81eb4d76beeb51ee6afd3596"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>within the scope of a contract or agreement in carrying out that covered activity.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idc75b1a6984e145388bffbad4e1d3cec4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Indemnity of Federal and Tribal employees</header><text>The Secretaries, in coordination with the Attorney General, shall develop a voluntary training course for employees involved in covered activities describing—</text><paragraph id="id2b394438639740acb80578d614348fbf"><enum>(1)</enum><text>liability protections afforded to those employees when acting within the scope of their employment;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1007a21c1466420680df493510fa6dcc"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the limits on any liability protections under paragraph (1); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idba39a424077846f3bc243b8a6cacbe41"><enum>(3)</enum><text>reimbursements available for qualified employees for professional liability insurance under section 636 of division A of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/104/208">Public Law 104–208</external-xref> (5 U.S.C. prec. 5941 note).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ide748bcbf8beb4c178cf48443de4834c7"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Indemnity of other cooperators</header><paragraph id="id881a3fdbc0ca434893184e86ea05027b"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Effective beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, a covered entity shall be considered to be an employee of the Federal Government for purposes of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/28/171">chapter 171</external-xref> of title 28, United States Code (commonly known as the <quote>Federal Tort Claims Act</quote>), while that covered entity carries out any covered activity.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2fdc1db5bdd3495dabcf5cdb6815a8b3"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Guidance</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall issue guidance regarding the necessary provisions of, and implementation requirements for, contracts or agreements that would extend liability protection to covered entities pursuant to paragraph (1).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id089e2835b9e34aa0a0f14bd285b8837f"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Reimbursement</header><text>Beginning in the first fiscal year that begins after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall request, through annual appropriations, funds sufficient to reimburse the Treasury for any claims paid during the preceding fiscal year pursuant to paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id7c86570ecdb741c79779f60bdcde23d2"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Effect</header><text>Nothing in this section limits or otherwise affects the application of—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2cea13886bd84374892722d9271a0fc0"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any statutory or judicial immunity to any Federal employee;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6a2bec105cad4c7b8ce56112ffdc50f6"><enum>(2)</enum><text><external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/28/171">chapter 171</external-xref> of title 28, United States Code (commonly known as the <quote>Federal Tort Claims Act</quote>), to any Federal employee; or</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id02bb47f5aee341a3961cf7e1ae121276"><enum>(3)</enum><text>section 314 of <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/101/512">Public Law 101–512</external-xref> (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/5321">25 U.S.C. 5321</external-xref> note).</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id9f85b142-c20a-4dd3-8b47-d2bb58e1d64e"><enum>144.</enum><header>Environmental review</header><subsection id="idba10af92-e791-4387-9fec-5b0297ac86ac"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Smoke management agencies</header><paragraph id="idba4f7c42-ed5c-4b45-833a-715659d384fc"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Policy</header><text>The Secretaries shall ensure that policies, training, and programs of the Secretaries are consistent with this subsection—</text><subparagraph id="id56269eac-c060-45ce-9df0-d74923749b9f"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to facilitate greater use of prescribed fire in a safe and responsible manner, with appropriate monitoring to prevent prescribed fires from exceeding containment;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7eefb033-6880-423d-8a28-d0c1f91cff6a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to address public health and safety, including impacts from smoke from wildfires and prescribed fires; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf3c3eb79a3ea4655aa21e67c9be80d49"><enum>(C)</enum><text>to improve and leverage smoke modeling and smoke monitoring using existing systems and programs, including the Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program established under section 1114(f) of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1748b-1">43 U.S.C. 1748b–1(f)</external-xref>), to provide consistent forecasts on air quality impacts from wildfire and prescribed fire.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id83819486-c164-458d-b8b4-47edbd129b10"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Coordination among Federal, Tribal, and State air quality agencies and Federal, Tribal, and State land management agencies</header><text>To facilitate the use of prescribed fire on Federal, State, Tribal, and private land, the Executive Director, in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency, Federal and State land management agencies, shall coordinate with State, Tribal, and local air quality agencies that regulate smoke under the Clean Air Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/7401">42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.</external-xref>)—</text><subparagraph id="id46c55ee8-b55f-4ee6-8458-b923906ce410"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to the maximum extent practicable, to provide State, Tribal, and local air quality agencies with guidance, data, imagery, or modeling to support the development of exceptional event demonstrations for prescribed fire in accordance with sections 50.14 and 51.930 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida79cedca-6e68-4978-be82-4aff962034a1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to develop archives and automated tools to provide State, Tribal, and local air quality agencies with the data, imagery, and modeling under subparagraph (A);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0a333b31-06db-46bd-ac67-9f9f0365c7a6"><enum>(C)</enum><text>to provide technical assistance, best practices, or templates to States, Indian Tribes, and local governments for the use of the State, Indian Tribe, or local government in approving the use of prescribed fire under a State, Tribal, or local government smoke management program;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7f137f68-0298-40b8-9b00-17bacc5c0e11"><enum>(D)</enum><clause commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idb8818e65-28e5-4c3a-9a6f-b8957ff57fe0"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to promote basic smoke management practices and other best practices to protect the public from wildfire smoke;</text></clause><clause indent="up1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0e1d6723-f22a-42eb-bae1-436c60c2af71"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to disseminate information about basic smoke management practices;</text></clause><clause indent="up1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id73293074-861f-4b3b-a263-2bffd8252726"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>to educate landowners that use prescribed fire about the importance of—</text><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf5512792-a1db-4b62-be68-bcd2e1d7c7bc"><enum>(I)</enum><text>using basic smoke management practices; and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide1b8c744-8e97-457c-88c2-ed2195f83a3a"><enum>(II)</enum><text>including basic smoke management practices as a component of a prescribed fire plan;</text></subclause></clause><clause indent="up1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9c33756f-0e80-41f4-b73d-a650dcdac548"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>to share with the public information, in coordination with other State and local agencies with responsibility for smoke monitoring or regulation, about measures that individuals can take to protect themselves from wildfire smoke; and</text></clause><clause id="idc644cd945e75450d9cbbe7bd7b348d72" indent="up1"><enum>(v)</enum><text>to promote further development of smoke-ready efforts to allow communities to be prepared for smoke, including promotion of smoke planning in community wildfire protection plans; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc3755fb3-929a-433c-ba43-88cbb244c623"><enum>(E)</enum><text>to develop guidance and tools to streamline the demonstration of a clear causal relationship between prescribed fire smoke and a related exceedance or contribution to an exceedance of a national ambient air quality standard.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id336e5ebb-9415-4c6b-8087-0d05fda064ec"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Programs and research</header><text>To address the public health and safety concerns of the expanded use of prescribed fire under this subtitle, the Secretaries, in coordination with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall conduct research to improve or develop—</text><subparagraph id="id2bc2d14a-a3d1-44fd-9a38-19c1ae12fe03"><enum>(A)</enum><text>wildfire smoke prediction models;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id89924550-45ec-4cc6-9879-656cddb276ba"><enum>(B)</enum><text>smoke impact display tools for the public and decisionmakers, including for health impacts and transportation safety;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfca837d2-5ad6-4371-aaa5-f2ee74059f85"><enum>(C)</enum><text>appropriate, cost-effective, and consistent communications strategies to mitigate the impacts of smoke from prescribed fire on nearby communities;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfff4e0d6-cf3c-40fc-b0e7-483bee059215"><enum>(D)</enum><text>consistent nationally and scientifically supported messages regarding personal protection equipment for the public;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3f1c6eb7-f7f6-4ac3-a497-53130eedc4a7"><enum>(E)</enum><text>prescribed fire activity tracking and emission inventory systems for planning and post-treatment accountability; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc0717a17f1c34e03965bb4448452fb3e"><enum>(F)</enum><text>air quality and atmospheric deposition monitoring to understand smoke impacts of wildland fires.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4834f950-31d7-4be4-81ee-880f8650ee08"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Development of landscape-scale Federal prescribed fire plans</header><paragraph id="idf30e4275-d501-4c55-9dde-965d94e7fe75"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Inclusion of landscape-scale prescribed fire plans</header><text>The Secretary concerned, with respect to units of the National Forest System and Bureau of Land Management districts with existing prescribed fire programs—</text><subparagraph id="id33acb614-5d5a-4110-a1e3-380e1c0ccae8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, shall determine which of those units or districts have landscape-scale prescribed fire plans;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idddf42459-3c7c-468f-bb8a-14b99da34075"><enum>(B)</enum><text>not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, shall—</text><clause id="id70d0d2ad-b6a7-41fa-a727-bd22be5bd836"><enum>(i)</enum><text>determine whether each plan described in subparagraph (A) requires revision; and</text></clause><clause id="idfa98a4aa-1a06-4758-9d97-847688680a41"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>establish a schedule for the revision of each plan described in subparagraph (A) that requires revision; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide82ecf53-f613-4fb1-8891-f023066a3781"><enum>(C)</enum><text>may develop landscape-scale prescribed fire plans for any units or districts that do not have landscape-scale prescribed fire plans, as determined appropriate by the Secretary concerned.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idf2b99547-07f2-437d-987f-8beb9f51138c"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Environmental compliance</header><text>In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall—</text><subparagraph id="idfb0f0b0b-4cbd-4b36-8df8-d6ed66d17708"><enum>(A)</enum><text>comply with—</text><clause id="id65202213-5763-4318-8d6b-e6b4f27fc36f"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>);</text></clause><clause id="id7cae33ca-23bc-4ca0-afd4-18bca3d06c3b"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1531">16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.</external-xref>);</text></clause><clause id="id07522493-6315-404b-b814-2797055e36be"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code; and</text></clause><clause id="idb61e0aa9-546c-4c77-998a-6205c468142b"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>any other applicable laws; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6c1d536f-b502-4b30-875a-1834fa189dc5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>consider the site-specific environmental consequences of the landscape-scale prescribed fire decisions under this subsection.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idc8dfd3c6-b4ae-4a5e-871b-fd8221e12782"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Collaborative development</header><text>In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall collaborate with diverse actors from academia, the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management research and development offices, nongovernmental organizations, Indian Tribes, and other entities, as determined appropriate by the Secretary concerned.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="iddf0ad3a8-aadd-4205-9c05-7eb35ce46bb3"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Reports</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary concerned shall submit to Congress a report describing the progress of the Secretary concerned in carrying out this subsection.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id5eedf935-4c94-4803-aa40-de68ed3de122"><enum>145.</enum><header>Cooperative agreements and contracts for prescribed fire</header><subsection id="iddadb655d-3d07-4a34-90ce-871b53770497"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Agreements and contracts</header><paragraph id="id85cbb6f1-ae1b-4066-8776-dfacd8382c7c"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definition of eligible entity</header><text>In this subsection, the term <term>eligible entity</term> means a State, an Indian Tribe, a unit of local government, a fire district, a nongovernmental organization, and a private entity.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4ecff239-aff1-421f-8635-31c4ce293033"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Authorization</header><text>The Secretaries may each enter into a cooperative agreement or contract with an eligible entity, for a period of not longer than 10 years, that authorizes the eligible entity—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf3b60f37-b92c-40ea-be61-94ce4770db95"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to coordinate, plan, or conduct a prescribed fire on Federal land; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9c2240ee-3f85-4fc0-984d-3dc0e52a8360"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to conduct a prescribed fire training event.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7fa0f2e4-0ad4-4f48-b2d0-42009344f61c"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Subcontracts</header><text>A State, Indian Tribe, county, or eligible entity that enters into a cooperative agreement or contract under paragraph (1) may enter into a subcontract, in accordance with applicable employment and contracting laws and procedures of the State, Indian Tribe, county, or eligible entity—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idecb8a9f8-db4d-4c6b-9b57-396e3514b1df"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to conduct a prescribed fire on Federal land; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbb01ca60-9ae6-40fd-b5a4-f309ddd2048d"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to conduct a prescribed fire training event pursuant to that cooperative agreement or contract.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id1c39a67f-0de8-4fe0-bfcf-ad91d4ac97de"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Applicable law</header><text>A prescribed fire conducted pursuant to this subsection shall be carried out on a project-by-project basis under—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7fca2bf687a745cc99ac71a4152f1c49"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">existing authorities of the applicable Federal agency responsible for the management of the applicable Federal land; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9fda3016178844da8a460e5dd01d323b"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the employment and contracting laws of an Indian Tribe in accordance with paragraph (3), as applicable.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3d5b91e6-7ca8-4ad4-8ed0-08a97c164354"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Preservation of decision authority</header><text>An eligible entity may not carry out a project under this subsection pursuant to a cooperative agreement or contract without the prior written approval of each Secretary that entered into the cooperative agreement or contract.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idd4bf600b-97e5-480a-8062-b6d7f1b394d6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 amendments</header><text>The Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/108/278">Public Law 108–278</external-xref>; 118 Stat. 868) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida175c30a-4476-40fd-b207-55a45c83f460" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><section id="id57a9d9c6-9d3d-4d94-b748-5f4a3dc575f1"><enum>4.</enum><header>Tribal prescribed burn demonstration project</header><subsection id="id2953a6ef-9f37-49e9-9858-79be63ec7a35"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary may enter into a contract or agreement with an Indian Tribe under this Act that provides for prescribed burns on Federal land pursuant to this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="idad376326-2ee4-4932-b889-5f0ac2acd205"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Scope</header><text>Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a contract or agreement entered into under this section may—</text><paragraph id="id933c3a0c-f18f-46f5-b34f-1d9a916068b7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>use a burn plan that, on approval by the Secretary, allows multiple prescribed burns to be conducted in accordance with the burn plan to eliminate the need for individual burn plans for each prescribed burn and enable forest managers to have the flexibility to conduct prescribed burns when conditions allow; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id25bdb742-a518-4344-a2db-51895e977178"><enum>(2)</enum><text>include terms that—</text><subparagraph id="idca038c3c-9105-4ae9-b73f-3805c30a5bbb"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Secretary may authorize an Indian Tribe to plan, coordinate, and execute prescribed burns on the behalf of the Secretary within the scope of the burn plan including applying the National Wildfire Coordinating Group standards for prescribed fire planning and implementation, to the extent authorized by Federal law;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id047c8e9a-8fb7-4086-9c92-776bfa7d9a46"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any applicable Federal standard that requires a certain number of personnel to be on-hand during prescribed burns may be satisfied by regional Federal, State, or Tribal resources and personnel; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb0a9a4c9-094f-49ad-86fc-ea3e4741a893"><enum>(C)</enum><text>where appropriate, the Secretary shall work with other Federal agencies and Tribal, State, and local governments to coordinate and communicate the shared objectives of the prescribed burn and ensure activities comply with applicable law and regulations.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection id="idd7cf7a9d-621e-490f-afbf-ab0fb51c1d96"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Cooperative Funds and Deposits Act amendments</header><text>Public Law 94–148 (commonly known as the <quote>Cooperative Funds and Deposits Act</quote>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="idb64d4cdb-005c-4eba-ab19-a502a6db89b7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the first sentence of the first section (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/565a-1">16 U.S.C. 565a–1</external-xref>), by inserting <quote>prescribed fire and prescribed fire training events,</quote> after <quote>including fire protection,</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id83c9a7b5-7b54-427c-a0dd-46da5217498c"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 2 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/565a-2">16 U.S.C. 565a–2</external-xref>), by inserting <quote>, section 4 of the Tribal Forest Protection Act of 2004 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/108/278">Public Law 108–278</external-xref>; 118 Stat. 868), or section 145(a) of the <short-title>Fix Our Forests Act</short-title></quote> after <quote>authorized by section 1</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id0aa251a4-f54a-417c-a2a4-ab068a309c3d"><enum>146.</enum><header>Facilitating responsible use of prescribed fire</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall—</text><paragraph id="id06a72236-3b1c-4c97-881c-adb6bff69d29"><enum>(1)</enum><text>use all available resources to ensure prescribed burns conducted by the Forest Service are extinguished; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id734aef5b-7a4a-4e09-9393-547687d8c701" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text>update the prescribed burn policies of the Forest Service to reflect the findings and recommendations included in the report of the Forest Service entitled <quote>National Prescribed Fire Program Review</quote> and dated September 2022.</text></paragraph></section></subtitle><enum>II</enum><header>Protecting communities at risk</header><subtitle style="OLC" commented="no" level-type="subsequent" id="idcce53687-e1f3-4258-96b4-63f3b288c98a"><enum>A</enum><header>Community wildfire risk reduction</header><section id="id9714ec7e-4e10-4f82-8ce6-99e89e5157f2"><enum>201.</enum><header>Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Program</header><subsection id="idc1501150-833d-4e37-a55c-ea65583d32de"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries and the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration, shall jointly establish an interagency program, to be known as the <quote>Community Wildfire Risk Reduction Program</quote> (referred to in this section as the <term>Program</term>), which shall consist of at least 1 representative from each of the following:</text><paragraph id="id09f11c30-7460-4c24-ad59-48496aa821bb"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The Office of Wildland Fire of the Department of the Interior.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd11ef665-ef3f-4822-b2e6-e305511b558f"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The National Park Service.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idfe4d650c-0761-471c-9768-f38500a80ce1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The Bureau of Land Management.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id539112dc-0dc8-4078-b63e-1b573a6f789d"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The United States Fish and Wildlife Service.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4e537a5d-c6fe-406e-bbfe-ed78772c731f"><enum>(5)</enum><text>The Bureau of Indian Affairs.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf5afb577-9d35-4de4-8853-86c5cad6e206"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The Forest Service.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id762c94f8-6027-4d15-8a4d-c9fd7a2a4f36"><enum>(7)</enum><text>The Federal Emergency Management Agency.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd0d24484-2404-4888-ab24-48dcf2201eb3"><enum>(8)</enum><text>The United States Fire Administration.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id941037ca-b059-4494-aa9f-3eb4394568d8"><enum>(9)</enum><text>The National Institute of Standards and Technology.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id408ddf89-db39-487e-b543-0577861d3bba"><enum>(10)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id34c6f33ebcd74af1ad27bad0c00e6ef5"><enum>(11)</enum><text>The National Wildfire Coordinating Group.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idcaefc018-aac8-4fbc-b02d-a452cb77bac4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Purpose</header><text>The purpose of the Program is to support interagency coordination in reducing the risk of, and the damages resulting from, wildland fires in communities (including Tribal communities) in the wildland-urban interface through—</text><paragraph id="id40572fed-58a0-4cc6-ab10-6d3be0ba8fe5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>advancing research and science in wildland fire resilience, land management, and risk reduction in the built environment, including support for non-Federal research partnerships;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id491edb3b774d496aa4aab0ab8fc94393"><enum>(2)</enum><text>using current programming already available to Federal agencies;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4030c245-36b9-4f9c-b806-37aad3b11149"><enum>(3)</enum><text>supporting the development of fire-resistant building methods, codes, and standards for community wildland fire risk reduction, including by promoting ignition-resistant construction, defensible space, and other measures demonstrated to effectively reduce wildland fire risks, as informed by the best available science;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf1e8353d-aef3-4054-b094-c78429d7b287"><enum>(4)</enum><text>supporting adoption by Indian Tribes and local governmental entities of fire-resistant building methods, codes, and standards;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6e9f28c0-b7b2-489f-8265-85cc06600c99"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">supporting efforts by Indian Tribes and local governmental entities to address the effects of wildland fire on those communities, including property damages, air quality, and water quality;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idfc942463-1047-45de-8a2d-366f50dbf2c8"><enum>(6)</enum><text>encouraging public-private partnerships to conduct hazardous fuels management activities near and within the wildland-urban interface, including creating or improving defensible space around structures;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id7543b446-859c-44a1-96b2-9d21ade99344"><enum>(7)</enum><text>providing technical and financial assistance targeted towards communities (including Tribal communities) through streamlined and unified technical assistance and grant management mechanisms, including the portal and uniform grant application established under subsection (c)—</text><subparagraph id="id472afcef-ad34-45b8-8a95-0df565568b61"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to encourage critical risk-reduction measures on private property with high wildland fire risk exposure in those communities; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc18ad855-73de-4b6a-90db-e12e381c7d5f"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to mitigate costs for, and improve capacity among, those communities;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id1932968f-a094-4bb4-900d-4a36edfae2d0"><enum>(8)</enum><text>reducing risk in the built environment by encouraging increased mitigation measures, such as the use of ignition-resistant construction and retrofitting materials;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc969f8f2-37cd-4bbb-824a-36bf1edfec7b"><enum>(9)</enum><text>coordinating budgets among the agencies described in subsection (a) to identify gaps and reduce overlap;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id17a423e0-404a-4a35-873b-d8c49a962a4a"><enum>(10)</enum><text>supporting the integration of wildland fire risk reduction measure and technical assistance into existing Federal programs, where practicable; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id71e7d729-cb68-43ec-8706-efdb07df7382"><enum>(11)</enum><text>advancing the development of early wildfire detection and warning systems for rapid response and community alerts.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id05986795-915d-4a95-a5ec-5fbd7e956faa"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Portal and uniform grant application</header><paragraph id="id5a0862e8-b6b7-4d76-a940-322795e961c7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>As part of the Program, the Secretaries and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall establish a portal through which a person may submit a single, uniform application for any of the following:</text><subparagraph id="id56992314-ef95-43f9-938c-0f828303eae3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>A community wildfire defense grant under section 40803(f) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6592">16 U.S.C. 6592(f)</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id688bd264-fefe-4f4d-b41a-8e3c53c261eb"><enum>(B)</enum><text>An emergency management performance grant under section 662 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/6/762">6 U.S.C. 762</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id259ebcfe-9e3d-47df-a4c9-139d15a888e8"><enum>(C)</enum><text>A grant under section 33 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/2229">15 U.S.C. 2229</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id13e84059-c8aa-4a1c-9c7b-53e4db61000e"><enum>(D)</enum><text>A grant under section 34 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/2229a">15 U.S.C. 2229a</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2df52e8d-6cf3-4bbd-9c0c-9cf8f935cb79"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Financial or technical assistance or a grant under section 203, 205, 404, 406, or 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5133">42 U.S.C. 5133</external-xref>, 5135, 5170c, 5172, 5187).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id25a5fa81-f944-433b-825c-32341d8ce0d9"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Simplification of application</header><text>In establishing the portal and application under paragraph (1), the Secretaries and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall seek to reduce the complexity and length of the application process for the forms of assistance described in paragraph (1).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id53f14b0b-d59f-42ec-a422-344f3fdcb451"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Technical assistance</header><text>The Secretaries shall provide technical assistance to communities or persons seeking to apply for financial assistance through the portal using the application established under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idf5213e7b-3ebe-4299-afe4-4e33d0bc78ce"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>In carrying out this section, the representatives described in subsection (a) shall—</text><paragraph id="idb7f9be18-36ee-4656-9884-7a0c4f22e8c2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>meet not less frequently than once per year;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idcd14f25a-3d52-4617-acdb-4d5020bdc84e"><enum>(2)</enum><text>ensure coordination, as appropriate, with other Federal agencies not identified in that subsection; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id12ebe26d-c912-4443-b26a-5f81147340b5"><enum>(3)</enum><text>seek to gather feedback, as appropriate, from States, Indian Tribes, local governments, academic or research institutions, private entities, and such other entities as the Secretaries and the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration, determine to be appropriate, to improve the function and operation of the Program.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id71ebedce-931c-4067-adde-9721f0201223"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Coordination</header><text>The Secretaries and the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration, shall seek to ensure that States and Indian Tribes are invited and represented in meetings and other activities under this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="idae21f6c4-97e5-4f57-8853-906ec352de88"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once every 2 years thereafter, the Program, acting through the representatives described in subsection (a), shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress a report that—</text><paragraph id="id21045446795647b8a86c6210ee047593"><enum>(1)</enum><text>describes the activities carried out under the Program during the 2 preceding years;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id58081976bf7d425aa66d9b45094d9359"><enum>(2)</enum><text>assesses the management, coordination, implementation, and effectiveness of Program activities;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ided873758cde648798531522892e3b998"><enum>(3)</enum><text>suggests improvements for the coordination and engagement of the Program with States, Indian Tribes, units of local government, and at-risk communities;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4b68f90c5ab64d308427d0831f09d44d"><enum>(4)</enum><text>assesses trends and developments in science and engineering relating to wildfire risk reduction in the built environment, land-use planning, and vegetation management that could be used to improve the effectiveness or efficiency of the Program;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id126e5c5df2be4e1ea5902e9bbdca0fc2"><enum>(5)</enum><text>provides recommendations, to the maximum extent practicable—</text><subparagraph id="idcf282a87f1424b01a63c19722013721d"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to improve the Program, including the ability of the Program to provide financial or technical assistance to States, Indian Tribes, units of local government, and at-risk communities; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5ea0645516d045988efb129285fba624"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to modify existing requirements for Federal assistance or programs that support community wildfire risk reduction to improve the delivery, effectiveness, or availability of such assistance or programs;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ide3789b34200642ca870687cac66d6231"><enum>(6)</enum><text>describes and itemizes the total amount of funding relating to community wildfire risk reduction that was obligated during the 2 preceding fiscal years by the agencies described in subsection (a); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id05de91c453814b82b396d81ebae57642"><enum>(7)</enum><text>describes any feedback incorporated from non-Federal stakeholders to improve the function and operation of the Program.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="idd6a3d3e3-d71e-4a0d-87cc-70dc36491558"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The Program terminates on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section id="id96d18aa1-7b48-4fb7-91dd-d02506bbd9e1"><enum>202.</enum><header>Community Wildfire Defense Research Program</header><subsection id="id8e9e056f-a97e-4d44-9203-bf013867435a"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretaries, acting jointly, shall expand the Joint Fire Science Program to include a performance-driven research and development program, to be known as the <quote>Community Wildfire Defense Research Program</quote> (referred to in this section as the <term>Program</term>), for the purpose of testing and advancing innovative designs to establish or improve the wildfire resistance of structures and communities.</text></subsection><subsection id="id5df8d36c-39c6-4076-b37f-2d6b2b0f22ae"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Program priorities</header><text>In carrying out the Program, the Secretaries shall evaluate efforts and opportunities on or after the date of enactment of this Act to establish wildfire-resistant structures and communities through—</text><paragraph id="ide1a3ca73-f95e-419f-bfef-901fa0ae455d"><enum>(1)</enum><text>different affordable building materials, including mass timber;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id88ae4a39-252f-435b-a0d2-4b236efd6c12"><enum>(2)</enum><text>home hardening, including policies to incentivize and incorporate defensible space;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id881ab315e605494e9df5665e18cd0829"><enum>(3)</enum><text>preparation for wildland fire smoke;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id019ea204-0ddc-476f-a7ca-26d543e64361"><enum>(4)</enum><text>subdivision design and other land-use planning and design;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id56be30e5-b6d9-4e72-850d-dc8402cfc8c5"><enum>(5)</enum><text>landscape architecture; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1110d657-2633-4920-930e-4c9b249548e9"><enum>(6)</enum><text>other wildfire-resistant designs, as determined by the Secretaries.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idffd42acf-f2aa-4481-938b-f027dc1204f1"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Community wildfire defense innovation prize</header><paragraph id="idbca60a2d-4007-4765-875f-16ae1ff2bd48"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out the Program, the Secretaries shall carry out a competition through which a person may submit to the Secretaries innovative designs for the establishment or improvement of an ignition-resistant structure or fire-adapted community.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idcf6966fe-eff6-4627-9ce5-4c02048aee57"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Prize</header><text>Subject to the availability of appropriations made in advance for that purpose, the Secretaries may award a prize under the competition described in paragraph (1), based on criteria established by the Secretaries and in accordance with paragraph (3).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idbc41b110-3f60-4ddf-8b3b-5f610546ea9b"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Scale</header><text>In awarding a prize under paragraph (2), the Secretaries shall prioritize for an award designs with the greatest potential to scale to existing infrastructure.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id22b5b1a3-af1c-4ec3-b3c7-64b8b8257678"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Collaboration and nonduplication</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In carrying out the Program, the Secretaries shall ensure collaboration and nonduplication of activities with the Building Technologies Office of the Department of Energy.</text></subsection><subsection id="id6bc5fb8924b544c79747fde31564aaaf"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Coordination</header><text>In carrying out the Program, the Secretaries shall coordinate with the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration.</text></subsection><subsection id="id6a7b9eed-a20c-4f5c-b49b-1c323012dd2c" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The Program terminates on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section id="id6251a491-3cf5-4fab-b760-115afbaf87a8"><enum>203.</enum><header>Community wildfire defense grant program improvements</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 40803(f) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6592">16 U.S.C. 6592(f)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id961fc77e-03ef-4989-9049-b63b34862494"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking paragraph (1)(B), and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7e26ed2b-2e64-47c1-99f6-2bd71b9f4e24" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><subparagraph id="idb417bc09-e137-49be-b0be-44541d9f0f66"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to carry out projects, including—</text><clause id="id18efbfc2-b8c1-4406-8ddd-d9fbd1cf8660"><enum>(i)</enum><text>landscape and hazardous fuels reduction treatments;</text></clause><clause id="id63661a2355214a6089e2fde2d399e672"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the retrofit, modification, or maintenance of a structure to improve resistance to fire;</text></clause><clause id="ida3cf6c49-a263-4323-9f1c-45a74bece593"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>creating defensible space around structures to improve resistance to fire;</text></clause><clause id="id251e096d-fbd7-499a-96af-b911d9bfff76"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>hardening infrastructure, including evacuation routes, to improve resistance to fire;</text></clause><clause id="id08f186e3-ff61-4d06-9793-dbb3c4edfbb7"><enum>(v)</enum><text>any other project described in a community wildfire protection plan that is not more than 10 years old; and</text></clause><clause id="id48e14444-c059-4bc5-8ec6-39ab9d394727"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>deployment of wildfire technologies determined to be successful under section 303 of the <short-title>Fix Our Forests Act</short-title>.</text></clause></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph><paragraph id="id3643ec55-58a8-4bb5-ae92-e27c6045677a"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (2)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id11f04174-4de6-491a-97e6-c905426c0036"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (B), by striking <quote>or</quote> at the end;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfd8f8878-d400-465a-a4b7-bf053fc14358"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting <quote>; or</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfbae9e7e-b75c-4a97-9ef8-71d57b051095"><enum>(C)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idca920968-c200-4c46-a26f-206eec7851f5" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><subparagraph id="iddaa236b2-9b68-41f0-b007-7896e7c05863"><enum>(D)</enum><text>located in a fireshed management area (as defined in section 2 of the <short-title>Fix Our Forests Act</short-title>).</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idec6d9217-25d8-4adf-8150-ef33eb65c546"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in paragraph (3)—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd46ad550-fa15-42ba-badd-efa6f70fbf0c"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subparagraph (C)(i), by striking <quote>continental</quote>; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf857cd55-e1a7-4294-be31-4defddcc19dc"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide6df1708-85c8-44cc-80c3-1d38aec655d3" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><subparagraph id="idf462f600-01f1-4b7b-92c3-022866153ebb"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Limitation on administrative expenses</header><text>Not more than 7 percent of funds obligated under this subsection may be used for administrative expenses incurred by the Secretary of Agriculture.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="id7bac58aa-cedb-4e93-9ca1-39668924b2ec"><enum>204.</enum><header>Updated definition of at-risk community</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 101 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6511">16 U.S.C. 6511</external-xref>) is amended by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block id="id58ec07ea-43ea-44bc-82ee-fbc885102981" display-inline="no-display-inline" style="OLC" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><paragraph id="ide2cd30d2-f427-450f-ac79-0b7fe51a2791"><enum>(1)</enum><header>At-risk community</header><text>The term <term>at-risk community</term> means an area that is composed of—</text><subparagraph id="id9c8f2dcf-e34b-40a6-83c4-718b37d9daf2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an interface community (as defined in the notice entitled <quote>Wildland Urban Interface Communities Within the Vicinity of Federal Lands That Are at High Risk From Wildfire</quote> (66 Fed. Reg. 753 (January 4, 2001)) issued by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior in accordance with title IV of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 (114 Stat. 1009));</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc4eff1d0-17cb-4a9f-a2b9-acb19316486e"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a group of homes and other structures with basic infrastructure and services (such as utilities and collectively maintained transportation routes) at risk from wildfire, as recognized in a fireshed, State, Tribal, local, regional, territorial, or national wildfire risk assessment; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idedc6e7a3-b2ac-4b18-b000-632e7d5ccbcb" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a group of homes and other structures with basic infrastructure and services (such as utilities and collectively maintained transportation routes), as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section></subtitle><subtitle style="OLC" commented="no" level-type="subsequent" id="id6b8b2b97-2e28-45ea-a448-a2bef1b82c28"><enum>B</enum><header>Vegetation management, reforestation, and local fire risk mitigation</header><section id="idf59164bb-159a-4af2-b255-e03ada4b9fb4"><enum>211.</enum><header>Vegetation management, facility inspection, and operation and maintenance relating to electric transmission and distribution facility rights-of-way</header><subsection id="id12efff8a-13f6-4712-937e-1979a1df7774"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Hazard trees within 150 feet of electric power line</header><text>Section 512(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1772">43 U.S.C. 1772(a)(1)(B)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idaa1c17ae-1593-4833-a0b5-60d67e27992b"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking <quote>likely to—</quote> and inserting <quote>likely—</quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ided0d963b-99f3-421b-b8c1-22fc719e96d6"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (i), by inserting <quote>to</quote> after the clause designation; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb12cc183-d40d-49d2-ac8e-4038d37b92f7"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in clause (ii), by striking <quote>come within 10</quote> and inserting <quote>to come within 150</quote>.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idfc03e0ed-afb1-4283-be78-d7ef41052cdd"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Consultation with private landowners</header><text>Section 512(c)(3)(E) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1772">43 U.S.C. 1772(c)(3)(E)</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id60b8a649-2c5d-4c34-98d1-16968dcdff10"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in clause (i), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3b0c04d7-5236-43dd-9a72-093a1a0483a8"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in clause (ii), by striking the period and inserting <quote>; and</quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id073f9cf6-1361-4634-bf8d-cbb02ea66de1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="id41238d24-e996-42d6-acd3-fb45ce183e0d" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><clause id="id033a36a3-cbb7-4bf6-8719-f4e1a574a845"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>consulting with a private landowner with respect to any hazard trees identified for removal from land owned by the private landowner.</text></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida7e163a9-5443-437b-b027-771497bd061d"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Review and approval process</header><text>Section 512(c)(4)(A) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1772">43 U.S.C. 1772(c)(4)(A)</external-xref>) is amended by striking clause (iv) and inserting the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="id21301750-2481-4265-98e3-2823cb2f73ac" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><clause id="id86dbc674-344a-4ee9-bf80-e8c0104f6bf9"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>ensures that—</text><subclause id="ida3426404-f94a-4792-930c-aedea0f91297"><enum>(I)</enum><text>a plan submitted without a modification under clause (iii) shall be automatically approved by the date that is 120 days after the date of submission; and</text></subclause><subclause id="ida1422595-a32f-45fa-8282-ce65c780fa42"><enum>(II)</enum><text>for a plan submitted with a modification under clause (iii), if the plan is not approved by the date that is 120 days after the date of submission, the Secretary concerned shall develop and submit to the owner and operator a letter describing—</text><item id="idec71dd98-4011-4614-b98b-8c39bfbbcda1"><enum>(aa)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a detailed timeline (to conclude by the date that is 165 days after the date of submission of the plan) for completing review of the plan;</text></item><item id="idc72adc9d-d917-429d-980e-b87c19bab829"><enum>(bb)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any identified deficiencies in the plan and specific opportunities for the owner or operator to address each deficiency; and</text></item><item id="id3ace1705-d929-4182-af0f-9788dc73600d"><enum>(cc)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any other relevant information, as determined by the Secretary concerned.</text></item></subclause></clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6a77c3cc-cbaf-419e-8dd8-87d62d60c6fc"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Technical corrections</header><text>Section 512 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1772">43 U.S.C. 1772</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3b7aded2-1cf8-4ea8-bdbb-e2138f713e9b"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the section heading, by striking <quote><header-in-text style="OLC" level="section">managment</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text style="OLC" level="section">management</header-in-text></quote>; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idbd98c40a-0144-4337-98cc-c384af7170aa" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (c)(4)(A)(ii), by striking <quote>and</quote> at the end.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id40dfe18e-ab75-4a04-86d4-5bcb7dfde97e"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Vegetation management plan review</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress a report describing, with respect to vegetation management plans submitted under section 512 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1772">43 U.S.C. 1772</external-xref>)—</text><paragraph id="id0eda4ca9-4e36-43a1-963c-baccc290c006"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the extent to which those vegetation management plans under are reviewed and approved within the 120-day period required under subsection (c)(4)(A)(iv) of that section;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6dbff067-c426-408d-bffe-4987b2477558"><enum>(2)</enum><text>for any vegetation management plan not reviewed and approved by the applicable deadline described in paragraph (1), the reason for any delay in review or approval; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ided045932-d202-435c-b3bc-f7451b3a1ccc" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><text>for any vegetation management plan submitted for review and approval for which the Secretary concerned requested a modification, the timeline for reviewing the modification on resubmission.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ide1707383-f2fd-4cde-9727-9acee23e856e"><enum>212.</enum><header>Fire-safe electrical corridors</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 512 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/43/1772">43 U.S.C. 1772</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id8978a9e0-135d-4861-92fe-18bef9e44470"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by redesignating subsections (j) and (k) as subsections (k) and (l), respectively; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ida012c126-566c-417f-a908-2ec124041f0e"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by inserting after subsection (i) the following:</text><quoted-block id="id2efe7f9c-ee7b-4b77-8625-d0cd0764b66b" display-inline="no-display-inline" style="OLC" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><subsection id="id2c3b7f37-4ed4-45d6-85e4-183d5b0f4384"><enum>(j)</enum><header>Permits and agreements with owners and operators of electric transmission or distribution facilities</header><paragraph id="idb39f7d0a-e4c9-45b9-965e-061238af2297"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>In any special use permit or easement on National Forest System land or land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management provided to the owner or operator of an electric transmission or distribution facility, the Secretary concerned may provide permission to cut and remove trees or other vegetation from within striking distance of the electric transmission or distribution facility without requiring a separate timber sale, if that cutting and removal is consistent with—</text><subparagraph id="id2713b296-67f6-4481-84e9-08db900366f8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the applicable plan;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd11bf3d5-f478-4728-83b8-fcd454e57f48"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the applicable land and resource management plan or land use plan; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id95f658a6-87d3-443a-8323-47ead32831a0"><enum>(C)</enum><text>other applicable environmental laws (including regulations).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="iddc474bce-9d15-4ef0-a523-bf8eb702c21d"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Use of proceeds</header><text>A special use permit or easement that includes permission for cutting and removal described in paragraph (1) shall include a requirement that, if the owner or operator of the electric transmission or distribution facility sells any portion of the material removed under the permit or easement, the owner or operator shall provide to the Secretary concerned any proceeds received from the sale, less any costs incurred in 1 or both of the following activities:</text><subparagraph id="id46575d16c29b4757af57952fd0fe9157"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Carrying out the project.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id33281c91d0d34db29f10eaf37b38c759"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Maintenance within the vicinity of the electric transmission or distribution facility that reduces fire risk.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ide6c9bb11-3c8e-4321-a0ff-96345820c3de" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Effect</header><text>Nothing in paragraph (2) shall require the sale of any material removed under a permit or easement that includes permission for cutting and removal described in paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="ida3d05258-0fda-4dfe-8629-b2b690b27802"><enum>213.</enum><header>Categorical exclusion for high-priority hazard trees</header><subsection id="ide1c014b7-ee5e-483e-bd1f-0f7be5cd3eff"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="id1ac2a69c-1447-445d-bfd3-aaf5516b3d5c"><enum>(1)</enum><header>High-priority hazard tree</header><text>The term <term>high-priority hazard tree</term> means a standing tree that—</text><subparagraph id="id996f01a9-8588-4395-b72a-7c5518442009"><enum>(A)</enum><text>presents a visible hazard to people or property due to conditions such as deterioration of, or damage to, the root system, trunk, stem, or limbs of the tree, or the direction or lean of the tree, as determined by the Secretary;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0c2e1be4-f725-4cb5-87db-216529a34fef"><enum>(B)</enum><text>is determined by the Secretary to be highly likely to fail and, on failure, would be highly likely to cause injury to people or damage to Federal property; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idba81500b-6602-4d2f-b5e1-3b3183967281"><enum>(C)</enum><text>is located—</text><clause id="id8728acef-bd75-4258-b870-bd480a2cb294"><enum>(i)</enum><text>within 300 feet of a National Forest System road with a maintenance level of 3, 4, or 5;</text></clause><clause id="iddea0ead3-c151-44a7-910b-a5dd751ecea6"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>along a National Forest System trail; or</text></clause><clause id="ide42f2f8c-face-45a0-95ad-9aba962ab09f"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>in a developed recreation site on National Forest System land that is operated and maintained by the Secretary.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id0452eb99-30a0-43e6-a770-1aa4a66399b8"><enum>(2)</enum><header>High-priority hazard tree activity</header><subparagraph id="id2e508968-dedf-4d69-b969-1ef7e2e28ff9"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The term <term>high-priority hazard tree activity</term> means a forest management activity that mitigates the risks associated with high-priority hazard trees, including pruning, felling, and disposal of a high-priority hazard tree.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida523ee45-22a4-4ef6-8972-f23c84878539"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Exclusions</header><text>The term <term>high-priority hazard tree activity</term> does not include any activity—</text><clause id="id0fc5112c-1f75-459b-984f-ce31559cfc0a"><enum>(i)</enum><text>conducted in a wilderness area or wilderness study area;</text></clause><clause id="id9872435b-ab24-4614-837c-275535687218"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>for the construction of a permanent road or permanent trail;</text></clause><clause id="id7ac4bedd-5226-445c-9938-dda3a14601cc"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>conducted on Federal land on which, by Act of Congress or Presidential proclamation, the removal of vegetation is restricted or prohibited;</text></clause><clause id="id11a04f20-70f6-4fb4-9b10-02b0070655ac"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>conducted in an area in which activities described in subparagraph (A) would be inconsistent with the applicable land and resource management plan; or</text></clause><clause id="idfc7ebff5-2c81-49cc-8396-d890e2574eac"><enum>(v)</enum><text>conducted in an inventoried roadless area.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id09276c4d-7cb9-4db3-91b9-ab303c06e989"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Categorical exclusion</header><paragraph id="id2d2c631a-5b99-470d-9d1b-b9d71ff8a1c8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a categorical exclusion (as defined in 111 of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4336e">42 U.S.C. 4336e</external-xref>)) for high-priority hazard tree activities.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id269be1de-8c01-43a4-88b1-02955e41f043"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Administration</header><text>In developing and administering the categorical exclusion under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—</text><subparagraph id="id894754a8-84cb-406a-a0e0-9b42f8b7cb50"><enum>(A)</enum><text>comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/4321">42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.</external-xref>); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id18209741-24e1-4f8d-8a28-063b994d89a1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>apply the extraordinary circumstances procedures under section 220.6 of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations), in determining whether to use the categorical exclusion.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id880bcd88-c01d-4c6a-8542-9b14f8885f46" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Project size limitation</header><text>A project carried out using the categorical exclusion developed under paragraph (1) may not exceed 6,000 acres.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="idca78abcb-1e02-494b-9d56-05543a66e9fd"><enum>214.</enum><header>Seeds of Success strategy</header><subsection id="idb394f74b-bb6b-45d2-8edf-2bc3f5f83ab6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall jointly develop and implement a strategy, which may be an update to or expansion of existing efforts, to be known as the <quote>Seeds of Success strategy</quote>, to enhance the domestic supply chain of seeds, which may include herbaceous and tree seeds.</text></subsection><subsection id="id2103fa99-8f32-489b-8678-ccdaad8f3f56"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Elements</header><text>The strategy developed under subsection (a) shall include a plan for each of the following:</text><paragraph id="id716d724e-ed7b-4c47-b460-5ba0689dde48"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Facilitating sustained interagency coordination in, and a comprehensive approach to, native plant materials development and restoration.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc508bd0a-0199-447f-8de1-da60054492ad"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Promoting the re-seeding of native or fire-resistant vegetation post-wildfire, particularly in the wildland-urban interface.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0cc8ce6e-9ef7-48f6-8cd5-002dc79feb12"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Creating and consolidating information relating to native or fire-resistant vegetation and sharing that information with Indian Tribes and State and local governments.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb851ad2a-045b-4ddb-aa46-86fd364a0728"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Building regional programs and partnerships to promote the development of materials made from plants native to the United States and restore those plants to their respective, native habitats within the United States, giving priority to the building of those programs and partnerships in regions of the Bureau of Land Management where the partnerships and programs do not exist on the date of enactment of this Act.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3d3bbcfa-d391-49ce-8100-b685c1f445bf"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Expanding workforce and infrastructure capacity to locally collect, process, and store seed as necessary to implement revegetation and reforestation projects on priority land (as defined in section 215(b)(1)).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf986c74b-9d7b-4d4e-8046-30cf465925be"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Expanding warehouse systems of the Secretaries, particularly the cold storage capacity of the systems.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf51faebf-7fcf-4fa5-8317-90a6bc77b2ed"><enum>(7)</enum><text>Shortening the timeline for the approval of permits to collect seeds on public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idcde3b033-8626-47a2-b69e-da473fecbd7f" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(8)</enum><text>Coordinating with the other Federal agencies, States, Indian Tribes, and private entities, as appropriate, for the purpose of seed collection.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1a2447d0-90a6-45b8-a6c0-2b698d1a718a"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>The Secretaries shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress the strategy developed under subsection (a).</text></subsection><subsection id="id8a034baa-772d-46fd-b00e-24d06e4104c8" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Coordination</header><text>In implementing the strategy developed under subsection (a), the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management, shall coordinate with the heads of other applicable Federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, for the purpose of collecting seeds from land under the jurisdiction under those Federal agencies.</text></subsection></section><section id="idfcbc1a6b-1046-4cd5-bba3-16efa10c74b4"><enum>215.</enum><header>Program to support priority reforestation and restoration projects</header><subsection id="idf7dc48a3-ddf9-416b-b905-0578f0cdd348"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Reforestation reports submitted to additional committees</header><text>Section 70303 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1601">16 U.S.C. 1601</external-xref> note; <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/117/58">Public Law 117–58</external-xref>) is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking inserting <quote>, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives,</quote> after <quote>Senate</quote>.</text></subsection><subsection id="id0e4387b1-9d86-4123-a0a3-245b25cf2c9c"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Interior reforestation program</header><paragraph id="idf5f25d01-9fb9-4cb0-aac6-2bd240bfa3e7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this subsection:</text><subparagraph id="id77a417b2-c06e-44f4-8f1c-73cb517b0514"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Covered institution of higher education</header><text>The term <term>covered institution of higher education</term> means a land-grant college or university, including—</text><clause id="idcddd424b-86de-4bfc-81ae-c3a2cba50de9"><enum>(i)</enum><text>an 1862 Institution (as defined in section 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/7601">7 U.S.C. 7601</external-xref>));</text></clause><clause id="idd52db18e-cda0-4f3a-9f17-7dfcc86bbc11"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>an 1890 Institution (as defined in that section);</text></clause><clause commented="no" id="id2bae0925-553f-4885-8625-9cdacafebcb2"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an institution that is eligible to receive funding under <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/87/788">Public Law 87–788</external-xref> (commonly known as the <quote>McIntire-Stennis Act of 1962</quote>); and</text></clause><clause id="id707a4402-bf92-4103-b773-05f3b96b6dcc" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>a 1994 Institution (as defined in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/301">7 U.S.C. 301</external-xref> note; <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/103/382">Public Law 103–382</external-xref>)).</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9ecb4571-6e84-4b8a-8d32-988eb14cb359"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Natural regeneration; reforestation; unplanned event</header><text>The terms <term>natural regeneration</term>, <term>reforestation</term>, and <term>unplanned event</term> have the meanings given those terms in section 3(e)(4)(A) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1601">16 U.S.C. 1601(e)(4)(A)</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd79d064e-d354-483c-92bc-f5890f7cf5ec"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Priority land</header><text>The term <term>priority land</term> means historically forested land under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned that, due to an unplanned event—</text><clause id="idfb78fc1f-3442-4be3-8293-69716b03681e"><enum>(i)</enum><text>requires reforestation to meet the objectives described in an applicable land use plan; and</text></clause><clause id="id4287252e-0e46-44b5-8f6d-15b1be9bdbe7"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>is unlikely to experience natural regeneration.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id1c06ce68-8df6-468b-b5e2-266ee027a897"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Program establishment</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall establish a program to implement reforestation projects on priority land identified under paragraph (4)(A), in accordance with this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idacb975e7-b917-456d-af65-7132a2427108"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Support</header><text>In carrying out the program established under paragraph (2), the Secretary of the Interior may enter into—</text><subparagraph id="idbc221d5e-95ca-4f00-8c28-3f1512c30eb3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>cooperative agreements in accordance with processes established by the Secretary of the Interior; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6638997e-cb98-4e4b-9046-2ba22b9553a9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>contracts, including contracts entered into pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/5301">25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id66929a97-2f49-4e86-9b58-fd4e52bc1212"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Annual identification of priority projects</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of the Interior shall—</text><subparagraph id="id4472a84b-882c-4147-a47f-39d6eb0d0da7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>identify priority land within the United States;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id087c5658-69cf-4ae2-b66a-8ae711321853"><enum>(B)</enum><text>establish a list of reforestation projects on priority land for the upcoming year, which may include activities to ensure adequate and appropriate seed and seedling availability to further the objectives of other priority projects; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id85e9795c-df68-4ebc-8ce6-94b7f416ba5f"><enum>(C)</enum><text>estimate the costs necessary to implement the list established under subparagraph (B).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id0d8390b7-26ff-484e-a1d4-1ac1c4d78a20"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>In carrying out the program under this subsection, the Secretary of the Interior shall consult or coordinate with, as appropriate—</text><subparagraph id="id858852a1-4aa6-47ff-85f6-ec370d90e97c"><enum>(A)</enum><text>applicable State and local governments;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id55ebd4f9-d1ad-461d-ac78-18e51b92ca82"><enum>(B)</enum><text>applicable Indian Tribes;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfa78cdd5-cd3e-4162-a9b2-0cfaf80b9d82"><enum>(C)</enum><text>covered institutions of higher education;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5bf3fabe-17cd-4b21-bd26-40a19cf7dfef"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Federal agencies that administer Federal land that adjoins, or is adjacent to, land that is the subject of a project identified under paragraph (4)(B); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc2667ccb-ee2a-4cc4-b5a6-43ca1f5fbd1d"><enum>(E)</enum><text>other stakeholders, at the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id0e6215e1-60a0-46fd-b08d-7b9737a0e251"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Annual report</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for each of the following 6 years, the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report that includes the following, with respect to the period covered by the report:</text><subparagraph id="ide3083bdb-d7b3-48db-8ab2-7acb27ef0a19"><enum>(A)</enum><text>An accounting of all priority land.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7afa157e-520f-442a-bc92-6f4ccda6d9fd"><enum>(B)</enum><text>A list of projects identified under paragraph (4)(B).</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ida2dcfdf4-ae6d-4df5-9e77-635650c4736c"><enum>(C)</enum><text>An accounting of any progress made on projects identified in any previous report under this paragraph.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id081dc656-ff3e-4cc9-aa68-ae06adf8ca85"><enum>(D)</enum><text>An accounting of each contract and cooperative agreement established under the program under this subsection.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idde1b69bf-6644-41b2-aa63-f888309302b6"><enum>(E)</enum><text>The amounts necessary to be appropriated, in addition to amounts available from other sources, to implement reforestation projects on all priority land by not later than 10 years after the date of submission of the report.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idae442df6c52d4905ab9816aafd6439c7"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Funding source report</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report that describes options for dedicated Federal funding other than annual appropriations to support existing and anticipated reforestation needs, including seed and seedling availability.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6a701608-d02f-4379-afb4-bed9b9efc890" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(8)</enum><header>Nonduplication</header><text>In carrying out this section, the Secretary of the Interior shall collaborate with the Secretary and the Secretary of Defense to ensure the nonduplication of activities carried out under section 214.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id9b56d4e1-afe6-497d-9d44-299c859884c7"><enum>216.</enum><header>Reforestation, nurseries, and genetic resources support</header><subsection id="idf35f7811-cf3d-4060-8de1-8c7ca810c55b"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="id88c1c3be-29e9-45a6-85e7-b052f7fa7acf"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Eligible recipient</header><text>The term <term>eligible recipient</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="id329c8a24-9ce7-4dc3-87db-7c651c4ca9ae"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a State forestry agency;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2d05b732-37ae-462b-b47b-2d62d0cef7ce"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an Indian Tribe; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id463943c4-5289-4108-be3e-12f7912a77ec"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a private nursery or seed orchard that has experience, as determined by the Secretary, in growing high-quality native trees or seeds of appropriate genetic sources in bareroot or container stocktypes specific for reforestation, restoration, or conservation, including native plants and seeds that are of cultural significance to Indian Tribes.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id55e18e47-5686-4cc8-b987-d833dbf97fd5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Nursery</header><text>The term <term>nursery</term> means a tree or native plant nursery.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id37e400f6-183f-4f9c-8620-9ac69d5f83ef"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Seed orchard</header><text>The term <term>seed orchard</term> means a tree or native plant seed orchard.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4b0f2546-e1c5-4b51-bb40-5de07f402161"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Partnerships, collaboration, and other assistance in support of nurseries and seed orchards</header><text>The Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall—</text><paragraph id="id36c3faf4-4d6a-4a5d-af17-01dcde72812d"><enum>(1)</enum><text>partner with Federal and State agencies, Indian Tribes, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and private nurseries to provide training, technical assistance, and research to nursery and tree establishment programs that support natural regeneration, reforestation, agroforestry, and afforestation;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idbe9495ba-c1ef-42d3-88bb-20e976a78f7b"><enum>(2)</enum><text>promote information-sharing to improve technical knowledge and practices and understand reforestation needs and demands for seed or seedlings, climate change impacts, tree genetics for resistance to pathogens and drought, and other issues as necessary to address all facets of the reforestation supply chain;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id76e13fbc-f11a-47c3-a956-01a5fdaef8da"><enum>(3)</enum><text>provide technical and financial assistance to international nursery and tree establishment programs through the Forest Service International Programs, the Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, and the International Institute of Tropical Forestry;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id173f1c5a-6d71-4a89-a574-c1d8526e58d7"><enum>(4)</enum><text>collaborate with other relevant Federal departments and agencies, including the Foreign Agricultural Service, the United States Agency for International Development, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and international organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, to provide technical and financial assistance relating to nurseries and reforestation;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4a141a4f-7f43-43e6-b564-905922109745"><enum>(5)</enum><text>coordinate the efforts of the Department of Agriculture—</text><subparagraph id="idbcc963fd-ee68-46dc-a51a-6065c9971b52"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to address the challenges associated with the reforestation supply chain, including workforce development; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf45d9c91-4a51-4dae-91da-1197894adc6a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to leverage economic development assistance for work with private nurseries;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id04d046fb-a442-47c0-ab03-d00e7b978357"><enum>(6)</enum><text>expand reforestation supply chains through science and research, seed collection and storage, workforce development, and nursery infrastructure and operations; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id16d51b832a7442c59b2afa8f6f01e1b7"><enum>(7)</enum><text>shorten the timeline for the approval of permits to collect seeds on National Forest System land.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1fd882e5-6308-4b40-a671-694ad5b1f9dd"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Nursery and seed orchard grants</header><paragraph id="ida4dd2703-9044-493d-bdb6-7339fcd8ae51"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish or expand an existing program to provide grants to eligible recipients to support nurseries and seed orchards.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="iddf97db94-4b75-4e5d-a766-a97a25a556dd"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Eligible projects</header><text>An eligible recipient that receives a grant under paragraph (1) shall carry out a project that comprises 1 or more of the following activities:</text><subparagraph id="idaf4b297d-bf18-4c66-bbb7-ea5d89d8b975"><enum>(A)</enum><text>The development, expansion, enhancement, or improvement of nursery production capacity or other infrastructure—</text><clause id="idf4196c29-bf16-4522-a32b-d9f5300e2595"><enum>(i)</enum><text>to improve seed collection and storage;</text></clause><clause id="id95ec6713-205c-4b8a-bc5a-028703946541"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>to increase seedling production, storage, and distribution; or</text></clause><clause id="idcc507bec-b0ea-45d1-a1e6-f9699e8f0d4c"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>to enhance seedling survival and properly manage tree genetic resources.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0e799735-4fc1-46d8-ba82-9252c0dbf876"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The establishment or expansion of a nursery or seed orchard, including by acquiring equipment for a nursery or seed orchard.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9a7d9a33-e437-41fe-8749-aa1006658607"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The development or implementation of quality control measures at nurseries or seed orchards.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb052f465-6c55-4130-9102-82f531d0ecdd"><enum>(D)</enum><text>The promotion of workforce development within any facet of the reforestation supply chain.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id110dcab9-ee79-45c8-a2b1-c45a60720de6"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Such other activities as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id2f1e372c-d674-4cb6-9da2-df81e8cf2b32"><enum>217.</enum><header>Fire department repayment</header><subsection id="id64159b39-14e7-4277-87e2-5e091fed4997"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment of standard operating procedures</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall—</text><paragraph id="id5661d8b9-87cb-437f-a547-5d91b7c3d5a5"><enum>(1)</enum><text>establish standard operating procedures relating to payment timelines for fire suppression cost-share agreements established under section 2 of the Act of May 27, 1955 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/1856a">42 U.S.C. 1856a</external-xref>) (commonly known as the <quote>Reciprocal Fire Protection Act</quote>); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3a2b0a9f-e46a-473a-86cd-e89f459d0524"><enum>(2)</enum><text>with respect to each fire suppression cost-share agreement in operation on that date—</text><subparagraph id="id8524053d-262f-42cc-952c-172630b05ef5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>review the agreement; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id101357e5-a915-4335-85ee-6e45bb5bd0b2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>modify the agreement as necessary to comply with the standard operating procedures established under paragraph (1).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id641f7271-5f11-4d1b-939e-a1891417055c"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Alignment of agreements</header><text>The standard operating procedures under subsection (a)(1) shall include a requirement that each fire suppression cost-share agreement shall be aligned with each cooperative fire protection agreement applicable to the entity subject to the fire suppression cost-share agreement.</text></subsection><subsection id="ida552d0ce-cae8-4c7e-9fdd-4bcff2641b6b"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Payments</header><text>With respect to payments made pursuant to a fire suppression cost-share agreement, the standard operating procedures under subsection (a)(1) shall require that the paying entity shall reimburse a local fire department or a State wildland firefighter agency if that entity submits to the paying entity an invoice in accordance with applicable cost settlement procedures.</text></subsection><subsection id="id45798eb8-c583-4ba7-b666-b91bcdf046c0" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Sense of Congress</header><text>It is the sense of Congress that the Secretaries should carry out reciprocal fire suppression cost-share agreement repayments to local fire suppression organizations and State wildland firefighting agencies as soon as practicable, but not later than 1 year, after the date on which the applicable fire suppression occurs.</text></subsection></section></subtitle><enum>III</enum><header>Transparency, technology, and partnerships</header><subtitle id="id06dae8a5-86ef-4de3-8f22-fe1566eb5dba"><enum>A</enum><header>Transparency and technology</header><section id="id3631e37a-2886-43e3-8c04-d473ba45e397"><enum>301.</enum><header>Biochar innovations and opportunities for conservation, health, and advancements in research</header><subsection id="id16afcb17-1033-480d-afb2-cb1fd8b071b2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="id9888db21-03c0-48f8-9772-566126b4efe0"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Biochar</header><text>The term <term>biochar</term> means carbonized biomass produced by converting feedstock through reductive thermal processing for a nonfuel use.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="idab8000a4-68ce-4a3b-b71f-1d7d2cf5cfdb"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Eligible entity</header><text>The term <term>eligible entity</term> means—</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="id597416ab-f5b5-48ed-9b56-ee7319491c0e"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a unit of State or local government or Indian Tribe;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2d63a417-ce76-480d-9ca9-77fb7b0ceb57"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a special district;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id1905b0ec-d801-4f7a-892b-2fc12bbbd3fc"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an eligible institution;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id425b013e-cb4e-4f29-9a40-d9f9928f1831"><enum>(D)</enum><text>a public, private, or cooperative entity or organization;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id740dc698-9d23-46f0-b0e0-f9ec4815d258"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline"> a National Laboratory (as defined in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/15801">42 U.S.C. 15801</external-xref>)); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id12ec0a6c-705f-4b85-b784-6f93123607e3"><enum>(F)</enum><text>a partnership or consortium of 2 or more entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (E).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id9328ac9f-2e3c-4122-8ffd-be35f826be5d"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Eligible institution</header><text>The term <term>eligible institution</term> means a land-grant college or university, including—</text><subparagraph id="id77b820e9-7d11-4e87-9de9-c9335fc1a3ba"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an 1862 Institution (as defined in section 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/7601">7 U.S.C. 7601</external-xref>));</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9f912c81-630b-4b47-88f5-46eb6456815b"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an 1890 Institution (as defined in that section);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idc3b58feb-267a-4b52-893d-eaffd57343a8"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an institution that is eligible to receive funding under <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/87/788">Public Law 87–788</external-xref> (commonly known as the <quote>McIntire-Stennis Act of 1962</quote>); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8a9f5e5a-6d50-4fe3-9766-a3f278f777d0"><enum>(D)</enum><text>a 1994 Institution (as defined in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/301">7 U.S.C. 301</external-xref> note; <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/103/382">Public Law 103–382</external-xref>)).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id761f02d5-2fd1-4ce3-9893-5623c5a65678"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Feedstock</header><text>The term <term>feedstock</term> means excess biomass in the form of plant matter or materials that serves as the raw material for the production of biochar.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id76d65ec2-9223-4057-b35d-7bcb64b85496"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Secretaries</header><text>The term <term>Secretaries</term> means—</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="id1e820a7b-cfd4-4d1e-91b5-208e451e6537"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id4e5a742a-38a5-4512-b63f-169a8dd3f9b5"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8f4dcbfc-2d2c-4228-a55b-38cdf54ed2b1" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the Secretary of Energy, acting through the Director of the Office of Science.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ided09ea4e-1dcd-47dd-b9ea-e71153e006b7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Demonstration projects</header><paragraph id="id661a9b8c-0a58-4ed9-94f7-c78dc8fb7584"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment</header><subparagraph id="id21c5fa5b-63e2-4b48-9f59-56af4ff6f806"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Subject to the availability of appropriations made in advance for that purpose, not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall establish a program under which the Secretaries shall enter into partnerships with eligible entities to carry out demonstration projects to support the development and commercialization of biochar in accordance with this subsection.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id637a1ab6-0e88-4a17-b364-7f13f61fc60c"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Location</header><text>In carrying out the program established under subparagraph (A), the Secretaries shall, to the maximum extent practicable, enter into partnerships with eligible entities in a manner that ensures that—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0edc84ab-0b2b-4851-936c-3c996ea90955"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">at least 1 demonstration project is carried out in each region of the Forest Service; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id222fd6ca-4be8-44e4-a5b8-ff09c14ed2a5"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">at least 1 demonstration project is carried out in each region of the Bureau of Land Management.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id827705c7-b345-4eb5-b619-03fecb4a8e35"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Proposals</header><text>To be eligible to enter into a partnership under paragraph (1)(A), an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretaries a proposal at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretaries may require.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id11d26192-6262-4f36-b9b9-a015fd141451"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Priority</header><text>In selecting proposals under paragraph (2), the Secretaries shall give priority to entering into partnerships with eligible entities that submit proposals to carry out biochar demonstration projects that—</text><subparagraph id="id96368af0-9ed9-403d-ac45-bac1cb8ea8c6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>have the most potential to improve forest health and resiliency;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb17960d2-ab10-4f11-aa15-2ee7cf17b4f6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>have the most potential to create new jobs and contribute to local economies, particularly in rural areas;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="iddc9ee853-b40a-46ca-9512-9d3794a4d6d3"><enum>(C)</enum><text>have the most potential to demonstrate—</text><clause id="id85fa3076-e846-465b-bb76-731fcbf030ba"><enum>(i)</enum><text>new and innovative uses of biochar;</text></clause><clause id="iddf4b2566-25e1-4981-94b7-eaa21975df17"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>market viability for cost-effective biochar-based products;</text></clause><clause id="ide64db9a4-8aa5-49be-a079-358b69142171"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the restorative benefits of biochar with respect to forest health and resiliency, including forest soils and watersheds; or</text></clause><clause id="id772a6403-3dac-423b-8790-c16d9120a75f"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>any combination of the purposes described in clauses (i) through (iii);</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb6a1d9bf-c3b8-45bf-91b5-49d8566b7469"><enum>(D)</enum><text>are located in areas that have a high need for biochar production, as determined by the Secretaries, due to—</text><clause id="id4bff129b-9a81-4f6a-b151-a4fcc64594ac"><enum>(i)</enum><text>nearby land identified as having high, very high, or extreme risk of wildfire;</text></clause><clause id="id52344ef2-3943-47ae-9404-9e38c2eb52a1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>availability of sufficient quantities of feedstocks; or</text></clause><clause id="id8408f6a8-919e-42f8-801d-095c299895fd"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>a high level of demand for biochar or other commercial byproducts of biochar; or</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc647a3ea-badf-44f8-87ec-96e40fc6b73b"><enum>(E)</enum><text>satisfy any combination of the purposes described in subparagraphs (A) through (D).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id96c2853b-60d4-47d0-8461-dd59f72a578e"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Use of funds</header><text>In carrying out the program established under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretaries may enter into partnerships and provide funding to the partnerships to carry out demonstration projects—</text><subparagraph id="id3a4c3cd6-9302-4f34-a624-189e17c00917"><enum>(A)</enum><text>to acquire and test various feedstocks and the efficacy of those feedstocks;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide82098e4-df8f-4737-80a2-fa18538a0249"><enum>(B)</enum><text>to develop and optimize commercially and technologically viable biochar production units, including mobile and permanent units;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide2b5ec27-e04f-42ff-af45-b83342ed1e44"><enum>(C)</enum><text>to demonstrate—</text><clause id="idbd5051f5-8de1-445f-a633-bce1491efb80"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the production of biochar from forest residue; and</text></clause><clause id="id818a4ad9-27bd-42fe-9597-d38aa819a19f"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the use of biochar to restore forest health and resiliency;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idca8e5226-3e65-44e6-8263-4736acce6e5b"><enum>(D)</enum><text>to build, expand, or establish biochar facilities;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide6a53f3f-455b-4960-af73-1d58daeef37a"><enum>(E)</enum><text>to conduct research relating to new and innovative uses of biochar;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id51376266-44ad-4bf2-a9b0-af1f45a371da"><enum>(F)</enum><text>to demonstrate cost-effective market opportunities for biochar and biochar-based products;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf59adb89-1ee0-4ec5-b3b0-43b17e50bb59"><enum>(G)</enum><text>to carry out any other activities the Secretaries determine to be appropriate; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id30d2d146-4820-4195-9015-64d702cdece0"><enum>(H)</enum><text>to achieve any combination of the purposes described in subparagraphs (A) through (G).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id22341d7d-32c6-4839-b27e-8d77b12e19a2"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Feedstock requirements</header><text>To the maximum extent practicable, an eligible entity that carries out a biochar demonstration project under this subsection shall derive not less than 50 percent of the feedstock used under the project from forest thinning and management activities, including mill residues, conducted on National Forest System land or public land.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id653a2bae-657e-45ab-bc48-429ff5dbaaf6"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Review</header><subparagraph id="id62a6a91d-29cb-4fa3-b7f4-811ed05642ae"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretaries shall conduct regionally specific research, including economic analyses and lifecycle assessments, relating to any biochar produced from a demonstration project carried out under the program established under paragraph (1)(A), including—</text><clause id="id62c0b9ae-a446-4f93-9b2a-5e04d4616631"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the effects of that biochar on—</text><subclause id="ida2b11148-d33a-4104-8377-70ef81ea8147"><enum>(I)</enum><text>forest health and resiliency;</text></subclause><subclause id="id90a8c01e-6251-4cba-b4c8-1078944c0361"><enum>(II)</enum><text>carbon sequestration, including increasing soil carbon in the short-term and long-term;</text></subclause><subclause id="id2206278d-6976-42b2-b755-45637d22caba"><enum>(III)</enum><text>productivity, reduced input costs, and water retention in agricultural practices;</text></subclause><subclause id="id2549f6d0-5219-4dcd-b039-908aa2837da5"><enum>(IV)</enum><text>the health of soil and grasslands used for grazing activities, including grazing activities on National Forest System land and public land; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id1e4f62ae-bebf-46e2-b382-20debdeb2c31"><enum>(V)</enum><text>environmental remediation activities, including abandoned mine land remediation;</text></subclause></clause><clause id="idfda3ce48-3bcc-47e6-afc2-9f5e21067321"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the effectiveness of biochar as a coproduct of biofuels or in biochemicals; and</text></clause><clause id="idd4010f5f-7d76-46a1-87e6-c5096c03e683"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the effectiveness of other potential uses of biochar to determine if any such use is technologically and commercially viable.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb37b9fd3-11ec-4613-80d9-6cde759428fc"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Coordination</header><text>The Secretaries, to the maximum extent practicable, shall provide data, analyses, and other relevant information collected under subparagraph (A) to recipients of grants under subsection (c).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id1ae2cf8c-e9de-45c2-a460-806279b4c5bb"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Limitation on funding for establishing biochar facilities</header><text>The amount provided by the Secretaries under this subsection to an eligible entity for establishing a biochar facility may not exceed 35 percent of the total capital cost of establishing that facility.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id473b9309-7e7c-43f5-a6e4-e4654343ffe8"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Biochar research and development grant program</header><paragraph id="id521e0879-d1a9-4f65-9313-af47802b7af1"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall establish, or expand an existing, applied biochar research and development grant program to provide to eligible institutions grants, on a competitive basis, to carry out the activities described in paragraph (3).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id17aff9f1-644e-4399-bfdc-8da5cec5e795"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Applications</header><text>To be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection, an eligible institution shall submit to the Secretary of the Interior a proposal at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary of the Interior may require.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id92377c5b-4da5-49f9-8969-f5c1eb18eaea"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Use of funds</header><text>An eligible institution that receives a grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds to conduct applied research relating to—</text><subparagraph id="idaccc9c48-a2c6-49e4-bbd9-e8da37a40c4c"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the effect of biochar on forest health and resiliency, taking into account variations in biochar, soil, climate, and other factors;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb1ce15fc-0436-4f0d-bddf-720226227df7"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the effect of biochar on soil health, water retention, and air quality emissions, taking into account variations in biochar, soil, climate, and other factors;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide3dd6a82-47fb-43c5-b84a-9117b50d66e7"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the long-term carbon sequestration potential of biochar;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9c21812b-7e11-4d15-9a57-1f69589fe8e7"><enum>(D)</enum><text>best management practices with respect to biochar and biochar-based products that maximize—</text><clause id="idaa9e76d6-e4c4-49e8-a6e2-2a12669578de"><enum>(i)</enum><text>carbon sequestration benefits; and</text></clause><clause id="ide2791789-fdd6-47a8-a578-a9afe819c9ec"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the commercial viability and application of those products in forestry, agriculture, environmental remediation, water quality improvement, and any other similar uses, as determined by the Secretary of the Interior;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd6c26bda-9a56-4590-a063-8b50523b0c88"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the regional uses of biochar to increase productivity and profitability, including—</text><clause id="idab25885f-0e3e-4194-bbae-92ea30b98870"><enum>(i)</enum><text>uses in agriculture and environmental remediation; and</text></clause><clause id="id24bdc7cf-9b48-4614-9934-7f14fa5b8877"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>use as a coproduct in fuel production;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb473d265-7cc8-40cb-bf6b-3b537394a54f"><enum>(F)</enum><text>new and innovative uses for biochar byproducts; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id3ef0f454-347d-47fb-9ef7-5af796ff2344"><enum>(G)</enum><text>opportunities to expand markets for biochar and create related jobs, particularly in rural areas.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idd706d152-8ca6-43dd-927e-845e16a8e11a"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Reports</header><paragraph id="id203566ee-ce41-4866-a989-e868144b84cb"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Report to Congress</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall submit to Congress a report that—</text><subparagraph id="id4903c883-b3cf-4602-bd51-0c74a46c6ffd"><enum>(A)</enum><text>includes policy and program recommendations to improve the widespread use of biochar;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb9905406-d833-499c-866e-fa37b96cf7ee"><enum>(B)</enum><text>identifies any area of research needed to advance biochar commercialization; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5242db07-25ac-4e4f-a172-143a9b589904"><enum>(C)</enum><text>identifies barriers to advancing biochar commercialization, including permitting and siting considerations.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id8cc7efbd-9777-4300-b97d-8ce42e690bea"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Materials submitted in support of President’s budget</header><text>Beginning with the second fiscal year that begins after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter until the date described in subsection (e), the Secretaries shall include in the materials submitted to Congress in support of the President’s budget pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, a report describing, for the fiscal year covered by the report, the status of—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0a8b441b-c3fd-4233-a01d-b5307004e157"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">each demonstration project carried out under subsection (b); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9ac12193-df42-4918-85c3-af4285ebf091"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">each research and development grant provided under subsection (c).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="iddb1d47c5-a452-47b0-aa6c-e39042993560"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The authority to carry out this section terminates on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section id="id3d6a2ca9-eb54-4ae1-8602-542d18cb3084"><enum>302.</enum><header>Accurate hazardous fuels reduction reports</header><subsection id="ida1bc1464-a841-41dc-993b-8543ab448c1e"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="idba2158b3-dac6-43c7-803c-2b2584a0f033"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Federal land</header><text>The term <term>Federal land</term> means any land under the jurisdiction of—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idcc7a5a51-2c95-460c-af7d-6ec534d64bb1"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Secretary; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id19007b8e-69c2-4542-8eab-702b79116f2a"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Secretary of the Interior.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idcbe0c12f-82e6-4ed6-9f17-16fadf3151df"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Hazardous fuels reduction activity</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id80807e9d-06d1-4f80-8b76-ac8fb3d226d7"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>The term <term>hazardous fuels reduction activity</term> means any vegetation management activity to reduce the risk of wildfire, including mechanical treatments, grazing, and prescribed burning.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd88d9a16-f6e5-49f9-93de-a6f4d5547377"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Exclusion</header><text>The term <term>hazardous fuels reduction activity</term> does not include the awarding of a contract to conduct an activity described in subparagraph (A).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idff292264-239b-4746-96b8-9cabef42a34e"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Materials submitted in support of President’s budget</header><paragraph id="id4e3be7c6-9989-4f96-884e-7ee2a3aa4284"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Beginning with the first fiscal year that begins after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary concerned shall include in the materials submitted to Congress in support of the President’s budget pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, a report describing the number of acres of Federal land on which the Secretary concerned carried out hazardous fuels reduction activities during the preceding fiscal year, as determined using—</text><subparagraph id="id5c1e07a4-553f-492c-8f0a-390d2071af45"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the methodology of the Secretary concerned in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8e25517f-4b04-4646-9e15-4501586d8db2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the methodology described in paragraph (2).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ided2e2079-0f63-4628-ad54-38d9473091e5"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirements</header><text>For purposes of a report required under paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall—</text><subparagraph id="id4f49147d-de80-4a6c-a9ff-bc06daa933b7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in determining the number of acres of Federal land on which the Secretary concerned carried out hazardous fuels reduction activities during the period covered by the report—</text><clause id="id32a6cf9c-cc21-401c-9018-f13e3056f80b"><enum>(i)</enum><text>record acres of Federal land on which hazardous fuels reduction activities were completed during that period; and</text></clause><clause id="id1daf07cc-da78-42f9-af25-bc419bd63e09"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>record each acre described in clause (i) once in the report, regardless of whether multiple hazardous fuels reduction activities were carried out on that acre during the applicable period; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6812fec0-3c0c-4528-ab82-da4f2c420827"><enum>(B)</enum><text>with respect to the acres of Federal land recorded in the report, include information relating to—</text><clause id="id33111b39-6cc1-436b-b264-6142b4742462"><enum>(i)</enum><text>which acres are located in the wildland-urban interface;</text></clause><clause id="idf3862c27-9177-48c2-a70d-f6b5007d305d"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>the level of hazard potential of the acres on the first and last day of the period covered by the report;</text></clause><clause id="ide5b41c16-25ab-4a23-bbfe-5bf493725c5f"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the types of hazardous fuels reduction activities completed with respect to the acres, including a description of whether those hazardous fuels reduction activities were conducted—</text><subclause id="idfd163283-6a7e-4e24-9784-84b70db38345"><enum>(I)</enum><text>in a wildfire managed for resource benefits; or</text></subclause><subclause id="id73ab46bb-730b-4354-bd4a-3d9445169411"><enum>(II)</enum><text>through a planned hazardous fuels reduction project;</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id29b13212-6f07-4742-ad5f-7b48ae797b77"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the cost per-acre of the hazardous fuels reduction activities carried out during the period covered by the report;</text></clause><clause id="iddd12a7fe-8554-4ae1-af6f-1ac5d8e0047a"><enum>(v)</enum><text>the region or System unit in which the acres are located; and</text></clause><clause id="id0be0d75a-528e-415e-8d47-36126967ace6"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>the effectiveness of the hazardous fuels reduction activities with respect to reducing the risk of wildfire.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id688ccea3-7ada-4d7e-a7fd-412281f197a5"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Transparency</header><text>The Secretary concerned shall make each report submitted under paragraph (1) publicly available on the website of the Department of Agriculture or the Department of the Interior, as applicable.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id8e3f05ba-5788-4e7f-9223-869199a0331f"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Accurate data collection</header><paragraph id="idee0ae046-753b-445f-9909-09f46071393b"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary concerned shall implement standardized procedures for tracking data relating to hazardous fuels reduction activities carried out by the Secretary concerned.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ida49cf7ab-4537-4406-94a0-376c91c0b419"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Elements</header><text>The standardized procedures required under paragraph (1) shall include—</text><subparagraph id="id2cae8dab-1e55-452a-a94f-89e392c02d87"><enum>(A)</enum><text>regular, standardized data reviews of the accuracy and timely input of data used to track hazardous fuels reduction activities;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4f7d23d1-c162-4169-b79d-4b44481fba2f"><enum>(B)</enum><text>verification methods that validate whether those data accurately correlate to the hazardous fuels reduction activities carried out by the Secretary concerned;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id55f20a46-0a51-460c-8e6d-825b8a643e7e"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an analysis of the short- and long-term effectiveness of the hazardous fuels reduction activities on reducing the risk of wildfire; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9f1c7869-ff67-49be-9c0a-2cc8879f8bcf"><enum>(D)</enum><text>for hazardous fuels reduction activities that occur partially within the wildland-urban interface, methods to distinguish which acres are located within the wildland-urban interface and which acres are located outside the wildland-urban interface.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3b8bcf6f-aff4-4461-acf3-3ec029f11e7a"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 45 days after implementing the standardized procedures required under paragraph (1), the Secretary concerned shall submit to Congress a report that describes—</text><subparagraph id="idd3e02e61-d58b-43de-8765-aa1c5edc0ce0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the standardized procedures; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idaee3384f-2df0-40e8-9597-a222d35bd406"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any programmatic or policy recommendations to Congress to address limitations in tracking data relating to hazardous fuels reduction activities under this subsection.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idec5763fb-9fb7-4ac8-a7d8-6f04ccb586c7"><enum>(d)</enum><header>GAO study</header><text>Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall—</text><paragraph id="id86df84dc-9357-4564-b1a7-2b87f038e3a9"><enum>(1)</enum><text>conduct a study regarding the implementation of this section, including any limitations with respect to—</text><subparagraph id="id7e419a03-e054-48c9-90bf-f30865754529"><enum>(A)</enum><text>reporting hazardous fuels reduction activities under subsection (b); or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6f4cfc42-5e81-47be-926a-14dce3c67b19"><enum>(B)</enum><text>tracking data relating to hazardous fuels reduction activities under subsection (c); and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id1bf933e2-81bb-4e22-83ae-79066108c595"><enum>(2)</enum><text>submit to Congress a report that describes the results of the study under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idc392bbf6-89f7-44f0-8aca-cc11b1e08c06"><enum>(e)</enum><header>No additional funds authorized</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7c09a10f-180f-4e89-810a-02dc775bdda9"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>No additional funds are authorized to carry out this section.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbb94c41d-740b-4ba1-9d03-d2cf7653deb7"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Subject to appropriations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The activities authorized by this section are subject to the availability of appropriations made in advance for those purposes.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="ide0804648-d4fa-40ad-9c17-91b9199b330d"><enum>303.</enum><header>Public-private wildfire technology deployment and demonstration partnership</header><subsection id="id7c10fb2e-f463-46b0-bc76-bdc0a56e4e9c"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="id20bb8398-31ab-4f0b-99a5-536dad51cdeb"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Covered agency</header><text>The term <term>covered agency</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="id1b955f18-8389-4227-8e4b-b6b1bbe6326c"><enum>(A)</enum><text>each Federal land management agency (as defined in section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6801">16 U.S.C. 6801</external-xref>));</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc06dfff9-7beb-41ec-bbc1-1391262a8c95"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Department of Defense;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id89067665-3b08-4d2d-9b0b-bd2ac5ae5644"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the Bureau of Indian Affairs;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8c69b65f-1b73-45ee-9b9c-45080ef4303a"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id72dbcddf-3873-4178-abe3-a2a9f3bc1b21"><enum>(E)</enum><text>the Federal Emergency Management Agency;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id12176afa-75cd-44c9-a7cd-124e942179d4"><enum>(F)</enum><text>the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id474bf3e9-71d5-44b3-b291-8d9bdc032117"><enum>(G)</enum><text>the United States Fire Administration;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1921f7df4c574a2c82ff17de7740b0ac"><enum>(H)</enum><text>the General Services Administration;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd6e6e3b8-aa8b-4a57-9a3c-d664aabd330d"><enum>(I)</enum><text>a State, Tribal, county, or municipal fire department, fire district, land management agency, natural resources agency, or equivalent agency operating through the United States Fire Administration or pursuant to an agreement with a Federal agency; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id76966342-14d3-48d7-9572-ec06a7a50400"><enum>(J)</enum><text>any other Federal agency involved in wildfire response.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id35f9aea0-51ac-4019-ab4d-bf8d92d0ae09"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Covered entity</header><text>The term <term>covered entity</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="id43571904-46c7-43c3-a2a9-4f20200c8d42"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a private entity;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id32b8f28f-c3ad-4028-9856-d96ee63a88f3"><enum>(B)</enum><text>a nonprofit organization; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb934de2e-8484-4a5b-901d-176b7aa28bd9"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/20/1001">20 U.S.C. 1001</external-xref>)).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id059639fb-3f38-48f5-a682-6059f865446f"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Pilot Program</header><text>The term <term>Pilot Program</term> means the deployment and demonstration pilot program established under subsection (b).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idae9c1cda-c4ad-4da9-a36b-d466bc3d7ab1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Executive Director shall establish a deployment and demonstration pilot program for new and innovative wildfire prevention, detection, communication, response, and mitigation technologies.</text></subsection><subsection id="id29ad644b-4d2f-4640-8da4-95bbd04d8820"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Functions</header><text>In carrying out the Pilot Program, the Executive Director shall—</text><paragraph id="idea4cd4e6-0f0e-4d50-8ba3-785d1169e91f"><enum>(1)</enum><text>consult with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id0ddf364a-f10a-4bd4-bdb7-5f9f0b0cb2a0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in consultation with the heads of the covered agencies, identify and advance the demonstration and deployment of key technology priority areas, including for mature and commercially available technologies, with respect to the deployment of wildfire prevention, detection, communication, and mitigation technologies, including—</text><subparagraph id="id0b3b1229-72e0-476a-8ec5-4d0a520f4935"><enum>(A)</enum><text>innovations in hazardous fuels reduction activities or treatments, including the use of prescribed or cultural fire;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8381eeb2fa99448887c80aa8a8c5cb06"><enum>(B)</enum><text>spatial planning for unplanned human-caused ignitions;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id44683deaedfe4ddfb00128be04e3d952"><enum>(C)</enum><text>wildfire modeling and effectiveness algorithms;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id4746f9f8-9925-43f1-a0f9-7cc18420018c"><enum>(D)</enum><text>dispatch communications;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2357e041-edbd-443e-a0a0-faab2e62ced9"><enum>(E)</enum><text>remote sensing, detection, and tracking;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id7dc7d96e-a12e-4a1b-8c06-8270c62582de"><enum>(F)</enum><text>safety equipment;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id46612984-72e5-4825-a8b7-08be152792bf"><enum>(G)</enum><text>common operating pictures or operational dashboards;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id73fea3db-5ad0-4bdf-be8d-442a906ea06e"><enum>(H)</enum><text>interoperable commercial data;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ide92e9d262a1f46f88f61d2edca4ea7b0"><enum>(I)</enum><text>autonomous suppression systems;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id422f9cdf9267482a8e6128689c77a176"><enum>(J)</enum><text>grid resilience;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf4c7e8b52161473c91a39c343e4f1317"><enum>(K)</enum><text>community resilience and home hardening; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2fbebcdfa9224b95bae8a1ef8a98f47b"><enum>(L)</enum><text>prioritization and decision support tools;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9a316ac4-4b02-4c2a-bfb1-5da358f5b14d"><enum>(3)</enum><text>connect each covered entity selected to participate in the Pilot Program with the appropriate covered agency to coordinate real-time and on-the-ground testing of technology during wildfire mitigation activities and training;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6896155067214bf8b75446399370c097"><enum>(4)</enum><text>define clear criteria for evaluating the success of technologies (including mature and commercially available technologies) demonstrated under the Pilot Program, focusing on effectiveness, scalability, and cost-efficiency; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id3a0296337c4543d693a933bde4db34fb"><enum>(5)</enum><text>coordinate with covered agencies to ensure the efficient deployment of scaled technologies, including through expanded public-private partnerships, multiagency contracting for procurement, and authorization of covered agency staff with technological procurement expertise to assist other covered agencies in need of that expertise.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ide7eaba18-69fe-43f4-b7b9-bf1b204d8b68"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Applications</header><text>To be eligible to participate in the Pilot Program, a covered entity shall submit to the Executive Director an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Executive Director may require, including a proposal to demonstrate technologies specific to key technology priority areas identified under subsection (c)(2).</text></subsection><subsection id="id2d8237470e0041b587eed5325a53da29"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Existing partnerships</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb06cc7bfe0474340b839e86e7afc1716"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A covered agency may submit a statement to the Executive Director describing the effectiveness, scalability, and cost-efficiency of an existing partnership, pilot project, or contract a covered entity providing a technology described in subsection (c)(2).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8b5d626322fa47aebc6d487a63eb4465"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Successfulness</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Executive Director may deem a technology described in a statement submitted under paragraph (1) to be a successful technology for purposes of this section.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idf234d834-53d3-4cd2-983b-ba5a0f6d1f96"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Outreach</header><text>The Executive Director, in coordination with the heads of the covered agencies, shall make publicly available the key technology priority areas identified under subsection (c)(2) and invite covered entities to apply under subsection (d) to deploy and demonstrate technologies to address those priority areas.</text></subsection><subsection id="id2d709eeb-c705-45f9-adba-d98a83c2f3b9"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Reports and recommendations</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of establishment of the Pilot Program, and annually thereafter for the duration of the Pilot Program, the Executive Director shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, and the relevant committees of Congress a report that includes the following with respect to the Pilot Program:</text><paragraph id="id425b268c-f433-4bff-93db-1a23e43c41e4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A brief description of potential technologies deployed and demonstrated.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idd7a7e748-2900-4ba4-8945-cca1a2b0ac34"><enum>(2)</enum><text>An estimate of the cost of acquiring each such technology and applying the technology at scale.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide50d6ba9-7710-4010-8ea9-fffd0d829b31"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Outreach efforts by covered agencies to covered entities developing wildfire technologies.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5e5cc73c-5334-492f-8970-7b6573fbeacd"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Assessments of, and recommendations relating to, new technologies with potential adoption and application at-scale in the wildfire prevention, detection, communication, and mitigation efforts of Federal land management agencies (as defined in section 802 of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6801">16 U.S.C. 6801</external-xref>)).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idfb135eab-cc53-482c-bfb4-034f24acfe24"><enum>(5)</enum><text>A description of the relationship and coordination between the Pilot Program and the activities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including the Fire Weather Testbed.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id659d0734606048f09bae021e243c3870"><enum>(6)</enum><text>Barriers and solutions for procurement of technologies by covered agencies.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idf4f7fe0b-5eb8-4900-9368-84d839ab2a08"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The Pilot Program terminates on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section id="id88ff079d-e820-492c-ae3b-99e6b9631fe1"><enum>304.</enum><header>GAO study on Forest Service policies</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall—</text><paragraph id="id76376f9e-13f6-4095-bccd-ca0a8176143e"><enum>(1)</enum><text>conduct a study evaluating—</text><subparagraph id="id2bd38cbf-6b53-4222-a80f-ae9beaa58813"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the effectiveness of Forest Service wildland firefighting operations;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2e09adea-e57e-4054-8be4-cc3860805916"><enum>(B)</enum><text>transparency and accountability measures in the budget and accounting process of the Forest Service; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id1633551a-4709-4606-af76-01d0e4a6595f"><enum>(C)</enum><text>the suitability and feasibility of establishing a new Federal agency with responsibility for responding to, and suppressing, wildfires on Federal land; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idf83494a9-44c7-4dd3-91ab-a92cc709400a"><enum>(2)</enum><text>submit to Congress a report that describes the results of the study under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></section><section id="id0333c866-4d15-40f5-ba21-285ca29704b3"><enum>305.</enum><header>Keeping forest plans current and monitored</header><subsection id="id7fd0939b-c46f-49f1-b19f-64fd421ea398"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall—</text><paragraph id="idfaf050a3-6709-41ee-aed2-b2592c780229"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to the maximum extent practicable and subject to the availability of appropriations—</text><subparagraph id="ide3effbe7-4bd2-4c96-aa73-aa4b737df7c6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>ensure that each forest plan for a unit of the National Forest System is in compliance with the applicable requirements of section 6(f)(5)(A) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1604">16 U.S.C. 1604(f)(5)(A)</external-xref>); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf5e645e3-28dc-4cb8-b551-d95c9d02df24"><enum>(B)</enum><text>prioritize revising any forest plan not in compliance with that section;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9e1ccdf1-d93c-4dd7-b334-178a2fb130ce"><enum>(2)</enum><text>not be considered to be in violation of section 6(f)(5)(A) of the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/1604">16 U.S.C. 1604(f)(5)(A)</external-xref>) solely because more than 15 years have passed without revision of the plan for a unit of the National Forest System;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idec4842cb-1dec-4efe-a671-ffeb500c59c0"><enum>(3)</enum><text>not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, submit to the relevant committees of Congress a notice describing the date on which each forest plan referred to in paragraph (1)(A) was most recently revised, amended, or otherwise modified;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide45ec2be-c219-4a02-81ec-d53243b268eb"><enum>(4)</enum><text>seek to publish a new, complete version of any forest plan that the Secretary has been directed by court order to amend, revise, or modify by not later than 60 days after the date of the amendment, revision, or modification, subject to the availability of appropriations made in advance for that purpose; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ida396439e-61cb-4519-a28f-4bc7656bbce8"><enum>(5)</enum><text>maintain a central, publicly accessible website with links to—</text><subparagraph id="id34d57173-ee06-47c2-b1b2-68f699cfe2bf"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the most recently available forest plan adopted, amended, or modified by a court order as a single document; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id06708e6c-a458-4b1a-93b0-0fad893c2747"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the most recently published forest plan monitoring report for the administrative unit.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id2579c195-3b74-4d73-a167-02aa7e78163f"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Good faith updates</header><text>If the Secretary fails to act expeditiously and in good faith using available funding to revise, amend, or modify a plan for a unit of the National Forest System as required by an applicable law or court order—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id479ec4df-344c-4436-9956-ea8a36b3385c"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">subsection (a) shall be void with respect to the plan; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5738cc4c-de5f-453e-a98b-64dd40eb3e3d"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a court of competent jurisdiction may order completion of the plan on an accelerated basis.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idc24e1697-a27d-41e7-a19a-a2ac8e28efc3"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress a report summarizing the implementation of this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="id8fabcafa-f60f-4146-93b0-e83a3d6d21ea"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The authority under this section terminates on September 30, 2031.</text></subsection></section><section id="id048e322d-02ee-40f8-9a7e-2fd184340148"><enum>306.</enum><header>Container Aerial Firefighting System</header><subsection id="id5ca55abd-3718-4db7-9375-80bef174213b"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Evaluation</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries, in consultation with the National Interagency Aviation Committee and the Interagency Airtanker Board, shall jointly conduct an evaluation of the container aerial firefighting system to assess the use of that system to mitigate and suppress wildfires.</text></subsection><subsection id="idf5e5bf95-165c-46ee-ac3d-8432f712b444"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the date of completion of the evaluation under subsection (a), the Secretaries, in consultation with the National Interagency Aviation Committee and the Interagency Airtanker Board, shall jointly submit to the relevant committees of Congress a report that describes the results of the evaluation under subsection (a).</text></subsection></section><section id="idb4c37f97-379d-4981-9988-c8768a384fb1"><enum>307.</enum><header>Study on pine beetle infestation</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall—</text><paragraph id="id2ec0041d-29bb-4089-80a6-3b55e3940cb6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>carry out a study relating to the causes and effects of, and solutions for, the infestation of pine beetles in the Northeastern region of the United States; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idbd1b9bd8-3989-4279-b458-db01976ba14f"><enum>(2)</enum><text>submit to the relevant committees of Congress a report that describes the results of the study under paragraph (1).</text></paragraph></section><section id="idc18569aac200461d9e7fc9ef2b5c1708"><enum>308.</enum><header>Study on wildfire smoke</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries, in coordination with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, shall conduct and publish a study—</text><paragraph id="id76670c6650204a338c77bb20ba7bd70f"><enum>(1)</enum><text>reviewing the 2 most recent international arrangements between the Secretaries and the Department of Natural Resources of Canada concerning the exchange of wildland fire management resources;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ida3b2846691014e41bc75ccf60e3940bf"><enum>(2)</enum><text>describing the wildland fire management resources exchanged under the international arrangements described in paragraph (1);</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide513f155685943ba803a65fd74ad9449"><enum>(3)</enum><text>evaluating the effectiveness of the international arrangements described in paragraph (1) in reducing wildfire smoke in the United States; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id978a57244cec4d8bbdfb7fb5efc70455"><enum>(4)</enum><text>making recommendations on best practices to be used in international arrangements to reduce international wildfire smoke.</text></paragraph></section></subtitle><subtitle id="id6040f2c9-0f33-4e1e-99d8-3c0cf0675237"><enum>B</enum><header>White oak resilience</header><section id="ide4b017a0-0468-4933-aae4-c7f660735743"><enum>311.</enum><header>White Oak Restoration Initiative Coalition</header><subsection id="id5dbf7773-5ebc-4a56-90e4-7d289653a6ae"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>There is established a coalition, to be known as the <quote>White Oak Restoration Initiative Coalition</quote> (referred to in this section as the <term>Coalition</term>)—</text><paragraph id="ide8030da0-7ffd-4c60-921d-76176e67e1b4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>as a voluntary collaborative group of Federal, State, and local governments, Indian Tribes, and private and nongovernmental organizations the purpose of which is to carry out the duties described in subsection (b); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id481c6984-71aa-4d5f-b563-015808c717c6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in accordance with the charter entitled <quote>White Oak Initiative Coalition Charter</quote> adopted by the White Oak Initiative Board of Directors on March 21, 2023 (or a successor charter).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idd32f2b3c-2607-4696-b829-89c232a105d4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>In addition to the duties specified in the charter referred to in subsection (a)(2), the duties of the Coalition are—</text><paragraph id="id5bf67591-52bc-4664-bd3c-70b1923f20bd"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to coordinate Federal, State, Tribal, local, private, and nongovernmental activities for the restoration of white oak trees and forests that support white oak trees in the United States; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id88bfe93a-a9bf-471c-a0bc-d7f19e217f7d"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to make program and policy recommendations, consistent with applicable forest management plans, with respect to—</text><subparagraph id="id2bbdcb53-af53-4661-9e26-faae826ffdc8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>changes necessary to address Federal and State policies that impede activities to improve the health, resiliency, and natural regeneration of white oak trees;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id749f2da5-e7c7-49ba-9cec-aacc89cf54e0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>adopting or modifying Federal and State policies to increase the pace and scale of white oak regeneration and the resiliency of white oak trees;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0804fb7e-447e-49de-8d15-109d8c43a962"><enum>(C)</enum><text>options to enhance communication, coordination, and collaboration among forest land owners, particularly with respect to cross-boundary projects, to improve the health, resiliency, and natural regeneration of white oak trees;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6518af6e-0ef2-4e9c-ad1e-6379ed12c3ad"><enum>(D)</enum><text>research gaps that should be addressed to improve the best available science on white oaks;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id92454a48-22df-48a3-889b-00f5442ef55b"><enum>(E)</enum><text>outreach to forest landowners the land of which possesses white oak trees or white oak regeneration potential, as determined by the Coalition; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ided6197b1-d38a-4df1-acf1-3bdb1bb3c5c9"><enum>(F)</enum><text>options and policies necessary to improve the quality and quantity of white oak trees in tree nurseries.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idf9f2628b-55c9-4a36-845b-8de127c89fdc"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Administrative, staffing, and technical support</header><text>The Secretaries shall make available to the Coalition such personnel for administrative support, technical services, and the development and dissemination of educational materials as those Secretaries determine to be necessary to carry out this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="id4484ab11-b1c3-4154-b589-b474748082b2"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Private funding</header><text>Subject to the availability of appropriations made in advance for that purpose, the Secretary may make funds available to the Coalition to carry out this section from the account established pursuant to section 1241(f) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3841">16 U.S.C. 3841(f)</external-xref>).</text></subsection></section><section id="ided87a5f0-5ce0-4065-9f08-2169d3edb631"><enum>312.</enum><header>Forest Service pilot program</header><subsection id="id7da094c1-c4f0-4166-b6f7-2525c532bec6"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall establish and carry out 5 pilot projects in units of the National Forest System to restore white oak trees in those units through white oak restoration and natural regeneration practices that are consistent with applicable forest management plans.</text></subsection><subsection id="id3b1a5a36-935b-4a2c-88b4-6d097a9bd895"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Requirement</header><text>Of the pilot projects carried out under subsection (a), not fewer than 3 shall be carried out on units of the National Forest System that are reserved or withdrawn from the public domain.</text></subsection><subsection id="idccd3f82c-c6ad-4dc9-8e83-8e0ac4c22d71"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Cooperative agreements</header><text>The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements to carry out the pilot projects under this section.</text></subsection><subsection id="id8847b79b-04d9-419f-881b-17d611215b71"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The authority under this section terminates on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section id="id98a23e44-2899-4710-8053-796bb119f213"><enum>313.</enum><header>Department of the Interior white oak review and restoration</header><subsection id="id8e127805-797b-472e-975d-36801f40a1e2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Assessment</header><paragraph id="idf1b43532-a0de-4862-a07a-1f86e394b8ed"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary of the Interior shall carry out an assessment of land under the administrative jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior, including fish and wildlife refuges and abandoned mine land, to evaluate—</text><subparagraph id="id55966d51-ddd9-4394-af80-1d64296e8827"><enum>(A)</enum><text>whether white oak trees are present on the land; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd91d348e-00c0-4f89-b170-acfbb8db50d1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the potential to restore white oak forests on the land.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id89cb0fd1-1c13-4056-b8a3-4e96ef25b742"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Use of information</header><text>In carrying out the assessment under paragraph (1), the Secretary of the Interior may use information from sources other than the Department of the Interior, including the White Oak Initiative and the Forest Service.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id28a26e7f-3927-4316-9e4a-304097d1abc2"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Report</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to 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 this subsection.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idf8786feb-fbc4-4487-849c-463ed3458c30"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Pilot projects</header><text>After the date of submission of the report under subsection (a)(3), the Secretary of the Interior shall establish and carry out 5 pilot projects in different areas of land described in subsection (a)(1) to restore and naturally regenerate white oak trees.</text></subsection><subsection id="id3b4d5f34-2941-4410-8cee-dd8eec4d1afb"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Cooperative agreements</header><text>The Secretary of the Interior may enter into cooperative agreements to carry out the pilot projects under subsection (b).</text></subsection><subsection id="ide6a1dcb3-d3e5-4b21-afd1-b3767c0c7752"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The authority under this section terminates on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section id="idc567d2da-12c9-4494-9618-b15bae196753"><enum>314.</enum><header>White oak regeneration and upland oak habitat</header><subsection id="id6c27de60-f08f-44d9-bfe5-2b422ac2fc50"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a nonregulatory program, to be known as the <quote>White Oak and Upland Oak Habitat Regeneration Program</quote> (referred to in this section as the <term>Program</term>).</text></subsection><subsection id="id91c2b9ce-57e8-49ae-bc68-260761ccbed3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Purposes</header><text>The purposes of the Program shall include—</text><paragraph id="idd409e5a9-dec7-49a3-b6ac-6aa2acbb7cb3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>coordinating restoration and conservation activities among Federal, State, and local entities, Indian Tribes, and conservation partners to address white oak restoration priorities;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idf5f55b15-3406-44d5-8587-82e16982e23c"><enum>(2)</enum><text>improving and regenerating white oak and upland oak forests and the wildlife habitat such forests provide;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id78a742b7-e365-46b3-a850-3d72581f8b4b"><enum>(3)</enum><text>carrying out coordinated restoration and conservation activities that lead to the increased growth of species of white oak in native white oak regions;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id21d44d5f-10b6-4147-b534-5323f9f49647"><enum>(4)</enum><text>facilitating strategic planning to maximize the resilience of white oak systems and habitats under changing climate conditions;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id637b23b6-ec45-4d91-8c5a-a09cade430d4"><enum>(5)</enum><text>engaging the public through outreach, education, and citizen involvement to increase capacity and support for coordinated restoration and conservation activities for species of white oak; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id57021b73-f5ae-443d-8011-a8c605420b3b"><enum>(6)</enum><text>increasing scientific capacity to support the planning, monitoring, and research activities necessary to carry out such coordinated restoration and conservation activities.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id1422383a-4527-4bac-baf4-f78cfe32f680"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>In establishing the Program, the Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall consult with—</text><paragraph id="id5195ec87-1422-4cfc-8c74-fca202cd5147"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the heads of Federal agencies, including—</text><subparagraph id="idfa2640be-2b34-4314-b50c-753bf7f920f2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idcabfc2e3-2258-4f2a-898e-6954c8fe3d9a"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service;</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id0b5d4cdd-850f-423c-a81f-2a431bc1c864"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Governor of each State in which restoration efforts will be carried out pursuant to the Program; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb42b9ac4482d461784f175c76603dc59"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Indian Tribes.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id64c722a8-a48c-4aa1-abf9-59e90ce7a8dd"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Duties</header><text>In carrying out the Program, the Secretary shall—</text><paragraph id="id3c6bfb33-407e-4d4a-a76c-8d6bde792cf0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>draw on the best available science and management plans for species of white oak to identify, prioritize, and implement restoration and conservation activities that will improve the growth of white oak trees in the United States;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idef1250cf-6548-4cc2-9fb4-651a788bb0c2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>collaborate and coordinate with the White Oak Restoration Initiative Coalition established by section 311(a) to prioritize white oak restoration initiatives;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idb1f5a955-7dac-4514-9682-5b952b313488"><enum>(3)</enum><text>adopt a white oak restoration strategy that—</text><subparagraph id="id4e54f4f0-59f8-46ed-a59f-1cfe5f970244"><enum>(A)</enum><text>supports the implementation of a shared set of science-based restoration and conservation activities developed in accordance with paragraph (1);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id48159388-cec4-491d-92c9-3fb9ce3d9d63"><enum>(B)</enum><text>targets cost-effective projects with measurable results; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idb2310430-8aa9-4776-8b0a-cf232d3dd93e"><enum>(C)</enum><text>maximizes restoration outcomes with no net gain of Federal full-time equivalent employees; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idbc3c712e-1468-48c1-8541-6a50322f41f5"><enum>(4)</enum><text>establish voluntary grant and technical assistance programs in accordance with subsection (e).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida315fb7b-53fb-4b77-a494-088843adc38c"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Grants and assistance</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2767f4dc-b794-4b3e-81c3-00427e8eb224"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitions</header><text>In this subsection:</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5da95fe5-b95b-4c3b-adf7-94f3e42ffa7b"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Foundation</header><text>The term <term>Foundation</term> means the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5b74f54c-23c5-4db3-84d0-085628fbe1f9"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Grant program</header><text>The term <term>grant program</term> means the voluntary grant and technical assistance program established under paragraph (2).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idea692482-24ae-4962-b1a6-1745c8f447cb"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>To the extent that funds are available to carry out this section, the Secretary shall establish a voluntary grant and technical assistance program to achieve the purposes of the Program described in subsection (b).</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id40e40f49-d868-44fa-baa6-e3469748a2cf"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Administration</header><subparagraph id="id6f7821d6-5c2f-4f26-931d-24c9d536f323"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall offer to enter into a cooperative agreement with the Foundation to manage and administer the grant program.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idd394d27e-42e3-49ba-ba74-82ddbd25f125"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Funding</header><text>Subject to the availability of appropriations made in advance for that purpose, on entering into a cooperative agreement with the Foundation under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall pay to the Foundation to carry out this subsection for each fiscal year an advance payment of the entire amount for the applicable fiscal year—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id243b8067-72ef-45ca-aab8-60fd6d697e7d"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">on October 1 of that fiscal year; or</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idad6c58c9-3f4f-4a39-8600-bbb41e2de087"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">as soon as practicable thereafter.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id74487b4c-0d2a-44a6-a4d7-c57631ec7860"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Application of National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act</header><text>Amounts received by the Foundation to carry out the grant program shall be subject to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3701">16 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.</external-xref>), excluding section 10(a) of that Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/3709">16 U.S.C. 3709(a)</external-xref>).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id42dd2cf1-6fcb-486c-8458-046ea7296616"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The authority under this section terminates on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section id="id350d0cdd-ac74-48a2-a28f-922ebf5bc898"><enum>315.</enum><header>Tree nursery shortages</header><subsection id="idf55b16ba-0db3-48e4-83f7-9918c3826dcb"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall—</text><paragraph id="id7f885470-c2ce-44eb-b330-73f07feb6328"><enum>(1)</enum><text>develop and implement a national strategy to increase the capacity of Federal, State, and private tree nurseries and tree nurseries of Indian Tribes to address the nationwide shortage of tree seedlings; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1ca73aae-6d8b-40a1-a838-3e9807051005"><enum>(2)</enum><text>coordinate the strategy under paragraph (1) with—</text><subparagraph id="id6fe9cd48-2c44-482d-bef4-77dba3453d08"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the national reforestation strategy of the Forest Service; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf3c894d0-8f1f-428a-a433-d7046a28caaa"><enum>(B)</enum><text>each regional implementation plan for National Forests.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id56de9be8-9f49-4588-a11c-2635a29f1fd6"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Elements</header><text>The strategy required under subsection (a) shall—</text><paragraph id="idf7226b20-19c0-47ea-9716-82fa62787305"><enum>(1)</enum><text>be based on the best available science and data, including the consideration of Indigenous knowledge; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id52f4ea16-6592-4a05-9f0b-f11187d1c363"><enum>(2)</enum><text>identify and address—</text><subparagraph id="idd6d92df0-fe0e-498c-b9d5-14297c8620fd"><enum>(A)</enum><text>regional seedling shortages of bareroot and container tree seedlings;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc73cca25-17ee-47c2-afd0-9c621ece0571"><enum>(B)</enum><text>regional reforestation opportunities and the seedling supply necessary to fulfill those opportunities;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idec172b24-9a58-4288-8c90-092fcc8ed6df"><enum>(C)</enum><text>opportunities to enhance seedling diversity, improve quality, quantity, genetic resources, and availability, and close gaps in seed inventories; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idf8f8569b-2049-41b9-8361-d1e6cb9153b9"><enum>(D)</enum><text>barriers to expanding, enhancing, or creating new infrastructure to increase nursery capacity.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id826feca6-0f2c-4bd6-a90a-20773f3f877e"><enum>316.</enum><header>White oak research</header><subsection id="idf70d04ac-6c09-4326-bd42-2ab399550869"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definition of eligible institution</header><text>In this section, the term <term>eligible institution</term> means an institution of higher education, including an 1862 Institution, an 1890 Institution, and a 1994 Institution (as those terms are defined in section 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/7601">7 U.S.C. 7601</external-xref>)).</text></subsection><subsection id="id9c9357d3-4b8b-40dd-8c8f-42c9617b8b50"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Research</header><text>The Secretary may enter into a memorandum of understanding with an Indian Tribe or an eligible institution to collaboratively conduct research relating to—</text><paragraph id="ideef27331-b7a4-4732-89b2-e6e4e7205e0d"><enum>(1)</enum><text>white oak genes with resistance or tolerance to stress;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id77226ebe-239b-49c1-a838-137517c90e33"><enum>(2)</enum><text>white oak trees that exhibit heritable vigor for the purpose of increasing survival and growth;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idc154e14e-b76d-477c-b9b6-397097c42ed5"><enum>(3)</enum><text>establishing a genetically diverse white oak seed bank capable of responding to stressors;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idefb595f8-ac2d-4c4f-ab2f-5f1392608f7e"><enum>(4)</enum><text>providing a sustainable supply of white oak seedlings and genetic resources;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idbd81f467-ab77-42b4-894a-6a94a2517341"><enum>(5)</enum><text>improved methods for aligning seed sources with the future climate at planting sites;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2f59f388-390c-452d-a461-716522cd84e6"><enum>(6)</enum><text>reforestation of white oak trees through natural and artificial regeneration;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id40ba96e0-f9c4-4932-9ec2-baf15c226fec"><enum>(7)</enum><text>improved methods for retaining and increasing white oak trees in forests;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8b532fe2-ad72-43d4-afbb-3ebc7456cfbf"><enum>(8)</enum><text>improved methods for reforesting abandoned mine land sites; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2a2129e7-28f3-4080-ad9f-947f4c1ac566"><enum>(9)</enum><text>economic and social aspects of white oak forest management across land ownerships.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id8cd701a4-c8ec-4d35-bbdd-c4f7efdcc474"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Consultation</header><text>In carrying out research under subsection (b), an Indian Tribe or eligible institution may consult with such States, nonprofit organizations, and other institutions of higher education and scientific entities as the Indian Tribe or eligible institution determines to be appropriate.</text></subsection><subsection id="id74c50968-56be-4aa2-a1eb-bb815d2c2657"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The authority under this section terminates on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section id="idf82fdb8b68554e86804333d156b4201d"><enum>317.</enum><header>National Institute of Food and Agriculture</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id415cd9dd555449bf84040c76d974d256"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Partnerships</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4d1818e42dd04b6a9bc1cd611d90504f"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>The Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, shall enter into a partnership with an eligible entity described in paragraph (2) to conduct research on improving white oak species resiliency, health, and preservation, including research on—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5bc677076525432d8547d533a419138d"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">population-scale sequencing;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id604558a44ac04a508e4312905f2270e6"><enum>(B)</enum><text>stress response traits;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1f58973b42ad46bba96319aad0343982"><enum>(C)</enum><text>seedling physiology and performance; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id789d9a52fbbf4f61bf201eb36bdccccf"><enum>(D)</enum><text>white oak product development.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide0b3e75a4e3e4f10886fcdca91d9e59d"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Eligible entity</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf87e96859b244e01b2648a9e2c2694e8"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An eligible entity referred to in paragraph (1) is a land-grant college or university described in subparagraph (B) that has demonstrated—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id580ADE4EFA6D48CAB104563115781C1B"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">scientific expertise relating to white oak;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id72BE76803B0446BB832B16FD5E2B7941"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the ability to rapidly transfer technologies to the stave industry;</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC58114FE2C1443469AF0A3403A5A67FB"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">geographic proximity to concentrated areas of white oak; and </text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5780B4FB58804C379727BF6D61A65A32"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">support for regional economic development.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida820a662898d40079797f55a0ff3d013"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Land-grant colleges and universities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A land-grant college or university referred to in subparagraph (A) is—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id94DD826CACC041D48C1638761B05F434"><enum>(i)</enum><text>an 1862 Institution (as defined in section 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/7601">7 U.S.C. 7601</external-xref>));</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id650D0E8C3D9B4E39B0C09B429E172436"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>an 1890 Institution (as defined in that section); or</text></clause><clause id="id061BF01E6F22489D97E350981B6C26A9" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>a 1994 Institution (as defined in section 532 of the Equity in Educational Land-Grant Status Act of 1994 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/301">7 U.S.C. 301</external-xref> note; <external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/103/382">Public Law 103–382</external-xref>)).</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ida1c12654c00d4bd49678b99ff3dd054e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Priorities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, shall prioritize research relating to the resistance of white oak to disease, pest, heat, and drought in cultivated, new, and old-growth white oak timber stands.</text></subsection></section><section id="ida9b14010-68c0-4a60-9da0-947f705538b0"><enum>318.</enum><header>USDA formal initiative</header><subsection id="id6cbcf374-4520-41d4-902f-74bfaa543811"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service and in coordination with the Chief of the Forest Service, shall establish a formal initiative on white oak trees—</text><paragraph id="id2ba585ed-59aa-436c-870f-403d2de01f7f"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to reestablish white oak forests where appropriate;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id5b508389-dc32-47e1-af77-0e71a5cbd820"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to improve the management of existing white oak forests to foster natural regeneration of white oak trees;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id63ec40ca-ff04-42af-81b2-3d116c8d762f"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to provide technical assistance to private landowners to reestablish, improve the management of, and naturally regenerate white oak trees;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id2fddfdcb-9760-4e6d-b498-9da8b4531dfe"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to improve and expand white oak nursery stock; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idac9e6196-af42-4f27-9a50-6ac97b05611f"><enum>(5)</enum><text>to adapt and improve white oak seedlings.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id51d2faaa-0b12-4ed7-b9cf-20ac78b58ff1"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Sunset</header><text>The authority under this section terminates on the date that is 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></subsection></section><section id="id63b23395-3b8c-43e8-8f38-e82ffd7bfb54"><enum>319.</enum><header>Use of authorities</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretaries shall use the authorities provided under this title in combination with other authorities to carry out projects, including—</text><paragraph id="idb363c26f-4f1a-4496-88f7-2839384fdb76"><enum>(1)</enum><text>good neighbor agreements entered into under section 8206 of the Agricultural Act of 2014 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/2113a">16 U.S.C. 2113a</external-xref>) (as amended by this Act); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ideaa870dd-39f9-4191-b999-54cda7077d0e" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><text>stewardship contracting projects entered into under section 604 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/6591c">16 U.S.C. 6591c</external-xref>) (as amended by this Act).</text></paragraph></section></subtitle><enum>IV</enum><header>Ensuring casualty assistance for firefighters</header><section id="id8852466a-ca1e-4eaf-873e-4574478c4e30"><enum>401.</enum><header>Wildland Fire Management Casualty Assistance Program</header><subsection commented="no" id="id456c8d68-5bd0-41f1-8a69-4267ba069f2c"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id35e89ee6-a42a-4149-83db-95afac3db69a"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Next-of-kin</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>next-of-kin</term>, with respect to an individual, means a person in the highest category of priority in relation to that individual, as determined in accordance with the following (in descending order of priority):</text><subparagraph commented="no" id="idb6b72228-7cd8-4faf-9bcb-79b10b369fe2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>A legal spouse of the individual.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id4d1b6ffe-0521-4f70-bb38-5600b963e2db"><enum>(B)</enum><text>A child (whether by current or prior marriage) aged 18 years or older of the individual, in descending order of precedence by age.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id411d4b66-75ab-4280-bd6c-758f241a8cdd"><enum>(C)</enum><text>The father or mother of the individual, unless custody has been vested by court order in another individual, with an adoptive parent taking precedence over a natural parent.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="id8649000e-7f08-40f7-8efa-66d5002fb992"><enum>(D)</enum><text>A sibling (whether whole or half) aged 18 years or older of the individual, in descending order of precedence by age.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="idf0d93bcd-d921-4756-83fb-a33b837e0300"><enum>(E)</enum><text>A grandfather or grandmother of the individual.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc9966e2e-2fb1-4bf7-9e5a-afc32196c224" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(F)</enum><text>Any other relative of the individual, with the order of precedence to be determined in accordance with the civil laws of descent of the State of domicile of the individual at time of death.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4361b344-1a13-481b-a45a-69ce8392a645"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Program</header><text>The term <term>program</term> means the Wildland Fire Management Casualty Assistance Program established under subsection (b).</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5a9c48bb-b08e-4821-8d02-d37086e101ee"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall establish a program, to be known as the <quote>Wildland Fire Management Casualty Assistance Program</quote>, to provide assistance to the next-of-kin of—</text><paragraph commented="no" id="idb7308b17-123a-4bd6-b7be-2c98fa061add"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">firefighters who, while in the line of duty—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id18f17aff-e191-4531-8d77-da117acd28f0"><enum>(A)</enum><text>are killed;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida0261bf6-e5ff-48ce-bd5b-301e1f9459c5"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">require hospitalization or treatment at a medical facility due to a critical injury; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id174e7f30-3512-4ed3-9b4e-0239101117ea"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">suffer illness as a result of an exposure or incident occurring during that line of duty; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="id177d4d30-0054-4469-a380-0027fda55682"><enum>(2)</enum><text>wildland fire support personnel who are killed or require hospitalization or treatment at a medical facility due to a critical injury in the line of duty.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idb5097b55-8deb-4d2a-bf35-5f77bb741f84"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Elements</header><text>The program shall address each of the following:</text><paragraph id="id7704356c-f35f-45c6-8b46-570197ebee38"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The initial, and any subsequent, notification to the next-of-kin of firefighters or wildland fire support personnel who—</text><subparagraph id="id9a929e7d-31b7-4529-9ad6-0de53387598b"><enum>(A)</enum><text>are killed in the line of duty; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id028caf63-3c51-4a16-9149-8bc29e812566"><enum>(B)</enum><text>require hospitalization or treatment at a medical facility due to a critical injury or illness in the line of duty.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id55f39e36-bf05-4066-baad-8e71b842a889"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The reimbursement of next-of-kin for expenses associated with travel to visit firefighters or wildland fire support personnel who—</text><subparagraph id="ide7b907ec-cb2f-484c-a85b-9af3cc9a22f3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>are killed in the line of duty; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id27b2bc90-62ec-4761-bf92-fbbd11421668"><enum>(B)</enum><text>require hospitalization or treatment at a medical facility due to a critical injury or illness in the line of duty.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id3863f0ea-92f3-4e81-b75e-7b01eed6d457"><enum>(3)</enum><text>The qualifications, assignment, training, duties, supervision, and accountability for the performance of casualty assistance responsibilities.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4481fec0-c852-4013-b6a0-135225408d41"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The relief or transfer of casualty assistance officers, including notification to survivors of critical injury or illness in the line of duty of the reassignment of those officers to other duties.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id46f095bc-e6c5-4d2b-9f0d-6c39e8161afb"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Centralized short-term and long-term case management procedures for casualty assistance, including rapid access to expert case managers and counselors by—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id384996a6-3809-40fc-93c0-65de7a3798cf"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">survivors of firefighters or wildland fire support personnel; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id92be7fbc-23ef-46dd-b3a9-6d08b4dfadd6"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">casualty assistance officers.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id90154587-771e-4757-89de-42e4076365ca"><enum>(6)</enum><text>The provision, through a computer-accessible website and other means and at no cost to survivors or next-of-kin of firefighters or wildland fire support personnel, of personalized, integrated information relating to Federal benefits and Federal financial assistance available to those survivors and next-of-kin.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id8ec4851e-53d0-4e33-9f33-e6bfe5f9c059"><enum>(7)</enum><text>The provision to survivors and next-of-kin of firefighters or wildland fire support personnel of information relating to mechanisms for registering complaints about, or requests for, additional assistance related to casualty assistance.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6dca5d20-052f-4697-acd7-02d8598d1df5"><enum>(8)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Liaison with the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Justice, and the Social Security Administration to ensure prompt and accurate resolution of issues relating to benefits administered by those agencies for survivors of firefighters or wildland fire support personnel.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idca2c1e6e-4f72-4665-9519-2ff6f7dc73c7"><enum>(9)</enum><text>Data collection, in consultation with the United States Fire Administration and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, regarding the incidence and quality of casualty assistance provided to survivors and next-of-kin of firefighters or wildland fire support personnel.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id7296e810-571d-44f7-89be-4234e4552b34" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(d)</enum><header>No effect on other line-of-duty death benefits</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The program shall not affect any existing authority for line-of-duty death benefits for Federal firefighters or wildland fire support personnel.</text></subsection></section><enum>V</enum><header>Other matters</header><section id="id84e46ca5e4664b3690343cf734d004f7"><enum>501.</enum><header>Use of funds from cooperative funds agreements</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3ac53609261b4d628e85ce0224c7996d"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1743ef1524234086bef06576fcbf880f"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Cooperative funds agreement</header><text>The term <term>cooperative funds agreement</term> means an agreement under—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb102e535f4934b369d55a8701764d028"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Act of June 30, 1914 (commonly known as the <quote>Cooperative Funds Act</quote>) (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/498">16 U.S.C. 498</external-xref>); or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id585a5f4acf3845359ef467740ecc6f19"><enum>(B)</enum><text>section 1 of the Act of March 3, 1925 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/572">16 U.S.C. 572</external-xref>).</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id313d8863028c4c188b56219282684aad"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Secretary</header><text>The term <term>Secretary</term> means the Secretary, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3758e156b38640d0bf415053534384ba"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Treatment</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0f05382bd6ed468488db41a2e8d39dd4"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided in paragraph (2), notwithstanding any other provision of law, regulation, or agency decision, the Secretary shall fulfill the obligations of the Federal Government with respect to each cooperative funds agreement in effect on or after the date of enactment of this Act.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id522db33a2b25481ebe5b2bb13836585c"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exceptions</header><text>The Secretary may waive the applicability of paragraph (1) to a cooperative funds agreement if—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8d3dc4cd62e84ba28fbb90a78fe1f81a"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Secretary determines that 1 or more parties to the cooperative funds agreement have not fulfilled the obligations of the parties under the cooperative funds agreement; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbb80023590ed4e2483791c6efaeb0f3c"><enum>(B)</enum><text>fulfilling the obligations of the Federal Government with respect to the cooperative funds agreement would violate section 1341 of title 31, United States Code.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idb16fe7644cbb42fea77cfdef13877216"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Limitations</header><paragraph id="id89251f46038b4100b3181346fcd9de9d"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Federal employees</header><text>A Federal employee (including seasonal, permanent seasonal, and temporary employees) hired using funds provided under a cooperative funds agreement shall not, for the duration of the cooperative funds agreement, be subject to—</text><subparagraph id="id65579d8886b242d08c69f80f8756fcd7"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any limitation on hiring (commonly referred to as a <quote>hiring freeze</quote>);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id723ead96d4884137883d90d505db3b9e"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any reduction in force; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id213a9790f79a4081898478b067450f68"><enum>(C)</enum><text>any deferred resignation or voluntary early retirement program.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id46a348ba24d74ec4890239f6d3718855"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Non-Federal funds</header><text>The non-Federal funds provided to the Secretary pursuant to a cooperative funds agreement shall not be subject to any limitation on spending.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><section id="id896b14d78e3b44e585a9eeb1bec692b3"><enum>502.</enum><header>Emergency forest watershed program</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide466efbded52461ba7588f8b2391c6e5"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Funding and administration</header><text>Section 404(b) of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/2204">16 U.S.C. 2204(b)</external-xref>) is amended by inserting <quote>to carry out section 401</quote> after <quote>for a fiscal year</quote>.</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2a502ced960d4edb9abd1dc44372f048"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Emergency forest watershed program</header><text>Title IV of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/2201">16 U.S.C. 2201 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block id="id5d021b93a63c4653b01b6b07dd21cc36" display-inline="no-display-inline" style="OLC" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="iddea15cb7c8784560a521f5f8f74d4cc8"><enum>408.</enum><header>Emergency forest watershed program</header><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id98778baf85d447699b5ac694d532cc4a"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5581bc0337284c46858aec787ef36c5d"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Emergency watershed protection measures</header><text>The term <term>emergency watershed protection measures</term> means measures that—</text><subparagraph id="IDF910FA6B05AA4F6E92E55E7E91C04513"><enum>(A)</enum><text>are necessary to address runoff, soil erosion, and flooding caused by a natural disaster or any other natural occurrence that has caused a sudden impairment to natural resources on National Forest System land, and the damage, if not treated—</text><clause id="ID39B6CAD9C6874409AEDFC61C80BAAB25"><enum>(i)</enum><text>would significantly impair or endanger the natural resources on the National Forest System land; and</text></clause><clause id="ID16A609C42D66442AA95F2F1E687E22DA"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>would pose an immediate risk to water resources or loss of life or property in connection to a sudden impairment of a National Forest System watershed or downstream of the National Forest System land or waterways; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID201F2FD1C5D443BB83744470BB064B32"><enum>(B)</enum><text>would maintain or restore forest health and forest-related resources on the National Forest System land.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb35cffdda7ad4d0da1dd86cff3efd5e0"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Natural disaster</header><text>The term <term>natural disaster</term> has the meaning given the term in section 407(a).</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbe37db60b5a640b2bbbc5e7c9ee4dab0"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Sponsor</header><text>The term <term>sponsor</term> means—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idb9e224b3bfa34538b298ab8ef3574448"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a State or local government;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idff2114527ae74079b6c9c53166fa9d7b"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/25/5304">25 U.S.C. 5304</external-xref>)); and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbb0c41b218d549de9fe6e77d296b7bbd"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a water district, water conservation district, water utility, or special district.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id37141df96d7f4239a78f25d4006b64e5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Authorization</header><text>The Secretary, acting through a sponsor, is authorized to undertake emergency watershed protection measures on National Forest System land.</text></subsection><subsection id="idbf98979f25e7488cafaaad17c3ab3e36"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Agreements; payments</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id07ad8ba04ca04170a1bc695917b8b164"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/31/63">chapter 63</external-xref> of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary may enter into an agreement with a sponsor and make payments to the sponsor, on request of the sponsor, to carry out emergency watershed protection measures.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7e69ca01da75454bbef55fe82af21e4c"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Requirements</header><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0566a27e6f7c46fb982fe5cf3fd75307"><enum>(A)</enum><header>Project timelines</header><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide0820322e1534b9288556e869031bbd9"><enum>(i)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text>Following a natural disaster or natural occurrence that necessitates the carrying out of emergency watershed protection measures, the Secretary shall execute agreements under paragraph (1) as expeditiously as possible.</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf7244b3fe8d049a6a9f3898da1bb1238"><enum>(ii)</enum><header>Timeline</header><text>Each agreement under paragraph (1) shall include a timeline by which the sponsor shall complete all emergency watershed protection measures during the 2-year period following the conclusion of the applicable natural disaster or natural occurrence, as determined by the Secretary, that necessitated the carrying out of those measures.</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2bc1b6b5b6454c15beb3494d1eb31f37"><enum>(iii)</enum><header>Continued monitoring</header><text>A sponsor that has entered into an agreement under paragraph (1) may monitor, maintain, repair, or replace emergency watershed protection measures for a period of not more than 3 years following the conclusion of the natural disaster or natural occurrence, as determined by the Secretary, that necessitated the carrying out of those measures when failure to do so would result in unacceptable risk to National Forest System land or downstream water users.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id22563ec3f8d041208b3db9bc2cd67039"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Payments</header><text>The Secretary, in accordance with an agreement entered into under paragraph (1)—</text><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd0c74f0c88eb4a1cb3e9cb612bc436a1"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">may make partial payments prior to completion of the applicable project; and</text></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idec130f9215674925948aba75486e82dd"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>shall make final payment for the project not later than 30 days after the date on which the project is completed.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id724bd1be6be74272ab214dda78d09eb2"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Waived matching requirements</header><text>The Secretary shall waive any matching requirements for payments made under subsection (c)(1).</text></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4fbb0b38b15e4a1682b09fa1092cc660"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Liability</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id17c64782185b4e628c810ee1f663a4cd"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A sponsor that carries out emergency watershed protection measures pursuant to an agreement under subsection (c)(1) shall not be required to indemnify the United States for any liability resulting from carrying out emergency watershed protection measures pursuant to that agreement.</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ide9f056a74afe47eabf524f2dbe129984"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Savings provision</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nothing in this subsection precludes liability for damages or costs relating to the carrying out of emergency watershed protection measures by a sponsor pursuant to an agreement entered into under subsection (c)(1) if the sponsor acted with willful or wanton negligence or reckless conduct in carrying out those measures.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5627c66df359433b9c8e24686f9e6468"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Assumption of risk</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A sponsor that carries out emergency watershed protection measures prior to entering into an agreement under subsection (c)(1) shall assume the risk of incurring any cost or liability resulting from carrying out those measures.</text></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></subsection></section><section id="id31CA6677C12F40E7B9AC73768457496B"><enum>503.</enum><header>Improving the Emergency Conservation Program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 401 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/2201">16 U.S.C. 2201</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="id6DFFAE0E255E4F00B568E06ABC947B0D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (b)—</text><subparagraph id="id7500CD5EC55541D1BE2D5CDB45157D3D"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the subsection heading, by inserting <quote><header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">and other emergency conservation measures</header-in-text></quote> after <quote><header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">fencing</header-in-text></quote>; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id0BBC331B049E494CB31AE2F4DD0F2ABD"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (1)—</text><clause id="id6AEF0642218C482897C67482EF7AA2C5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>or for other emergency measures to replace or restore farmland or conservation structures requiring an immediate response (as determined by the Secretary),</quote> after <quote>replacement of fencing,</quote>; and</text></clause><clause id="id8E93FA0C39B2423C9F1982675E74F823"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>option of receiving</quote> and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting the following: </text><quoted-block style="OLC" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id2E50895B6FA3463D9343EC59F4ED2634" act-name="" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><text>option of receiving, before the agricultural producer carries out the repair, replacement, or restoration—</text><subparagraph id="id6F08864FD91B47D19EDCB92717B3B328"><enum>(A)</enum><text>with respect to a payment to the agricultural producer for a replacement, 75 percent of the cost of the replacement, as determined by the Secretary; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB4283207A92944E294C143D0BD48A656"><enum>(B)</enum><text>with respect to a payment to the agricultural producer for a repair or restoration, 50 percent of the cost of the repair or restoration, as determined by the Secretary.</text></subparagraph><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6558861a57cc4493bd59dcb94fb753a5"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>60-day</quote> and inserting <quote>180-day</quote>; and</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id85211ECAE0444BEE9666EC64030BAF82"><enum>(2) </enum><text>by adding at the end the following:</text><quoted-block style="OLC" id="idB4704730F30F4C6AAE832927E7473A52" act-name="" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><subsection id="idBE937EED885E495A884D872205B9A35C"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Wildfire determination</header><text>A wildfire that causes damage eligible for a payment under subsection (a) includes—</text><paragraph id="id6FC6DB1F0A7847A3B80A2D8873ED0A78"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a wildfire that is not caused naturally, if the damage is caused by the spread of the wildfire due to natural causes; and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id1E2B3BE338F348BEBBFC78D8936C672D"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a wildfire that is caused by the Federal Government.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="id594A8EFB5C974D3B9E03BAC1543D3163"><enum>504.</enum><header>Improving the Emergency Forest Restoration Program</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 407 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/16/2206">16 U.S.C. 2206</external-xref>) is amended—</text><paragraph id="idFF1BFD222D37437B85A96AD2801A5B24"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a)(2), by striking <quote>wildfires,</quote> and inserting <quote>wildfires (including a wildfire that is not caused naturally, if the damage is caused by the spread of the wildfire due to natural causes, and a wildfire that is caused by the Federal Government),</quote>;</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id98048963617A4CBBB11BEB04F372929B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id00DA65019CF048EF90E43DA1D1D470D9"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting after subsection (d) the following:</text><quoted-block id="id176582CF4A2E4C81A3EE588818A37F39" display-inline="no-display-inline" style="OLC" changed="added" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><subsection id="id17A2728C5DF844928E8FD639C11C4FA4"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Advance payments</header><paragraph id="id3B9C110073E740C4BC63872EC3D124F6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Secretary shall give an owner of nonindustrial private forest land the option of receiving, before the owner carries out emergency measures under this section, not more than 75 percent of the cost of the emergency measures, as determined by the Secretary.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="H2B27968AFE334AFB8165A1F5FDE5207D" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Return of funds</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the funds provided under paragraph (1) are not expended by the end of the 180-day period beginning on the date on which the owner of nonindustrial private forest land receives those funds, the funds shall be returned within a reasonable timeframe, as determined by the Secretary.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></paragraph></section><section id="id972ec777-53da-416a-8274-61297e9b1cfa"><enum>505.</enum><header>Establishment of a unified disaster assistance intake process and system</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/5121">42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following: </text><quoted-block id="id6a20d53f-18ee-4d93-a3b8-478fdbb2dc69" changed="added" display-inline="no-display-inline" style="OLC" reported-display-style="italic" committee-id="SSAF00"><section id="id60d799a4-f2c6-4215-a09a-8fbcb6e66c9f"><enum>707.</enum><header>Establishment of a unified disaster assistance intake process and system</header><subsection id="id0fe4b70b-431f-4524-a3f0-98df55d96938"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>In this section:</text><paragraph id="idbebaf788-36db-421e-b8c7-7ae2e74bb0e2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Administrator</header><text>The term <term>Administrator</term> means the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ide83733b5-ecdb-4d1f-855e-99e94be2d628"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Applicant</header><text>The term <term>applicant</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="idd950ec5b-1983-4d85-aab9-e04332c5ce1b"><enum>(A)</enum><text>an individual, business, or organization that applies for disaster assistance from a disaster assistance program; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id85b2dd31-fa13-4cd4-a160-5d32051ac4e8"><enum>(B)</enum><text>an individual, business, or organization on behalf of which an individual described in subparagraph (A) applies for disaster assistance from a disaster assistance program; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id83004D48F4014A249EFE80DDBF31528F"><enum>(C)</enum><text>an individual, business, or organization that seeks assistance as a beneficiary of a State, local government, or Indian tribal government that received assistance under a disaster assistance program.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idcf366a9c-931c-4843-8159-176cd8c9d732"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Disaster assistance agency</header><text>The term <term>disaster assistance agency</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="id63bd22a8-050f-46bf-8d3a-9134b3e69dfb"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id800a4895-fe57-48e6-8a62-de8ea01bee12"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any Federal agency that provides disaster assistance to individuals, businesses, organizations, States, local governments, Indian tribal governments, communities, or organizations that the Administrator certifies as a disaster assistance agency in accordance with subsection (f) to carry out the purposes of a disaster assistance program.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id518b15b4-80f8-4de2-8e34-7223c0028d75"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Disaster assistance information</header><text>The term <term>disaster assistance information</term> includes any personal, biographical, demographic, geographical, financial, application decision, or other information that a disaster assistance agency, or a recipient of a Federal block grant from a disaster assistance agency, is authorized to collect, maintain, disclose, or use to—</text><subparagraph id="id2f3742fa-0c5c-4f01-8830-9316544d7b89"><enum>(A)</enum><text>process an application for disaster assistance from a disaster assistance program; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idde272d09-f4c2-4f5c-b439-602f4fa97c29"><enum>(B)</enum><text>otherwise carry out the purpose of a disaster assistance program.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id7553bd10-cf8f-4449-ae35-84333279cb67"><enum>(5)</enum><header>Disaster assistance program</header><text>The term <term>disaster assistance program</term> means—</text><subparagraph id="idaab5bc52-ca66-4908-8724-c81c53ea48fa"><enum>(A)</enum><text>a program that provides disaster assistance to individuals and households under title IV or V in accordance with sections 408 and 502; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id23a23691-86ed-4c56-a641-fa0c50cb346c"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any other assistance program authorized by a Federal statute or funded with Federal appropriations under which a disaster assistance agency awards or distributes disaster assistance to an individual, household, or organization, or provides a Federal block grant for these purposes, that arises from a major disaster or emergency declared under section 401 or 501, respectively, including—</text><clause id="idfc853274-e20c-4163-9a00-8b2fd1c4f999"><enum>(i)</enum><text>disaster assistance;</text></clause><clause id="id593f90b2-b0a1-453b-98db-c489a20d38e3"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>long-term disaster recovery assistance;</text></clause><clause id="id991ae465-01b0-4214-9739-8ebbc4176436"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>the post-disaster restoration of infrastructure and housing;</text></clause><clause id="id3066dc06-767f-482f-9417-9ecb7f27ecea"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>post-disaster economic revitalization;</text></clause><clause id="idee36b39b-1803-4e16-8878-9794d63ee2b8"><enum>(v)</enum><text>a loan authorized under section 7(b) of the Small Business Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/15/636">15 U.S.C. 636(b)</external-xref>); and</text></clause><clause id="idb1ac8368-6e3e-4cd6-b267-67df7a66c4a9"><enum>(vi)</enum><text>food benefit allotments under section 412 of this Act and section 5(h) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/7/2014">7 U.S.C. 2014(h)</external-xref>).</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="ide0882fa4-afd0-4a00-beb4-ba273852c5c9"><enum>(6)</enum><header>Record</header><text>The term <term>record</term> has the meaning given the term in section 552a of title 5, United States Code.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id5480f001-effe-400d-9be2-3f8ec301729c"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Unified disaster assistance intake process and system</header><paragraph id="id58e4272a-bdc4-4260-a4f2-a896a2c3dc12"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Not later than 360 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall, in consultation with appropriate Federal, State, local, and Indian tribal governments and entities, develop and establish a unified intake process and system for applicants for disaster assistance provided by a disaster assistance agency to—</text><subparagraph id="idfb84ab33-c51b-4a15-afd1-6d9641e441d2"><enum>(A)</enum><text>facilitate a consolidated application for any form of disaster assistance provided by a disaster assistance agency when appropriate to support the nature and purposes of the assistance;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id5101dca5-ac2a-4cf7-a277-89cecb95a6a4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>carry out the purposes of disaster assistance programs swiftly, efficiently, equitably, and in accordance with applicable laws and privacy and data protections; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id9a17b733-dc16-4205-afdb-838a5c30c854"><enum>(C)</enum><text>support the detection, prevention, and investigation of waste, fraud, abuse, or discrimination in the administration of disaster assistance programs.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="idf9a15dd6-ae38-41c5-b08b-fe8867c30de6"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Capabilities of the consolidated application system</header><text>The unified intake process and system established under paragraph (1) shall—</text><subparagraph id="id42ae0dad-439c-42a9-92e7-2c791f8f8bcf"><enum>(A)</enum><text>accept applications for disaster assistance programs;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5c0c8e43d15f44f994717746441d7124"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">allow for applicants to receive status updates on applications for disaster assistance programs;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id78bb1491-0070-4e97-b7a3-33be2c78f793"><enum>(C)</enum><text>allow for applicants to update disaster assistance information throughout the recovery journeys of those applicants;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idbc960d2d-e99d-47bd-ba6a-51b6eea180fa"><enum>(D)</enum><text>allow for the distribution of information on additional recovery resources to disaster survivors that may be available in a disaster-stricken jurisdiction, in coordination with appropriate Federal, State, local, and Tribal partners;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8bbedd49-f497-411e-b974-1c281b943186"><enum>(E)</enum><text>provide disaster survivors with information and documentation on the applications of those disaster survivors for a disaster assistance program; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id46B3740B81464417A90AD4C2B68898D3"><enum>(F)</enum><text>allow for the distribution of application data to support faster and more effective distribution of Federal disaster assistance, including block grant assistance, for disaster recovery; </text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id24b0ed9c871740e3be707f443102447b"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">allow for disaster assistance agencies to communicate directly with disaster survivors; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id66594c48-244a-445b-beec-cdf83ef5b336"><enum>(H)</enum><text>contain other capabilities determined necessary by the heads of disaster assistance agencies. </text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ided131105f5914e50ba816c0870c3713b"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Updates</header><text>Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Administrator receives a request from a disaster assistance agency to update questions in the consolidated application described in paragraph (1) needed to administer the disaster assistance programs of the disaster assistance agency, the Administrator shall make those updates.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id4b7aebfd-3d83-432f-8f3c-d6ab31d78290"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authorities of Administrator</header><text>The Administrator may—</text><paragraph id="id1c267d7b-e6af-4737-9a8e-7e1f3fdaf9f3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>collect, maintain, disclose, and use disaster assistance information, including such information received from any disaster assistance agency, with any other disaster assistance agency for purposes of subsection (b)(1); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idfb6abf21-cd34-4794-a5ee-4475694a7d03"><enum>(2)</enum><text>subject to subsection (d), authorize the collection, maintenance, disclosure, and use of disaster assistance information collected on or after the date of enactment of this section by publishing a notice on a public website that—</text><subparagraph id="id8c56c286-2866-4cb5-86ce-e04c0da5bf9e"><enum>(A)</enum><text>includes a detailed description of—</text><clause id="idbb76280a-1d6d-4e6b-8437-12165b3e8be5"><enum>(i)</enum><text>the specific disaster assistance information authorized to be collected, maintained, disclosed, and used;</text></clause><clause id="idd49b0076-2186-4847-843b-e576912fec73"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>why the collection, maintenance, disclosure, or use of the disaster assistance information is necessary to carry out the purpose of a disaster assistance program;</text></clause><clause id="id2333bed7-4390-4a39-82db-3d7bfa2ef4fd"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>how the collection, maintenance, disclosure, and use of disaster assistance information incorporates fair information practices; and</text></clause><clause id="idaa406857-446b-4e42-ac31-4e5a53198f0e"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>the disaster assistance agencies that will be granted access to the disaster assistance information to carry out the purpose of any disaster assistance program; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id04a8fe91-9de6-441e-a80b-467eb191115d"><enum>(B)</enum><text>provides that the submission of an application through a unified disaster application constitutes prior written consent to disclose disaster assistance information to disaster assistance agencies for the purpose of section 552a(b) of title 5, United States Code.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="idd148e2ff-adbe-48aa-8eaa-038c87336c8b"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Collection and sharing of records and information</header><paragraph id="id052134c0-8789-4b75-aaf9-4fd743cc2170"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Effect of publication of notice on public website</header><text>The publication of a notice by the Administrator on a public website of a revision to the system of records of the unified intake process and system established under subsection (b)(1) prior to any new collection, maintenance, disclosure, or use of records to carry out the purposes of a disaster assistance program with respect to a major disaster or emergency declared by the President under section 401 or 501, respectively, of this Act shall be deemed to satisfy the notice and publication requirements of section 552a(e)(4) of title 5, United States Code, for the entire period of performance for any assistance provided under a disaster assistance program. </text></paragraph><paragraph id="id4eff3d11-880f-46ec-9cbb-f962d3a87f91"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Paperwork Reduction Act waiver</header><subparagraph id="id24d49d10-c316-429a-b799-9bd07c792b02"><enum>(A)</enum><header>In general</header><text>Upon the declaration of a major disaster or emergency pursuant to section 401 or 501, respectively, of this Act, the Administrator may waive the requirements of subchapter I of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/44/35">chapter 35</external-xref> of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as the <quote>Paperwork Reduction Act</quote>), with respect to the voluntary collection of information specific to the declared major disaster or emergency needed to carry out the purposes of a disaster assistance program.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idc22e5674-e98b-481a-b23d-a606e9f3f8ef"><enum>(B)</enum><header>Duration</header><text>A waiver described in subparagraph (A) shall be in effect for the entire period of performance for any assistance provided under a disaster assistance program with respect to a declared major disaster or emergency.</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idfc8940b7-e12b-4cc8-a580-c35c989ff8a7"><enum>(C)</enum><header>Transparency</header><text>If the Administrator waives the requirements described in subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall—</text><clause id="id337e8180-f912-4507-81af-77b668eb6444"><enum>(i)</enum><text>promptly post on a public website—</text><subclause id="idbdb02f27-6922-4a91-a539-480763a11fdb"><enum>(I)</enum><text>a brief justification for the waiver; and</text></subclause><subclause id="id0814968c-ee88-48a2-a7d2-570a26f6756c"><enum>(II)</enum><text>the agencies and offices to which the waiver shall apply;</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id7adfd6de-e030-4748-b755-f1d8c9b5f19b"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>update the information posted under clause (i), as applicable; and</text></clause><clause id="idF799318A14DA48BA9A3CFDB6ECEF9DCD"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>comply with the requirements of subchapter I of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/44/35">chapter 35</external-xref> of title 44, United States Code (commonly known as the <quote>Paperwork Reduction Act</quote>) upon the expiration of the period of performance of any assistance provided under a disaster assistance program if the collection of information may be utilized for the purposes of supporting the disaster assistance program in future major disaster or emergency declarations.</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idecc5843a-8deb-48db-b85a-2fd17d46f528"><enum>(D)</enum><header>Effectiveness of waiver</header><text>Any waiver under subparagraph (A) shall take effect on the date on which the Administrator posts information on the internet website as provided for under subparagraph (C).</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id7d48405b-2556-4349-a194-26e0a927c05b"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Data security</header><text>The Administrator shall facilitate the collection of disaster assistance information into a unified application only after—</text><paragraph id="id43d726bf-39a0-4d0c-9c20-27022b5697e7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the Administrator certifies that the unified application substantially complies with the data security standards established pursuant to subchapter II of <external-xref legal-doc="usc-chapter" parsable-cite="usc-chapter/44/35">chapter 35</external-xref> of title 44, United States Code, and any other applicable Federal information security policy; </text></paragraph><paragraph id="id6274ebbe-b64e-410e-b491-5dab57d9b756"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Secretary of Homeland Security publishes a privacy impact assessment for the unified application that is similar to the privacy assessment conducted under section 208(b)(1)(B) of the E-Government Act of 2002 (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/44/3501">44 U.S.C. 3501</external-xref> note); and</text></paragraph><paragraph id="ida2b3234d-ebaa-4687-bd27-97aee210681f"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the Administrator, in consultation with disaster assistance agencies, publishes standard rules of behavior for disaster assistance agencies and personnel granted access to disaster assistance information to protect such information from improper disclosure.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id939295c2-74e0-4429-b273-18485eae61fb"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Certification of disaster assistance agencies</header><paragraph id="id7dc3cf91-78c2-43e3-afe0-d5ae8a705cef"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In general</header><text>The Administrator may certify a Federal agency as a disaster assistance agency only after posting an agreement between the Administrator and the Federal agency on a public website that contains the detailed terms of the agreement.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="id49af74af-26b5-423a-8c38-5632210d7e35"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Contents of agreement</header><text>An agreement between the Administrator and a Federal agency described in paragraph (1) shall state that the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal agency will—</text><subparagraph id="id19c2ec55-60d5-4d25-afe9-668bec77d0a6"><enum>(A)</enum><text>collect, disclose, maintain, and use disaster assistance information in accordance with—</text><clause id="idE0F563E69C1D4A09A57C8C20756EC85A"><enum>(i)</enum><text>this section; and</text></clause><clause id="idE74A3B66D91F42359AC1BAB2AB279BAE"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>subject to subsection (i)(2), any existing policies of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Federal agency for information protection and use;</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6c5a7e9f-8a52-4ea8-83a6-c60e365766f4"><enum>(B)</enum><text>train any personnel granted access to disaster assistance information on the rules of behavior established by the Administrator under subsection (e)(3);</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="idda2a478a-ff53-4d95-92d7-1754a141f848"><enum>(C)</enum><text>in the event of any unauthorized disclosure of disaster assistance information—</text><clause id="id4f28ac22-4baf-452c-b354-bce88764c8fa"><enum>(i)</enum><text>not later than 24 hours after discovering the unauthorized disclosure—</text><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1c17f28bcca64d01a2891c51bfe88287"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the case of an unauthorized disclosure by the Federal agency, notify the Administrator of the disclosure; and</text></subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3b993be33e2e45018b9e42f2f8debf77"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in the case of an unauthorized disclosure by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, notify disaster assistance agencies of the disclosure;</text></subclause></clause><clause id="id85701645-d0c5-44a2-9b26-108c24222dbf"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>cooperate fully with the Administrator and disaster assistance agencies in the investigation and remediation of the disclosure; and</text></clause><clause id="id6ecc0d4a-93af-4ea8-b62b-b9e0952175ba"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>cooperate fully in the prosecution of a person responsible for the disclosure; and</text></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id6ed16d6a-7623-47ce-8677-9c1608628773"><enum>(D)</enum><text>assume responsibility for any compensation, civil liability, or other remediation measure awarded by a judgment of a court or agreed upon as a compromise of any potential claim by or on behalf of an applicant, including by obtaining credit monitoring and remediation services, for an improper disclosure of disaster assistance information that is—</text><clause id="id5defb16a-5762-498e-a8c3-b9b658af2803"><enum>(i)</enum><text>caused, directly or indirectly, by the acts or omissions of an officer, employee, or contractor of the Federal agency; or</text></clause><clause id="idd281563f-94b9-46be-947f-fa5bf061a437"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>from any electronic system of records that was created or maintained by the Federal agency pursuant to section 552a(e) of title 5, United States Code.</text></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id60523187d1a647f99e6f9fe0c90d1c1a"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Rule of construction</header><text>Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require a Federal agency to sign an agreement described in paragraph (2) if the head of that Federal agency determines that the inclusion of the assistance program of that Federal agency in the unified intake process and system established under this section is not appropriate to support the nature and purposes of the assistance programs under the jurisdiction of that Federal agency.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idd6edfdf4154549c58258d3bdda94060a"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Reports</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ida2f1f8e0193c4bed9152c0a00078c8fb"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">FEMA</header><text>Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, and every year thereafter for 2 years, the Administrator, in coordination with the heads of disaster assistance agencies, shall submit to Congress a report on the implementation of this section, including—</text><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf754a75146e24f6f84460c85628a275c"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">how disaster assistance agencies are working together to implement the requirements under this section;</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbce6dec157504c36b80ecf206ca3de39"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the effect of this section on disaster survivor burden and the speed and efficiency of delivering disaster assistance; and</text></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf56d9c73af094d648ce41c0ee65b7917"><enum>(C)</enum><text>a description of any other challenges that require further legislative action.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idf0834bf8f9564933b0a4afcc9c369255"><enum>(2)</enum><header>GAO</header><text>Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this section, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on how the implementation of this section has affected the disaster survivor experience, and any recommendations for improvements to the requirements under this section.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4578ebb1c3e847e0aa821557e51b5f83"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Briefings</header><text>Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this section, and again not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Administrator shall brief Congress on—</text><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idfa751077799a4a76bc9974a1090228ab"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the status of the implementation of the requirements under this section; and</text></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idbd45b20b522b44d4866fd84d8abfb739"><enum>(2)</enum><text>how disaster assistance agencies are working together to implement the requirements under this section.</text></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="id0bc03045-77f9-4c47-8f8a-c803c9489646"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Rules of construction</header><paragraph id="id0fe519f5-e52a-472c-b7df-dfe190268cd2"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Inapplicability of matching program provisions</header><text>The disclosure and use of disaster assistance information subject to the requirements of section 552a of title 5, United States Code, among disaster assistance agencies or with State, local, or Tribal governments carrying out disaster assistance programs shall not—</text><subparagraph id="id688db2c9-441e-4438-8910-386207f787c9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>be construed as a matching program for the purpose of section 552a(a)(8) of title 5, United States Code; or</text></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id2681ba86-5d7b-4484-902a-9e6a614a7c14"><enum>(B)</enum><text>be subject to subsection (e)(12), (o), (p)(1)(A)(ii), (q), (r), or (u) of section 552a of title 5, United States Code.</text></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id9e699987-5fec-43b5-8c89-b2daa001e5d1"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Authorities in other laws</header><text>Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the authority of an entity to share disaster assistance information regarding programs funded or facilitated by the entity in accordance with any other law or agency policy.</text></paragraph><paragraph id="idE49D76F150B24864A16FEE5C33E9FCD0" commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Applying to multiple programs</header><text>Nothing in this section shall be construed to require an applicant to apply to more than 1 disaster assistance program.</text></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block></section>October 27, 2025Reported with an amendment